The 1960s marked a revolution in superhero fashion. As the Silver Age of comics burst with new heroes and new concepts, costumes evolved to become more streamlined, dramatic, and expressive. The days of simple circus tights were gone—the need for superhero fashion to be elevated to an art form had arrived. These 13 costumes did more than cover up characters—they created legacies.
The Atom by Gil Kane (1961)
Gil Kane modernized the Atom, swapping Golden Age excess for a clean, utilitarian design. The red-and-blue coloring popped, and the distinctive diamond shape emerging from the belt provided Ray Palmer with a distinctive style that rivaled even the subatomic scale.
Batgirl by Carmine Infantino (1966)
Batgirl’s debut was accompanied by a chic, memorable costume that beautifully walked the line of homage and uniqueness. The black jumpsuit, yellow bat symbol, and cascading red hair made for an instantly recognizable silhouette. Sure, those heels may be eyebrow-raising now, but this suit made a statement, no question.
Black Panther by Jack Kirby (1969)
Jack Kirby made it clean and strong with Black Panther’s all-black costume. It was sleek, enigmatic, and cool from the get-go. The cape and chest plate didn’t stick around long, but the streamlined reinterpretation nailed T’Challa’s vibe and created a new template for superhero simplicity.
Captain Marvel by Gil Kane (1969)
Mar-Vell’s initial glance wasn’t quite superhero material, but all of that changed with Gil Kane’s reworking. Bye-bye baggy space suit, hello dynamic red-and-blue with cut-out mask. It provided the Kree fighter the dignity his name commanded.
The Creeper by Steve Ditko (1968)
Only Steve Ditko could have concocted something as gloriously strange as the Creeper costume. The clashing color, the mad fur collar, and the frenzy of grin were Ditko madness—and that’s what made it unforgettable. Love it or loathe it, you weren’t going to forget this sight.
Daredevil by Wally Wood (1965)
Daredevil’s first yellow-and-red costume was something from a carnival sideshow. Wally Wood then came along and provided Matt Murdock with his now-famous red costume. It was sleek, it was clean, and instantly improved the character’s presence on the page.
Wally Wood’s Dynamo (1965)
Dynamo, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents’ muscle, required a suit that yelled power, and Wally Wood did not disappoint. The silver and blue color scheme, chest emblem, and kinetic lines put this costume at the forefront of the capes and tights crowd. It was futuristic without being too out there, much like the series itself.
Goliath by Don Heck (1966) / Yellowjacket by John Buscema (1968)
Hank Pym sported more superhero personas than most, but two of his 1960s appearances are still standout favorites. Goliath’s blue-and-gold costume was assertive and commanding, and Yellowjacket’s black-and-gold look introduced a whole new level of panache. Give thanks to Don Heck and John Buscema for ensuring that Pym never appeared anything less than dashing, even when his off-duty life was in shambles.
Green Lantern by Gil Kane (1959)
While technically introduced in 1959, Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern uniform established superhero fashion during the ’60s. Gil Kane eliminated the frills of yesteryear and provided a clean, forward-thinking appearance with an eye-catching color scheme and the now-famous chest symbol. It’s a look that continues to be effective today.
Iron Man by Steve Ditko (1963)
Iron Man’s earliest armor all concerned function, not form, but after Steve Ditko provided us with the red-and-gold Mark III getup, things changed. Streamlined, muscular, and visually arresting, this became the template for Iron Man’s future—and a pop culture icon in itself.
Kid Flash by Carmine Infantino (1963)
Wally West’s first costume was a shortened version of Barry Allen’s, but Carmine Infantino established the sidekick as an individual. The bright yellow shirt and red pants combination played up Wally’s youth and energy while making him visually connected to the Flash legacy. It was just new enough and yet familiar enough.
Spider-Man by Steve Ditko (1962)
There’s little left to say about Ditko’s Spider-Man costume that hasn’t been said already—it’s perfect. From webbed design to expressive eyes and red-and-blue color scheme, it’s one of the most immediately recognizable costumes in all of comics. Years later, it remains the gold standard.
Ultraman, Crime Syndicate of America by Mike Sekowsky (1964)
Ultraman, the evil doppelganger of Earth-3’s Superman, had a suit that was quite close enough to the Man of Steel’s to be familiar-but with an evil twist. Mike Sekowsky’s design nailed the creepy parallel-universe feel perfectly, indicating that even malevolent doubles could be iconic.
The 1960s weren’t all about massive concepts and new heroes—they were also about innovative designs that changed what a superhero would look like. These costumes weren’t merely trendy for the era; many of them became blueprints for character development spanning decades.