History Main / SuperheroesWearCapes

Capes have long been a feature of comics and animation, as these media both work through visuals while allowing the creators to control the character's environment. Thus, any capes used can always be made to look cool. They were a particular feature of the golden age of superheroes.

* Robin in ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' wears one, what with his [[Franchise/{{Batman}} origins]]. Raven wears more of an AllEncompassingMantle with a [[InTheHood hood]]. None of the other Titans wear capes.

* Prevalent, though not universal, in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice''. Robin and Miss Martian both wear capes, as do several other superheroes.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', a superhero by the name of "The Mysterious [[JustForPun Mare Do Well]]" ([[spoiler:actually just some of the main characters teaching another an important {{Aesop}}]]) appears and saves the day several times, and is shown to wear a stylized cape. This persona is an obvious ShoutOut to both WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck and Franchise/{{Batman}}, and even looks the part.

* ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' and ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' mostly avert this trope with the powered costumes, with a few notable exceptions such as the SixthRanger in ''Series/SeijuSentaiGingaman'' and ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy'', and the whole main team in ''Series/MahouSentaiMagiranger'' and ''Series/PowerRangersMysticForce'' (the latter due to having a magic general motif).

* [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]], though it's an unusually short one that's draped over one shoulder; his DistaffCounterpart Mary Marvel and {{Kid Sidekick}} Captain Marvel Jr. have more traditional versions. In a sort of {{Inversion}} ("Supervillains DON'T Wear Capes"), his EvilCounterpart Black Adam wears an almost identical costume, except that it's [[DarkIsEvil black]] and capeless.

* ComicBook/{{Storm}} from ''ComicBook/XMen''

** Most other members of the Superman Family wear one as well: ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}, ComicBook/PowerGirl, ComicBook/{{Steel}}, [[ComicBook/{{Legion Of Super-Heroes}} Mon-El]], the [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks original]] and [[ComicBook/DCRebirth Jon Kent]] versions of ComicBook/{{Superboy}}, the [[UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks Bronze Age]] [[Creator/ElliotSMaggin version of Superwoman]]; and even the animals like ComicBook/{{Krypto|TheSuperDog}} the Super-Dog, Streaky the Super-Cat, Comet the Super-Horse, and Beppo the Super-Monkey! The Kon-El version of ComicBook/{{Superboy}} is the most notable exception.

* [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]], though it's an unusually short one that's draped over one shoulder. In a sort of {{Inversion}} ("Supervillains DON'T Wear Capes"), his EvilCounterpart Black Adam wears an almost identical costume, except it's [[DarkIsEvil black]] and capeless.

* [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]]

* WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck

** Given the RealityEnsues treatment in ''Film/ManOfSteel''. Superman's cape puts him at a disadvantage in a fight several times, being so easy for his enemies to grab.

* Lance from ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}''. In the anime Marina has an admiration for men in capes, which causes Jackson to start wearing one like Lance to get her attention.

* ''Franchise/{{Anpanman}}'' justifies the reason why the superhero characters wear capes: They contain the flight abilities for the heroes, and if they're torn, they can't fly until they get them mended again.
* Saitama, the protagonist of ''WebComic/OnePunchMan'', wears a cape as part of his superhero outfit.

** Most other members of the Superman Family wear one as well: Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}, ComicBook/PowerGirl, Comicbook/{{Steel}}, [[Comicbook/{{Legion Of Super-Heroes}} Mon-El]], the [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks original]] and [[Comicbook/DCRebirth Jon Kent]] versions of Comicbook/{{Superboy}}, the [[UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks Bronze Age]] [[Creator/ElliotSMaggin version of Superwoman]]; and even the animals like [[Comicbook/{{KryptoTheSuperDog}} Krypto]] the Super-Dog, Streaky the Super-Cat, Comet the Super-Horse, and Beppo the Super-Monkey! The Kon-El version of Comicbook/{{Superboy}} is the most notable exception.
** Most [[{{expy}} Expies]] and [[CaptainErsatz Captain Ersatzes]] of Superman wear them too, such as the Sentry, Gladiator, Hyperion, etc.

** Capes are also standard issue for [[ComicBook/{{Robin}} Robins]], although when the original became ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}, he dropped the cape. Tim Drake's cape as ComicBook/RedRobin has the same "glider" functionality as Batman's and as ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}} he weaponized detaching his cape when someone grabbed it by making the thing contract around whatever was touching it at the push of a button on his wrist.

* ''Series/{{Supergirl 2015}}'' [[JustifiedTrope justifies]] the cape as necessary for aerodynamics in flight. Before using one, Kara/Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} crashes trying to make a sharp curve in flight.

** Nowadays you can unlock certain capes that can be worn before level 20, including a Comicbook/DoctorStrange-style 'magic' mantle with a huge collar and even bigger cape. Looks [[RuleOfCool extremely awesome]] when done right.

* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts''

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Wonder Woman wears one occasionally -- usually just when she's making a public appearance and wants to look impressive or regal, not when she's out there fighting.
** However in Post New-52 Rebirth Diana has taken to utilize capes in missions.
https://i.imgur.com/lJD9hrs.jpg
* Captain Carrot and Alley Kat Abra of the [[Comicbook/CaptainCarrotAndHisAmazingZooCrew Zoo Crew]] wear capes. Hers has an optional hood.
* Surprisingly rare in ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes, but there are a few examples, such as Mon-El, Princess Projectra, and Thunder. Lightning Lad wore one in his early days.

* ''Fanfic/SOE2LoneHeirOfKrypton'': Asuka's ''Comicbook/PowerGirl'' and ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'' costumes include a cape. She invokes the trope because when she decided to become a super-heroine she automatically thought she needed to wear a cape.

* ''Literature/VillainsCode'': while superheroes are called "capes" by the villains, it's never stated if most of them actually wear capes.

* ComicBook/DoctorStrange and his [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloak_of_Levitation Cloak of Levitation]]. Justified since his cape is 1) part of the inheritance of the Sorcerer Supreme and 2) very useful.[[note]]Known powers include flight, damage resistance, shapeshifting into other clothes (which might explain why it normally looks more like a cape with a MysticalHighCollar than a cloak), and movement according to its' wearers' will, while the movie seemingly gave it a mind of its own.[[/note]]

* Spider-Man villain Mysterio

* Justice of the New Warriors and Avengers wears one.

** It also applies to ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} (Barbara, [[ComicBook/Batgirl2000 Cassandra]] and [[ComicBook/Batgirl2009 Steph]]) and ComicBook/{{Batwoman}}. It's easier to list the Batfamily members who ''don't'' wear capes.

* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'', Pete wears a cape as "Captain Justice" and "Captain Dark," though the name of his musical theme, "Hero or Heel?" says it all.

* The Great Saiyaman from ''Manga/DragonBall Z'' wears a cape, as it's Gohan intentionally invoking super hero tropes to sell the whole "costumed hero" thing without making anyone suspicious of superhuman martial arts powers or his alien heritage.

* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' presents: "'''''[[http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1987/06/04 This]]''''' is a job for..."

* [[ComicStrip/MandrakeTheMagician Mandrake the Magician]] wears a cape.

-->'''Batman:''' It's OK. I'm a friend of [[spoiler:your son's.]]\\

** Film/{{Shazam|2019}} wears a white cape with gold trim that ends just above his knees, although it's actually more of a cowl, since it comes with a hood. [[spoiler:The Shazam Family have similar capes, although some are slightly longer than others.]]

-->-- '''Iron Man''' to '''Thor''', ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Films — Animated]]

* [[Franchise/{{Zorro}} Zorro]] was wearing an awesome black cape long before anybody else on this page.

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]

** As did his first sidekick, [[Wrestling/MollyHolly Mighty Molly]].
** During his "Super Hero in Training" phase, Rosey wore a towel tied around his neck as a cape. He later got a real one when he became a full-fledged superhero.

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* [[Webcomic/LadySpectraAndSparky Lady Spectra]] follows many old-school superhero traditions, including this one.

[[folder: Web Original]]

* ''WebVideo/TheMostEpicStoryEverToldInAllOfHumanHistory'': [[TheHero Epic-Man]] and [[SideKick Epic Fail]] both wear capes and are superheroes.

* In the ''Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse'', Superman and Batman have floor-long capes in red and black respectively. while Wonder Woman has a blue ceremonial one attached by a clasp around her neck and shoulders.

-->'''Batman:''' It's alright. I'm a friend of [[spoiler:your son]].
-->[[spoiler:'''Martha:''']] I figured. The cape.