New Character Costumes for 'The Avengers'

 The Avengers isn't just another film for Marvel Studios. It is the cornerstone event they’ve been planning carefully for years and the true beginning to their long-term franchising and merchandising plans. I mean, you go into stores and look for the Thor action figures, and see the "Avengers Assemble" tagline on the boxes. Heck, it was even on the Easter chocolate they released!

A good marketing/merchandising technique, as we have seen with Transformers is to either introduce new characters and vehicles, or to introduce new costumes for the characters we have already see.  A lot of the stuff we are seeing with the Marvel Comics films is variations on the Ultimates line of costumes, and we have seen that so far with Thor and Captain America and can expect it with The Avengers.

One of the things that is so great about new superhero films and a topic that brings plenty of criticism and attention is costumes. That being said, here is what we do know so far and can possibly expect with the upcoming movie.

 Captain America will sport a new costume in The Avengers, as confirmed by Chris Evans in a recent interview. Expect a design less padded-looking than his WWII era one, perhaps something more akin to his modern comic designs. 

Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) will likely wear the same S.H.I.E.L.D. outfit from Iron Man 2 but her hairstyle will be different, sporting shorter red locks at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner earlier this week (see photo below). 

Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) always has a new suit of armor to show off. In Iron Man 2, Tony Stark introduced audiences to the Mark V, Mark VI outfits. That’s his “thing” and each new design means another new toyline! Maybe Whedon will introduce the Hulkbuster armor? 

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) only has one Asgardian superhero costume in his introductory solo film, but come time for The Avengers where he again helps his Earthly friends, he will undoubtedly get a new costume as well. Expect something more modern and techy as an alternative to his red cape. 

Hawkeye’s costume will be closely designed after his outfit in the Ultimates line of comics. No purple spandex for Jeremy Renner. 

Nick Fury’s black shirt-black pants-black trench coat gets an upgrade in The Avengers as well, as Kevin Feige points out that Samuel L. Jackson will sport a “slightly redesigned outfit with the eye patch.” 

Hulk doesn’t need a costume, but he’ll be closely designed after the likeness of Mark Ruffalo, even down to the hair on his chest.

And to round off today's post, here is a piece of concept art I found for the potential Hulkbuster armor and a shot of Scarlett with her new short hairstyle as seen at the White House Correspondent's dinner earlier this week.

With the film only just starting production, and the rush of excitement with Thor opening in America on Friday, the expections for the film are very high.

So now my question is to you dear readers, which costumes would you like to see your heroes wear?