Why do superheroes traditionally wear capes and tights?

[raccoon]

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Captain Hilts]

1. It's for flying. Like wearing your own magic carpet. The tights don't rustle in the wind.

That's why I wear a cape and tights.

[NewJeffCT]

2. To show off their physiques

[Blue_Tires]

34. i was about to start a similar thread asking why

female superheroes/villians always wear something that would get them arrested for soliciting if they were ordinary people on the street....

[NewJeffCT]

35. just do a google image search on Powergirl

and see what sort of pictures you come back with...

[Blue_Tires]

36. there are plenty of examples much worse than that!

[NewJeffCT]

37. yes, but

Powergirl is the Dolly Parton of the superhero universe.

[HopeHoops]

3. LOL - My wife and I were out (Friday) and there's a TV commercial with a "superhero".

He's walking around with a little kid in a Superman-like costume and goes into a basement and messes with what looks like a breaker panel. I have no idea what the commercial was for and the sound was off, but I turned to her and said "There is no way in HELL I would let one of MY kids be alone with someone dressed like that!"

[Deep13]

4. Helps show movement in static image comic books. nt

[struggle4progress]

5. I think they're all unemployed artists

[kentauros]

6. "No capes!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M68ndaZSKa8

:D

[baldguy]

20. Edna knew what she was talking about.

[TommyO]

23. I can't watch it at work, but why bother when I have the DVD at home!

As soon as I saw this thread I thought of Edna, and Edith Head for some strange reason :D

[Moondog]

7. They all have the same fetish?

[DarkTirade]

8. Capes look cool when soaring through the air.

tights are easy to hide under their alter ego's clothes.

Although in some cases they're necessary... can you IMAGINE what kind of friction would happen to the Flash if he wasn't wearing clothes that had no drag?

[charlie and algernon]

15. the Flash probably has the biggest excuse for tights

the rest should be able to get away with military style garb

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

9. Superman's cape has a real history to it.

It's made of indestructible cloth. It was originally the blanket he was wrapped in on his rocket ride from Krypton to Earth. Ma Kent fashioned it along with his costume as a symbol of who he really is. The "S" symbol does NOT stand for "Superman"- it's the symbol of his Kryptonian family house.

All the rest of the crime fighters are simply jealous. :evilgrin:

Damn, is it possible to get any more comic book geek than this????

[skygazer]

11. I am just beyond awe at the level of dedicated comic-book-geekiness in this post

:wow:

:thumbsup:

[Jamastiene]

18. +1

for most excellency in geekiness. :thumbsup:

[TommyO]

22. How did Ma Kent cut this supposedly indestructible cloth?

:evilgrin:

[baldguy]

24. Jor-El thought of everything for the little traveler Kal-El

Even including a Kryptonian sewing kit.

[DatManFromNawlins]

30. They disassembled part of the ship

And she used a piece of Kryptonian metal to cut it.

[SKKY]

10. Because they can! It's the same reason a dog licks his balls...

...I mean, tell me that if you could get away with wearing a cape and tights everywhere, and have everyone love you and worship you, you wouldn't do it. I know I would.

[driver8]

25. I would do it if I could, too!

But where in the hell would I put my wallet?

[SKKY]

31. Why would you need a wallet??

...You're a super hero!

[foxfeet]

12. Because hoop skirts would be unwieldy.

[raccoon]

13. Super Belle! nt

[no name no slogan]

14. Because they all started as theater majors

nt

[SoxFan]

16. Don't be a homophone!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=8781197&mesg_id=8781197

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

17. Because muscles and capes are fun to draw.

Hell, comic book god Jack Kirby created a whole comic book series just so he could have fun drawing the dynamic postures of a guy riding a surfboard.

[Jamastiene]

19. Capes and tights are more aerodynamic.

Clothes would cause too much wind shear and slow them down while they are on the way to save someone who literally has only seconds to live without help. :)

[RedCloud]

21. Why did Wilt the Stilt always tape one of his thighs?

NBA approved?

[Deja Q]

26. A stilt?

Oops, wrong venue:




Do you not mean a tripod instead?

[Bucky]

27. Tradition. The original super heroes were based on acrobats, who wore capes.

As seen in this picture...



Wait, wrong picture. I mean this one...

[arbusto_baboso]

28. "Superhero Drag", baby.

They all are a bit kinky.

You have to be to wear spandex in public. Why do you think they have "secret identities"?

[SalmonChantedEvening]

29. Because they can.

:)

[Orsino]

32. They want to preserve the traditional definition of superheroism...

...as between one man and one leotard.

[Pierre.Suave]

33. Because they are cool...

D'uh...

:P

[NewJeffCT]

38. How come when Bruce Banner transforms into the Hulk

He ends up shirtless and only wearing pants... but, when the woman who becomes she-hulk transforms into she-hulk, she is not shirtless?

[Iggo]

39. Because they are fun to draw. (n/t)