There's nothing to gain. The suit is a bit gaudy and perhaps outdated. But it's Superman. There's better designs out there for the American flag or the Coca Cola logo-- but history and visual recognition mean more than trendiness.

Actually one reason Superman is what he is, is because of the successful "branding" his costume has created over the years. The people in editorial at these superhero companies need to study advertising. There's a reason why McDonald's outsells Burger King, even though the latter company serves much better hamburgers. It's because after 40 years of advertising, Burger King still has not established its image. They keep changing their logo and colors and marketing. McDonald's still has the same red, yellow and white signs, the same golden arches, the same Big Mac, the same clown mascot.

That's why they are #1--because the public worldwide understands what they are, what they look like, and there is a nostalgia curve. The people at the tobacco companies understand marketing--have they changed the logo of Marlboro every five years?

Bottom Line: It 's not just an ineffective gimmick to change the superhero costumes, it's also counterproductive and it's bad advertising.

Jim says: (And while I think he should be depowered, I wouldn't go as far as to make him a pansy like on the Timm show.  I bought the DVD sets with some gift certificates based on the Batman series and was amazed how in almost every episode, Superman is wearing a radiation/space/protective suit.  He's Superman!)

I think everyone in the DC Universe should be depowered simultaneously. The Green Lanterns are demi-gods, the Flash is too fast, Wonder Woman and Supergirl and Power Girl are overblown, and there aren't enough characters like Green Arrow, Nightwing, or Batman who are ordinary human beings.

Superman uses his heat vision too often. I think someone should establish that using heat vision decreases his strength, because it burns up solar energy (or something.)

I know it is a bad way to look at the point, but DC tried giving us 4 different Supermen in 1993 and the original model still returned. No matter how much a writer may screw with the character or concept he is so ingrained in to the world and the public the original model always comes back.

Nope, not replace at all, but we can consider these attempts to build up the "Superman family" with Steel and Superboy. Neither went over well, and I'm thinking after the latest mega-death crossover, DC will not resurrect Superboy again, in a contemporary timeframe. I could be wrong.  

The character I miss from that time period the most is the Matrix Supergirl. Very nice character. I haven't read the adventures of the new Kara-based Supergirl who dresses like a teen prostitute.