Question:

[conuly]

Do superheroes wear costumes or do they wear uniforms? I feel like more often I'm hearing the latter, which I guess makes sense for those superheroes which are more or less invested with actual, legal authority in their universes, or at least strongly enmeshed with the establishment. I wonder if Google n-grams will help with this issue...

(Answer: No, not really.)

Comments

[cloudsinvenice]

It depends a lot on the superhero or team. I remember a point where I saw "uniforms" referred to in an X-Men comic, when I hadn't seen the term before, and I figured it had to do with more scrutiny - I mean, there'd previously been matching costumes that some of them wore, but in the context, the fact they started saying "uniforms" made it seem like they were... professionalising? Doing it for PR purposes? And the X-Men at the time were basically beginning to morph into a sort of unofficial emergency services for emergencies involving mutants, and I think it had a lot to do with how they wanted to be viewed by the media and government.

I think if you're a solo act you're way more likely to think of your outfit as a costume, because a uniform implies belonging to a group. And of course, in the early days they probably would've used the term "disguise"...

[conuly]

And of course, in the early days they probably would've used the term "disguise"...

Of course, in the early days sometimes their civilian life was the disguise. (And sometimes it still is, hi, Batman.)

[cloudsinvenice]

Oh god yes - as was once said about the Terminator, it's not a man in a suit, it's the suit in the man...

[brithistorian]

I'm with cloudsinvenice on this: If you're a solo hero and choose your own outfit, it's a costume. If you're part of a group who all wear the same outfit (or as similar as anatomy and powers allow), it's a uniform.

[conuly]

What if you're a solo hero, but part of a long line of solo heroes all of whom had the same moniker and branding?

[brithistorian]

A case could be made (because I'm about to make it) that in a situation like that you actually are part of a team, but it's a team where the members are related to each other temporally rather than spatially.

[wpadmirer]

Hmmm... Captain America? Uniform. Daredevil - disguise. Ironman - well, he wouldn't be Ironman without the suit.

I don't think I'd use costume for any of them.

[conuly]

"Outfit", maybe?

[wpadmirer]

Maybe. I don't know.

[8hyenas]

I feel like uniforms are issued from an outside source (gov't, SHIELD, etc.) or they are worn as part of a group (X-men, ummm.. others).

I also think costume is more for a non-functional outfit. Like Captain America's show girl getup.

[conuly]

I also think costume is more for a non-functional outfit. Like Captain America's show girl getup.

Does that make dress uniform more of a costume, then? I wouldn't want to fight in it, anyway.

Man, this is getting complicated. And I sound like I'm snarking, but I'm not, I legit see your reasoning and am trying to figure out how it works in the grand scheme of things.

[8hyenas]

I think a dress uniform does fall into the costume pile, but I meant non-functional as kind of like Daredevil, or Deadpool. The clothes aren't necessary except as a disguise. Batman has a suit, not a costume. Robin has a costume. (I think, I really don't know much about DC)

(And I don't think you're snarking! There's such variation to words and it's a fun luxury to parse them down.)

[oloriel]

I haven't thought about it so far, but on instinct, I'd say that costume is the wrong word. It implies dressing up as something that you are not, generally in an one-off manner. Cosplayers, actors or kids who go trick-or-treating as Batman are wearing a costume. But if it's more serious, it's not a costume. (LARPlayers and Living History folks don't like to be complimented on their "costumes", since they not only dress up as a character, they try to be that character, so they wear "garb" or "gear".) Along the same lines, since Bruce Wayne wouldn't dress up as Batman for kicks and giggles, "costume" would feel wrong.

Not sure whether uniform is always the right word, either. On the other hand, why not? Lots of unofficial, non-legal-authority clothing is called a uniform. Scrubs come in all shapes and sizes and are still a kind of uniform. I've heard judogi or football gear referred to as uniforms. And even if no two superheroes look exactly the same and there is no background organisation they belong to, superhero gear tends to follow certain uniformist guidelines - tights, masks, spandex, some form of protectional shape stuff, superhero symbol, limited palette, occasionally capes. Of course, etymologically speaking, it makes little sense to talk about a uniform if there's only one person wearing it, but in the light of Superherodom in general, that's a sort of meta-group.

So, yeah. Not sure uniform is the right word (except in the case of, say, the Power Rangers), I'd probably choose "gear". But it's definitely not a "costume", so if I had to choose between "costume" and "uniform", I'd go for uniform.

[conuly]

I'd probably choose "gear".

That sounds completely wrong to me. Gear would be their supplies, like a batarang or a webslinger (in universes where Spidey has to make one rather than naturally making webs).

[oloriel]

OK, I would have applied it to functional clothing as well, but I'm not a native speaker.

How about suit? If there's suits of armour, maybe there can be suits of spandex as well. (Or just armour, for that matter, assuming that their clothing would have some kind of protective value?)

[conuly]

OK, I would have applied it to functional clothing as well, but I'm not a native speaker.

To be fair, that might be the way it's used in the UK. I'm not sure.

Suit isn't a bad choice - seems fairly neutral.

[calimac]

They're not uniforms unless they all wear identical clothes. That's what the word "uniform" means.

[conuly]

I'm not sure it does anymore. Or, not strictly. I think for a lot of people the meaning has shifted such that "special clothes you wear to indicate you are doing a specific job" means "uniform", even if they're not actually uniform in the other sense.

[shadowkat]

Depends on the purpose of the outfit and the individual. Superman wears a disguise as Clark Kent, so his outfit as Kent is both a costume and a uniform to blend in, it's the suite, tie, hat, glasses. As Superman, he wears a costume similar to what a mascot would wear to symbolize an ideal.
There's also a functionality to Superman's outfit, the cape helps with flying, and the uniform is fire resistant and bullet proof, to ensure he's not rendered naked.

Wonder Woman's outfit is more of a uniform or battle gear in the Wonder Woman movie. Fighting gear, allows for flexibility of movement.

So their outfits have a functionality component, which is similar to a uniform or battle gear. Similar to what a solider or knight make wear to enter battle.

Uniformity -- is to fade in, not stand out. Some wear the opposite to stand out, to draw attention, so people don't see or think of them without the costume, a sleight of hand as it were -- the focus is on the costume not on the person.

[conuly]

There's also a functionality to Superman's outfit, the cape helps with flying, and the uniform is fire resistant and bullet proof, to ensure he's not rendered naked.

Prude. Doesn't he care about the fans!?

[shadowkat]

I think it had more to do with the Decency in Comics Standards board. ;-)

The films did show him naked once or twice, but regrettable not full frontal.

[conuly]

Sigh.

[thewayne]

I was thinking along the lines of the primary need being functionality vs theatricality, allowing that the true primary need is that they have to be able to fight effectively in them. Cap is clearly functional as it's also a battle harness for carrying things. Daredevil is more theatrical. While Batman is more functional because of the Utility Belt of Holding, its intent is also more theatrical as it's intended to scare the bejeezus out of criminals and lowlife.

Look at Spiderman. Started out truly as a costume, now that he's in the full Marvel Cinematic Universe, it's a Stark Power Suit. Uniform or Costume? Not an easy call.

An Iron Man suit is its own category, IMO. It also served as a disguise in the comics prior to the movies and Tony outing himself.

[conuly]

its intent is also more theatrical as it's intended to scare the bejeezus out of criminals and lowlife.

I'm thinking Batman ought to spend his money better, because the crime rate in Gotham isn't exactly dropping.

I was thinking along the lines of the primary need being functionality vs theatricality, allowing that the true primary need is that they have to be able to fight effectively in them.

I think you're not alone in this.

[thewayne]

Yeah, as hard as Batman works, seemingly every night, he sure doesn't seem to be very effevtive, does he?  You'd think he would've figured that out by now.

[conuly]

If he spent his billions on funding good education, healthcare, preschool, birth control, and general social services for the poor - and on encouraging the government to do the same - then he'd've made a bigger impact.

[thewayne]

"Activate the Bat Philanthropy Signal, they're trying to shut down Planned Parenthood!"  It would make for very different TV, movies, and fanfic. Just like the half-baked plans they had when invading Iraq: much more fun to kill people and blow things up than try to make a sincere attempt at winning hearts and minds.

[conuly]

I want to see that fanfic, and I want to see that batsignal.

[archangelbeth]

...I have always heard it as costumes, but hey, I'm old. >_>

I would say that it's a uniform if the costumes are themed. Like, I could buy, barely, a "Fantastic Four uniform" as a description. But I'd be more likely to accept the term with something like the Sailor Scouts. Legal authority not necessary, but... Belongs To Group, Not Just Family Members -- that kinda ting.

[conuly]

I'm hearing it a lot now in the context of Supergirl's uniform, etc. (But then, this may be because I watch Supergirl, lol!)

[archangelbeth]

Hmmmm. I'd probably call her clothes an outfit, myself, if not a costume. But hey, what do I know. >_>

[conuly]

You know your own idiolect*, that's what you know.

* More or less. If you're like many people, you probably have a hard time putting your innate knowledge about language into words. Ironic, that.

[archangelbeth]

*snicker*

I may do a little better than some, but more in punctuation... And only because I've had to think about it whilst trying to beat some basic grammar into a friend's head. (Consensually. It is consensual beating. Words-only.)

[mme-n-b.livejournal.com]

Costumes. It won't be a uniform unless it is "uni" - the same for more than one superhero.

[conuly]

You know, I'm not sure every native speaker holds that view anymore. (Actually, I'm certain they don't - I've seen the fallout from arguments on this subject.)

[mme-n-b.livejournal.com]

I do not insist that everyone must share my opinions, however correct ;)

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

They wear costumes, to hide their secret identities. Uniforms are when a group dresses alike to display their group identity.

[conuly]

So which identity is the secret one?

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

According to comics canon, super-heroes keep their mundane identities secret in order to protect their families and friends, who would otherwise be easy targets for super-villains, and also so they don't get arrested for being vigilantes. Their superhero identities certainly aren't secret: "Tell your friends: I'm Batman."