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Although the Marvel Universe is certainly not short of gorgeous costumes and grand armor designs, sometimes the best looks come from the most unexpected places. A hero created entirely to be a joke is proof of that, and Grasshopper has one of the coolest suits around – even if each iteration only gets to wear it once before being killed off. Its time for Marvel to Grasshopper a real shot.
Not everyone can be a Spider-Man or a Wolverine, snapping up titles and acting as a leading figure for the whole universe, but Grasshopper might be one of the most unluckiest guys in the whole Marvel line-up. Fortunately, what he lacks in skill and durability, he makes up for by having one of the most iconic costume designs around.
Unsurprisingly, the suit is modeled after its namesake, and always includes a green finish, antenna, and impressive jump capabilities. Its original iteration is particularly impressive, but no iteration disappoints. Grasshopper has the potential and the aesthetic to be an actual hero.
Grasshopper Proves That Marvel’s Biggest Joke Can Still Look Awesome
Grasshopper, the dream child of Dan Slott, has had no fewer than five different people wearing the mantle since the character’s creation in 2005. The original Grasshopper, a man named Doug Taggert, was killed in his first issue after joining the Great Lakes Avengers. His replacement, Neil Shelton, met a similarly short-lived fate by dying in space. Both men were employed by the Roxxon corporation. Three more Grasshoppers followed in their footsteps, including a Skrull imposter (who clearly chose a very unfortunate target to impersonate). The namesake itself feels cursed, but at least all the Grasshoppers look cool in death.
The Grasshopper suit itself is easily the grandest thing about the character. It’s modeled after the insect in every obvious way, from the color palette to the bug-like eyes, and it has a truly impressive jump feature. Its enhanced leap is so extreme, the second Grasshopper accidentally launched himself right off the planet. The Grasshopper armor also offers incredible long-distance vision and sensors to detect threats, similarly to the insect’s antenna. Despite the misfortune constantly befalling its wearers, the suit itself is a feat of engineering, along with having great style, and is worthy of more respect than it gets.
When it comes to comics, it’s never too late to be a hero. Previous Grasshoppers had great intentions but weren’t ready for the big leagues, or any league, given Taggert’s record for the shortest time spent on a superhero team. It’s time to change that. With the right person wearing the suit, Grasshopper could shake off the old reputation and begin commanding some respect.
After all, what is Iron Man but a man in well-designed armor? It’s been done before and could work again. Grasshopper has one of Marvel’s most underrated costumes, and it’s time to put it to good use.
“}]] Marvel’s best costumes come in surprising places. Read More