Batman Costumes: So You Wanna Be a Superhero

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Batman Costume: The Fashion of the Dark Knight

So you wanna be the Dark Knight, huh? Okay, so maybe you won't get the cool car and the hot chicks, but you can at least have the costume, right?

Well, let me help you out. Here's a lens dedicated to all things Batman, but most especially, Batman Costumes.

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The Basics of the Batsuit 

The Batsuit is one of the most detailed superhero costumes ever assembled. The allure of the batsuit lies in the fact that it enables a man without superheroic powers to become a superhero. Which may be the very reason why Batman is one of the most popular superheroes of all time.

Body Suit 


The body suit as it will be seen in The Dark Knight.


Essentially, there are two types of body suits when it comes to Batman. One is the minimal gray bodysuit and the other is the full on armor. The movies have made the armor the standard, but some fans are still true to the gray bodysuit that was originally the costume of Batman.

The Cowl 

The cowl is one that is usually made of rubber and is usually made of a black material instead of the blue that sometimes graced the comics and was worn by Adam West in the 60s television series.

Adam West's cowl also had the distinction of having white eyebrows painted on and an indention outlined around the nose.

The Utility Belt 

Usually either gold, yellow or black, the utility belt is Batman's lifeline when fighting on the streets of Gotham. In various incarnations, Batman has pulled everything from Batarangs to credit cards from his belt.


The belt as worn by Adam West in the 1966 television series.


The belt as worn by Michael Keaton in the Tim Burton films.


The belt as worn by Val Kilmer in Batman Forever.


The belt as worn by George Clooney in Batman and Robin.


The belt as worn by Christian Bale in Batman Begins.

The Cape 

Batman's cape is what gives him his winged appearance as he stalks along the rooftops of Gotham. In the most recent film, the Bat's cape allows him to sail through the air in those instances when he needs to make a quick getaway.

The History of the Batsuit 

Over the years, the Batsuit has undergone a number of changes while essentially staying the same. The cowl, the utility belt, all the essentials have been there for the most part, but despite the changes to the costume, they have remained true to the character (save for a few unfortunate and short-lived incidents).

Detective Comics 

Batman made his debut in Detective Comics No. 27. And, of course, this also meant the introduction of the Batsuit. The first Batsuit was gray, black and yellow with gloves that only reached the wrists. The cowl looked a bit more sleek than its modern descendants.

60s Television Series (Starring Adam West) 

The Batsuit from the Batman TV series starring Adam West closely resembled its comic inspiration. Gray suit, gloves with scallops and cowl. Some interesting bits of note were the addition of "eyebrows" to the cowl. The chest also featured the Bat symbol in the yellow ellipse which became an iconic part of the Batman mythos in later years.

Adam West Batman Costumes on Ebay 

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Tim Burton Films 



Tim Burton's Batman introduced the black armored Batsuit into the Bat's on-screen canon. Unlike the Batsuit of the 60's TV series which was essentially just a bodysuit, the Batsuit worn by Michael Keaton provided more support, protection and definition. The Batsuit was also all black save for the utility belt and symbol which were in yellow. Warner Brothers used the yellow Bat symbol as a major part of the marketing push for the Burton films.

The Schumacher Suit 

What most people remember about this batsuit are the nipples. Introduced by Joel Schumacher, the man who has been designated by many fans as the one who nearly ran the franchise into the ground, I think it's safe to say that the nipples did nothing for the suit but, well, give it nipples. The utility belt was also changed from yellow to black.

The Dark Knight - Christian Bale 

All things considered, the batsuit from Batman Begins was probably the one that made the most sense. Originally created by the U.S. Government, the suit was deemed too expensive for the military. However, it wasn't so for Wayne Enterprises and as such, the Batsuit was born. The suit is almost entirely black with the exception of the utility belt which appears to be more of a gold tone than yellow as it was previously.

Batman Through The Years 

Over the years, the men who have portrayed the Dark Knight have varied from heartthrobs to critically acclaimed British actors to actors known more for their comedic roles than serious ones. So, perhaps the question is: do the actors wear the Batsuit? Or does the Batsuit wear them?

Adam West 

Adam West's Batman was one that can best be described as cheesy. Complete with "pows" and "whams", Adam West made his way through a number of villains with little to no effort. His droll line delivery was probably one of his most memorable attributes as Batman.

Michael Keaton 

Michael Keaton's Batman brought the broodiness to Batman. Occasionally giving a devil-may-care smile as Bruce Wayne, for the most part, Keaton played the Bat like the cool, troubled superhero he was meant to be.

Val Kilmer 

Kilmer's Batman took its cues from Keaton's performance of the troubled superhero. However, for the most part, his performance lacked the intensity of Keaton's.

George Clooney 

Clooney's Bat was more a victim of Schumacher's direction and cheesy concepts than it was of his performance. Had a better script and villains been present, Clooney's Batman might have had more of a chance.

Christian Bale 

Bale's Batman most successfully built upon Keaton's interpretation of Batman. Adding more depth to the character and more explanation of the inner workings and origin of the Bat, Bale has quickly made himself the worthy successor of the Batsuit.

The Dark Knight Trailer in HD 

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Batman's Alter Ego - Bruce Wayne 

Bruce Wayne plays the part of the playboy by day, but at night, he is the crimefighting vigilante who cleans up the streets of Gotham City. In an effort to avenge the murder of his parents, he dedicates his life and money to his alter ego, Batman and his crusade to save Gotham from the criminals who run the city.

Bruce has had a number of love affairs through the years including Selina Kyle, better known as Catwoman.

The Batmobile Through The Ages 

There are few people who can say that they haven't coveted at least one spin in the Batmobile. Here's a look at the Batmobile as it has appeared through the years.

The 60s Television Series 

This sleek car was reminiscent of the American Muscle Cars that were popular during the 60s. Its convertible style made it less practical and more cool for cruising the streets of Gotham.

Burton and Schumacher Films 

Sleek and black, the batmobile as seen in the films from 1989 to 1997 was one that was stealthy and had a number of nifty features such as voice commands and on board weapons.

Christopher Nolan Films 

The Christopher Nolan Films starring Christian Bale did away with the sleek coolness of the Batmobile as seen in previous incarnations and gave it a more practical military appearance.

Holy Linkage, Batman! 

How The Batsuit Works
A mechanical look at how the Batsuit might actually work.

The Villains of Batman 

Batman has one of the most interesting rogue galleries of any comic book superhero in history. From the greedy to the insane, Batman has fought a multitude of characters in his pursuit to rid Gotham City of crime.

The Joker 

The Joker is, by far, one of the most sinister villains in the Batman Rogue Gallery. Taking glee in the suffering of others, the Joker has outwitted Batman a number of times and over the years has been one of the nastiest villains that Batman has had to face.

Catwoman 

Personally, I don't really consider Catwoman one of Batman's villains. Over time the two have shared a romance and have become allies more than once. However, Catwoman isn't made of sugar and sunshine either and that is probably why she is so often seen as a villain rather than a misunderstood inhabitant of Gotham.

Catwoman as she appeared in the film starring Halle Berry actually had very few things in common with the Catwoman of the Batman comics, TV shows and prior movies.

The Penguin 

The Penguin was more of a mobster type villain for Batman usually seen with a monocle and long cigarette. Short, plump, with beedy eyes and a beak like nose, The Penguin physically lived up to his name.

The Riddler 

Riddle me this.... The Riddler is almost self explanatory. In order to keep Batman on his toes, he gives him riddles and puzzles concerning his antics. It isn't so much about eluding Batman as it is that he's obsessed with the riddle.

Scarecrow 

Scarecrow is, in my opinion, one of the most terrifying villains in Batman's rogue gallery. He is obsessed with the human psyche and the fear that sometimes overtakes it. His obsession is what drives him to find his victims which he then terrorizes by preying upon their fears with hallucinatory drugs.

Two-Face 

Two-Face is a politician turned criminal. Wait. Isn't that an oxymoron? Okay, enough with the political jokes. After being disfigured with acid, Two-Face turned to a life of crime and made his way into Batman's villainous line-up. The former Harvey Dent and his alter-ego will make an appearance, along with The Joker, in the upcoming The Dark Knight.

Poison Ivy 

Poison Ivy could possibly best be described as an earth-friendly terrorist. Using the toxins from plants as her weapons, she has repeatedly wreaked havoc on Gotham city and Batman.

Harley Quinn 

Harley Quinn is a villain whose origin didn't come from the Batman comic books, but from the popular Batman Animated series. Looking like a court jester, she frequently is seen in cahoots with The Joker as the two terrorize Gotham.

Bat Quotes 

Robin: "If we close our eyes, we can't see anything."
Batman: "A sound observation, Robin." - From the 1960s Television series

"This town needs an enema!" - The Joker, Batman (1989)

"Why so serious?" - The Joker, The Dark Knight (2008)

"I don't know about you, Miss Kitty, but I feel so meow meow." - Catwoman, Batman Returns

"You're not the devil. You're practice." - Batman, Batman Begins

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