Genderbent cosplay or crossplay is quite common for popular characters, particularly in anime, though comics get their fair share as well. Superman and Batman are the two biggest names in DC and the ones you most associate with the company. As such, they have the widest array of cosplay of both varieties.
To pull off a good Superman, you need to have the right look and feel. You don't need the physique to fill out the tights as much as you need to be able to exude his special kind of optimism. You need to symbolize that hope, and these 10 cosplayers below do just that.
10 The Pose
When you think of Superman, he's either beginning his ascent into the air, landing, or striking this very same pose. Hands-on his hips, chest puffed outward, gaze looking off into the horizon. It's the perfect symbol for the character and one that Christopher Reeves truly made iconic.
Elven Princess does a great job, not only with her positioning but the cosplay itself, creating a look somewhere in between the suit used for Man of Steel and the classic tights that the character has worn for years.
9 Power Couple
Clark Kent and Lois Lane will always be the most thought of relationship for the character, but his run with Wonder Woman was a nice change of pace, giving us new stories to read.
Having two powerhouses like this as a couple brought something different to the table and both cosplayers embody their characters exponentially well here. Wonder Woman looks like a true warrior princess, one unafraid of shoving that shield into a villains face.
8 Krypto
This cosplay isn't going to set the world on fire, with Superman being more like something you'd see at a Halloween party, but there is one thing it has that nothing else on this list has -- Krypto, the Superdog, stalwart companion of Superboy.
He's a part of the mythos that those outside it would scoff at, but he's more than just a super-powered canine. The fact the dog in the photo is a Husky is always going to be a bonus, Huskies being one of the most beautiful dogs in the world.
7 The Bat
Superman and Batman go hand in hand -- they're the two titans of DC comics. They are as close to friends as you can get, considering they've traded blows on a few occasions across multiple different universes.
Both Nesu and Meru look great, particularly the way Meru's cape is flowing behind them. It may have taken them 10 takes to pull this off, but it was well worth it for this image. There's always something inherently badass about a heroic cape flip.
6 Different Sides
The dynamic duo of Batman and Superman is the perfect check and balance for each other, not just physically, but also mentally. They are both two sides of the very same coin, one, the light that humanity that everyone should strive for, and the other, the darkness to punish those that reject this humanity.
It's displayed beautifully here -- Batman is shrouded somewhat by the black background, while Nesu is in clearer view as Superman. Having them back to back plays with this, as well.
5 Farm Boy
What makes the Superman character so intriguing is how different he could be if he would have had a different upbringing. It's been explored somewhat, with stories like Red Son, where he became the symbol of hope for communist Russia. Origins are important for every hero, but perhaps no more so than with Superman.
If it weren't for him landing in Kansas and being taken in by the Kents, he might not be as heroic. The values they instilled in him on the farm were so important, the simple garb above playing right into this idea. Clark Kent has never been a man known for flash and dash.
4 Clark Kent
The tearaway with Clark Kent's shirt is just as iconic as some of the poses mentioned earlier, so popular that it even made it's way into the world of sports, thanks to Cam Newton. It's such a simple act, one that Karidlane manages very well here.
The seriousness of her face helps sell the situation, letting you know there is a true sense of danger on the horizon. The entire act helps show the level of selflessness the character has.
3 Modern
Admittedly, this is closer to Superboy than it is Superman, but it could still very much just be a younger take on the original Big Blue by Schpog.
This entire vibe of a teenager who is undergoing far more than just the "usual" adolescent change is more than any of us will ever have to undertake. From the headphones blocking out the rest of the world to the short leather jacket and high boots, it's an incredibly creative take, shifting the look to fit a woman. And the short shorts with the stockings are a great combination.
2 More Than Just A Man
We can all harp on about how dumb Clark Kent's disguise is -- a pair of glasses and a simple restyling of your hair doesn't make you look all that different.
But we all have to go with the flow with certain nonsensical things in comics, especially if they lead to some pretty cool moments, like when Clark sheds his glasses. Supermaryface discarding her specs and pulling away her shirt is a perfect example of this, gaze shooting upward, as if Brainiac or some other cosmic force was attempting to invade.
1 Curls
Simulating that Superman-esque curl in the hair can be difficult for male cosplayers to pull off and equally as tough for a woman. Vavalika pulls it off very well, giving us not only this but a shorter hairstyle that is more in line with the character.
Her look, both physically and in the cosplay itself, is about as close to a Superman as you could get. The smoky backdrop makes it seem like she's preparing, or in the midst of confronting a major threat to Metropolis.