Sexiness vs Practicality in superheroine costume design - a dancer's perspective

[strannik01]

If you are into superhero comics and take part in the superhero comics fandom, you know that costume designs for female superheroes can be something of a hot-button issue. Too often, superheroines' costumes seem to be designed based on sex appeal and not a whole lot else. Male superhero costumes are not always too terribly practical either, but at

Comments

[againstathorn]

This was interesting. As my much as I love superhero comics, namely Marvel, my interest terminates circa 92' when the costumes, among other things, started getting ridiculous. Come to think of it, some of the more flattering female costumes which come to mind are those which cover the wearer head to toe (original Spider-Woman) and stuff like Carol Danver's Ms. Marvel outfit (not the original Kree uniform) were a little risque while remaining practical. And then there's the 80s Dazzler comics where the heroine is fighting crime in discowear!

While I agree with her point about how the costume should within the context of the heroine's job, I guess one could argue that the traditional function of superhero comics was to provide entertainment for adolescent males, and impractical amounts of female skin would be part of that, regardless of what message it's communicating Not saying I agree to that, but it's one argument of defense.

[strannik01]

While I agree with her point about how the costume should within the context of the heroine's job, I guess one could argue that the traditional function of superhero comics was to provide entertainment for adolescent males, and impractical amounts of female skin would be part of that, regardless of what message it's communicating Not saying I agree to that, but it's one argument of defense. I've heard this argument being put forward, and I don't put much stock in it - for several reasons. First off, just because it's traditional doesn't mean it's a good idea. Second of all, there was never a point where some girls didn't read superhero comics - and the number of female superhero comics fans has been growing exponentially over the last 25 years or so. I've seen it online, at conventions and in comic stores (especially the majors like Graham Crackers and Chicago Comics). So even if catering to adolescent males was a viable strategy in the past (and I'm not convinced it ever was), it's fits the demographic realities less and less with

[againstathorn]

Agreed! :)