The Superman suit is as iconic as they come. From the instantly recognizable red, yellow, and blue colors to that legendary symbol that Kal-El of Krypton wears like a badge of honor on his chest, it simply doesn't get more heroic than the Man of Steel.
The character has been a fixture of the world of DC Comics since his debut all the way back in 1938, but it's his everlasting appeal through other mediums too that have endeared him to the hearts and minds of people all around the world. He's one of the most recognizable heroes in the world due to his transition into movies, television, video games, novels, and so many other forms of entertainment over the years, which have all ensured that he and his iconic suit have stood the test of time.
Like Superman himself, his suit is everlasting. A true symbol of hope, it embodies everything he stands for, and that is why it has been incredibly rewarding to see how it has evolved over time without every truly losing sight of the message that it encapsulates.
Over the years, we have seen countless actors don the iconic uniform, including multiple game-changers in recent memory. Tyler Hoechlin just wrapped an incredible run with multiple variations of the suit on The CW's acclaimed Superman and Lois, while David Corenswet now takes on the legendary role in James Gunn's upcoming Superman movie, which will launch the new DC Universe. How do those suits compare to the classics, and which version of the Man of Steel sported the best suit of them all?
17. The Flash / Unmade Superman Lives movie
Worn by: Nicolas Cage
If Superman existed in the Joel Schumacher Batman universe, he would probably have been the Nicolas Cage version. All you have to do is look at the photos of Cage suited up in a costume fitting for the Superman Lives movie that never got made. Honestly, it looks like it belongs in that universe.
Here's the thing though, the Greek God physique and abs embedded into the Batsuits actually work because of their dark colors. It also makes a creature of the night like Batman look far more, well, god-like. With Superman, however, it looks a bit silly.
The abs on the suit that Cage was set to wear in the film might have looked better if that obscenely large House of El chest emblem didn't exceed the chest and pectoral muscles by such a great deal. Yes, some of the more simple designs in the past have had large "S" symbols on their chests but those suits have had far less going on. The Superman Lives suit just looked overcrowded, and the dull shade of yellow in the symbol doesn't feel very triumphant.
We finally got to see what this suit looked like in action in The Flash (via a CGI recreation) and although it was pretty cool, it also highlighted how unusual this suit was. If only Superman Lives actually happened, maybe this one would have ranked higher.
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