Where would Batman be without his trademark cape and cowl? Or Superman without being a brightly colored target in royal blue, red and yellow? Would we care for these superheroes half as much if they walked around wearing t-shirts and Doc Martins instead of their spiffy spandex and flapping capes of justice? What a hero wears in a comic book seems to make as much of a difference as how they react to dangerous situations and how they proceed to romance or alienate the romantic opposite. Most have to admit, that Green Arrow wouldn’t be nearly impressive if he were just the Arrow, and that Captain America would look just plain silly if he wasn’t sporting his home country’s red, white and blue.

The saying “The Clothes Make The Man” (or woman, so the case may be) is accurate in part for some comic book heroes and the other heroes of the graphic novel genre. We can see how The Punisher’s clothing is more appropriate for his brooding demeanor compared to the optimism of Superman or Wonder Woman. While these two may have their dark sides, they also have an overwhelming amount of good feelings inside, making them very different characters.

But comic books aside, even the heroes and anti-heroes of the graphic novel genre are defined by what they wear. Marv from Sin City wouldn’t be nearly as intimidating without his heavy, ragged trench coat, while nobody would take the Spartans from 300 seriously if they weren’t dressed in true Spartan gear. Of course, while examining the heroes of the comic world, one cannot forget the heroines as well. While many of them are sparsely dressed at best, those costumes and outfits are part of what makes those female characters the ones we know and love. Black Canary certainly would not be living up to her namesake by wearing pink or some other equally cheerful color, while nobody expects Wanda from Spawn to be sporting the heavy armor of the comic’s namesake.

The clothing of a hero or heroine in a comic book can be as an important part of the story as his or her actions and words. Clothing can make the character a light hearted member of the comic-relief squad, or the brooding anti-hero looking for vengeance. It all depends on the colors, the size, and the style of the clothing. The next time you are reading your favorite comic or graphic novel, pay attention to what your hero or heroine is wearing. It might surprise you to notice something new that gives the character a whole new layer of complexity that may help you enjoy the story even more.