With countless characters populating the Multiverse,DC Comicshas introduced fans to more striking character designs than anyone can imagine. From iconic touchstones like Superman’s traditional blue and red, to more contemporary uniforms like Damian Wayne’s Robin, the World’s Greatest Heroes are frequently called out for their extensive wardrobes.
Unfortunately, not everything in a superhero’s closet can be commended. And there aresome DC Comics costume designs that make little to no senseto anyone who lays eyes on them. Whether it’s the worst of Guy Gardner’s looks over the years to oneWonder Woman costumethat should’ve stayed in the closet, not every DC look is as iconic as Superman’s red trunks.
10Guy Gardner’s Yellow Ring Era
First Appearance:Guy Gardner: Reborn#3 by Gerard Jones, Joe Staton, Josef Rubenstein, José Marzan Jr., Digital Chameleon, and Albert De Guzman
After giving up his Power Ring following a conflict with Hal Jordan, the fan-favoriteGreen Lanternand de facto hothead of the Corps known as Guy Gardner drew his power from a different color. Having gotten his hands on the Yellow Power Ring of the classic DC Comics villain, Sinestro, Guy Gardner took the fight to the bad guys under the creative new alias of “Guy Gardner.”
Along with his no-frills identity change came a more streetwear-centric wardrobe for the former Lantern, with a large G-emblazoned leather jacket and jeans replacinghis more familiar Green Lantern Corps uniform. While this outfit is far from the worst redesign fans have ever seen, it is undoubtedly disappointing considering just how unique and memorable Guy’s typical Green Lantern suit really is.
9Tim Drake as “Drake”
First Appearance:Young Justice#10 by Brian Michael Bendis, John Timms, Nick Derrington, Dave Stewart, Gabe Eltaeb, and Wes Abbott
Lost in the Multiverse with his fellow Young Justice teammates, Tim Drake leftthe Robin mantle behindyet again to adopt a new mantle and costume as Drake. This overall change in character trajectory waswidely derided by DC Comics fans, and when it comes to the costume, it’s not hard to see why.
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Not only does the suit itself fall into the familiar pitfall of having unnecessarily complicated lines to seem more modern, but the color scheme is also absolutely abysmal. Drab brown, yellow, and black do not at all fit a character so traditionally associated with the bright reds and greens of Robin fame. In this design, Tim looks like another generic crimefighter, as opposed to the Robin that many fans consider to be the best of all time.
8Azrael’s Second Batman Armor
First Appearance:Detective Comics#675 by Chuck Dixon, Graham Nolan, Scott Hanna, Adrienne Roy, and John Costanza
When the Avenging Angel known as Azrael first filled in as Gotham’s Dark Knight, Jean-Paul Valley wasted no time making the role his own and almost immediately donned an intense (and extremely ’90s) design of his own making. Bringing a more brutal form of crimefighting to the streets of Gotham, Valley’s Batman was more armored with massive talons, golden armaments, giant shoulder pads, and, of course, random pouches.
To this day, this design has its fans, but Valley’s second iteration leaves much more to be desired. The updated Batman logo is a welcome addition to the look, but it’s his overly designed helmet that keeps the suit from fully coming together. Along with Azrael’s built-in Batarang gun, this helmet makes the uniformlook more like a mech than a Batman.
7Crimson Fox
First Appearance:Justice League Europe#6 by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, Bart Sears, Pablo Marcos, Gene D’Angelo, and Bob Lappan
One ofthe more obscure DC Comics heroes, the Crimson Fox identity was originally shared by twin sisters Constance and Vivian D’Aramis, who apparently had the exact same taste in terrible superhero fashion. A skintight uniform with a color scheme of various browns and a sizable headpiece, the outfit is certainlyone of the Justice League’s most memorable looks, but for a character called Crimson Fox, it just doesn’t work.
There’s nothing featured in this design that at all plays into the heroes’ shared crimefighting identity. Though it sometimes, maybe, looks crimson in the right light, there’s nothing about it that remotely brings a fox to mind. If anything, Crimson Fox’s headpiece and slinky movement style make her seem more like a cobra than a fox, but, admittedly, the Brown Cobra doesn’t have the same ring.
6Wonder Woman: Goddess of War
Diana of Themyscira is considered to be the ultimate ambassador of peace, but when she first ascended to the role of Goddess of War, her redesigned uniform presented quite the conflict in the character’s wardrobe history. Presenting Diana in a more armored look, the intent of the Wonder Woman design from DC Comics’ “DC You” era is far worthier than its execution.
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This look finally gives Diana a pair of pants, but they’re unfortunately overshadowed by an overly complicated battle skirt and a clunky pair of boots that dominate the eye. Were the skirt one solid color and the boots more uniform with the armored golden gauntlets,this could’ve been a top-tier Wonder Woman design. Unfortunately, it leaves readers wishing that Diana were as impossibly invisible as Wonder Woman’s iconic jet.
5Fate – No Doctorate Required
First Appearance:Fate#0 by John Francis Moore, Anthony Williams, Andy Lanning, Mike Danza, and Clem Robins
An edgy ‘90srevamp of the DC Comics heroknown as Doctor Fate, Jared Stevens, also known as Fate, had one of the worst designs of the decade, and it has hardly been outdone in the last thirty years since. Forgoing the traditional blue and gold worn by Nabu’s chosen champion, Fate’s look incorporated classic elements in unexpected ways, that, in all likelihood, would have been better left unexplored.
Instead of the iconic cloak, Fate used the shreds as a bandage covering his entire right arm, with the even more memorable Helmet of Fate melted down to be used as daggers and throwing ankhs. Along with the ankh tattoo, the dyed hair, and the mandatory trench coat, Fate’s designlacks any and all of the magic of a more traditional Doctor Fatedesign.
4Superman’s Hunter/Prey Armor
First Appearance:Superman / Doomsday: Hunter / Prey#3 by Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding, Gregory Wright, and Bill Oakley
Doomsday is by and large one of Superman’s most powerful sparring partners, so when a desperate Man of Steel donned new armor derived from a Mother Box to combat his killer once and for all, it made total sense in concept. In reality, however, Kal-El’sHunter / Preydesign is far from super.
Darker than his iconic red and blue, Superman’s new armor comesequipped with a Gambit-style headsockas well as thicker boots, navy gloves, and haphazardly placed golden armor to add to Clark’s natural protections against Doomsday. Also, as a sign of the times, Superman had his own share of unnecessary pouches. Mother Box even equips the Man of Steel with a powerful and energy-based sword. This armor may not scream Superman, but it does leave viewers screaming in terror.
3Orion’s “Superhero” Redesign
First Appearance:1st Issue Special#13 by Gerry Conway, Dennis O’Neil, Mike Vosburg, and Milt Snapinn
When the New Gods were first relaunched years after Jack Kirby’s original Fourth World Saga, the more militaristic Dog of War, Orion, sported a drastic redesign. Foregoing his iconic helmet and Astro-Harness, the protector of New Genesis now sported a more superhero-focused uniform – and not a great one to boot.
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This look maintained red as a major design factor for Orion, but replaced the gold of his harness with yellow gloves, boots, and trunks. A yellow, capless cowl highlighted Orion’s red hair, with a minimal blue “O” placed square on the hero’s chest. This design isn’t particularly offensive out of context, but it alsopaints over the unique elements of Orionand turns him into just a generic superhero. Orion may be one of Darkseid’s greatest opponents, but he is no superhero.
2Alan Scott’s Living Lantern Armor
First Appearance:Justice Society of America#49 by Marc Guggenheim, Scott Kolins, and Rob Leigh
While it doesn’t feature as much green as one would expect, Alan Scott’s original Green Lantern uniform set the tone for the more offbeat or unexpected looks he’d wear throughout the years. But one such design, an armored form he maintained during a period of temporary paralysis,leans into the Green Lantern namemore than ever, but to ultimately goofy results.
Built as if it were a compact hospital bed,the Green Lantern’s new suit kept Alan’s iconic cape, with billowy white sleeves and a metallic chest piece and back ornament that literally gave Scott a lantern’s shape. The Golden Age Green Lantern’s armored redesign fromKingdom Comeby Mark Waid and Alex Ross could’ve been adopted yet again in prime continuity instead, and the light of the Green Lantern would’ve shone far more brightly.
1Harley Quinn’s New 52 Redesign
Harley Quinn has had quite a few character arcs over the years, and she’s had just as many unique redesigns to go with them. But undoubtedly her worst design –and arguably one of DC Comics’ worst costumes of all time– was the outfit she wore during her first stint with the Suicide Squad.
Far more revealing than her original look, this costume features a red and navy corset, a ruffle choker, and hot pants along with knee-high socks. Not only is it entirely impractical, but this design is also just plain ugly. Considering the iconic nature of her original jester-themed costume design, any following costume alteration for the Gotham City Siren would face immense scrutiny. But when it comes the New 52’s redesign for Harley Quinn, this look is no laughing matter forDC Comics.
