Superman has been adapted for the big and small several times, with only a handful of adaptations including Clark Kent's famous black suit from the comics. One of the characters portrayed the most in live-action is the Last Son of Krypton, whether in movies or TV shows. Wherever Superman goes, his classic red-and-blue uniform is always part of the package. However, while that costume has been iconic since Superman's debut in the comics, that isn't the only suit Clark is known to wear.
When DC Comics did The Death of Superman, it became one of the most crucial moments in Kal-El's fictional history. While Clark came back to life, he wasn't at full strength yet after his massive showdown with Doomsday in The Death of Superman. To help his body heal, Superman wore a black suit with a big silver S-shield on his chest — but rather than being an aesthetic choice, the black version was actually a recovery suit that would absorb solar energy, allowing Clark's Kryptonian cells to heal his wounded body.
As Superman's media legacy has expanded over the decades, various TV shows and movies have incorporated the black suit. While the suit doesn't have the same background as it did with The Death of Superman/Reign of the Supermen, it has had its fair share in live-action. Nevertheless, it is still remarkable how many times it has been used over the years and how various live-action properties adapt it from page to screen.
The first time Superman's black costume is ever portrayed in live-action is in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman season 3 and season 4. As Clark, played by Dean Cain, learns about the existence of New Krypton, the show adapts the iconic look with a slight change. Rather than sporting a silver House of El symbol, the designers made it blue instead, which still works for the black bodysuit. In this context, Clark dons that costume when he chooses to leave Earth to lead the Kryptonian race, making it a more symbolic scenario. So far, Cain's black Superman costume is the only live-action iteration that excluded a cape, which is the case with the comic book counterpart.
While Tom Welling's Clark Kent did take on Doomsday in Smallville season 8, it didn't end with the soon-to-be Man of Steel dying, physically anyway. Smallville's approach to the black suit is very different from the comics, both visually and in context. It came through Welling's character declaring Clark Kent dead as he gives up on his humanity after the tragic death of Jimmy Olsen. Seeing his human side as a weakness, Smallville season 8 ended with Clark dying metaphorically to set up the black suit's debut in the following season. Now operating as The Blur, instead of the Red-Blue Blur, Clark begins to wear a fully black-and-grey uniform, adapting the infamous black costume but with a Smallville spin. The black trench coat is meant to serve as a nod to Superman's cape, even though Clark's black suit in the comics didn't have one. While still having a silver House of El symbol on his chest, Clark wore a shirt and pants rather than a bodysuit. The black suit is eventually abandoned at the start of Smallville season 10 after Clark had spent most of the ninth season re-connecting with his human side.
Cinematically, only one version of Superman has worn the black suit. Portrayed by Henry Cavill, the iconic costume made its big-screen debut in Man of Steel during a mind confrontation between Clark and General Zod. As the Kryptonian foe tries to get Kal-El to join him in terraforming Earth into a new Krypton, Clark refuses and suddenly wears a black version of his costume. But in Zack Snyder's Justice League, Clark suits up properly in the black-and-silver uniform. While it is not a regeneration suit like in the comics, it is still connected to when Clark is brought back to life. After dying from the battle against Doomsday in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Clark is revived by the team. When he returns to the Kryptonian Scout Ship and walks through the hall, he chooses the black costume before flying away to help the Justice League. Even though they defeated Steppenwolf, Clark is still seen wearing the black uniform at the end of the Snyder Cut.
The Arrowverse has also introduced Superman's black suit on two separate but similar scenarios. Despite Doomsday having been mentioned in the franchise, Tyler Hoechlin's Superman didn't die during their battle, which has only been referenced briefly. The first time the black costume is adapted was in the 2018 crossover event, Elseworlds. John Deegan, the crossover villain, uses the Book of Destiny to rewrite reality and makes himself the Superman of Earth-1. As Deegan transforms himself into the Man of Steel, he dons an entirely black version of Hoechlin's first costume, with a silver S-shield. Why Deegan specifically picked that color scheme was never explained during the crossover.
Hoechlin wore the black suit again on Superman & Lois. John Henry Irons' backstory revealed that he is from an Earth where Kal-El turned on humanity. While little is known thus far why this version of Superman is evil, Clark's doppelganger is wearing the same suit as Hoechlin wore in Elseworlds. It is probably safe to say that this Clark isn't wearing the black costume because he was killed and brought back to life. As Superman & Lois season 1 progresses, it will likely be explained why this version of Krypton's Last Son is wearing this specific suit.
It is interesting how many times the black suit has been adapted into live-action, yet none of the iterations have had the regeneration function. Perhaps if Superman & Lois ever adapts The Death of Superman saga down the line, maybe the Arrowverse will get to introduce the entirety of that Superman suit. Whether it is on TV or film, it will be intriguing to see where Superman's black suit is seen next in live-action.
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