Gary Collinson tries out Morphsuits’ Amazing Spider-Man costume…
| Spider-Selfie |
I’m Spider-Man… Okay, so maybe an aging Spider-Man carrying a few extra pounds is a more apt description, but having spent the best part of the last day dressed as Marvel’s friendly neighbourhood web-slinger, I’m about ready to head out onto the streets to take out a gang of punks while cracking wise. All I’m missing is super powers. And web-shooters. Fortunately, thanks to the wonders of augmented reality, I can pretend I’ve got both. In the comfort of my living room, obviously.
So, what is it that’s got me feeling like The Amazing Half-Arsed Spider-Man? That would be Morphsuits’ new range of Marvel costumes (more specifically, Morpsuits’ Spidey costume), which are described as “the most advanced superhero costumes [which] using wearable technology and augmented reality, actually appear to bring the superhero’s powers to life.” Is that hyperbole? Well, possibly, but there’s no doubt that the Spider-Man suit looks fantastic, and the “super powers” – in this case, the ability to fire webbing through a downloadable video app – is good for a laugh. I’d upload a video, but you’d be laughing at me, not with me. If you want to see them in action, check out a promotional video here.
I’m no expert on costumes by any stretch, and can count on one finger the number of times I’ve worn a skin-tight, full-body (and head) superhero suit, so it’s hard for me to judge the quality of the costume itself, having no other reference point. It seems pretty durable, and I haven’t burst any seams whilst pretending to be Spidey just yet, so I’m going to stick my neck out and say it’s pretty good. It’s also surprisingly cool, although I’d not like to walk around in it on a hot summer’s day or a convention floor for extended periods (saying that, I imagine I’d be a hell of a lot cooler than the guy walking around in a giant Wookie costume). Oh, and being skin-tight, I should probably mention that it leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination. Now, where did I leave those socks..?
Overall, I have to say I had a blast trying out Morphsuits’ Spider-Man costume, and if you fancy yourself as the wall-crawler (or Deadpool, Wolverine, Captain America or Iron Man), then I’d heartily recommend giving these a go. The Spider-Man one is great, and I think I might even have to treat myself to the Deadpool one too.
For more information on Marvel Morphsuits, visit the official site.
Gary Collinson is a writer and lecturer from the North East of England. He is the editor-in-chief of FlickeringMyth.com and the author of Holy Franchise, Batman! Bringing the Caped Crusader to the Screen.
Originally published February 21, 2014. Updated November 28, 2022.
