The ongoing Hellfire Gala event in X-Men comics has produced some of the most outlandish superhero costumes in recent years. But there have been many daring costumes in comic book history, and they're not just limited to Marvel Comics. DC Comics has been responsible for some of the most outlandish costume designs of all time.
Some of them are reflections of their era, either in excess or restraint, but many of them have their own inherent charm. While some costumes are instant classics and stand the test of time, many become instantly dated and are at the very least signs for what to avoid in comics in the future.
9 Polka-Dot Man
The Polka-Dot Man is one of Batman's most visually unique - and most laughable - Batman villains of all time. Introduced in Detective Comics #300 in February 1962, Abner Krill is very reflective of the colorful, silly aesthetic of this era of DC Comics.
His costume is covered by polka-dots, which are in fact discs that somehow expand and become any number of objects, including a literal flying saucer. The technology behind it is never explained, and the costume has never really changed, even as Krill makes his first live-action appearance in The Suicide Squad.
8 Supergirl (Killer Matrix)
Comic fans know that Supergirl has had a few costume changes over the years. Most of them follow the same basic formula, but in the 90s, Supergirl got an extreme makeover.
The Killer Matrix version of Supergirl featured outrageous spikes on her arms, which served no real practical purpose. She also had a sleeveless tunic and random wrist and leg bands. This wasn't Kara Zor-El, who had perished years earlier in Crisis On Infinite Earths, but a self-aware proto-plasm that believed it was her.
7 Black Canary (80s)
Black Canary has had a lot of different costumes in her film and TV appearances. So far, none of them have chosen to replicate one of her most outlandish comic costumes. In the 1980s, Black Canary got a new black and blue jumpsuit, along with black wings that broadened over the shoulders.
The costume had a vague ski suit quality about it, which is interesting, but it didn't really have anything to do with Black Canary or her powers. It didn't last long and was so unpopular she even burned it on the cover of Action Comics Weekly #609.
6 Tyroc
Tyroc's one-piece might have seemed fashion-forward in the 70s when it was introduced and was certainly meant to be in the 30th century setting of the Legion of Super-Heroes, but it became very dated very quickly.
Tyroc simple outfit emphasized his impressive physique, but the combination of the chains and a high, pointless collar clashed pretty hard. The costume might have a place in the Hellfire Gala, but in the DC Universe of the 70s, it was an instant relic.
5 Superman (At Earth's End)
Superman has one of the all-time great superhero costumes, essentially perfect out of the gate in Action Comics #1 in 1938. There have been a few variations of the costume, and many alternate versions of Superman, and the At World's End version is one of the most extreme.
An older version of Kal-El finds himself in need of a gigantic gun, which is so big fans might not notice how dark and utilitarian his costume has become. This is one of the darkest interpretations of the Man of Steel in the comics.
4 Doctor Fate (90s)
The 1990s saw a lot of costume updates for superheroes across the genre, with the extreme aesthetic of the era seemingly affecting everyone. Doctor Fate was no exception. Comic fans know Doctor Fate's history dates back to 1940, and his costume is one of the most iconic in DC.
In the 90s, all of it goes out the window in favor of a radical redesign that aligns that character more with the grim and gritty antiheroes of the era. The ankh symbol is now a tattoo over his eye, and his classic costume is replaced by random gold bandages and bracelets.
3 Black Condor
Black Condor might truly fit in at the Hellfire Gala, but his costume was out of the bounds of what comic fans expected when he came on the scene in 1943. His unusual costume consists solely of a cape and trunks connected by a thin band of fabric over his bare chest.
The costume offered no practical benefit and no protection from any kind of injury, but perhaps it was influential. It preceded the similarly outlandish costumes of Tyroc and other characters.
2 Wonder Woman (90s)
Wonder Woman's costume is as classic as Superman and Batman. While it's seen some minor adjustments over the years, Diana got her most radical makeover in the 90s.
Another example of the excess of the era, Diana loses all of her recognizable design elements for a costume that consists of a short jacket and biker shorts. This dark look was typical of many characters in the era, and like many others, didn't really make sense in the context of the character. Wonder Woman went back to a more familiar look not long after.
1 Cosmic Boy (70s)
Another DC costume that seems as though it would fit right in at the Hellfire Gala is that of Cosmic Boy. The classic Legion of Super-Heroes character wore a pink and black costume for decades, with the black elements hugging his sides. In the late 70s, his costume dwindled to just the black vest, leaving everything else exposed.
He also wore knee-high boots and gloves that went almost to his elbow. It was incredibly daring for the time, and while not at all practical, the costume is one of the most unique in comic book history. He would revert back to his more traditional look in the early 80s.
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