#prototype costumes

So, the current Propstore auction of Doctor Who items includes a prototype 13th Doctor Costume that was never used.

Instead of the eventual rainbow stripe, they were going to use to rows of a sort of graffiti Gallifreyan print, which is striking, but would probably have led to several internts worth of fan debate about what it translated as.

The same lot also has some other variations of in the eventual design, but nothing as distinct as the purple with print.

(All images used are not my own, and belong to their respective owners)

Hello and welcome to another installment of Cape Critiques. Now typically before any hero gets their iconic costumes, they go through several early designs. These early costumes are very minimal, and look very thrown together at the last minute. You also see what elements from the early suit are later incorporated into the final design. That is why I wanted to do a top 5 prototype costumes from tv/movies. 

Now before we start I want to establish one caveat to this list. Costumes that change between movies or seasons will not be on this list. For example the change in suit from the Amazing Spider-man to the Amazing Spider-man 2. While different and may contain one or more additional features, it’s still a complete suit. So with that being said, let’s get started.

5. Batman (Batman Begins)

I was debating on whether or not to include this one on the list since we only see it briefly. However, what I think makes this suit work is that we get to see it evolve into the final costume. Through a montage we see the addition of the arm guards he gets from the League of Shadows, the alterations to the grappling harness to just include the utility belt, the creation of the bat mask, and many more. It’s something that other movies would later mimic, such as Iron Man and the Amazing Spider-man. For that, It earns its spot at number 5.

4. Captain America (Captain America: the First Avenger)

This one is fairly simple is design with the only real costume aspects of it being the undershirt, helmet, and shield. That being said, it makes sense in the context of the movie as he literally throws it together at the last minute before heading out on his first mission. And while not as eye popping as the final costume, it works well for stealth. I would definitely consider this one a middle of the road design; not too flashy yet no too dull. 

3. Spider-man (Sam Raimi Spider-man)

Probably one of the earliest proto-costumes on this list, the wrestling costume Spider-man has a lot of appeal to me. I love how cheap it looks, as it realistically feels like something a person on a tight budget could afford. Plus the inverted sprayed on spider stencil is a nice touch. Also I always loved the “expectation vs. reality” moment this costume brought when we compare it to his initial concept art. This would be higher on the list, if it wasn’t for two other entries.

2. Daredevil (Netflix Daredevil)

Unlike most prototype suits, which are worn for a short amount of time, we become well acquainted with this one over 13 episodes. Taking inspiration from the early Daredevil costume created by Frank Miller, this one suits the character well by taking a very ninja-like design. Like Spider-man, it’s fairly simple and looks like something anyone could easily make. Once the season was over and he got his official costumes, many fans were sad to see it go. If it wasn’t for the fact that I’m a little biased towards number 1, then this most certainly would’ve taken 1st.

1. Iron Man Mark 1 (Iron Man)

I almost feel like I’m cheating by including this entry on the list since it has a lot more features than the others, but since it’s a literal prototype I feel that it’s fair to include it. They took the original Iron Man suit from his first appearance and brought it to life with additional details. I love the asymmetric look it has as well as the welding lines throughout. As a fan of robotics and suits of armor, how could I not put this as my number 1.

Closing Remarks: