A newly released still from the upcoming Marvel flick, Thor: Love and Thunder, showcased Tessa Thompson and Natalie Portman as King Valkyrie and Mighty Thor in battle-ready armor. This all-new armor hints at a possible alliance and is one of many examples of transformative costuming within the MCU.
When Iron Man's iconic suit first premiered in 2008's Iron Man, his long-awaited live-action appearance delighted fans everywhere. His metal suit became synonymous with his appearance throughout the films and in pop culture. The costumes the heroes wear have become as iconic as their actions over the MCU's long filmography. Their outfits often symbolize a greater character transformation over the progression of each film. Sometimes the updates just look cool, but without a doubt, costume upgrades are a character in themselves.
Spider-Man In Spider-Man: No Way Home
In Peter Parker's MCU debut, the stealthy spider is introduced in a costume design reminiscent of the Marvel comics, with the classic red and blue suit. Although in Captain America: Civil War, he's a novice superhero, his suit is given a few upgrades from Tony Stark that cements him as a skilled superhero.
By the time fans see Spider-Man's next chapter in No Way Home, his suit has many new iterations, including an all-black ensemble and his Iron Spider look. In previous Marvel appearances, he had Stark's technological upgrades at his disposal, but his personal design of a new suit at the film's end aligns him closer to his original red and blue colors as he begins his new life.
Nebula In Avengers: Endgame
Nebula remains one of the most villainous Avengers, and her nefarious role in Guardians of the Galaxy was similarly referenced in her costuming. Her purple battle outfit aligned her with her father, titan Thanos. Not only did her outfit match her father's eggplant hue, but it's also assembled in a way to highlight her cybernetic eye and arm and Thanos' hold over her.
Avengers: Endgame saw Nebula already alliancing herself with the Guardians and Avengers in the name of stopping Thanos, and her costume reflects this growth. The upgrade here is mostly a colorful one where her outfit is more aligned with the signature red hues of Peter Quill and Rocket, showing her allegiance to them.
Doctor Strange In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
Stephen Strange's iconic blue sorcerer robes and red cape are a constant fixture of his character and have been seen in a single iteration throughout his MCU appearances. The Multiverse of Madness sets up the future of the MCU, and Strange briefly dons an entirely new costume.
In an attempt to thwart Wanda from attacking America Chavez, Strange dream walks from beyond the Multiverse, and his costume gets a creepy, yet entirely unique upgrade. Strange conjures a variant corpse of himself on Earth-616, and summons souls of the damned as a cape. The image of Strange with a black cape of undead appendages was an exciting take on the classic costume audiences have seen again and again.
Captain America In Avengers: Infinity War
Steve Rogers' superhero outfits in The First Avenger and The Avengers represented the character's optimism and goodwill. With his first big-screen appearance, the retro, brightly-toned star-spangled suit was befitting a war hero, while his costume update in later films illustrated his growth as a character.
Captain America's appearance in the last two films of the Infinity saga differs greatly from his first on-screen looks. His super-suit is more muted, with subdued colors that reflect the morally grey ideals he'd become accustomed to through the films. The upgraded suit has his classic stars and stripe design, befitting of the leader he's grown into.
Thor In Thor: Ragnarok
Thor's appearances throughout the Marvel canon have consisted of a variation of his red cape and silver Asgardian armor. It isn't until his second sequel revamp that the God of Thunder himself received a drastic makeover, one that held fans' interest more than ever before.
Thor: Ragnarok inserted itself into the Marvel filmography like never before. In a much-needed reinvention, Thor is stripped of his golden locks and his hammer is replaced. He has a gladiator cape, with the Asgardian armor fans have come to know him for, and sci-fi touches of the alien planet Sakaar.
Falcon In The Falcon And The Winter Soldier
Falcon's costume throughout the Marvel canon, but namely in the three Captain America films, consists mainly of his falcon-like mechanized wings. Steve Rogers' wingman gets his own superhero costume, but his ascension to Captain America changes him for the better, and he gets one cool upgrade.
Sam's hesitation in taking over the mantle of Captain America is explored in the Disney+ show, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. For much of the show, he wears an iteration of his classic Falcon gear, but by the show's end, he's fully embraced the stars and the stripes in a hero's costume that's well-earned and well-deserved.
Bucky Barnes In Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Bucky's first appearance as Captain America's best friend in Captain America: The First Avenger sees him in a completely different light than in later films. His eventual physical and emotional transformation warrants this upgrade as one of the very best.
As the Winter Soldier, Bucky's transformation into Hydra's agent begins with his cybernetic metal arm. His metal arm receives a few upgrades from shiny silver to a sleek black design, in both Avengers: Infinity War and his own Disney+ series. The customization of his appendage hints at an emotional healing that allows Bucky to come into his own.
Iron Man Throughout The Years
Tony Stark's iconic red and gold armored suit has become a standard in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ever since his first appearance in Iron Man. The classic red and gold design not only echoed his look in the comics, but its many iterations signify his many personal developments throughout the MCU.
Iron Man 2 saw Stark with golden armor and a unique chest plate that distanced itself from the classic red. The famous suitcase suit showcased in his Mark V suit was a noted departure, as well. His subsequent portrayal in Avengers: Infinity War saw an updated suit in the bulky Hulkbuster look that reinvented his design more than ever before.
Black Widow In Black Widow
Natasha Romanoff has one of the best costume upgrades in the MCU, and she makes the case for being the best Avenger. When audiences first see her in Iron Man 2, she's wearing a skintight suit, doubled as a SHIELD uniform, that only sexualizes her. In subsequent films, her costumes don't offer physical protection against her enemies. Black Widow puts her in something way more practical.
By the time Natasha gets her own solo film, her costumes received a much-needed update. Her skintight jumpsuits are replaced with white and black-hued tactical gear that strengthens her prowess as a spy and compliments her vulnerable portrayal. These new costumes contain her multitude of gadgets and are more fitting for an Avenger heading into battle.
Scarlet Witch In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
In Wanda's first appearance in Avengers: Age Of Ultron, she's dressed in civilian clothing, wholly impractical for battle. In later features, she chameleons through various super suits that lend nothing to her emerging power. Wanda's transformation from a Sokovian teen to a formidable sorceress is realized through her drastic costume evolution.
The finale of WandaVision sees Wanda embrace her role as Scarlet Witch, and she gets a much-needed costume upgrade, with a high-cut suit, long gloves, and signature headpiece. Her outfit in Doctor Strange elevates this even further, with an outfit in the same red hue but with sharper edges in every detail, hinting at her sharper outlook and villainous turn.