Comic firsts: Trend starters

thalaw2 · May 18, 2007, 06:58:52 PM

I was thinking (no need for alarm) it would be interesting to know who was the first hero to appear with his underwear over spandex? It's so nonsensical yet so common....does it go back to the days of Knights and armor being designed that way?

catwhowalksbyhimself · May 18, 2007, 07:00:26 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that look actually go back to really old wrestling uniforms?

Again, I could be just going more crazy than usual.

JKCarrier · May 18, 2007, 07:01:25 PM

Yeah, wrestlers, acrobats, cicus strongmen.

thalaw2 · May 19, 2007, 03:04:46 AM

Doh' I never thougt of that and it's so obvious...this thinking thing will take some getting used to.

UnkoMan · May 20, 2007, 07:12:06 PM

Yeah, Superman's costume is said to be based on those sorts of circus folk, and that costume went on to be a base for many other super heroes.

However, the very first costumed hero, The Phantom, was inspired by Robin Hood apparently. And I've never seen him without his undies on the outside.

Alaric · May 20, 2007, 07:38:41 PM

Quote from: UnkoMan on May 20, 2007, 07:12:06 PM
Yeah, Superman's costume is said to be based on those sorts of circus folk, and that costume went on to be a base for many other super heroes.

However, the very first costumed hero, The Phantom, was inspired by Robin Hood apparently. And I've never seen him without his undies on the outside.

With all due respect to Phantom creator Lee Falk (who I used to know personally, when I was a kid), the Phantom was not the very first costumed hero- although I suppose it depends a little on how you define a "costume". Certainly, there were earlier heroes who wore disguises of one sort or another, some quite striking-looking- some even wore masks. For example, Zorro, the Shadow, the Spider, and the old "Penny Dreadfuls" version of the Spring-Heeled Jack character all wore some sort of disguise designed to protect their identities, and in several of these cases the disguise certainly fit the general definition of a "costume'" at least, in the same sense that a Halloween costume does (note that the "Spring-Heeled Jack" character, from the 1860s on, is a strong contender for the first modern-type superhero- he wore a costume, had a secret identity, fought crime, and had super powers, bestowed by his costume). As far as I know, though, the Phantom was probably the first to wear something resembling what we usually think of as a "superhero costume". And, no, I never asked Lee why he decided to put the Phantom's underwear on the outside...

Not that any of that really has much to do with the topic, I guess.

UnkoMan · May 24, 2007, 11:34:15 AM

Yes, you're correct. Super hero costume as we know it is what I meant. I guess I should have said... spandexed hero? Or something.

But yeah, it'd be real interesting to find out why underpants on the outside. In all honesty, he was probably inspired by something else. And that something else was inspired by something. Etc, etc, track it back... Maybe it is better left as a mystery of life.

BentonGrey · May 25, 2007, 12:43:43 PM

Well, if you've actually ever seen a man in spandex....well....it's a good idea to have a little extra covering on the lower parts, to avoid an almost obscene look. :P

Alaric · May 25, 2007, 02:44:28 PM

Of course, technically, when characters like Superman and the Phantom were created, spandex hadn't actually been invented yet...

daglob · May 25, 2007, 05:59:02 PM

Quote from: Alaric on May 25, 2007, 02:44:28 PM
Of course, technically, when characters like Superman and the Phantom were created, spandex hadn't actually been invented yet...

One word: cotton (says the guy from Alabama)

Kenn · June 03, 2007, 08:58:32 AM

Quote from: BentonGrey on May 25, 2007, 12:43:43 PM
Well, if you've actually ever seen a man in spandex....well....it's a good idea to have a little extra covering on the lower parts, to avoid an almost obscene look. :P

Yes! Someone else who actually gets it.

If Batman didn't wear trunks over his tights, we'd know exactly what kind of Bat-equipment he's packin'. If Superman didn't wear trunks over his tights, Lois would know exactly how "super" he is. And there's a reason why the guys at Fawcett used to sing songs about Captain Marvel having no b*lls. Because the way Cap was drawn he didn't have any.

Acrobats and wrestlers started wearing shorts over their tights because they didn't want the audience to see the exact size and shape of their "naughty bits". Super heroes followed suit.