Comments on: Agent of S.T.Y.L.E.: Captain America’s Avengers Ensemble

By: Mikel Walrath

Mikel Walrath — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:59:58 +0000

Excellent News. Finally something worth watching this year My work week is finally over! It’s been a loooong week. Who’s down to watch Captain America:The First Avenger tonight?

By: Raphael

Raphael — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:12:17 +0000

Can you make an Agent of S.T.Y.L.E ON U.S.Agent? I think his New Invaders`s costume looks similar to the Captain America in the upcoming movie adaptation.

By: tablue

tablue — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 16:08:51 +0000

Great article.
Also the eagle on the Heroes Reborn Cap is the same logo for SHIELD in the story. To go from Captain America, to his shield, to SHIELD, their logo and back to Cap makes for an interesting connection.

By: skalja

skalja — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:06:09 +0000

Love the article! I’m a bit surprised you didn’t mention Rikki Barnes’ Nomad outfit as seen here: http://www.operacionmandril.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/youngallies_02.jpg

Granted, it’s not based on the Captain America costume – I just thought it was worth mentioning.

By: Alan Kistler

Alan Kistler — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:44:16 +0000

Agent7: I definitely did think of that, but I think that the A on his head and the extra stars on his shoulder are enough to advertise that he’s not Captain Puerto Rico. Though now that I think of it, there definitely SHOULD be a Captain Puerto Rico. I would read that.

By: agent7

agent7 — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:43:19 +0000

for somebody who doesnt like the bucky suit how can you not mention that he has the freakin puerto rican flag on his chest? its the biggest design flaw in comics. captain america wears puerto rican flag. nice going alex ross!

By: Dominic

Dominic — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 04:13:07 +0000

Great article.

“the V-neck reaching all the way to his belt is just ridiculous and, coupled with the black leather mask, make him again look like a wrestler. Or possibly a figure skater” Or possibly a gay, porn star. Or a dork.

@ Dean Kish – thanks for the links to those old CA costumes – his head looks huge (and yes, I’m talking about the biker helmet!).

By: Alan Kistler

Alan Kistler — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 21:00:44 +0000

Nillyville: No apologies necessary. And your idea isn’t a bad one, we’ve been discussing something similar. Readers will be notified with what we decide to do.

By: wmianecke

wmianecke — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:52:32 +0000

GREAT article!

While I miss Cap’s classic costume, one thing I won’t miss is the trend of the past few years where many artists (Chris Bachalo to name just one) drew every individivual bit of blue “chainmail” but it would end up looking more like a shirt made of blue feathers. The whole “make costumes look realistic” concept disregarded the smooth lines and solid design of Cap’s “shirt” as it had been drawn for years. All of a sudden, the edge just above the stripes wasn’t a straight line any more, but, well, it looked like feathers to me. There was nothing wrong with drawing a few little “u” shapes on there to suggest the chainmail.

By: Androoo

Androoo — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:28:32 +0000

Captain America has always been my favorite character, in large part to that awesome shield and costume. However, there have always been two things that bugged me to death. You ask any non-comic book reader, and they’ll tell you that the little wings on the side of his head look ridiculous. And I can’t think of any soldier that would want to wear them. Too gawdy.
And the chain mail . . . it works in theory, but some artists just don’t do it right. Ever since Cassaday started drawing him in Marvel Knights Captain America, every artist (especially Chris Bachalo and Steve McNiven, as much as I love those artists) have drawn his upper body as if it were made of scales rather than chain mail underneath his shirt. He’s not a fish!
Anyway, I love the Ultimate Cap and the movie’s costume.

By: nillyville

nillyville — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:18:24 +0000

My extreme apologies Alan! It really is an awesome column, one I look forward to when I open up newsarama! I already told you about a Concept sketch Superman special…what about another special on what you think are the best costumes in comics today. For aspiring creators and also to give props to those who had created the legendary ones!

By: roach2000

roach2000 — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:58:55 +0000

The crest on Isaiah Bradley’s shield is “Double V for Victory”. It was the rallying cry of african americans who joined the military. It stood for Victory against the Axis abroad and Victory for Civil Rights at home.

By: Lionel

Lionel — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:15:45 +0000

Lawyers know it !;)

By: Ed Brubaker

Ed Brubaker — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 07:29:36 +0000

I’m pretty certain that Marko, who designed the new Steve Rogers uniform, has no idea who the Fighting American is.

By: Lionel

Lionel — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 05:45:10 +0000

Really interesting Alan ( specially for a French like me ..), I learned a lot thx. But , nothing about Protocide ( Clinton Ms Intyre ) ?

By: Alan Kistler

Alan Kistler — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 04:41:01 +0000

KYLE: You’ll also notice the narration refers to it as “chain mail” when Baron Blood tries to bite Cap in the scanned image I provided.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 04:30:31 +0000

Good column. It’s fun looking back at the history of a certain character’s costume. Captain America has one of the most iconic, classic costumes out there and any change takes away from that. I prefer the buccaneer boots to combat boots and you’ve got to love the wings on the helmet. The new movie costume looks like he’s wearing suspenders. All he’s missing now is a pocket protector and a bow tie. I just hope they don’t give him a gun.

By: Daniel Heard

Daniel Heard — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 03:49:26 +0000

I really enjoyed this column. A great read.
I think I like the WWII Ultimate Cap’s look more than any for the fact that it is real clothing made to appear fantastic. It’s not fantastic next a guy in canary blue chainmail and flame red pirate boots, but If you saw this on the battlefield you would still know who the badass standard bearer was. It follows the Pulp Hero tradition of real MEN in SUITS.
We were this close to having a century of superheroes in tailored clothing, when that circus clown leapt over a building and ruined everything.

By: Alan Kistler

Alan Kistler — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 03:26:32 +0000

NILLYVILLE: David doesn’t write them, I do. That’s why each article says “By Alan Kistler” at the beginning and why each one has a bio describing me at the end. But thanks for thinking they’re great.

KYLE: In many comics, he has described it as chain mail. If you don’t believe me, look at the scanned image I pasted above wherein he describes his chain mail armor to FDR.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 01:52:23 +0000

Cap doesn’t wear, nor has he ever worn, “chain mail.” His armour has alwasy been depicted as scale mail, or scale armour. Just a wee nitpick.

By: Chris Hutton

Chris Hutton — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 01:37:04 +0000

I am so tired of today’s detailing of costumes. I’m sick of seams, spandex, and leather. These characters existed for decades (some for 3/4 of a century!) without this crap. The same goes for all of the geegaws on Iron Man. UNNEEDED.

By: nillyville

nillyville — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:09:36 +0000

Thank you David for such great articles. I see a trend in ur favorites being the “classic looks” which is fine…but I really think some modern versions are quite amazing. Especially the new Ultimate designs for Cap and also the movie designs (I need the wings too!!). Creators now are thinking more and more about practicality rather than bravado which works for this generation and works for a “realistic” superhero. Keep this article going, and can you do a SPECIAL one on alternate creator CONCEPT DESIGNS on SUPERMAN??? I think he needed a new costume two decades ago. Why doesn’t DC do something about it? I can send you my design!! You should do a contest where the best design gets a testing in a superman comic. That would be awesome.

By: MJ

MJ — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 20:39:05 +0000

Cap’s original costume was designed by Joe Simon, not Jack Kirby.

By: Alan Kistler

Alan Kistler — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:27:27 +0000

ED BRUBAKER: I actually decided not to include that costume in this piece because I wanted to save it for a column I’m doing on live-action translations. Rest assured I intend to talk about that suit as well as the 1970s live-action suits where it seemed that Cap was wearing suspenders.

MARK MURPHY: You’d have to ask the folks who designed that suit, I’m afraid I wasn’t in the room at the time.

VINNIE: I’ve been waiting two months to use that phrase in an article. Just saying.

DORON: Thankee.

JEREMY: Different opinion of what seems better/more realistic.

SCAPOLI: Thanks.

DEAN: See my above answer to Ed.

ANDREW: I’m aware of how it shines, I was more asking why he would want it to. And I didn’t mean to imply that he should wear all black instead. Then he wouldn’t be Captain America.

By: andrew

andrew — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 18:41:35 +0000

this is a great agent of style article!
but i personally love the bucky cap uniform. i can see how it can some times contradict itself but your have to remember the only reason he put the red white and blue on it was for steve. and the reason it shines is because its actually a form of metal developed by tony stark. and isnt it all the more impacting to see a single small black dote on a white paper, than a entire black paper?

By: Dean Kish

Dean Kish — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 18:40:44 +0000

You also forgot the really awful look from the 1970s TV movies… seriously what were they thinking…

http://www.asitecalledfred.com/comics101/images/2003/sep10/captvshow.jpg
http://bluemoviereviews.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/cap-a.jpg
http://cdn3.ioffer.com/img/item/145/492/829/0MyZ0qfGVi1cXKt.jpg

By: scapoli

scapoli — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 18:07:46 +0000

This column is GREAT.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 17:42:19 +0000

I wonder why these days, the chainmail is separated from his mask/neck?

By: doron

doron — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:55:00 +0000

I think when talking about the new Steve Roger’s Super Soldier/secret avenger uniform you should mention that it is based off of the Fighting American’s costume (http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/f/fightame.htm).
But once again your article is great and is quickly becoming my favorite feature at Newsarama.

By: Vinnie Bartilucci

Vinnie Bartilucci — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:13:33 +0000

This article wins solely on the strength of the phrase “Avengers Ensemble”.

I look forward to upcoming articles featuring Elongated Man, Zatanna and Power Girl, three characters who have had crimes of fashion forced upon them over the years.