I've referenced this in the context, mostly, of artists drawing Scott Summers with the glow of both his eyes visible thru the front of his visor, thus defeating the idea of him being called "Cyclops." Similar has happened to the Joker, as various artists have "interpreted" the character, carrying his look further and further away from the iconic playing card image. I've even asked people at cons WHY he's called the Joker, and been told "because he jokes."

The Infantino Flash costume had a circled lightning bolt, highly stylized, as the chest emblem, and equally stylized bolts as glove lines and belt. They were there to say "fast." But if we extend the lighting bolt into a motif across the entire costume.... Well, as Eric notes, the character becomes "Electro." His costume doesn't say "fast" any more, it says "electric"