- For Alex Danvers's version, see Supergirl suit (Alex Danvers).
- "Oh, yeah, and also try not to damage the suit. I, uh, helped make that outfit. I got some mad sewing skills."
- —Winn Schott[src]
The Supergirl suits are a series of protective suits worn by Kara Danvers as the superheroine Supergirl.
Overview[]
First suit[]
Kara in the first Supergirl suit.
The first in Winn's line of suits for Kara Danvers included a blue tank top with splits at the hips, red shorts with a golden strap around them, and a red headband that bares her midriff and belly button. The suit was immediately discarded by Kara, who proclaimed that she "wouldn't even wear it to the beach", never mind "flying around, saving people" in it.[1]
Second suit[]
Kara in the second Supergirl suit.
Winn designed a second suit for Kara after she refused to wear her first one. This suit was less revealing and a lot more appropriate for her to wear in public. It consisted of a blue shirt with red stitching, a red skirt with a golden strap, and red Dr. Martens and socks. A cape was later added to the suit, as they realized it aided with aerodynamics after Kara kept on crashing into nearby objects while trying to make sharp turns mid-air.[1]
Third suit[]
Kara in the third Supergirl suit.
The third suit that is used by Kara, is based on the same design as the second suit, but it includes a red and blue version of the House of El coat of arms emblazoned on her chest, similar to Superman's suit, moreover, black sheer tights and over-the-knee red boots have been added. However, the cape always ended up getting damaged after Kara's heroic excursions, no matter what materials Winn used to make it. Ultimately, James Olsen presented to Kara a present: Kal-El's blanket from when he arrived on Earth to use as a cape, as it wouldn't fray.[1]
Fourth suit[]
- "Pants!"
- —Kara Danvers on her first skirtless suit[src]
Kara in the fourth Supergirl suit.
When activated, the suit is an all-covering blue suit with a similar cape to the Superman suit complete with the same golden clasps, it comes with a darker red symbol of the "House of El" on the front without the gold outline of the third suit. The boots are similar to the second and third suits respectively, and there is an added gold belt to replace the skirt from the second and third suits.[2]
History[]
After saving a plane from crashing, Kara Danvers decided that she wished to become a superhero like her cousin. She later revealed her identity to Winn Schott and he helped make a suit for her. Winn had a number of versions made for Kara before she finally settled down on the third one.[1]
Supergirl and Superman's suits were briefly upgraded when Winn built shields to protect them from Metallo's Green Kryptonite blasts. The shields would be worn on the chest area.[3]
The third suit was heavily damaged during Kara's first battle against Reign.[4] However, Winn presumably repaired it or designed a new copy for Kara as she recovered.[5]
Querl Dox had later designed Kara's new suit after her cape was damaged by Midnight and needed repairs, using this opportunity to make a new suit that was at microscopic size that is activated by her glasses.[2]
Capabilities[]
Functions[]
- Cape: When the suit was first made, it did not include the cape, as Winn claimed capes were lame. However, a short time later when Kara went flying and kept ended up crashing, Winn realized that capes aid in aerodynamics and adds one which he replaces after her first cape proves to not be bulletproof. He later designs the second cape for Kara's suit out of a structured polymer composite which ends up lasting five years. James Olsen gave her the blanket her cousin was sent with and the blanket wound up becoming her cape.
- Advanced durability: It is unknown what materials the suit is comprised of, however, the suit is just as durable as Kara; as bullets cannot penetrate it, even explosives from missiles, and highly concentrated bursts of energy from Reactron and Metallo respectively could not damage it.
- Suit release: The suit now is able to release Kara's protective suit just by pressing the emblem on the suit.
- "Now please, take care when removing your glasses in public, for the next time you whip those off, your new suit will materialize...or dematerialize as needed."
- —Brainy to Kara[src]
- Suit materialization: When Kara's cape was destroyed, Querl Dox created a microscopic motion activator which he attaches to her civilian glasses. From now on, the act of hurriedly taking her glasses off will activate a stream of nanites that will form a new suit around Kara; which now has pants and can be dissolved by Kara putting her glasses back on.
Known users[]
Former users[]
- Red Daughter (also replica suit; merged back with Kara Danvers)
- Laura (costume; briefly)
- Sara Lance (costume; briefly)
Appearances[]
Supergirl[]
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
Season 5
Season 6
|
The Flash[]
Season 2
Season 3Season 5
Season 6
Season 8
|
Arrow[]
Season 5
Season 6
Season 7
Season 8
|
DC's Legends of Tomorrow[]
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
Season 5 |
Batwoman[]
Season 1[]
- "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two" (fourth suit)
Comics[]
Adventures of Supergirl[]
Crisis on Infinite Earths Giant[]
- "Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 1" (vision)
DC Pride[]
EARTH-PRIME[]
- "Flesh and Mud" (flashbacks)
- "Road Trip" (vision)
- "Savior Complex"
Gallery[]
Concept art[]
Promotional images[]
Supergirl[]
Season 5[]
       "United We Stand" |
Behind the scenes[]
- Supergirl's costume is the only Colleen Atwood design among the main line of DCTV heroes who have not changed as of Season 4. Both The Flash and Arrow original costumes had been changed by the time of their respective fourth seasons.
- The original version of what would be the archetype for Supergirl's costume (albeit not Kara Zor-El's) was first featured in Superman vol. 1, #123 (1958) and was created by artist Dick Sprang. When Kara Zor-El debuted as Supergirl in Action Comics #252 (May, 1959), the outfit was slightly modified by artist Al Plastino, by changing the color of the skirt from red to blue. Although she has had several different costumes in the comics through the years, the original look has been the basis for most of them. Kara's costume on the show is also considered to be based on the original one.
- Designer Colleen Atwood "urbanized" the classic Supergirl look as a reference to the "street-style action hero of today".[6]
- The House of El emblem on the suit is usually seen with a yellow backpiece much like the classic crest, but it is replaced with a blue backpiece, and the yellow outlines the crest.
- When Kara walks against the bullets in the pilot episode, she is seen using red Dr. Martens and socks, resembling the red shoelace boots used by Linda Danvers/Supergirl.
- Kara's first failed costume attempt combines elements from several costumes, worn previously by the character in her appearances in the comics and other media. The red "hot-pants"/shorts were part of her outfit, that debuted in Adventure Comics vol. 1, #410 (1971), while her red headband was first seen in screen tests of the live-action Supergirl film (1984), that were not part of the final production version, before being included to her comic book costume in Supergirl vol. 2, #17 (1984). The first of Supergirl's costumes to include a bare midriff look was first seen in Superman: The Animated Series' episode, "Little Girl Lost" (1998), later being incorporated into the comic books in Supergirl vol. 4, #51 (2000) and in a newer version in Superman/Batman vol. 1, #13 (2004).
- Along with many other elements from the TV series, the suit was incorporated into the 2016 comic book title Supergirl, as suggested by artist Cameron Stewart.[7]
- Due to Melissa Benoist's pregnancy, the fourth suit received padding for certain episodes with Benoist in the suit in full shots.
References[]
| Other versions of Supergirl suits | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To see other versions of this suit, click the Earth name below for that Earth's counterpart of Supergirl suits. | ||||
| New multiverse | ||||
| Earth: Prime | ||||
| Original multiverse | ||||
| Earth: 38 • D • Alex Danvers | ||||
| Transmultiversal multiverse | ||||
| Earth: | ||||