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Civvie Spandex: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
{{quote|''"I'm not wearing one of those damnfool spandex body-condom things. I haven't got the [[Most Common Superpower|bust]] for it."''
▲[[File:superboy001_8737.jpg|link=Superboy|right]]
|'''Jenny Sparks''', ''[[The Authority]]''}}
▲{{quote|''"I'm not wearing one of those damnfool spandex body-condom things. I haven't got the [[Most Common Superpower|bust]] for it."''|'''Jenny Sparks''', ''[[The Authority]]''}}
Superheroes who couple a typical [[The Cape (trope)|Cape's]] outfit with mundane clothes such as jeans and sneakers. This may also be an attempt to keep a classic design but update (or obscure) an otherwise flashy outfit.
The most prominent example is jackets, and most of the characters who wore them were originally the younger set created in the early 90s. [[Marvel Universe]] characters are especially notable for this, although the first popular character to do so may have been [[Animal Man]].{{verify}}
This page may also contain examples of characters who identify as superheroes, but do not wear a typical costume of any kind, as [[Not Wearing Tights]] is a different trope entirely. (This type, such as the quoted Jenny Sparks, tend to have an set civilian outfit that does the same job.) See [[Coat, Hat, Mask]] for the minimum amount of spandex needed for this trope to apply. Also, [[Spandex, Latex, or Leather]] for other issues involving costuming.
{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
* In ''[[Gantz]]'', 8th grader Joichiro Nishi wears pants and a hooded sweatshirt over his black combat jumpsuit.
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**** [[Fridge Brilliance|Or any one of the other hundred of butlers, doormen, or chauffeurs hanging around the city.]]
** The Green Hornet debuted on radio 17 days prior to the debut of the Phantom and long before Action Comics#1. The public thinks of him as a criminal for profit/racketeer, not a hero.
** In the '40s, the original Sandman's ([[The Sandman|no relation]]) original costume was a suit, [[Badass Longcoat|Long Coat]], fedora and
*** For a brief period towards the end of [[The Golden Age of Comic Books]], Sandman was [[Executive Meddling|executive meddled]] into garish yellow-and-purple tights. This was generally regarded as a [[Dork Age]], including by the character himself.
** The Crimson Avenger and Wing, who were [[Captain Ersatz|closely modelled on]] the Hornet and Kato, started out with the trenchcoat-and-fedora look, but quickly gained costumes to distinguish themselves, with a [[Chest Insignia]] resembling a sunburst. When the [[Legacy Character|modern Crimson Avenger]] was introduced, she claimed the insignia was a stylised bullethole, and wore
** Of course, the ur-instance of this trope would be ''[[The Shadow]]'', even older than ''The Spirit'', who dresses in a black and red suit, cape and fedora with the only unusual garment being a silk mask over his lower face.
** The Shadow debuted in the pulps and on radio, not comic books or comic strips.
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** Storm's initial definitive shift from her gentle [[Team Mom]]/Nature Goddess persona during the '80s was punctuated with both an [[Important Haircut]] and abandonment of her outfit for a black leather tube-top/vest/tight pants/boots ensemble. Some readers took it as her [[Les Yay|coming out]] as well, especially after her "night out" with Yukio.
** Jubilee's signature look is a bright yellow coat worn over her uniform.
* ''[[Animal Man]]:'' When the obscure character was revived in 1988 in his own series, writer [[Grant Morrison]] changed his image by having him wear a denim jacket over his spandex costume. This not only
** The pockets being for mainly carrying around his keys and
** It's generally accepted that Animal Man popularized the leather jacket motif for superheroes throughout the nineties (which is ironic because he'd never ''touch'' leather). It seemed like every superhero suddenly got the urge for a biker jacket after A-Man. If there is another reason for ''Black Knight'' sporting a jacket over his ''medieval armor'', it is surely not a very good one.
*** Buddy Baker did temporarily switch to leather while [[Roaring Rampage of Revenge|hunting and culling]] those responsible for killing his wife and kids. Said wife and kids [[Unexplained Recovery|got better.]]
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* The second Mister Terrific started out wearing ordinary clothes, including a leather jacket with his predecessor's "Fair Play" logo on the back. He now sports a full costume, including a stylised jacket with "Fair Play" on the sleeves and "Terrific" on the back.
* The ''[[Sleepwalker]]'' villains Lullaby and Bookworm were examples of villains who didn't wear costumes, doing their nefarious deeds in their regular street clothes.
* When the Wonder Twins became [[Canon Immigrant
* Shadowman from [[Valiant Comics]] started out wearing a spandex costume. About a year and a half after his debut, he switched to wearing leather pants, boots, leather jacket and a shirt with the logo he used for the spandex costume.
* In the 90's a number of characters adopted the Leather Trenchcoat or Duster look. It was essentially the modern replacement for the cape.
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** [[The Authority|Jenny Quantum]], successor to the above, also eschews spandex in favour of civilian clothing; however, her trademark combination of a yellow t-shirt and black leather jacket is a [[Daddy's Girl|rather sweet]] callback to her parents' costumes.
* The [[Flaming Carrot]] wears just a white button-up shirt and purple pants. Oh, and a 4-foot tall carrot mask (with a torch on the top). Also, a pair of flippers. The only function they serve is to keep things from being too easy for him.
* In ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20131029130101/http://www.johnnysaturn.com/2006/01/18/book-one-page-01/ Johnny Saturn]''Triops, tired of being tressed as a foppy stage magician, turns to wearing average clothing and a trenchcoat.
* None of the [[Runaways]] wear any particular costume. They ''attempt'' to use code-names in their first major story arc, but quickly abandon them (except for the [[Cute Bruiser]] who likes calling herself "Princess Powerful."
* The Vigilante, Greg Saunders, wore a pair of jeans and normal clothes.
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* [[Hellboy (comics)|Hellboy]] usually [[Monster Modesty|doesn't wear much]] and has a [[Utility Belt]] but his main feature is [[Badass Longcoat|a big, brown coat.]]
* In ''[[The Crow]]'', Eric wears normal clothes with facepaint. This tradition has been carried on to the comic sequels.
* In the current run of ''[[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]]'', Jamie Madrox wears a T-shirt with the circles-joined-by-lines logo of his old Multiple Man costume.
* ''Doctor Mirage''. The titular hero was zapped with magical energy while wearing his ski outfit. He had no choice but to 'wear' that for some time.
* ''[[Madman (Comic Book)|Madman]]'' sometimes wears a leather jacket over his costume. Additionally, his costume really is his civilian attire so in a way, he's always wearing civvie spandex.
* Grifter from ''[[Wild CATS]]'' has the longcoat, cargo pants, combat boots version, combined with a [[Cool Mask]].
== [[Film]] ==
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* Also mentioned above, [[The Crow]] films always have the protagonists essentially wear normal clothes with face paint.
* ''[[The Mask (film)|The Mask]]'' is a slight variation. The film version creates normal clothes to wear, but they're usually clothes from The Forties or therebouts.
== [[Literature]] ==
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** One should note that Zorro, of course, predates the Phantom and Superman.
== [[Live
* ''[[Smallville]]'' has its nascent [[Justice League]] members dress in either casual clothes with [[Cool Shades]] and hoodies that make them look like the League of Unabombers, or color-coded sports gear, [http://smallville.wikia.com/wiki/Justice_League viz]. Clark always did his thing in red-and-blue [[Not Wearing Tights|civvies]], [http://smallville.wikia.com/wiki/The_Blur#The_Red-Blue_Blur.2FThe_Blur until season 9].
** Although Black Canary look is pretty close to the comic version save shorter hair and facepaint shaped like a domino mask, although the fact that her costume consists of a rather stripperific outfit with fishnets is most likely the cause.
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* Huntress on ''[[Birds of Prey (TV series)|Birds of Prey]]'' wore black leather and, oddly, no mask. Somehow she still had a secret identity.
* As originally conceived, ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'' was going to use spandex costumes, but was shot down by [[Executive Meddling]]. So instead we got Claire's cheerleader outfit in season 1... [[All Guys Want Cheerleaders|to very few complaints]].
* For almost two decades, The Riddler wore green spandex covered with question marks, a purple belt, and a purple "burglar" mask. When Frank Gorshin portrayed him on the '60s ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' TV series, he switched between the traditional outfit and a classy
** The ''[[Batman: The Animated Series|Batman the Animated Series]]'' version of The Riddler wears this outfit exclusively. Unfortunately, ''The New Batman Adventures'' changed his costume back to spandex.
*** in ''[[The Batman]]'', it goes even farther. He's still in spandex with the question-mark cane... But between his complexion and the fact that the long-and-lanky aspect of his hair is only beaten by the long-and-lanky aspect of his BODY, this troper was waiting for the credits to say "Special guest star, [[Marilyn Manson]]."
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{{reflist}}
[[Category:
[[Category:Standard Superhero Suits]]▼
[[Category:Costume Tropes]]
[[Category:
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