If you’ve been watching superhero movies and TV shows at all in the past year or two then you can tell that a lot of them don’t look much like their prototypes, and in fact seem to be different people altogether. The truth is that those that have drawn them, if they’re still around, and those that are responsible for getting them onto the screen are starting to stand back and take a look at what they have to work with and what people really want to see and coming to a compromise. In some cases it’s a matter of practicality and in others it’s just plain old sensibility.
And then in others it’s about who’s cast for the role and how they look versus how people want them to look. Diehard fans might have an issue with this but casual and non-fans tend to overlook a lot in favor of the new looks. But then there are those new looks that make you cock your head and say “huh?”.
Here are a handful of them for you to look at.
Aquaman
Aquaman has been through a couple of different looks and he’s been scruffy in the past. Jason Momoa’s whole take on him is that he’s kind of a wildman at heart, kind of like the tempestuous sea that he controls. That’s stepping a good ways from the original idea of Aquaman but it’s a good difference.
Tulip
This seems to be where they’ve gone against the typecast role of the hardened woman that carries a big gun and has a very tight and well-muscled figure just ready for action. What the actress lacks in appearance though she makes up for in depth of character.
Rogue
Rogue was way more sexualized in the comics and she was older on top of that. She was a seasoned fighter and could fly, and she had a level of durability that was insane. In the movies she’s an uncertain young girl that has the same power to drain the life force of people, but that’s about it.
Beast
The Beast you see in the comics is typically older and more battle-hardened. Nicholas Hoult is still playing the young version of Hank and has yet to really step up to the hardcore aspect of the role. Given time though he could really shine as Beast.
Jessica Jones
Jessica Jones was a lot different before Killgrave got to her. Afterwards she was sullen, kept to herself, and had an alcohol problem. This is the side we get to see in the show.
Superman
I think the costume change was a big benefit from the unitard but the sullen, brooding demeanor is a big step away from what Superman used to be like. Plus his power set doesn’t seem to have come fully into play just yet.
Green Arrow
One change that is easy to see in any of these characters is their costume, which in some cases is finally being adapted to look like they can handle themselves in a fight. Armor over spandex is a must any day and tactical gear is a definite must-have on the battlefield.
Daredevil
Daredevil hasn’t really changed all that much except his outfit and his surly demeanor. He’s actually more like his comic book counterpart now but still not quite the same in some regards. It’s hard to explain since the character hits and misses so often that one can’t really pin the differences down.
Killgrave
To be honest this character was just kind of underwhelming in his appearance, no offense to the actor but a lot of us have been led to believe that Killgrave is the awesome character and yet he’s been hard to get used to in the MCU.
Kingpin
It would be about impossible to find a guy as big as Michael Duncan Clarke again, and even harder to find a guy that could act as well. But at the very least Vincent D’Onofrio is a big guy, it’s just that his attitude and mannerisms don’t seem to fit Wilson Fisk all that well. That’s hard to say really because he’s a great actor.
The Owl
I suppose too many people would get confused to see an orange-haired figure that had the same hairdo as Wolverine. In the live version he’s dressed like a businessman, but the picture on the left is from Shawshank Redemption so I’m at a loss.
Scarlet Witch
This is more of a practical switch than anything really because in the comics she was used as a sex symbol. Her outfit isn’t tactical at all and shows a LOT of skin to make adolescent boys happy. In the film she’s well covered which disappointed some people but her power set is pretty much the same. Sorry guys.
Quicksilver
This one is kind of disappointing since it’s like they slapped some hair dye on him and found a decent top that could look good as he was moving around. Granted, his outfits in the comics were kind of corny but they were still better than bargain basement clothing.
The Vision
Opinions vary on this one since some people like the new look but others want to go back to the retro look. Personally I think they’re both kind of overplayed and need to be dialed down a bit. Even an android can look sensible.
Some changes are for the better and others are just kind of ridiculous.
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