The Marvel Cinematic Universe has brought many of Marvel Comics' best heroes and villains to life on the big screen thanks to a winning combination of talented actors, cutting-edge special effects, exciting storylines, and, of course, cool superhero costumes. Ever since the late 1930s, superheroes have been known mainly for their stylish outfits to hide their secret identity.
A costume can go a long way in defining a hero, their aesthetic, and even their combat performance. Some costumes are just for show, but others have properties or even gadgets to enhance the wearer's performance, and that makes all the difference. The MCU's heroes all have their own costumes, many of which are comic-accurate, and the best of them maximize both form and function.
10 Star-Lord Has A Distinct Helmet & Cool Jacket
Star-Lord's hero costume is a bit plain compared to the others, but it's all he needs. He's not the type to parade around in a colorful and gimmicky getup, because he has learned from the Ravagers to be practical and pack lightly before a mission. His costume has all the features he requires.
Star-Lord has a stylish red leather jacket and a belt with his pistols, making him a bit like Han Solo, but that's not all. Star-Lord also has his signature helmet, which hides his identity and protects him from the cold vacuum of space. He can conveniently don or remove that high-tech helmet with a touch, too.
9 Scarlet Witch Is Comfortable In Her Battle Costume
Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch joined the MCU's cast of heroes in the 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron. At first, she was a villain, but Scarlet Witch soon turned on her robotic boss, Ultron, and became a true hero.
Scarlet Witch is perfectly comfortable in her somewhat plain but practical hero costume, including a cool red leather coat, fingerless gloves, tight black pants, and slick black boots for some visual relief. Interestingly, Wanda's coat almost looks like a cape in battle, a throwback to the capes common to classic superheroes in comics.
8 Captain Marvel Is Colorful & Memorable In Her Costume
Captain Marvel is a terrifically powerful fighter who is comfortable fighting both on Earth and on alien worlds, and she has a flashy hero costume to match. It's true that her outfit has relatively few features compared to some other hero costumes, but given Captain Marvel's immense power, she hardly needs any gadgets.
Captain Marvel's getup is lean and practical, and there's no cape or cowl to get in the way. Instead, her outfit makes her stand out with eye-catching red, blue, and gold patterns, including a starburst on the chest. Anyone who sees these colors will know the day is saved.
7 Captain America's Costume Embodies Hope & Justice
Few superhero costumes are as symbolic and legendary as that of Captain America, the star-spangled Avenger who ended up in ice for 60+ years. From the very start, Captain America has been a defender of peace, hope, and justice, and he is most loyal to what his country should be.
Captain America's costume in the MCU got some upgrades. It looked a bit cheap and silly in 2012's The Avengers, but over time, Steve's costume was enhanced and looked more appropriate for battle without sacrificing its beloved, classic look. His costume looks tough, stylish, and comfortable to wear, a winning combination.
6 Black Panther Wears Vibranium From Head To Toe
"Black Panther" is more of a title that refers to the current king of Wakanda, and in the 1990s, that king was T'Chaka. That was until he died in the 2010s and was succeeded by his adult son, T'Challa. T'Challa wears the mantle of Black Panther with pride and dignity, and this suit's symbolic feline look is just the start.
Black Panther's costume has cat ears and claws to fit the panther theme, but most of all, this suit is made of vibranium, a nigh-indestructible material that keeps T'Challa safe during battle. A certain model of this suit can even absorb energy and redirect it, making it even more potent, as seen in 2018's Black Panther.
5 Doctor Strange Wears Cool Robes & A Magical Cape
Doctor Stephen Strange was once a surgeon, but then he learned to master the mystic arts and never looked back. He also got his hands on a truly stylish hero costume with eye-catching red and blue patterns on it. He truly looks like a wizard, and even his cape is magical.
Doctor Strange has a cool, high-collared cape that can move on its own accord, and it obeys Doctor Strange's every command. More than once, Doctor Strange has detached his cape and sent it after his opponents. He used it to restrain a fleeing Spider-Man and restrain Thanos' gloved hand in battle.
4 War Machine Is Armed To The Teeth
Tony Stark's good friend, James Rhodes, is no ordinary soldier. He is the armored superhero War Machine, wielding a suit that is loaded with conventional but deadly weapons, including a high-powered stun stick, from head to toe. War Machine lacks some of Iron Man's best tricks, but in most battles, War Machine's own weaponry is sufficient.
War Machine's costume protects him from harm and allows him to fly, and the suit's many weapons can tear apart most foes with ease. Most soldiers would give anything to get their hands on War Machine's costume.
3 Spider-Man's Costume Has Many Hidden Features & Looks Cool
Tom Holland's Spider-Man has a costume that pays tribute to the original while adding some truly remarkable features. Unlike Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man, who had a suit that was mainly for looks, this Spider-Man has a high-tech costume with countless features.
The features include web-shooters, enhanced vision modes, and even an AI that Peter amusingly nicknamed Karen. Tobey Maguire's Spidey would be jealous. The upgraded Iron Spider Armor not only looks cool, but it is also made of nano-tech that makes the costume a snap to put on and take off. Even Doctor Octopus was deeply impressed.
2 Ant-Man's Suit Changes Size At Will
At first, the ex-con Scott Lang thought that Hank Pym's special suit was just a motorcycle outfit with a funny helmet, but he quickly learned to respect this amazing suit and what it can do. Ant-Man's costume actually looks really cool when everyone gets used to its odd appearance, and looks are just the start.
More than anything, Ant-Man's costume is all about size, and with cutting-edge tech, the suit's wearer can shrink down to an ant's size, hence the name. Or, the user can turn into a giant, big and strong enough to tear the wings off a parked airplane with impunity. Truly, a remarkable costume.
1 Iron Man's Suit Is Always Evolving
Tony Stark built his Iron Man suit in 2008's Iron Man, which helped launch the entire MCU. Even in its earliest stages, Tony's mechanical costume was ultra-stylish, very tough, and loaded with essential features for combat, including a built-in power source.
Tony has regularly upgraded his costumes and suits since then to include features ranging from laser beams to nano-tech shields and far more. By the events of Avengers: Infinity War, Tony's nanotech suit could do practically anything, making Iron Man a highly versatile and effective fighter.