Many comic book characters change their costumes, but in this, we see the MCU characters with the best suit upgrades because while their older ones are already brilliant, there is nothing wrong with improvement. As Shuri would note that just because something is good doesn’t mean it cannot be made better. Well, to celebrate that, we decided to compile some of the best changes here. Some of these characters have their mental states depicted through their suits or costume. It is absolutely brilliant on the part of the costume designers to take into account these changes and replicate something interesting.
The MCU is ever-expanding, and now that the multiverse has been split wide open, the opportunities to explore new suits are endless. It is amazing to see how every movie adds a little easter egg within the suit. The whole reason why every suit reveal is a secret is that they are all indications of what is coming next for the character, and based on that, we can see what comic the movie/TV show this suit is being derived from. So, without any further ado, here are some of the best suit upgrades.
MCU Characters With the Best Suit Upgrades
Captain Marvel
After being a square at the beginning of her career, Carol Danvers changed up her style in this rendition of the character. The suit is well-fitted, there are fewer bells and whistles and most of all, it has a practical sleeve length that works well for travelling across the universe. And on account of sounding just a little biased, the Ms Marvel suit just seems cooler than anything she has worn so far. Are we forgetting the biker gloves as well? They pair so well with the outfit and give her an outlaw streak. This seems like the perfect outfit to complement her character arc well.
Captain America
The star-spangled man with a plan always has a flashy red, white and blue suit, letting everyone know that Captain America is here to save the day. But when he becomes a fugitive after Civil War and has to rise out of the shadows in Infinity War, this suit becomes a symbol of losing hope in the new American order. However, adding the beard to the mix, this is perhaps the best outfit till now. All the colours are muted, and while the bright suit is the OG, this new rendition gives Cap the rugged look he deserves. A man with so many ideals can only hide his dark side for so long.
Scarlet Witch
As we see more of Wanda Maximoff, we get a deeper insight into her life. In Infinity War, she lost the love of her life and passed along with him. She was just coming off from a vacation in Edinburgh with Vision, so her outfit was appropriate for the weather there. Once again, Scarlet Witch’s colours shine bright in her jacket and give her a comic look, but the WandaVision suit is earned. It is so satisfying to see that the comic book outfit and the modern Marvel sensibilities come together in this look.
She looks absolutely brilliant, and if anyone was wondering, the suit has a striking similarity to the one Magneto has in the recent X-Men films. The attention to detail in the suit is absolutely mind-blowing. Knowing that the centre of her neckline has a cutout of the mind stone just takes us right back to the wave of grief we ride when it comes to this character.
Okoye
Okoye would hate that this writer has broached this subject, but the suit is absolutely brilliant. While the original outfit has all the vibranium to protect her from an onslaught of modern machinery, the Midnight Angel outfit is a stellar upgrade from her Dora Milaje outfit. (It’s a different thing that she was kicked out but still). The suit allows the wearer to fly, and honestly, it gives Okoye all the freedom of movement she deserves from this suit. It has in-built AI and even some extra padding, making it the perfect combat outfit.
The Falcon- Sam Wilson as Captain America
The last time we saw this character, he was frolicking with his wings and shield, trying to bring down an extremist organisation, but the outfit he wore at the time left little to be desired. The Wakandans have done a great job with the cowl and the goggles that incorporated his former superhero alias. However, reverting back to the OG Captain colours in the upcoming film is a good idea. The white in the older suit is too striking, drowning all the Captain America allure. Moreover, the wings are still there in this outfit, which means all that is changing is the colour, and that is something we can truly root for.
Spider-Man
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man has been going through it, but his suits just get more and more advanced as he gets sadder, and if that is not poetic cinema, I don’t know what is. Starting with the homemade suit and then going to the Stark-provided AI-equipped outfit was just the beginning. Because then came nano-tech and then complete control over the kind of suit he wanted to customise. This is not just a glow-up for the outfit but also the character.
At the beginning of the trilogy, he is a naive little boy, still figuring out how to use his powers. By the end, he has gone through so much pain that it steels him against the world and gives him so much strength and responsibility that he is able to carry the legacy of Tony Stark, the OG torchbearer of the MCU.
Hulk
The man who started off with tastefully ripped pants and a barely present outfit evolved to a full-body gladiator armour with a plume and everything. That is a glow-up, like a true glow-up (Sorry, Bruce). But that is not all. Along with a brilliant outfit, the man got a haircut and a chiselled body. Working at a colosseum beating people up definitely comes with its own perks. This did not just bring Hulk out of his shell but put him on the map as a formidable opponent. This guy went head-to-head with Thanos and needed to be given the credit where it was due.
Black Widow
The male gaze exercises itself so clearly in past superhero films that even this character wasn’t able to get away from the female superhero treatment. Her suit was barely practical, and her poses were definitely causing enough bodily harm to be considered beneficial in any kind of way. However, when you have a female director, it means the suits become more well-constructed and less sexualised. This suit is not just an indication of what the evolution of this character is but also a way to say that all of the characters are taking back their narratives.
Thor
Our blond boy in the beginning, with his bleached eyebrows, looks like a Prince Charming, and while that would have worked well for everyone else, the Norse mythology geeks know the kind of gritty reputation the God of Thunder has. The new outfit with the short hair and the one-sided cape all but reflects the kind of broken background this is coming from. However, the face paint and the shield give him the soldier look that makes truly makes him a God. This outfit exudes confidence, restrained strength and an unsaid threat.
Bucky Barnes- The Winter Soldier
Someone mentioned that Bucky having a face covering at the bottom is a way to muzzle him because he was supposed to be a weapon and nothing more. No thoughts and no practical contribution to the missions he was completing. However, this newer look, with the arm from Wakanda, gives him roots in something while also giving him the freedom to be himself. Bucky may have been a weapon his whole life, but now at least, he has something to go home to. Unlikely familiarity has a lot to do with how he views himself. Sam Wilson is just the beginning. Watch this character take over the entire MCU’s heart soon.
All of the aforementioned movies and TV shows are currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. Who do you think has had the best glow-up? Are there any we have missed? Let us know in the comments below.