Art Poll: Signature Characters

My opinion is that Foreshadow has the best costume in game. I love the visor and the one long sleeve glove and one short. Also the use of the one small shoulder pad make this character unique. I was so glad he was added to the Hollows.

Statesman is another character that I like. I like the patriotic theme of his costume, in combination with the faceplate makes this character very iconic. I prefer Statesman without a cape, but when he is out of action I guess it is ok.

Blue Steel is another character I think is unique. His costume screams police officer and seems a little on the ordinary side, but the large police badge shield is what makes this character awesome.

And finally any kheldian character needs the sash. The sash has always been an essential costume piece to any peacebringer or warshade. I have always thought the sash is to kheldian as the cape is to a hero, as in a kheldian has to earn the right to wear a sash. But to answer the question what costumes best fit a characters story, I would say the sash and kheldians.

One of my favourite characters visual-wise is, bizarrely, Aurora Borealis.
She has a couple of unique costume variants (the diadem and her ankle rings) yet she also uses legacy pieces.

Ms Liberty also has a fun character look. It's iconic, and not just because I see her every time I roll a new pure Hero (atm at any rate...). She has the proper, covered-up Super Heroine look, proving that you don't need to run around in your underwear (Swan, I'm looking at you...) to fight crime. Or have the chest slider set to 11.

Villain-wise, I like Black Scorpion because there's something of the 'possibly not as big as his suit makes him look' guy inside a great big powersuit. That to me hints at a guy with 'issues'. Kinda like looking at Cole's or Neutron's tower in Praetoria and thinking 'Now what is he trying to make up for? And it actually looks like a powersuit (compared with President Marchand's legacy Steampunk costume).

I like Desdemona's costume for its simplicity. And I actually prefer Belladonna Vetriano's look over her Primal Ghost Widow look. I think Ghost Widow is too obvious whereas Belladonna looks like she used to be/still is a secret policewoman.

And finally, two characters that are close to my heart: Vernon Von Grun and Becky the Tarantula Mistress. I think Becky actually needs some pink adornments on her Tarantula Queen model, and more stories about her and featuring her valley girl supervillain charm (had to chuck that one in there; she is like, so totally awesome).
Vernon does look like a mad scientist in training. And again he mainly uses legacy costume pieces.

And speaking of mad scientists - the Doctor in Mercy Island fits the bill of 'low-level creepy scientist'. I think Shelley Percy, in Cap Au Diable, could be updated resolution-wise. I like that she's in a lab coat because she is, at heart, an evil scientist who gets metas to do all the dirty work for her. She just needs a bit more resolution.

Oh and Darrin Wade, Monty, Mercedes, Percy and the other one are good Midnighter contacts. They are clearly of the wealthy persuasion whilst retaining the 'magical researcher' look. However, Percy is featured in the 45-50 arc 'Upon The Psychic Plane' and is still using his old 'Hapless Citizen' model, as oposed to his shinier 'contact in Croatoa/Midnighter Arc' model. Just thought I'd point that out for continuity's sake.

I think perhaps a look at this thread might be useful.

I like the simplicity of Back Alley Brawler. He looks like a guy who is focused on dishing out justice, and doesn't waste time primping in front of a mirror.

The Woodsman has a unique look, with the leather and fur and horns and bare skin. He looks like someone who cares more about protecting the wilderness than helping human beings.

Tin Mage is quite striking, though he reminds me a bit of the Burl Ives voiced snowman in that one Christmas special.

Dr. Vahzilok is a bit gross, but unforgettable. He certainly looks like a mad scientist. I also like that he looks as tough as he is, unlike some of the high level AV's who don't seem to have any reason to be tougher than your average civilian.

Clockwork King: Who doesn't love a brain in a jar?

Perhaps it's already been mentioned but I think Foreshadow, the trainer in the Hollows, has a pretty nifty and unique costume. it's one of the few male costumes that actually shows some skin that isn't a t-shirt of a tank top. His costume bits are pretty much unique... I tried recreating him in the creator and couldn't come up with anything viable as a copy.

He has unique hair, unique head detail, unique chest, unique pants and unique gloves. WTB $$$ all his goodies for my character pls >_>

Responding to the OP...

For me, Foreshadow and Mirror Spirit look the best among the signature characters. Foreshadow looks very closely to a hero I would create myself (if I could), and Mirror Spirit's costume is just too awesome for words.

Sorry to disagree with so many, but I absolutely despise Statesman as a character as well as his look. That half helmet thing drives me absolutely crazy! What does he do, superglue it to his forehead?

And why does he have it? It's not for protection, his head is as invlunerable as the rest of him. And it's not to disguise his identity BECAUSE HE HAS A MASK UNDERNEATH IT!

Sorry, I had to let that out.

One of my favorites is Black Scorpion. He is imposing and looks powerful. His different arms suggest that he is experimenting on himself to increase in power.

I think you guys really nailed the main signature villains in cov. Simple and nasty. Mostly dark, monotone colors which is what these villains are all about. Recluse was a great idea as a humanoid spider, whats nastier than that? Mako is a great monsttrous villain, nothing fancy just a humanoid shark. Black scorpion looks like a lumbering cyborg manscorpion with 'lived-in' tech armor. Sirrocco looks like an exotic, ancient warrior. And as others have said, ghost widow is a great design with the mix of white and black, and long flowing hair that meshes well with the whole ghost thing.

The costumes match the character. That's why so many have voiced their unhappiness with the new cot design. The new, colorful, flashy armor does not match ancient wizard cult. Colorful, flashy costume designs are fine, but they need to go on colorful, flashy characters. Like faultlines girlfriend, (I can't remember her real name because I call her bloobs...) her bright blue costume works great for her because it fits her character, but if you redesigned arachnos into bright blue leotard costumes, you might put the cot unrest to shame...

As far as newer designs, the warworks are great looking enemies. Nice simple robotic designs with simple colorization. It fits the character, because they're built for battle, they're not going to be complex or flashy. Actually, most of the praetorian designs are top notch, the only one I wasn't very impressed with was the destroyers which just came across as generic thugs to me.