The Most Stylish Superhero Movie Costumes

Not all superheros need powers, you need to only look at Batman, Iron Man, and Kick Ass to see that. Summer movie season is rife with costumed dudes well, kicking ass, taking names, and looking damn good doing it. Of course, James Bond has the action hero suit game on lock in brands like Tom Ford, but vigilantism in the name of justice isn't just spandex and domino masks anymore—especially when the big screen is concerned.

While geeks might pick out all the minor details missed from the comic book, translating ink to celluloid is all about a balance of style, exaggeration, and what looks good in motion—like plenty of designer collections. Whether it's a true interpretation of the source material, or a new vision for a familiar character, we're celebrating Kick Ass 2's premiere in style: by ranking the best-dressed movie heroes. See who made the cut in our list of The Most Stylish Superhero Movie Costumes.

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First appearance: The Guyver
Year: 1991
Looks like: The lovechild of Batman and The Predator.

There weren't that many live-action manga style films that made it here from Japan, but this was one of the few. While the darker sequel got better reviews than its predecessor, the star of the show was the Bio-Booster Armor. Part Ultraman, part Rick Owens, the lifelike costume looked awesome with clean lines and sharp details, bringing a rad Japanese aesthetic to the big screen. Power Rangers who?

First appearance: The Incredible Hulk
Year: 2008
Looks like: A roided-up turbo bro on SPRING BREAAAAK.

Sorry Ang Lee, we're taking Edward Norton's turn in 2008's reboot as the basis for this list. While the shirt-optional look is a no go if you’re nowhere near a beach or pool, the Hulk's penchant for jorts are an easy way to stay cool all summer. That alone is more than enough reasons to be on this list, and you don’t have to turn into an angry green giant to make them. We have DIY instructions that teach you how to make this summer essential just by using an old pair of jeans.

First appearance: Thor
Year: 2011
Looks like: Some sort of S&M fetishist.

The hammer-wielding god of thunder's costume could have gone very wrong. Thor barely wears his his winged cap in the movie adaptation, but that's ok. It might have looked cool in the comic book, but it doesn't really translate well in real life. Plus it had no practical use. Everything else makes him look like a badass futuristic Viking warrior prince from the future.

Movie: Hellboy
Year: 2004
Looks like: A badly sunburned Shaq with Abe Lincoln's beard.

Directors could've easily went for CGI effects for Hellboy's costume, but thanks to the makeup team they transformed Ron Perlman into the title character. The Sherlock Holmes-style trenchcoat cements the character as an investigator, while its rugged, worn look shows he isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. Normally, we wouldn't co-sign the no-shirt look—but we're sure the size XXXXXXL doesn't exist, considering Hellboy is pretty much the size of two Shaqs glued together.

First appearance: The Punisher
Year: 2004
Looks like: A grown-up who still shops at Hot Topic.

Sometimes nature's creatures have clear warning signs that let you know not to mess with them. The black widow has a red hourglass on its back and a skunk has its signature stripe. For Frank Castle it's an all-black everything look with his trademark skull T-shirt. Bad guys knew once they saw that, pain and death would eventually follow. While Dolph Lundgren beat Thomas Jane's adaptation to the screen in 1989, they somehow forgot to include the only thing that makes The Punisher look like The Punisher. Meanwhile, Ray Stevenson's interpretation of Frank Castle was ten times more badass than the previous go-round in 2008's Punisher: War Zone, which earns him a mention.

First appearance: Spawn
Year: 1997
Looks like: Rick Owens' conscience.

Spawn’s costume might not be much, but his cape is pretty serious. And from what we've see in the runways from the likes of Saint Laurent, John Varvatos, and Valentino, capes are creeping back into menswear starting this fall. With that much flow and the high collar, it's a welcome take on the street goth look. He's the good guy king of drapey clothing.

First appearance: Captain America: The First Avenger
Year: 2011
Looks like: The Americana trend meets the All-Leather Everything trend.

Chris Evans' portrayal of the classic superhero is a huge step up compared to the Captain America movie that came out in '90s and light years ahead of the costume from the '70s. His fighting suit is sleek while looking like it offers actual protection, and gets an upgrade to bright red boots and assymetrical closures in The Avengers (does Cap call those his "Red 4th of Julys?"). By far, his most stylish kit was in the first film: The brown moto jacket and helmet combo he wears during a daring prison break.

First appearance: Darkman
Year: 1990
Looks like: The Phantom of the Opera meets a mummy.

Making the case for the ugly style icon, Dr. Peyton Westlake gained the ability to mimic other people's identities, at the cost of a face only a mother could love. Portrayed by Liam Neeson, Darkman was a '90s pulp hero that achieved cult status for his brooding nature and dope, derelict-inspired style. Drawing on familiar anti-hero noir tropes (Rorschach, we'll get to you), Darkman stands apart with his bright red shirt and ill mummy bandage steez.

First appearance: Blankman
Year: 1994
Looks like: A struggle Halloween costume.

Blankman's outfit not be the most impressive out of the bunch, but the DIY aspect of everything is just awesome. It's like a blend of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mask, Batman's utility belt, and your grandma's favorite curtains rolled into one. In fact, it's the floral cape and solid red onesie that brings everything together. The murdered-out sneaks are the heroic icing on the justice cake.

First appearace: Ghost Rider
Year: 2007
Looks like: Every rapper at Summer Jam 2013.

The biker jacket is a classic that will never go away. The all-leather everything trend is a big thing nowadays, but when you add chains and spikes, Ghost Rider's getup is about as badass as it gets. And while normal people might suffer a heatstroke from wearing too much cowhide, it doesn't matter for the Spirit of Vengeance—he's already burning up.

First appearance: Blade
Year: 1998
Looks like: An En Noir model who really loved The Matrix.

Wesley Snipes' star turn as a half-vampire savior of humanity saw him decked out in a ton of leather and metal. What set his outfit apart was the crimson detail underneath his trenchcoat—a cool visual allusion to his own internal thirst for blood. Besides, he predicted the whole leather pants thing more than ten years before it became awesome.

First appearance: The Green Hornet
Year: 1940
Looks like: A crime fighting Don Draper.

With decades of work under his hero belt, it's still not fair that The Green Hornet gets all the shine while Kato does all the grunt work. We'd love to give the ass-kicking sidekick some slack, but come on, Green Hornet's bespoke green suit drips with swag. His versatile style involves crispy three-piece suits and an overcoat. Admittedly, Gordon Jones' '40s adaptation had the iller mask with the hornet emblem, the drawback is the black-and-white color that doesn't allow us to see hie emerald swag. His wardrobe is so clean it manages to make Seth Rogen go from schmuck to suave in the 2011 adaptation.

First appearance: X-Men
Year: 2000
Looks like: An urban lumberjack who loves heavy metal.

Wolverine's character is one of those who look better in his normal clothes than his X-Men uniform. Logan's striped leather jacket becomes a signature item throughout all his films—and its yellow stripes reference his comics kit. Dude is so manly he can wear a denim jacket under his leather jacket. For his latest cinematic outing, Logan dons a sleek black suit and topcoat, perfect for taking on ninjas and going stealth mode in Japan.

First appearance: Batman
Year: 1943
Looks like: A dude in a suit who digs bats, duh.

Batman's steez is all about good branding. From the start, everything he used was the "Bat-something." The Batcave. The Batmobile. All of that. Translating it from the comics to film proved to be a bit campy, until Tim Burton's version brought him back to his darker roots... and then George Clooney's Batman got nipples. However, Christopher Nolan's reimagined Dark Knight went leaps and bounds further into costume design, especially in The Dark Knight, where Batman's kit is outfitted to make him more mobile, resulting in a costume that's part S.W.A.T. team, and part street goth.

First appearance: Watchmen
Year: 2009
Looks like: A subway flasher with serious issues and a good tailor.

Who would have thought that psychological ink blot patterns would make an awesome mask? But it was the rest of this Watchmen character's outfit that completed the whole package of his look. Double breasted trench coat, wide brimmed hat, tailored pants, and a scarf knot so advanced you wouldn't think he's a character with serious mental instability issues. It goes to show dressing well goes a long way.

First appearance: The Rocketeer
Year: 1991
Looks like: A steampunk motorcycle gang member.

When it comes to retro style, The Rocketeer's kit blows it out of the park. The helmet looks like it belongs on the hood of a car, but the custom aviator style leather jacket, military style chinos, and riding boots are awesome. We could do without the riding-style pants, but give us that jacket ASAP.

First appearance: X-Men
Year: 2000
Looks like: Um... a really cool professor.

Patrick Stewart as Professor X couldn't be anymore perfect. He absolutely kills it in tailored suits and awesome menswear looks. However, James McAvoy's younger take on the character in X-Men: First Class showed that a youthful Charles Xavier had serious amounts of style. From shawl collar cardigans to a color-blocked battlesuit, he looked really dope.

First appearance: Iron Man
Year: 2008
Looks like: A walking sports car.

Unlike Superman's outdated red and blue duds, what makes Tony Starks' Iron Man costume great is that he built it to match his own ego, and put it a bunch of bells and whistles like advanced weapons systems and flight capabilities inside a perfectly-tailored, slim exoskeleton about 20 times smaller than a M1 Abrams Tank. If men's style is about the perfect combination of form and function, Iron Man takes the cake.