Bucky Barnes Captain America
The comic book version of Civil War led to the assassination of Captain America, leaving Bucky Barnes with no choice but to take up the mantle and carry on Steve Rogers’ legacy. Bucky’s Cap costume is a striking mixture of stealthy black and bright, patriotic colors, and it would definitely stand out in the gritty world of the game.
Classic Iron Man
The game’s default Iron Man suit is clearly inspired by the early MCU movies and that more mechanical approach to Tony Stark’s signature creation. We can’t help but pine for the simpler days of Marvel’s classic Iron Man comics, when the armor was sleeker, more compact and able to fit inside a suitcase for easy transport.
’90s Black Widow
Artists like Jim Lee helped popularize a new look for Black Widow in the early ’90s, one marked by a sleek grey bodysuit and short hair. In short, the exact opposite of the game’s more MCU-inspired look.
Ultimate Thor
Marvel’s Ultimate Universe comics introduced a very different and more grounded look for Thor, one that abandoned the cape and helmet and streamlined his classic costume into something more functional. This costume also came along with a drastically redesigned version of Mjolnir that’s half-ax and half-hammer (later inspiring the look of Stormbreaker in the MCU). In short, a very unique alternative to Thor’s default costume.
Gray Hulk
When Hulk originally debuted in the Marvel Universe, his skin was gray rather than bright green. Hulk has occasionally returned to his original gray form over the years as the relationship between man and monster has evolved. Adding a Gray Hulk option to the game is basically a no-brainer. Bonus points for including Hulk’s “Joe Fixit” mobster look.
Bleeding Edge Iron Man
Over the years, Iron Man has evolved from a man wearing an advanced, mechanized suit to a true fusion between human and machine. The trend culminated in the creation of the Bleeding Edge armor, a sleek, organic suit of liquid metal that lives inside Tony Stark’s body. This is the suit that inspired his looks in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, and it definitely deserves some representation in the game.
Modern Thor
Artist Olivier Coipel completely redesigned Thor’s costume for Marvel’s 2007 Thor series, abandoning many of the traditional superhero elements in favor of a medieval fantasy approach. This costume has proven to be one of Thor’s most iconic looks, and a clear inspiration on everything that’s followed in the comics, animation and movies. It definitely deserves to be represented in the game.
Ultimate Captain America
Like Thor, Captain America got a sleek, modernized new costume for Marvel’s Ultimate Universe imprint. This suit sticks closely to the traditional Cap costume, but with a few modern flourishes. This costume would be the perfect counterpoint to the overly busy approach top Cap’s default game costume.
Gladiator Hulk
The classic storyline Planet Hulk thrust the Jade Giant into a battle for survival on the cutthroat world of Sakaar. In the process, Hulk gained a new costume that transformed him into a cosmic Roman gladiator. We’d love a costume in the game inspired by this story or Hulk’s similar look in Thor: Ragnarok.
The Superior Iron Man
It’s rare to see Iron Man’s armors break from his usual red and gold color scheme, and the game definitely needs an alternate costume with a different color scheme. Why not adapt the costume for Marvel’s short-lived Superior Iron Man series? Between the silver metal and the Tron-esque glowing effects, this armor would definitely stand out from the crowd.
White Widow
As a stealthy assassin, Black Widow isn’t much for color or variety in her costumes. That’s what makes her all-white costume stand out so much. This rarely seen suit is Natasha’s go-to outfit when she’s skulking about the icy tundra of Russia. And with a similar costume appearing in the upcoming Black Widow movie, it makes all the more sense to include it in the game.
Classic Thor
Crystal Dynamics is clearly aiming for a more grounded approach to Thor’s starter costume in the game, one that avoids a full-size cape and the classic helmet. That’s all fine and well, but we’d also like to see a costume that recreates the classic, over-the-top Silver Age Thor. We want the bright colors, the giant boots and the feathered helmet. Why does the god of thunder need to be modest?
Maestro Hulk
Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect introduced a dystopian future version of the Marvel Universe where a brutal, intelligent Hulk rules what remains of humanity. We’d love the chance to take control of this sadistic, bearded version of an iconic Avenger.
Red Guardian
The debut of Captain America inspired other countries in the Marvel Universe to create their own patriotic super-soldiers. Red Guardian is basically Captain Russia, right down to his unbreakable shield. It’s a natural choice of costume, especially with David Harbour being cast as Red Guardian in the upcoming Black Widow movie.
For more on how the comics could influence Marvel’s Avengers, here are the Marvel Universe locations we want in the game and the characters we want as DLC.
Jesse is a mild-mannered writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
