Random Impractical Footwear Sported By Superheroes (15 items)

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  (#15) Wolverine

  • X-Men: First Class, Superhero Movie, Hulk Vs, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Wolverine, X-Men, X-Men: The Last Stand, X2, Marvel Universe

  Ever since Wolverine's Marvel Comics debut, his costume has been needlessly pointy - most prominently in the case of his mask, which inexplicably exaggerates his already preposterous hairstyle. For an equally inane reason, Logan's boots often feature a motif similar to his iconic 'do - and some artists choose to take this extraneous fabric to the extreme.

  Following 1993's "Fatal Attractions" crossover - in which Magneto rips the adamantium right from Wolverine's bones - the character spends a portion of time as a feral mutant. During this period, Logan swaps out his mask for a bandana and starts to speak in grunts and growls - and, rather illogically, his knee extensions also grow to ridiculous proportions. It’s hard to imagine Feral Wolverine not constantly tripping over himself.
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  (#13) Zatanna

  • DC Universe

  Much attention is paid to Zatanna’s trademark fishnets and her even-more-trademark absence of pants, but the black pumps have also been a part of her aesthetic since she made her DC Comics debut in Hawkman #4. Other than a few experiments with more modest get-ups, Zatanna's costume has remained largely consistent throughout her years as a crimefighting magician - and she's proven more than capable of spitting spells in a pair of short heels.

  The shoes Zatanna sports on a regular basis don't look like they'd be comfortable for running, kicking, or jumping - though, admittedly, she only employs these skills in emergency situations. Most of the time, Zatanna is repelling evil while standing perfectly still - preferring to use her words to her fists - so she can get away with wearing whatever she wants on her feet.
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  (#4) Black Canary

  • Justice League, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, DC Universe

  Black Canary’s iconic high-heeled leather boots have been a part of her attire since her debut in 1969’s Justice League of America #74 - as have the equally iconic fishnets that complement them so perfectly. Dinah Lance's overall aesthetic is an undeniable accomplishment when it comes to fashion, but it's a questionable choice for actually performing the duties of a Justice League member - especially one who relies so heavily on martial arts. One would think 6-inch heels might prove a challenge when performing roundhouse kicks.

  Over the years, Black Canary has experimented with more practical garb, and each and every time she’s returned to the thigh-high look before too long. At this point, it’s just an accepted fact that she can punt villains in the face in high heels as well as anyone else can in reasonable footwear - and if that fails, she's always got her sonic scream to back her up.
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  (#11) Flash

  • DC Universe

  As a hero from the Golden Age of DC Comics, Jay Garrick - the original Flash - can be forgiven if his fashion sense doesn't translate to the modern era. The winged colander he wears on his head may have worked in the mid-20th century, but the soft boots he's usually sporting have always been highly impractical - especially for a superhero who’s always on the run.

  High-performance runners wear all manner of high-tech footwear to lend them support, grip, and protection when pounding the pavement, but Garrick is out there flying around at superhuman speeds in what looks like a pair of Uggs. The tiny wings attached to the ankles are meant to evoke a feeling of speed, but they’re actually rather anti-aerodynamic, and they stick out like sore thumbs in the modern era of comic books.
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  (#3) Silk Spectre II

  • Watchmen, Watchmen

  Watchmen is a timeless comic, and as such, the costumes of its heroes don’t always correspond with the era in which the story takes place. That’s especially true for Silk Spectre II, who fights alongside Doctor Manhattan and Nite Owl in a pair of stylish - but not supportive - stilettos.

  Stilettos have long been a trademark of the femme fatale, but they’re really not conducive to running, leaping, or performing spin-kicks - all of which are regular requirements of a non-powered crimefighter. At one point, Laurie Jupiter bolts into a burning building while wearing the kind of footwear that would get her booted off any job site - much to the chagrin of fire marshals everywhere.
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  (#1) Dick Grayson

  • Young Justice, The Batman, Batman & Robin, Batman, DC Universe

  The costume Bruce Wayne provides for his young ward, Dick Grayson, in 1940’s Detective Comics #38 has a lot of immediate issues with it - and the footwear is definitely one of them, though perhaps not as obvious a problem as the lack of pants. The Batman sends Robin on nighttime missions against the worst Gotham City has to offer in nothing more than pixie booties - which fit loose and don't appear to offer any protection or support.

  The Boy Wonder has to fight villains in slippers for the next few hundred issues and several decades - well into his time with the Teen Titans. Robin wears the spritely footwear until he gives up the gig to become Nightwing - and then Jason Todd steps into his booties. It isn't until the emergence of the third Robin, Tim Drake, that the Dark Knight's sidekick starts wearing more reasonable footwear.

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