If anyone doubted that Superman had the courage to be the world's greatest hero – and to foil Lex Luthor's sundry evil schemes – such misgivings were instantly dispelled by his choice of costume. For more than 70 years, the fashionistas have pointed out that underwear is more conventionally worn inside the trousers, rather than over them. The Man of Steel not only defied them – he advertised his choice to the world, by sporting Y-fronts in a fetching shade of bright red.
We cannot help feeling rather disappointed, therefore that DC Comics, the character's owners, have decided not just to rebrand the character (doubtless to make him "funkier", "edgier" and "more relevant") but to place the pants on the inside. Indeed, given that the hero still wears a cape, can leap tall buildings, block bullets and generally defy the laws of physics, this gesture towards normality seems token at best.
OK, it's online but Superman's pants? In the Telegraph?