Readers Assemble! Learn About Strange Details Found In Costumes Across The MCU
One of the fun parts about watching the Marvel Cinematic Universe, aside from watching some of Earth's finest fictional heroes, is looking at some of the infamous comic book costumes brought to life on screen. From Captain Marvel's Starforce star to Rocket the Racoon's red scarf, some details might have fans of the MCU doing a double-take.
With film adaptations, though, not everything can be translated from comic pages to the silver screen. Sometimes, it takes an eagle eye to spot the minuscule details made by the design team. It's time to assemble and read up on some of the strange details found in iconic Marvel costumes.
Cap Became Bullet-Proof Without Viewers Noticing
When Steve Roger's was injected with the super-soldier serum in Captain America: The First Avenger, he got super strength, speed, and stamina. Unfortunately, it didn't leave him bulletproof; something made clear by the use of his shield. But from his origin story to the Battle of New York, Cap gets a nice upgrade.
While the obvious difference is then muted red, white, and blue coloring, there is something else about Cap's suit that the Russo brothers revealed. The new suit is actually made out of kevlar, rendering Captain America virtually bulletproof.
Captain Marvel's Iconic Sash Was Deemed Unnecessary
Comic book fans might have noticed one particular accessory missing from Captain Marvel's super suit. In the film, Carol Danvers' doesn't sport her iconic sash. Its absence from the movie isn't a memory lapse on the design team's part. There was actually a practical reason behind its exclusion.
During an interview, Andy Park explained the design team's reason for excluding the hero's sash. He said, "it looks cool — just like having a cape — when someone's flying, you can have it whipping around. But, just like how Edna in The Incredibles says, "No capes!" because it’s impractical, we did not include the sash.”
Red, Blue, And Gold Symbolize Captain Marvel's Bold Character
In both the comics and the film, Carol Danvers' super suit is a solid blue with red and gold accents. But these colors aren't used by accident. Actually, it's quite the opposite; The colors are meant to represent Danvers' bold personality and her willingness to always get up, no matter how badly the odds are stacked against her.
During an interview, Andy Park discussed the color scheme, saying, "when she becomes Captain Marvel, it's her fully embracing who she is, who she's always been — she's always been bold, she's always been strong." The colors are based on Kelly Sue DeConnick's Captain Marvel comic and Jamie McKelvie's art.
The Triangles On Captain Marvels Suit Represent Strength
Viewers who have a knack for seeing tiny details might have noticed a certain shape littered throughout Captain Marvel's suit, a triangle. According to many mathematicians, this particular shape is one of the strongest and most stable. So, obviously, Andy Park had to utilize it for this specific character!
During an interview, Park said, " When it comes to shapes, the triangle is the strongest and most balanced shape. And it's a triangle that makes up the facets of a star. So I wanted to create as many triangle shapes within her costume as I could to help reinforce that strength starting, of course, with the star."
Carol Danvers' Starforce And Captain Marvel's Suit Have More Differences Than Just The Color
In one scene, viewers watch as Carol Danvers changes the green, black, and silver of her Kree Starforce uniform to the red, blue, and gold of her Captain Marvel uniform. The thing is, more design changes occur than just the colors. Ironically, some aspects of her uniform are actually taken away!
During an interview with Andy Park, he explains the design changes, saying, "I didn't just replace the silver with gold everywhere. It’s all subtle and barely noticeable, but I wanted to create a more complex look for her military Starforce look while making her Captain Marvel look cleaner and sleeker."
Natasha Wears An Arrow Necklace To Symbolize A Friendship
This is one of those "blink, and you'll miss it" moments since people don't really watch movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the intention of looking at the characters' jewelry. Either way, this little tidbit might have viewers doing a double-take the next time they watch Captain America: The Winter Soldier or Avengers: Endgame.
In both of those films, Natasha Romanoff can be seen wearing an arrow necklace, a nod to her close friendship with fellow Avenger, Hawkeye. Fun fact: the necklace was actually actress Scarlett Johansson's idea.
Captain Marvel's Costume Is Influenced By Military Uniforms
Before she becomes one of the most powerful Avengers, Captain Marvel is part of an elite force of Kree warriors. Pretty much, they're the military of Hala, their home planet. Because of this, Vers and the rest of Starforce's uniforms were inspired by military uniforms.
Not only is uniform clean-cut and sensible, but the boots are unlike the stereotypical female superhero high-heeled thigh-highs. Instead, Captain Marvel's boots are actually flat, reasonable, and something that she's actually able to run in. During an interview, Andy Park said, "Her boots are more like military boots; they're very utilitarian." Sorry, Wonder Woman, but these are what we call functional footwear!
Captain Marvel's Uniform Has Stripes, Representing Military Rank
For her entire life, Carol Danvers was part of some type of military, whether it be the United States Air Force or the intergalactic warriors of the Kree Starforce. Either way, military life is pretty much all she's known, and it's reflected in her Starforce and Captain Marvel uniforms.
It's subtle, but detail-oriented viewers might notice the stripes on Danvers' uniform arm. This detail alludes to military rank amongst the Kree warriors, something that the United States military also does with its soldiers and officers.
Starforce Members In Captain Marvel Have Unique Star Designs
When watching the 2019 film Captain Marvel, there is one aspect of the green Starforce suit worn by the Kree warriors that might have slipped past more than a few viewers. On the suits, each star emblem differs. Andy Park, Marvel Studios' Director of Visual Development, actually discussed the suits during an interview.
In the interview, Park explains that each of the Kree warriors has a unique star design: Bron-Char's almost resembles a tree where Vers and Yon-Rogg's stars all take on a traditional shape with a bit of an individual flare mixed in.
Captain Marvel's Suit Can Change Color For A Reason
Comic book lovers might have been surprised when Carol Danvers changes the color of her typically green, black, and silver Kree suit in the final scenes of Captain Marvel. They had a reason to be, though, considering the suit doesn't change colors via its computer in the comic storylines.
However, Andy Park had a very good reason for adding this cool aspect to the suit -- camouflage! During an interview, Park said, "The idea was that, as they go on missions, they can change their color on the fly, for camouflage reasons."
Captain America And Captain Marvel's Suits Have Something In Common
Marvel has this tiny knack for linking together all of their projects, whether it be the films or the television series. Interestingly, the plots aren't the only things that tie the individual stories together; it's also the uniforms—specifically, the super suits of the one and only Captain American and Captain Marvel.
Both Avengers share a military background, something that is seen in the clean-cut lines of their respective suits. One obvious similarity is the stars located on the chests of both heroes.
Rocket Wears A Certain Red Scarf
Five years after the sad ending that left a solid chunk of the Avengersas dust in Infinity War, Rocket the Racoon is seen wearing a particular red scarf. In Avengers: Endgame, Rocket pays tribute to the Guardians, his family, by wearing a red scarf.
Now, this isn't any red scarf. Rocket wears a crimson scarf that looks strikingly similar to the scarf Peter Quill wears in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Interestingly, Quill doesn't wear the accessory in Infinity War, meaning the scarf wouldn't have turned to dust along with him, staying behind for Rocket to wear in Endgame.
Captain Marvel Earns Her Stripes
For those eagle eye viewers, there was one design shift in Carol Danvers' uniform they might have noticed. When changing from the Kree Starforce uniform to her iconic Captain Marvel super suit, something is added to Carol Danvers' look. Or rather, she earns something -- stripes.
There are two stripes on either side of the star, illustrating Danvers' rise in military rank. According to Andy Park, "It's as if she's promoted in rank, she’s earned her stripes so to speak. She’s Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel, her own person/human. She’s no longer a Kree, part of the collective.
Ant-Man's Original Suit Is Reflective Of '60s Technology
For those very observant movie-goers, you might have noticed that Ant-Man's suit isn't nearly as high-tech and modern looking as his foe, Yellowjacket, in Ant-Man. Well, there's a very good reason for this, and it has to do with the time the suit was made.
Hank Pym invented the suit in the '60s and '70s. So, designer Sammy Sheldon wanted it to reflect the technology of those decades, giving it a retro look and feel compared to that of Yellowjacket's suit.
Hela's Gigantic Headdress Is Real
It might shock a few people, but the massive headpiece Hela wears in Thor: Ragnarok is actually real. That's right; no CGI was used in the making of the striking accessory. Instead, Andy Park and his team put their heads together to figure out how to bring the dramatic and ever-changing demonic crown to life.
To do so, they built the headdress on a scanned model of actress Cate Blanchett's head. The antlers and actual headpiece were then printed using a 3D printer. The end result was about four pounds and enough to have viewers doing a double-take. Seriously, it looks like CGI!
The Starforce Costumes Represent A-Lister Status
While the Kree warriors of Starforce might be nothing more than military to the rest of the galaxy, they are pretty much the equivalent of A-lister celebrities on their home planet of Hala. Though it might not look like it, their green, black, and silver uniforms actually reflect their status on the planet.
During an interview with the website Fashionista, Marvel's Andy Park explains that some aspects of the Starforce uniform are symbols of wealth. Park explained, "They're not just trying to be stealthy and hidden. The suits have silver and a star. They have elements of… bling."
Brie Larson's Costume Was Far From A "One And Done" Design
It's no secret stars of the Marvel Cinematic Universe go through rigorous training to get into superhero shape. Brie Larson is no different. In fact, the Captain Marvel actress's workouts had her body changing so quickly and so often that her super suit went through several adjustments.
During an interview with Vogue, costume designer Sanja Milkovic Hays discussed Larson's costume, saying, "Her body was changing, as expected, so she was coming in repeatedly for fittings. Over the course of working out, she was finding out what her action scenes were going to be, and so we were making sure what we were doing would allow her to do certain things."
Captain Marvel's Suit Isn't Overly Feminine
One aspect of Captain Marvel's suit is that it's not overly feminine, a new concept for female heroes. It was a new concept for a modern-age hero, but one that was well-received from those eagle-eyed viewers who caught on to the design choice. Instead of having Carol Danvers sport something similar to Wonder Woman, she wears a strong suit that accentuates her feminine qualities without exploiting them.
According to designer Sanja Milkovic Hays, Captain Marvel's character is strong with an attitude to match. So, the costume should also match! Hayes explained, "She's a girl with an attitude and rightfully so; she has nothing to prove."
Captain Marvel Is A Rocker Chick
When Carol Danvers crash lands on Earth in Captain Marvel, she changes from her Starforce uniform into something a bit more "Earth-friendly," a pair of jeans, a Nine Inch Nails tee shirt, and a leather jacket. As a movie set in the '90s, this style can pretty much only be described as alternative rock meets grunge.
The tomboy look fits perfectly with Danvers' personality, though, something designer Sanja Milkovic Hays explains during an interview with Vogue. "She's a pilot and a tomboy, so what would a young woman like that wear? And she’s a big rock'n’roll girl. So, a combination of rock‘n’roll and grunge was obviously the way to go."
Captain Marvel Sports A Bald Cap
From Captain Marvel to Avengers: Endgame, viewers might have noticed a subtle difference in Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel's, look. More specifically, they might have noticed her hair is totally different. So long was her shoulder-length blonde hair, and hello was a cute, shorter style that Rocket makes a note of early on. Just in case someone missed it.
And while the hairstyle was a huge change in the character's overall appearance, actress Brie Larson didn't actually chop her hair off. Instead, she sported a bald cap, and the filmmakers worked their CGI magic to make the character's signature mohawk "float" in space.
Captain Marvel's Bomber Jacket Has A History
The brown bomber jacket being worn by Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel isn't just an ordinary jacket. In fact, the design team picked it out specifically. Their idea was that the jacket would be a hand-me-down from Danvers' grandfather, a sort of family history during a time where she doesn't remember who she is.
While the jacket's storyline didn't make it into the film, the actual coat did! During an interview with Vogue, designer Sanja Milkovic Hays said, "Obviously that never ended up in the story, and ultimately wasn't necessary, but it was one of those things that made it a little bit more interesting. It gives her history."
Captain Marvel's Swimsuit Was A No-Go From The Get-Go
Comic book enthusiasts might be familiar with the evolution of Captain Marvel's super suit. For others, just know that the further back in the storyline you go, the less clothing Carol Danvers seems to be wearing. At one point, she's even wearing what looks like a bathing suit! Needless to say, Brie Larson was having none of it.
During an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Kevin Feige said, "Brie pointed it out on the wall [the one-piece swimsuit], and we went, 'Yeah… just so you know, that's not what we’re doing.’ She goes, ‘OK. I didn’t think so, but I’m glad you said that.’"
Captain Marvel's Helmet Is Inspired By Jamie McKelvie's Design
For those comic book lovers who couldn't help but see every movie to come out of the MCU, they might have spotted something a bit familiar during Captain Marvel -- the title character's helmet. This is because the onscreen character's headgear was inspired by Jamie McKelvie's design in Kelly Sue DeConnick's comic series.
While the original concept didn't have the iconic mohawk, Andy Park and his team decided to put a little Easter egg in the mix, paying tribute to the original design. During an interview, Park said, "There was an initial reaction like, 'that doesn't look believable." Thankfully, after a few trials and errors, they figured something out!
Captain Marvel And Starlord's Masks Have The Same Technology
For those who have seen Captain Marvel and Guardians of the Galaxy, then one similarity might have jumped out: Carol Danvers and Starlord's respective helmet and mask seemingly disappearing and reappearing with the push of a button. Well, this is because Danvers is part of an alien military force and Starlord is, well, pretty much raised by alien smugglers.
Either way, both the helmet and mask are probably composed of alien technology. During an interview, Andy Park explained his design decision behind Captain Marvel's helmet, saying, "My thinking was that she's alien. So, there's alien technology. And maybe as it forms, just like Starlord's advanced technology with his mask..."
Each Character Has Up To 10 Costumes
While it might not seem like it during fast-paced action scenes like the Battle of New York, each of the Avengers, and even some of the villains, have more than one costume designed for them. In fact, some of the characters have up to ten different costumes prepared for them!
The extensive wardrobe includes a "battle wardrobe" full of scuff marks, tears, and other battle scars, "hero costumes," which are pretty pristine and heavier-looking with metal, and costumes that are outfitted with contraptions allowing actors to be secured in a harness, if necessary. So, next time Captain America's in a battle-worn uniform, know that he has nine more at home!
Black Widow Wears A S.H.I.E.L.D Uniform During New York
Considering Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, tends to wear a uniform of all black, a certain insignia might have bypassed some viewers. But there are those eagled-eyed people who might have noticed the S.H.I.E.L.D symbol on her shoulders during Iron Man 2 and The Avengers. particularly the Battle of New York.
This is because up until the battle, Black Widow worked for the intelligence organization. Then, after the Avengers are formed and S.H.I.E.L.D goes under, the symbol disappears from all of her future uniforms.
Dr. Strange Wears A Lot Of Denim
It might look like a bunch of layered cloaks paired with a cape, but Dr. Strange's costume as no walk in the park. According to costume designer Alexandra Bryne, it was actually a huge challenge, particularly getting the right materials together to construct his look.
Even though it doesn't look like it, the end result used "hundreds of shades of red" for the cloak, embroidered with various fabrics like velvet. On the other hand, the coat and pants were inspired by a jacket Bryne bought from China. Everything was made out of denim!
Ant-Man And The Wasp Uniforms Have Hidden Insect Faces
Honestly, it's most likely only very preceptive viewers caught on to the hidden images in Ant-Man and the Wasp's suits. Obviously, both costumes have their similarities, as they were designed and built by the same inventor, Hank Pym. But there is something hidden in the armor that an eagle-eye reddit user spotted while watching Ant-Man and the Wasp.
On the front of each suit, there is a distinct outline of an insect's head. There is a design representing an ant head on Scott Lang's suit, while on Hope Pym's suit, there is a design that looks like a wasp head.
Black Widow's Stingers Get A Sleeker Look
Throughout the films, one thing becomes clear: the Avengers most definitely take advantage of both Tony Starks money and brains. Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, is in no way an exception to this fact. Instead, she utilizes it! Ever since meeting Stark, the Black Widow's costume has gone through extensive upgrades.
If you look very closely, one such upgrade is her wrist stingers. Before Avengers: Age of Ultron, Romanoff's stingers are more comparable to their comic book counterparts. But in the film, a newer, sleeker design can be seen. It shows that Stark was already upgrading his fellow heroes during this time!
The Hulk Has Tony Stark To Thank For His Wardrobe
One question that has been haunting comic book fans for years is how the Hulk can keep his pants on while everything else is torn away. Well, in a "blink and you'll miss it" moment, the incredible green monster's wardrobe is explained.
Before Age of Ultron, the Hulk is seen being dressed or helped by various people, including a random farmer. After the Battle of New York, though, the Hulk is seen with a specific pair of pants that don't rip. With Tony Stark becoming the unofficial official costume designer for the Avengers, Bruce Banner was outfitted with special pants that stretch to accommodate his large size.
