Movies / Comics To Film News

The Man of Steel's Super Suit

By Andy Frisk
August 7, 2011 - 00:20

We might have to wait a while yet to see Zack Snyder’s Superman in action, but we can begin to envision what Snyder has in store for us via this recently released image of Henry Cavill in the super suit. As The Bin’s resident Superman fanatic you knew I’d have plenty to say about the new suit and the actor in it. So without further ado, the verdict on the new Superman’s look is…

..that it is nearly every thing that this long term Superman fan been hoping to see in a new big screen incarnation of my favorite superhero. Not only is the suit awesome, but the image that Snyder and company chose to release sums up how this new version of the Man of Steel is going to be portrayed in Snyder’s film. They say a picture speaks a thousand words, and in the case of this first image of the new Superman, the old cliché cannot be truer. The things this picture says are, like the suit itself, incredibly awesome a well as myriad. Okay, let’s break this image down. 



The suit is honeycombed: From a practical point of view, a honeycombed suit will catch the movie set’s lighting and create a more visually appealing and textured look to the mostly one colored outfit. From a realistically rendered characterization of Superman though (realism being a theme that will pop up again and again during this look at Snyder’s super-suit), one can imagine the texture and honeycomb aspects of a suit, for a man who flies nearly everywhere he goes, as being practical from an aerodynamic standpoint. After all, Superman can fly at nearly any speed so the drag that the honeycombs create really shouldn’t hinder him, and the drag that the suit will generate can conceivably act as steering devices that help him turn on a dime, slow down, and maneuver effectively while in flight. Superman is subject to the laws of physics after all. It’s a potentially cool idea, and a smart one on Snyder’s part. It also hints that this Superman is a man of action as well as of steel.



The sleeves are slightly long: Keeping with the theme of realism, i.e. that Superman’s honeycombed suit will aid his navigational flight abilities (which in turn is suggestive of the thought that went into making his suit as practical and realistic as possible), the suit’s having slightly longer sleeves that bunch up a little when standing straight with his arms at his side or slightly raised makes complete sense. Anyone who has had to wear a dress shirt, or suit, while working a job that requires a great deal of physical movement will understand why having longer sleeves is almost a necessity. Wearing a shirt with sleeves that are slightly longer than the usual cut is much more comfortable and allows for a great range of movement. They allow the shirt or suit’s wearer to stretch and reach out with his arms more easily or, as in Superman’s case, stretch his arms out in flight or punch out a bad guy without tearing the underarm of the shirt or suit. Generally, longer sleeves allow for more comfortable movement. Again, this attention to detail, the creation of a suit that is comfortable and conducive to vigorous action, speaks to Snyder’s envisioning of Superman as a man of action. He’s going to be doing a lot more than posting for pictures or leisurely flying around Metropolis. This Superman is going to get scrappy. Punching out General Zod more comfortably means he can do it more often…get the picture? (no pun intended).



Extra texture on the thigh and above the waist: The extra bits of texture that the suit displays will break up the monotony of the color scheme, but also will serve the fictionally practical purpose of aiding in flight maneuverability. Like the honeycombing on the suit overall, these bits of texture are well placed and are not radically distracting or widely varying from the classic look, unlike the silly kneepads and armored boots the rebooted DCnU comic book Superman now sports. Speaking of tradition, Snyder’s Superman suit’s boots are a wonderful tribute to the classic Superman look. Armored boots are unnecessary. This is a man of steel after all.

Speaking of color: The red trunks seem to be absent. This is really the only serious drawback. The red trunks break up the monotony of the suit’s blue nicely, especially in print (something else that the DCnU reboot is getting wrong). Also, the trunks are not “underwear on the outside.” They’re like jogging shorts over bike shorts, or sweat shorts over tight fitting Under Armour sports performance gear. If the rest of the suit is skin tight then the red “trunks” keep Superman’s uh…privates…from being silhouetted. I’m sure Snyder’s suit will not epically fail by drawing unwarranted attention to Superman’s crotch. Maybe he’ll have a sports cup sewn into the suit…The red trunks would totally avoid us even have to bring up Superman’s nether region though, a subject totally unbefitting the greatest superhero ever. The image is a little vague on this area of Superman’s suit, probably by design. It’s mostly shadowed. Snyder seems to be leaving the suit’s look, in at least this aspect, open to additional tweaking. Maybe he’s testing the fan’s reaction? If you’re reading Mr. Snyder, please put the trunks back. I’m sure you and your team can figure out a way to make them look as realistic and cool as the rest of the suit does.



Speaking of drawbacks: There is one other drawback to the suit. It has to do with the S-Shield. As a Superman purist, I can easily concede that Superman’s S-Shield has evolved greatly over the years, but the look of the S in the shield, as it was settled on in 1940s, is so iconic, and beautiful, that it really doesn’t need tampering with. There seems to be a little bit of extra action (the only time that “action” in reference to this suit and its Superman is a drawback) at the tip of the S where it meets the top of the shield’s upper border. There’s also a little unnecessary splash of yellow up there too. Again though, I can live with this, as there is way more about the suit that is completely awesome than there is not. Maybe Mr. Snyder will tweak this as well too though? Please Mr. Snyder?



The cape is ribbed and folded at the shoulders: This is another nod to the classic Superman look. He’s been presented for years in comic books with a cape that flows and folds at the shoulders. The cape’s folds are reflective of the realistic aerodynamic aspects that the suit conveys as well though. These flowing folds also give Superman a bit more of a regal aspect to his look. Obviously a cape is meant to be more of a decorative aspect of a superhero’s outfit than a practical one, but this cape is tucked up and pulled back so as to allow more freedom of movement which, once again, suggests that this Superman’s suit is built for a man who plans to be engaged in plenty of action.



On Henry Cavill himself as Superman physically: Cavill is buff, but not too buff. The pose he’s striking reveals that he’s spent some time in the gym, but not too much time. His biceps and deltoids are well developed and strong looking, but not cartoony looking as most bodybuilders’ biceps and deltoids are. This Superman is sufficiently, yet realistically, strong enough looking to punch out Zod and intimidate evil doers. Cavill’s look is that of a fit athlete. Someone who is on the go and leads a physically action packed life. If he looked like a bodybuilder, as he is sometimes erroneously portrayed in comic books, then he wouldn’t look like a realistic, healthy, and active superhero. Bodybuilders spend all their time in the gym. Athletes get out on the field of play and work up a sweat. This Superman looks like he’s definitely capable of putting his ability in play by mixing it up with his opponents physically.



One aspect of Cavill’s physical look that I, at first, thought was going to be a drawback is the lack of the signature Superman s-curl on his forehead. Cavill’s hair is almost straight back, and it's a little poofy looking. This makes sense though from a realistic standpoint. Think about it. We have to assume that Superman’s hair isn’t locked into place or so stiff (like steel wool) that it wouldn’t get blown around by the wind. I mean, if this was the case then he’d have to carry a Kryptonite laced comb to get it back into place, right? Clark Kent/Superman simply can’t have the exact same hair style all the time. So if Superman’s hair isn’t of a steel wool consistency then it would get blown in the wind. Superman flies a great deal. Wouldn’t his hair blow back and settle slowly back into place? Okay, I might be splitting hairs here (pun intended), but keeping with the themes of realism and action so far, windswept hair just makes sense.



To sum it all up: This image is unlike any other first released image of a live action Superman movie, television show, or cartoon. Nearly every other first, or at least early, released image of Superman, be it from Superman The Movie, The Adventures of Lois and Clark, or even Superman Returns, all show Superman striking a still, standing, or flying pose. I can’t think of another first image from a Superman production that shows him in the midst of doing something active and not simply standing or flying in a static way. The idea that Snyder wants to get into the heads of this film’s potential viewers with this image first and foremost is that his Superman is going to be a physically active man of action. This Superman is less interested in posing for the public than stopping the bad guys. The picture itself is incredibly kinetic. Sparks are flying and Superman’s cape hasn’t even settled, as evidence by the blur in the picture. Superman has a determined, alert, and stern look on his face. It’s not a grim Batman-like or angst ridden look, but it is one of seriousness. This Superman looks like he can really kick some ass and is built to, but at the same time is regal looking enough to inspire others and live up the mantra of “Truth, Justice, and The American Way.” This image makes this new version of Superman on the big screen look great in every way. It even hints that this new version of Superman, and Man of Steel, as a film, might even turn out to be brilliant.  

Last Updated: November 29, 2025 - 16:51