Capes

[Kara Zor El]

As we all know, capes are an important part of the DC Universe. Lots of Super heroes have one, from Superman to to the Red Tornado, from Batman to Martian Manhunter. Different artists draw them at different lengths, but if DC were going to impose a definite cape length on individual super heroes. What would that length be?
Do you prefer the fairly short length of Batman's cape in the Animated Series or the impracticly long amd fantastical ones you often see in the comics by such artists as Kelly Jones and Todd Mcfarlane, for instance?
Who draws the best cape?
And Who has the best cape in the DCU?

[glennsim]

I think they should all reach about mid-calf, with the exception of Batman where the top of the scallops should be mid-calf with the tips just reaching the ground.

Anything shorter is too puny and not worth it.

Honorable mention to Captain Marvel for making his shorter one work, but he (and related) is the exception.

[filthysize]

Probably mid-calf, yeah. I do prefer Batman's cape to be mystically long, purely for visual reasons. I've always loved shots of him crouching over ledges with his cape hanging 20 feet below him.

[Kage Kisaragi]

Best looking cape?

...

I thought that trend died..

Raven. (If you can call hers a cape.)

[Green Lantern wannabe]

Why do they have capes anyway? To help them fly? That can't be it, because Batman has a cape and doesn't fly.

[Tequilamokinbrd]

Why do they have capes anyway? To help them fly? That can't be it, because Batman has a cape and doesn't fly.



Batman uses his cape to glide, and the tips are weighted and can be used as offensive weapons. He's also used it to protect himself from fire since it's flame retardant. so his has uses, there's a reason he has it.


Some magic users have capes that have magic properties of protection and the like.



As for some of the seemingly more non functional capes? Well, at first glance they may seem silly, but I've seen Superman and others on more than one occasion use their capes to shield civillians from hot embers from a burning building, or falling glass shards, etc., so they can certainly have their place.

[filthysize]

What's funny is that there's actually not a lot of heroes who wear capes, yet it's regarded as a standard superhero garb.

[Smokeyjay]

In reality, most of the times a cape would just get in the way of fighting. But when illustrated, they can look cool.

In real life, capes most of the time look silly.

[marshal99]

I like the title "Capes" , DC should do a mini series with that title whereby the story is seen through the views of the normal humans on the street ala Astro city/Marvels and see the way the civilians view the heroes. :)

[MythicBrawn]

As for some of the seemingly more non functional capes? Well, at first glance they may seem silly, but I've seen Superman and others on more than one occasion use their capes to shield civillians from hot embers from a burning building, or falling glass shards, etc., so they can certainly have their place.

How does Superman's cape protect people if it's just plain cloth? His personal invulnerable field doesn't extend to the cape and that's why it's constantly getting torn or ruined. Capes are only around for effect. Other than that, they're pretty much useless. Batman has made his cape a little more useful but I imagine that it would get in the way too much.

[filthysize]

It's chilly in the Fortress of Solitude.

[Alex L]

Why do they have capes anyway? To help them fly? That can't be it, because Batman has a cape and doesn't fly.

*insert Incredibles joke here*

The best I can think of, for Batman, is that in the dark it makes for a bigger target, and likely people who shoot at him aim and hit the cape, rather than him.

[phantom1592]

*insert Incredibles joke here*

The best I can think of, for Batman, is that in the dark it makes for a bigger target, and likely people who shoot at him aim and hit the cape, rather than him.

True. Capes have a "few" functions.

1) they disguise your shape, help them blend into the shadows.

2) They can keep you warm when perched on buildings in the dark of night.

3) They look AWESOME!

4) Can be used as a weapon.

5) actually rather comfortable.

6) you can reach for weapons and devices without people seeing your hands.

I'm sure there others, but I really want to punch out of work now ;)

[Kara Zor El]

Capes are traditional garb for heroes and soldiers of old. Think of the knights in shining armor and Roman soldiers. The artists and writers who came up with the first batch of caped heroes were surely drawing on the likes of Robin Hood and King Arther, as inspiration.
Capes can be majestic and they can be mysterious, and lots of DC heroes are either or both of those.

[Kid Quick Foots]

i LOVE Batmans cape. the way he drapes it over his shoulders is awsome.

For mostly everyone else, mid- calf is long enough for me.

[glennsim]

How does Superman's cape protect people if it's just plain cloth? His personal invulnerable field doesn't extend to the cape and that's why it's constantly getting torn or ruined. Capes are only around for effect. Other than that, they're pretty much useless. Batman has made his cape a little more useful but I imagine that it would get in the way too much.

Pre-Crisis, Superman's entire suit was invulnerable, so it was a valid method of protection.

Nowadays, it's not, but while it's never really been established, it's reasonable to assume it's made out of some materials that would be expected to last a while, i.e. flame retardant, so covering someone with it might still be a valid move in some situations.

[Ontir]

I wouldn't set a common length. The Marvels have always had shorter capes, which work well for them. Power Girl's should also be fairly short. Superman is a mid-lenght, with Batman having the be all, end all, of long-ass capes! That's as it should be.

[Kara Zor El]

Ok, so who draws the best cape then? McFarlane? Jim Lee? Jon Bogdanove?

Bogdanove draws great capes. He's one of the best for me. I loved Steels cape in those Reign of the Supermen stories in Superman: Man of Steel. The cape was very majestic and looked heavey and thick. I liked the pleats in it and it really looked good against the steel.

[The Zapper]

Well, I know I like the visuals of a long cape on Batman. In all reality, if it was as long as often shown, he'd trip all over it, but it comics, so I'm cool with the way his cape tends to change size while crouching, standing, fighting, or just doing what ever.

[Dr. Drake Ramoray]

Ok, so who draws the best cape then? McFarlane? Jim Lee? Jon Bogdanove?

Bogdanove draws great capes. He's one of the best for me. I loved Steels cape in those Reign of the Supermen stories in Superman: Man of Steel. The cape was very majestic and looked heavey and thick. I liked the pleats in it and it really looked good against the steel.

I have to vote for Marshall Rogers' work on either Batman or Mr. Miracle on this one.

[niall mc cann]

I like Quitley's Superman cape in ASSupes.

It's just slightly shorter than normal, or something. Just enough to make it really distinctive.

There were a couple of OTT moments in issue one were he pitched it just a little too short for my tastes, but since then he's guaged it well, imo. I like it.

[Tazirai]

Seeing as psylocke is my fav X-man, I was quite upset when Amphibious knocked her out and hung her by her cape from a ships mast.. kinda pissed me off.
http://psylocke.club.fr/gallerie/australie/092.jpg

But I was happy when she used her cape on Colossus this way !! A great way to throw off a foe, before going into a follow up.
http://psylocke.club.fr/gallerie/australie/046.jpg

[LD100]

It's not DC, but Spawn has the ultimate cape.

[Sir Tim Drake]

Capes aren't always so practical. Remember what happened to Dollar Bill?

[Jared]

If they haven't done so already, DC should totally lift the "cape that can turn rigid on command" idea from Batman Begins. And while they're at it, just say that the cape can actually extend and retract to various lengths. That way we'd still have the awesome visuals of the huge, shadowy cape billowing around Batman, but with some technobabble applications making it practical. After all, it really isn't in Batman's character to wear something that would actually be an enormous liability, just because it looks cool.

[Matt Algren]

Superheroes have capes for one reason. Because they look cool.

As for best cape, I'd go with Martian Manhunter, in his classic, non-suck costume. That cape just makes the costume work. I don't think Raven's would count as a cape. It's more of a cloak. I do like the current Hourman cowl/cape combination. It wouldn't work worth a darn in real life, but it looks cool.

[Stellar]

Eventhough he's not DC, you have to admit the most original cape belongs to MR. SINISTER.

[Nikita]

One of the coolest capes, I've ever seen, is the giant one that SPAWN wears. His cape, has a life of its own, and is just the coolest thing ever.

I also like Batman's cape. It really adds to his "dark" look. He has got to be the sexiest mofo ever. I wouldn't mind having him wisk me away with those big strong arms and his cape wrapped around me.

[Night]

Also not a part of DC... and not a hero

http://www.wheelon.com/comics/covers/small/swvq1.jpg

[Dan Apodaca]

I think things like "imposing a definite cape length on certain heroes" are the epitome of what's wrong with comic fans nowadays.

Who gives a shit about cape length? How about a story about someone DOING something?

[boolean]

Eventhough he's not DC, you have to admit the most original cape belongs to MR. SINISTER.

Doesn't Hawk (of Hawk & Dove) precede Sinister by about 20 years? Their capes aren't identical, but Sinister's is basically a more complicated version of the same concept.

[TheDarkestHorse]

You know what's weird? Very few Marvel heroes wear capes, none of the big names do, but the teams that were sent to capture unregistered heroes in Civil War were called 'Capekillers'. You'd think they'd go with 'Maskwhackers' or something.

[Night]

I think things like "imposing a definite cape length on certain heroes" are the epitome of what's wrong with comic fans nowadays.

Who gives a shit about cape length? How about a story about someone DOING something? Because comic are not just stories... they're art. Both sides need to be addressed to make them good.

[Agent Helix]

Discussing whose cape is the most OMGWTFAWESOME and how long a superhero's cape should be is about as far from artistic discussion you can get.

[captain_unimpressive]

Standardized cape length wouldn't make too much sense--it would be like making everyone in comics wear sleeves the same length. It really matters on the individual, and beyond that, the mood you're trying to evoke. Short ones are regal, longer ones are mystic or heroic, even longer make the person look something short of human.
Mocking capes tend to be a standard ingredient in most deconstructionist superhero stories (as mentioned before) like The Incredibles and Watchmen.
If I remember correctly, The Shadow would use the cape to mislead anyone shooting at him, so that they would aim at the wrong part of the big black shape obscuring his body, and this seems to be a technique shared by Batman and lots of other heroes after him.

Don't get me started, however, on Marvel capes (Thor's, for example) that don't really drape over the shoulders so much as levitate six inches above them.