Civvie Spandex: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

** 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.

** 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.]]

** [[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.

* 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.

* [[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.

* ''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]] ==

* 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]] ==

** One should note that Zorro, of course, predates the Phantom and Superman.

 

* ''[[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.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Costume Tropes]]