'Black Panther' costume designer was inspired by Man of Steel's Superman suit

Marvel's Black Panther has been all the rage this week, but its costume designer Ruth Carter admitted that she was inspired by Superman's costume from Man of Steel when she was designing a new suit for Black Panther.

“When I observed Superman’s suit and his texture, I could actually see the musculature underneath was silver," Carter told Inverse. "I thought this is fabulous for the Black Panther."

“We’re gonna use that suit, make it ‘vibranium,’ because it needs to feel laced in vibranium and have luminosity. The muscles needed to have the highlights that the silver would give underneath,” she added.

Costume designer Michael Wilkinson used that technique in Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, and amped it up for Justice League.

SOURCE: Inverse

95 comments

marcelb

February 23, 2018

Say what you want about the DCEU, but the costume design has been amazing so far.

Tobescolombo
February 23, 2018
The costume, Soundtrack (Except for the one that shall not be named), and the cinematography.
1. Nahuel Benvenuto
  February 23, 2018
  MoS and BvS had good cinematography, WW was generic with some decent stuff, SS was bad because of the editing, and JL was terrible and cheap
  1. Tobescolombo
    February 23, 2018
    I agree with all points. Also, till this day, I don't understand what WB was thinking changing the colour tone from dark to bright orange. Did anyone not understand cooler and contrast?(Talking about JL btw)
  2. NinjaGamer13
    February 23, 2018
    I think WW definitely had some highlights and gorgeous moments. I wouldn’t say it was generic. MCU is generic.
    SS actually had some good looking shots, too, to be honest.
    JL was mostly generic, with some cool things that survived the cuts.
    1. Rust
      February 23, 2018
      I do think MCU's cinematography is getting better. They deserve a ton of credit for some incredibly epic/beautiful moments in Thor: Ragnarok, and I say that even though it wasn't 100% the Thor movie I wanted otherwise.
    2. NinjaGamer13
      February 23, 2018
      The last MCU movie I saw was Doctor Strange (I’m super behind, I know). That was stellar visually. And some of their more space-y stuff tends to be, come to think of it. I mainly had Civil War in mind, I think. But I look forward to Ragnarok!
    3. Ben Dutchover
      February 24, 2018
      All I know is I love DC. This switching and not knowing keeps pissing me off. F%@K You WB!
NinjaGamer13
February 23, 2018
There are exceptions to the rule. Joker doesn’t need the face tattoos especially, but most everything else in the DCEU pretty much looks great.
OGDickGrayson
February 23, 2018
Maybe for the Trinity. Certainly not for Flash and you could argue the same for Aquaman and especially Cyborg.
1. NinjaGamer13
  February 23, 2018
  What’s wrong with literally any of those character designs?
  1. Hunter Zolomon
    February 24, 2018
    Well Flash looks awful and too busy, its ridiculous that the CW suit is somehow much better. Cyborg is busy and the awful CGI doesn't help, too quote Honest Trailers Cyborg looks like scrunched up tin foil haha. Aquaman looks ok but its pretty boring in JL, thankfully we are getting a more comic look in his solo film.
    1. Cnyderborg
      February 24, 2018
      You know cyborg is going to change right? https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
    2. Axxell
      February 25, 2018
      It HAS to. Because the JL design was awful.
    3. NinjaGamer13
      February 24, 2018
      Did you complain this much about the TDK Trilogy Batsuit? That was just as busy as the JL Flash suit, without the comics-accurate color scheme, and for the same important purpose - realism.
      I suppose the CGI could look better in a few scenes? I don’t know, I just think it bothers you guys mainly because it’s his whole body. He looks like an apokoliptian cybernetic body. He supposed to be an alien robot. I don’t see the problem with that. I would have a problem if he looked too normal and human and round and simple.
      Aquaman’s BvS costume was perfect.
      JL is good for a more regal look. I would want nothin else from a full-body Atlantean armor - ornate scales and sea-like greens and golds are the way to go. No complaints.
      Oh gosh, I’m dreading his “more comic look” in the solo film. It better be like what he has now but just a more gold on the torso. If he actually looks like he’s wearing a bright orange and green wetsuit I will vomit.
    4. rodo
      February 25, 2018
      Do you really think that the CW Flash looks better with his cheap false lether jacket?
    5. Hunter Zolomon
      February 27, 2018
      Miller's false Power Ranger outfit looks cheaper and worse, Gustin at least looks like The Flash.
    6. rodo
      February 27, 2018
      Nothing looks cheaper than a fake lether jacket.
    7. Hunter Zolomon
      February 27, 2018
      I would rather ware a leather jacket then some cheap looking plastic, end of the day Gustin's suit is closer to the comic suit in both design and materiel then what Gustin's suit is and thats that.
    8. rodo
      February 27, 2018
      It's fake leather... with a helmet/hoodie that make him looks big headed.
  2. OGDickGrayson
    February 24, 2018
    Cyborg looks like a Transformer and isn't bulky enough.
    Flash's is way to busy and looks like it was made out of trash and a bicycle helmet.
    Aquaman's isn't really too special. It just doesn't much resemble his suit and is basically armor.
    Compare that to the Trinity which is near perfect recreations of their suits.
    1. NinjaGamer13
      February 24, 2018
      He’s an alien robot, so that’s good.
      Did you complain this much about the TDK Trilogy Batsuit? That was just as busy as the JL Flash suit, without the comics-accurate color scheme, and for the same important purpose - realism.
      Well his suit from the comics IS armor, so I’m not sure why that’s a complaint, lol. It looks like the perfect representation of what the ancient Atlantean civilization’s armor would be like - highly ornate, scaly, and in dark aquatic greens and golds. His BvS costume was best, though. But for the full-body suit look, JL did the best that can be done - though it wouldn’t hurt to have more gold on the torso.
      Yeah, all within realism, though. Same limits as the others’. Batman’s could probably be technically more realistic, however. But everyone’s costume is a realistic translation of their exact costume from the comics.
    2. Axxell
      February 25, 2018
      Hes an alien robot, so thats good.
      That's not an excuse for lazy costume design. Superman's suit is alien, but you can tell some actual thought went into it, unlike Cyborg's.
      Flash's costume looked even worse, because it's supposed to look light and flexible...whoever had the idea of making it look like it was cheaply tied together with wire, must have really hated his life.
    3. NinjaGamer13
      February 26, 2018
      That incredibly intricate and complex alien design that incorporates the multifaceted sheen of the Mother Boxes and tentacle look of that which they terraform (quite sensibly, since the cybernetics came from a Mother Box), all while resembling the comics look, is lazy??? Personally, I think his look at the very end montage was lazier - when they made him all round and simple looking (but closer to the comics). Creating your own unique interpretation of a comic look, especially if it’s as insanely detailed and in-them as Cyborg’s was in JL, is always inherently less lazy than simply directly adapting the comic appearance exactly.
      It’s “cheap” because he built it himself. The wires allow the bending and flexibility, so it’s funny that that’s what you’re complaining about. Stitching a bunch of NASA plates together ina flexible way probably would look like that. And to top it off, it looks like the comics colors and everything. It’s a fair design.
    4. Axxell
      February 27, 2018
      That incredibly intricate and complex alien design that incorporates the multifaceted sheen of the Mother Boxes and tentacle look of that which they terraform (quite sensibly, since the cybernetics came from a Mother Box), all while resembling the comics look, is lazy???
      Yes. Self referential bad design is still lazy. It has nothing to do with them not copying the comic book look; it's about them attempting an original design and failing miserably.
      Its cheap because he built it himself. The wires allow the bending and flexibility, so its funny that thats what youre complaining about. Stitching a bunch of NASA plates together ina flexible way probably would look like that.
      Military vests bend and flex, without any of those wires. Really, you can get your hands on NASA tech, but you can only make it fit with materials from Home Depot? Who "stiches" plates together like this?Seriously?
      Not to mention there's also the question of why he needs NASA plates for his chest, but not his jaw...All it is is an unnecessary plot hole that makes the character design worse. They could've done with a better design... but I'm guessing they tried to be clever in their attempt to make it "grounded" and "realistic"...
Smart Ass
February 24, 2018
Costumes, Cinematography, and score (not counting JL) and actors (not counting Jesse in BvS)
1. Smart Ass
  February 24, 2018
  For the most part :P
  1. jrvc
    February 24, 2018
    If it wasn't for his quirkiness, I'd argue he was a good proto-Luthor. I liked how he covered his inner unhingness, and his motives were quite similar to those from his comic-counterpart. And, at least in the UC, his plan was vey luthor-y
    1. Smart Ass
      February 24, 2018
      His extra quirkiness is what put me off. He was very threatening in many scenes like the one where he's talking to the Senator in his office or when he's just looking at the piece of Kryptonite with awe. The rest, he goes way over the top with his ummms like a Jeff Goldblum impressionist.
    2. NinjaGamer13
      February 26, 2018
      Think less “quirky,” more mentally unstable and highly intelligent. It’s a bit annoying, but it makes sense and is totally forgivable, especially since he’s gonna be more calm moving forward.
    3. NinjaGamer13
      February 26, 2018
      Which “quirks” are you referring to, really?
    4. jrvc
      February 26, 2018
      The way he behaved reminded more of The Riddler than Luthor. That doesn't mean I couldn't see that there are other Luthor's traits there, like how he made others his puppets or how he could threat in that subtle way. Unfortunately that quirkiness is what popped more and what people just saw on him.
      Hopefully his staying in Arkham has decreased that a notch ;)
    5. Rust
      February 26, 2018
      I think half of the quirkiness is just Jesse being kind of eccentric himself. lol
      Most of the dialogue, performed by someone less animated, would be completely fitting of any other version of Luthor.
      I'm open to new twists on old characters, so none of this bothered me. I found it fresh and gripping.
2. NinjaGamer13
  February 24, 2018
  I count Jesse ;)
Bob Harris
February 24, 2018
Too dark. And I miss the underoos.
NinjaGamer13
February 26, 2018
Good thing they’ve sorta proved the theory now that the “muscles” are armor padding with that scene in JL of Batman in the under-layer of his Batsuit.
But yeah, MoS suit was great, wish they would’ve just put the Kryptonian letter swirl in the middle of the S and kept everything else the same for BvS :/

myzterius

February 23, 2018

Mos suit was great, i dont blame them at all.

NinjaGamer13

February 23, 2018

Can’t go wrong with Wilkinson!

OptimistPrime99

February 23, 2018

Makes sense. Both suits basically made of alien technology, Kryptonian, and wherever the hell Vibranium came from before landing on Earth. Damn Black Panther was good! A cinematic masterpiece! It better make 2 billion dollars! Can't wait for the sequel! I'm expecting to see that battle for the throne element in Aquaman. I also wanna see that king protector of his people element, in the next Batman movie. Focusing on Bruce Wayne's relationship with Gotham City. https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

IamTheOneWhoKnocks

February 23, 2018

Black Panther was such a great movie, best one by far from the MCU in my opinion. I actually noticed the resemblance while watching the movie. Superman's suit has been the best on screen so far, what the DCEU gets correct, for most movies, are the suits and the casting.

Nahuel Benvenuto
February 23, 2018
if is not a endless disney XD quality joke after joke, the movie could actaully be good, i am watching it next week, but i am only paying for it beause it looks serious, i am sick of disney making comedies out of Marvel comic books
1. IamTheOneWhoKnocks
  February 23, 2018
  I won't spoil anything for you, but just know it is not a Jokey, cartoony movie like most of MCU. You will love it, through out most of the movie you will forget it is a superhero movie, and simply just a great movie in general....it was that good. On par with the Dark Knight, maybe slightly even better in my opinion.
  1. dugzino
    February 23, 2018
    That's not what I heard, you liar!
    I heard the movie is great but the jokes will keep throwing you out of it. And you know why I believe this? Because this has been consistent in all the MCU movies. Well of course, they're not all great, actually none of them were to me, but some were cool but those jokes omg, they're so obvious af and they throw you so far away from the movie that it hurts.
    1. IamTheOneWhoKnocks
      February 23, 2018
      Lol....you sir have some real issues you need to deal with...lol.
  2. Avishek
    February 23, 2018
    Agreed. The little comedy in there is on point. Though obviously the stakes feel a little hollow cause we don't see much repercussions from the villains actions
    "On par with the Dark Knight, maybe slightly even better in my opinion."
    it's interesting. I loved both Dark Knight and Black Panther, but I feel both films did a terrible disservice to their respective heroes. I can't remember much of Batman in that and very little of T'Challa in this. But the story of Dark Knight (despite the contrived Two Face introduction. Rachel Dawes was seriously a terrible plot device) is much more well formed than Black Panther.
    1. IamTheOneWhoKnocks
      February 23, 2018
      Yeah, you make a great point. Its like the great superhero movies need to steer away from the comics a bit in order to attract the masses, which I believe is the genius behind them when you get a great story to go along. Great directors can put together the kind of movie that makes you forget its a superhero movie and just a great movie in general. As far as better than TDK, I mean its up for debate really, you can't go wrong with either. The thing that sold me on Black Panther was that I did not know much about his character going in. With TDK, I really did not like Batman all that much and I strongly feel the Joker's performance by Ledger saved that movie. Also, BP was more relevant to society and it captured the times perfectly.
      Regardless, TDK will always be the first to have raised the Superhero bar Black Panther just followed suit :)).
    2. Schuyler Finley
      February 23, 2018
      That "What are those?!" joke can go fuck itself.
    3. Avishek
      February 23, 2018
      Hmm...I thought Shuri was one of the best parts of the movie (even though she is basically now a Q. In comics, she and T'Challa are equals in intelligence.)
      I am a bit annoyed that the 'girl power' thing and 'make a good villain' thing basically made the main hero a convenience instead of the prime protagonist.
      Though Jordan's character was wonderfully crafted, the third act basically threw most of the stuff out the window. His plan of armament was ridiculous, especially for his background.
      A few jokes are ok. It made Shuri the comic relief of the movie without degrading her character unlike what happens with most Marvel side characters and villains.
    4. Schuyler Finley
      February 23, 2018
      Shuri was okay overall, but there were times that her jokes made me roll my eyes. Again, that "What are those jokes?!!" joke can go to hell.
      Killomonger was a good villain, but I agree that his plan made no sense. And also, it's like Avengers 1 did not happen. No one is mentioning aliens or gods. You would think Killomonger would think "We may need to prepare ourselves for another invasion."
      I was disappointed with what they had did to Klaww. Ugh.
    5. JoshDen
      February 23, 2018
      I agree with you about Klau, I really wanted him to be the reappearing “I’m just here to fuck shit up” villain within the MCU and because I need Hollywood to stop wasting Andy Serkis lol
    6. Schuyler Finley
      February 23, 2018
      Hell, the climax could've been prevented if T'Challa had simply told everyone how Klau was able get into Wakanda those years ago. It was so stupid of him to keep his mouth shut about it.
    7. JoshDen
      February 23, 2018
      How do you mean?
    8. Schuyler Finley
      February 23, 2018
      If he had told everyone, I doubt W'Kabi would've sided with Killomonger. After all, W'Kabi's father was killed by Klaue. If he had found out that Killmonger's father was the traitor who told Klaue about Wakanda, he probably would've booted Killmonger out of Wakanda.
    9. JoshDen
      February 23, 2018
      But regardless of anything Killmonger bringing back Klau can be seen as righting both the wrongs of T’Chaka( who didn’t catch Klau for 30 years) and N’Jobu( who betrayed them for Klau). I agree that W’Kabi may not have Killmonger
    10. Schuyler Finley
      February 23, 2018
      But T'Challa can also tell them that he did capture Klau, but Killmonger had helped him escape. It's not like the council would think that T'Challa is lying and trying to save face. He has three witnesses who can at least say that Klau was indeed captured, and there's even video evidence of his capture.
    11. JoshDen
      February 23, 2018
      Good point but think him killing Klau gave him the benefit of the doubt, if T’Challa had said something all Killmonger had to say “I did this this because I wanted to earn his trust to get close to enough to kill him and serve justice to Wakanda” and whatever T’Challa said, while the truth wouldn’t have mattered
    12. Schuyler Finley
      February 23, 2018
      Now I can see that, I just wish that it was addressed during the scene instead of it being completely ignored.
    13. JoshDen
      February 24, 2018
      Agreed, I’m absolutely in love
      with this movie but I wish 10-15 minutes was added to the run time to flesh a couple things out especially W’Kabi<\spoiler>
    14. Schuyler Finley
      February 24, 2018
      Yeah. I honestly forgot all about W' Kabi until he had showed up. And even when he first appeared on-screen, it was obvious that he was gonna betray T'Challa. I wish that they had at least showed him be conflicted with betraying a friend he's known for years.
    15. JoshDen
      February 24, 2018
      I wish there was a scene after Killmonger was endowed with the powers of the Black Panther where he was going around killing anyone was too loyal to T’Challa to show his power. I would’ve shown W’Kabi being scared by this display and showing he only joined him out of logic ( by rather being a conqueror than the conquered) and fear( doesn’t want to get gutted)<\spoiler>
    16. JoshDen
      February 23, 2018
      I still think they would’ve seen Killmonger bringing back Klau as redemption for what N’Jobu did along with W’Kabi since they made it clear( I wish W’Kabi has more screen time) capturing or killing Klau was personal for him regardless of how it happens. Also since Killmonger was apart of the royal family I don’t think he could’ve been kicked out at the time unless he did something egregious
    17. Schuyler Finley
      February 23, 2018
      Now I agree that Killmonger's could be seen as him redeeming his father's actions, however T'Challa knows that he had helped Klau escape. What makes it worse is that Killmonger is even wearing the same clothes that he wore during the escape, so T'Challa is 100% certain that Killmonger had helped. In the end, it's the king's word against the son of a traitor.
    18. Schuyler Finley
      February 24, 2018
      https://help.disqus.com/cus...
    19. FUN
      February 24, 2018
      K, then. Have Serkis play as Hugo Strange in Reeve's Batman, if they're ever gonna make it. Lol
    20. myzterius
      February 24, 2018
      The hate is real
  3. FUN
    February 24, 2018
    Slightly better than TDK?? Please, just tell me you're joking.
2. OGDickGrayson
  February 23, 2018
  The movie was not overly jokey.
Hunter Zolomon
February 23, 2018
I just love the BvS Batman suit with the grey, i'm so glad they went with a more classic suit for the film as i was never a fan of The Dark Knight suit (i like Begins suit though).
1. IamTheOneWhoKnocks
  February 23, 2018
  Yeah, that black and grey was my favorite. Affleck looked great in BvS, in JL he looked terrible to be honest and I was not feeling the suit at all.
  1. NinjaGamer13
    February 24, 2018
    Other than those goggles, it was a pretty fantastic suit

SΛŁIM

February 23, 2018

DC has always inspired Marvel since time immemorial.
I wonder if Black Panther is also inspired by Wonder Woman when posing for the photo.
https://image.ibb.co/cXT5DH...
LOL

Police Android #23
February 23, 2018
Same general motions, but very different meanings.

Nahuel Benvenuto

February 23, 2018

not an article, also, WHEN ARE THE ADMINS GONNA BAN THE TROLLS

kan
February 23, 2018
You are the biggest troll of them all. You just posted a reply to me, " Shhhh, the grownups are talking." That is a troll, so admins start the banning with "him."
Hunter Zolomon
February 23, 2018
You want to get banned do you?
thefallen83
February 24, 2018
Dude... I mean.... *sighs*

NinjaGamer13

February 23, 2018

It’s like Kryptonian armor, so it doesn’t really matter

NinjaGamer13
February 23, 2018
Wilkinson himself said he wanted the Kryptonian skinsuits to resemble chainmail, and in the New 52 of which MoS’s suit is partly inspired, Superman’s suit is explained as being an armored Kryptonian bio-tech. It’s not a stretch.
myzterius
February 24, 2018
He fills in the blanks himself lol.. Nothing new here.
1. NinjaGamer13
  February 24, 2018
  There are no blanks to fill. I’m just offering a reason not to worry about the muscles. Has absolutely no bearing on the plot.
  Regardless, the costume designer himself said it, so I’m not sure how that’s me filling in blanks, rather than just listening to what the people who made the movie say...
  I also thought the muscle padding in the Batsuit was probably armor underneath the top layer, and guess who ended up being right about that, too? They showed the under layer in JL, and that was indeed the case all along.

Hunter Zolomon

February 23, 2018

Don't like the toned down color but i do like the DCEU suit so not a bad choice to be inspired by at all.

OGDickGrayson

February 23, 2018

I mean the suit is awesome so no surprise

DudeofSteel1Million

February 23, 2018

No surprise. I knew it was ever since I saw it in Civil War.

Vision from Age of Ultron also had a suit clearly inspired by the MOS aesthetic as well, though not quite as refined as the BP suit.
https://makeupmag.com/creat...

Michael Wilkinson deserves a huge amount of credit.

Kouglof
February 24, 2018
I remember how Captain America's costume in The Avengers looked like cosplay, they take inspiration from the competition.
1. Super S
  February 24, 2018
  Joss wanted that, the rest of his suits were great
2. Axxell
  February 25, 2018
  No, they just improved it, like anybody would. Let's not get carried away because the costume designer in BP said he took one idea from a DC movie.

RameshV

February 23, 2018

Black panther >> JL

Paul

February 23, 2018

I really liked the MOS & BVS Superman suits, dunno what that mess was in Justice League. Understand some people might like it, but that's my two-cents.

Kouglof
February 24, 2018
Superman's costume looked like washed/faded in JL's reshoot scenes (particularly in the first scene with the kid and the last one with the Flash).

Tobescolombo

February 23, 2018

I don't like it to be honest. Too much red. (Hope that wasn't rude)

NinjaGamer13

February 24, 2018

I actually thought about that, too. Still not sure how I feel... I think probably the cuffs being red doesn’t feel right... Might just be more realistic how they have it