8 Divisive Marvel And DC Superhero Movie Costume Reveals That Continue To Divide Fan Opinions

8 Divisive Marvel And DC Superhero Movie Costume Reveals That Continue To Divide Fan Opinions

A recent first look at Avengers: Doomsday's Doctor Doom was met with widespread approval from fans, but that hasn't always been the case. In this feature, we look back at 8 particularly divisive reveals!

Feature Opinion
By JoshWilding - Sep 23, 2025 01:09 PM EST
Filed Under: Marvel Studios

When Superman director James Gunn shared a first look at David Corenswet's Man of Steel last year, it proved surprisingly divisive. Even now, the hero's DCU costume splits opinions, and Superman isn't the first character to feature in a splashy sneak peek meant to get fans excited.

While those usually managed to build hype, there are occasions when fans hate what they see. Others, meanwhile, are quick to defend what often amounts to a complete overhaul, an inevitability for some characters as they transition from page to screen. 

This isn't a list of the worst superhero movie costumes...just those that divided opinions when they were first revealed to the world (and, as mentioned above with Supes, sometimes continue to do so to this very day).

To take a closer look at these divisive efforts, simply click on the "Next"/"View List" buttons below. 
 

8. Spider-Man (The Amazing Spider-Man)

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The Amazing Spider-Man failed to tell the "Untold Story" promised in the trailers, and this Peter Parker's origin story ultimately ended up playing out very similarly to his predecessor. 

Sony did shake things up with Spidey's suit, though, and fans weren't happy. The missing "belt" ruined the look for many, as did the basketball-like texture and fairly busy design around the wrists (as for the logo, it was always going to receive a love/hate response). 

Later, the gold eyes and trainers also split opinions, but The Amazing Spider-Man 2's suit reveal fared considerably better a couple of years later by sticking as close to the comics as possible.
 

7. Captain America (Captain America: The First Avenger)

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Our first look at Marvel Studios' Star Spangled Avenger came in the form of set photos, and boy, a lot of people really didn't like Captain America: The First Avenger's take on Steve Rogers' World War II-era costume. 

The suit was compared to a quilt and proved perfect fodder for those who'd argued Chris Evans was too skinny to play a Super Soldier. 

He'd later prove them wrong, of course, while Cap's uniform ended up looking much better in motion. However, Evans found himself decked out in yet another divisive suit when The Avengers was released (even he wasn't a fan of that one). 
 

6. The X-Men (X-Men)

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The superhero movie genre was in its infancy when X-Men was released, so Bryan Singer mostly managed to get away with making sweeping changes to the mutant team. 

We ended up with a pretty good movie when all was said and done, but the team's black leather costumes still split opinions. It's easy enough to understand why colourful spandex didn't make the cut in 2000; the X-Men deserved better than suits with zero personality, though. 

The one time the heroes donned anything close to comic-accurate costumes was during X-Men: Apocalypse's closing moments (it didn't last). Thankfully, Marvel Studios is making moves to change that with Avengers: Doomsday.
 

5. The Joker (Suicide Squad)

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This was messy. Initially, the buzz surrounding David Ayer's Suicide Squad was positive. He was fresh off the success of Fury, and a dark, gritty take on Task Force X seemed like exactly what the DCEU needed to differentiate itself from the MCU.

Then, we saw Jared Leto's Joker. News of the Oscar-winner playing the Clown Prince of Crime led to the belief we'd get a take on the villain that topped even The Dark Knight's Heath Ledger. 

The tattoos...the teeth...the fact "Damaged" was right there on his forehead...this wasn't what DC fans wanted. The finished product looked no better (and Zack Snyder's Justice League was by no means an improvement).
 

4. Green Lantern (Green Lantern)

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You really had to be there to understand what the build to Green Lantern's release was like. Leaked concept art showcasing the Green Lantern Corps quickly built excitement, leading to a deep-rooted belief that this movie would be DC's Star Wars or Avatar

Ryan Reynolds being cast as Hal Jordan was divisive from the start, of course, and when the first trailer dropped, the sh*t really hit the fan. 

Unfinished VFX made the actor look like a complete joke. As for the Corps members, unflattering comparisons were made to the sort of rudimentary CG characters you'd see in the '90s. The visuals in the final cut were slightly better, but a fully CG suit was a major blunder.
 

3. Green Goblin (Spider-Man)

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We're keeping it green and hopping over to the Marvel Universe for this entry. Sam Raimi attempted to faithfully adapt the Green Goblin in 2002's Spider-Man (test footage has proved that), only to decide it wouldn't work.

The technology just wasn't there at the time for a realistic animatronic Goblin, so the villain was overhauled and looked like what many would later describe as a green Power Ranger. 

From a storytelling perspective, the change made sense. It was bland, though, and lacked much of what made the character leap off the page. Marvel Studios tried to make up for this in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and we'd say they mostly succeeded. 
 

2. Venom (Venom)

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When the news broke that Tom Hardy would play Venom, fans were initially excited. Sure, the movie wouldn't be set in the MCU, but a story about the Lethal Protector doing his thing in San Francisco? It had plenty of potential. 

The 2018 blockbuster was a critical flop, but it still sold plenty of tickets. Love or hate this one, when we got our first look at Venom, fans had the same question: "Where was his chest logo?"

Weird white veins on his chest seemed to pay homage to it, but with no Spider-Man in the frame, Sony decided against even coming up with a new design for the anti-hero "logo." The result was a visual that let down an otherwise solid take on Eddie Brock's alien other. 
 

1. Superman (Superman)

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We talked a lot about this suit reveal at the time, and since Superman swooped into theaters, it's fair to say the tide has turned somewhat. Even now, not everyone loves this design, of course, but the presentation might be what caused the problem.  

By having the Man of Steel sit down in an attempt to portray him as an everyman, the suit is bunched up and appears ill-fitting. And why was he slowly suiting up while ignoring the destruction raining down outside his window? No wonder people were divided on this one. 

Superman provided an explanation, of course, as that interdimensional imp was being dealt with by the Justice Gang. This might be a lesson to choose better for the next first look photo, though. 

Have we missed any other particularly divisive superhero movie suits? As always, head to the comments section below to let us know your thoughts. 
 

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TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/23/2025, 1:19 PM
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Anyway , I think I now fall under the opinion of “the suit has grown on me but I still don’t love certain elements of it so it’s not my favorite” for the Superman suit.

Also didn’t mind Garfield’s TASM suit and liked Steve’s more “utilitarian” outfit for TFA!!.
MrDandy
MrDandy - 9/23/2025, 1:21 PM
Why is First Avenger costume on here. Most people like that one and it even returns in the climax of Winter Soldier. The one everyone hated was the Captain America costume from The Avengers.
Forthas
Forthas - 9/23/2025, 1:24 PM
The Superman 2025 suit was, is and always will be ridiculous! It probably contributed to the film flopping.

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kseven
kseven - 9/23/2025, 3:59 PM
@Forthas - It's more comic book accurate than anything we've had in live action movies from the last 30 years.

Only asshurt snyderbots who are not actual fans have problems with the suit.

The only issue was the collar but even with that it was still better than Snyderman.
Forthas
Forthas - 9/23/2025, 4:20 PM
@kseven -

"It's more comic book accurate than anything we've had in live action movies from the last 30 years"

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Superman 3 and 4 had comic accurate suits and those films sucked as does Superman 2025...whereas Man of Steel had a modern more appropriate and less cringe suit and that film will go down as one of if not the best Superman film ever made.
kseven
kseven - 9/23/2025, 5:05 PM
@Forthas - Superman 1 & 2 had the same suit, and Superman 1 is widely acknowledged as not only one of the best CBMs ever made but also the best Superman film ever made.

Whereas Snyderman Begins sucked so much it got rebooted and never got a sequel and is widely regarded as one of the worst versions of the character, setting off the worst adaptation of comic book characters in superhero movie history.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/23/2025, 8:59 PM
@Forthas - I thought MoS's costume was divisive. Darker colors, leathery outfit, no curl in the hair, and most of all: NO RED WRESTLING TRUNKS ON THE OUTSIDE!
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/23/2025, 8:59 PM
@kseven - definitely agree
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/23/2025, 9:14 PM
@Forthas - oh, and built-in abs. I HATE when superhero movies do that
Forthas
Forthas - 9/24/2025, 9:38 AM
@kseven - So was it "comic book accurate" suit that made the film good. The ACTUAL best CBM ever is the Dark Knight and Batman's suit did not include a blue/grey diaper and it did fine!.

The sequel of Man of Steel WAS Batman V Superman....so according to your logic, the original Donner Superman was also rebooted after Superman 4, so somehow that means Donner's original film was not good?

...."is widely regarded as one of the worst versions of the character"

Yet it is the highest grossing solo Superman film ever (even without adjusting for inflation) and its after box office Blu Ray sales ranks 23rd of ALL time...because it is widely regarded as the worst version of the character?

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Forthas
Forthas - 9/24/2025, 9:44 AM
@lazlodaytona -

" I thought MoS's costume was divisive."

Oh! is that why it was so successful?

"...and most of all: NO RED WRESTLING TRUNKS ON THE OUTSIDE!"

I know! It really ruined Batman's popularity....oh wait!?!?

"oh, and built-in abs. I HATE when superhero movies do that"

Yeah it is a good thing SOME actors don't need them

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kseven
kseven - 9/24/2025, 10:00 AM
@Forthas - Wrong. Superman The Movie is the highest grossing Superman film of all time at over a billion dollars adjusted for inflation.

The original Reeve film had many sequels and spinoff and an entire genre of movies created around it, while Snyderman was relegated to a side character in BVS and barely in the Snyder League movie.

Writing and directing will always be most important in making a movie successful, but having a less comic book accurate suit is never a net positive. Superman's suit was never broken and therefore never needed fixing. The suit is one of the best designs in all of comics and a truly timeless look that has become iconic. It works because of its primary colors and color balance. Snyderbots are artistically challenged dolts tho who will never understand this.

Good riddance to the snyderverse forever.
kseven
kseven - 9/24/2025, 10:02 AM
Even Henry Cavill wanted the true suit in the movie and understood the character better than Snyder did in interviews alone. He should have made the movie himself, it'd have been much better than what Snyder gave us.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/24/2025, 2:19 PM
@Forthas - good lord u yammer on a lot about nothing. Points for length though...I guess
blitzburgh
blitzburgh - 9/24/2025, 9:56 PM
@Forthas - the movie didn't flop you twit, most of us liked it you're just a nolanite jackass
blitzburgh
blitzburgh - 9/24/2025, 9:57 PM
@Forthas - no stupid, the begin suit was perfect The Dark Knight suit sucked made him look like he had a scrawny neck
99OPTIMISTPRIME
99OPTIMISTPRIME - 9/23/2025, 1:26 PM
I don't think anybody likes that second Batsuit, in The Dark Knight Trilogy.🤣
Matchesz
Matchesz - 9/23/2025, 1:50 PM
@99OPTIMISTPRIME - what I loved his tactical batsuit, just thought they’d improve on it more with something covering the smaller pieces, it does look like a prototype
dragon316
dragon316 - 9/23/2025, 3:05 PM
@99OPTIMISTPRIME - it was ok but bay on costume could have remained same on first one
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/23/2025, 9:02 PM
@99OPTIMISTPRIME - I did like Begins WAY better
SuperCat
SuperCat - 9/23/2025, 1:29 PM
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blitzburgh
blitzburgh - 9/24/2025, 9:59 PM
@SuperCat - God damn that's awesome how did you do the Superman thing
SuperCat
SuperCat - 9/25/2025, 7:50 AM
@blitzburgh - Can't take credit for that Superman gif. Found it online :)
mountainman
mountainman - 9/23/2025, 1:36 PM
Cap’s suit was divisive in The Avengers not First Avenger, unless you count the USO suit he worse for a few minutes of the film.
FrankenDad
FrankenDad - 9/23/2025, 1:55 PM
Goddamn that Green Goblin suit. Too bad they couldn’t make that amazing animatronic work.
Timerider
Timerider - 9/23/2025, 1:58 PM
@FrankenDad - it should be full CGI next time, but I loved that animatronic head they were working on, wish it would have worked.
dragon316
dragon316 - 9/23/2025, 3:07 PM
@FrankenDad - it is comic accurate it’s modern take on costume unlike green goblin from amazing Spider-Man look more ultimate green goblin
FrankenDad
FrankenDad - 9/23/2025, 4:43 PM
@dragon316 - They both sucked, aesthetically. Lookup the test footage of the animatronic they were looking to use. That’s a villain.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/23/2025, 1:56 PM
Off topic:
@ RorMachine
@JoshWilding

Marvin Jones III cast as Tombstone in Spider Man:Brand New Day

https://deadline.com/2025/09/spider-man-brand-new-day-casts-marvin-jones-iii-tombstone-1236553455/
Spike101
Spike101 - 9/23/2025, 2:29 PM
From your list it’s only the original goblin suit I really didn’t like, I’d have preferred a more comic accurate one.
DannyBrandy20
DannyBrandy20 - 9/23/2025, 2:47 PM
I liked Green Lantern suit design but not cgi

Suit should've been practical
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 9/23/2025, 3:09 PM
The Superman costume is a great homage to the New 52.
dragon316
dragon316 - 9/23/2025, 3:13 PM
Green goblin look I like green goblin look in Spider-Man 3 I didn’t like same with amazing Spider-Man 2 and venom look I like it is ultimate venom mixed combined with venom personality of lethal protector no one read that venom is more accurate looking compared to modok and leader , venom look better to leader he grew in size big massive intimated out of all other characters look pick venom , Superman Sam raimi green goblin where is leader , modok , fans compalin about venom no spider on body but black widow change hair to blonde no Russian accent from being born in Russia is ok with fans and fans always cry comic accurate nothing accurate about black widow in infity war BLINDE HAIR no Russian accent.,

Taskmaster ,add to list and much more to add to it yes I green lantern movie and costume better from steel and Electra costume in solo movie
dragon316
dragon316 - 9/23/2025, 3:14 PM
@dragon316 - Todd thinks about venom look

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JobinJ
JobinJ - 9/23/2025, 3:32 PM
The Superman suit is easily the worst interpretation on live action. Just terrible.
RolandD
RolandD - 9/23/2025, 4:37 PM
The First Avenger and Superman don’t belong here. The Avengers Cap could make this list, although without the cowl, it’s okay. If you want to include a Superman costume, I would include Routh’s withe the maroon cape, boots, etc and the tiny sheild and trunks as well as the incorrect shade of blue.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 9/23/2025, 5:22 PM

The Superman movie was okay, but the suit looked like bad homemade cosplay.

LoudLon
LoudLon - 9/23/2025, 5:54 PM
The only thing I didn't like about the Superman suit was the collar. Other than that, I liked it quite a bit. I liked that it was bright and cheerful-looking, I liked that they brought the trunks back, and I like that it actually looks like fabric. I liked it way, way more than the dark, scaly/rubbery second skin junk they had Cavill squeezed into. That shit just looked uncomfortable.

I liked the CA:TFA costume. I'm a veteran, and I like that it had that period-specific fatigues look to it. Colors aside, it looked durable and practical -- very militaristic. And it never occurred to me to make his mask a helmet. I felt stupid when I saw that because I never thought of it myself. OF COURSE it should be a helmet, just like in the military.

I didn't like the ASM suit. Texturally, it looks like it's made from a basketball, and the web pattern wasn't webs, just lines. Spider-Man's suit is a perfect example of "ain't broke, don't fix it" for me. I didn't like any of the Holland Spider-Man suits for that very reason.

Never liked the X-Men suits. That's from a time when, apparently, filmmakers were afraid to give the heroes comics-accurate costumes because they'd look -- gasp! -- too comic book-y. Instead, they all looked like extras in a Matrix sequel. I didn't love Deadpool v Wolverine, but I did love Wolverine's costume in that one.

Venom -- Just looks like goop to me, like dude went swimming in an oil spill then took a swim through some seaweed. Don't like it at all. But I've never been a fan of the character anyway, so whatever.

Green Goblin -- I'm one of the many, I'm sure, who griped that he looked like something out of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. But from a practicality standpoint, I get it; we've seen the behind-the-scenes footage of the original animatronic mask, and as eerily cool as I thought it was, it wouldn't have worked well in the movie. The helmet is better than nothing, I just wish the entire suit hadn't been entirely green. I liked the green with purple hoodie look from No Way Home, but wish they'd made a full costume of it.

Leto's Joker -- the less said, the better. Utter garbage visually, and Leto [frick]ing SUCKED as the character.

Reynolds' Green Lantern -- I didn't hate the costume, but it could have done without the CGI tweaks. Otherwise it was fine. No more, no less.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/23/2025, 9:11 PM
We all know the X-Men black, leather suits wasn't to avoid a "too comicbooky" look. Please.
It's because Synger was into some weird bandage sh1t. He only put it on the adults at first to avoid suspicion. He later planned to put it on the young Mutants but he couldn't stay with the franchise long enough.

Oh, and I'd go to bat for the 2011 Green Lantern suit all day. I loved the way you could see the power surge through the suit and into the ring arm to create constructs. The only horrible thing about it was the cgi eye-mask. That looked ridiculous.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/23/2025, 9:12 PM
@lazlodaytona - weird *bondage sh1t
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