The Dark Knight Batsuit Discussion Thread

[Whack Arnolds]

The reason I don't want black and grey because Batman suppose to be freighting criminals in shadows that's my opinion.

He can still do that...

 

[Two-Face]

I admit I'm kind of on black & grey, least it's not blue.

 

[StorminNorman]

You don't know that...

It hasn't been done, so how would you know whether it work or not?

I love the all black look, don't get me wrong... but it's been done to death. I'm not asking for a royal blue and grey costume ala much of the comics. Just a simple deep grey and black, I think it would make for more interesting visuals then just plain all black.

The reason Batman had a blue costume in much of the early costumes is because the color black had to have blue accents according to printers. The Kane Batman was never suppose to be Blue - but Black and Grey.

 

[Mr. Socko]

Socko has returned

I hate the blue. They should only use grey in it if they're going to make Batman wear tights. If not then just keep solid black color rubber.

 

[BatScot]

I love the all black look, don't get me wrong... but it's been done to death. I'm not asking for a royal blue and grey costume ala much of the comics. Just a simple deep grey and black, I think it would make for more interesting visuals then just plain all black.

What the hell... LOL.

 

[General_Grievous]

Socko has returned

I hate the blue. They should only use grey in it if they're going to make Batman wear tights. If not then just keep solid black color rubber.

I agree. Also Christopher Nolan, I think, made a sensible point that if Batman is supposed to be a creature of the shadows and uses the darkness for disguise, that a bright yellow emblem on his chest is hardly the most unnoticeable thing he could wear.

 

[Mr. Socko]

I agree except on the Emblem part. I think that's a poor excuse from Nolan because if you put on a yellow shirt and turn off all the lights at night, you can't see it. The only way the yellow emblem would be seen in the dark night is if it glows, which I doubt it does. Not to mention, Batman's cape can drape over his shoulders to cover alot of it.

 

[BatScot]

Black and grey wouldn't work on a batsuit, all black is much better.

Not true.

An evaluation of urban camouflage effectiveness conducted by The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) concluded that monotone grey and monotone black both performed well during night conditions.

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/docs/warrior_96_may_camo.htm

 

[Mr. Socko]

Not true.

An evaluation of urban camouflage effectiveness conducted by The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) concluded that monotone grey and monotone black both performed well during night conditions.

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/docs/warrior_96_may_camo.htm

Two Face said nothing about the suit not working well at night because of blue and grey. He just said it wouldn't work as in "it won't look good". Which I agree on. A blue suit would look kinda corny.

The only way I'd want grey and black is if it's tights like on DE and that isn't happening because Bale wouldn't look all that great in them despite being 220 pounds. Bartram is about 250 or 260, and unless Batman is as big as him they shouldn't wear tights or we'll be forced to think "skinny Adam West". Oh, but Clark is very short, so the taller you are, the more you'd have to weigh.

 

[BatScot]

Two Face said nothing about the suit not working well at night...

Well you're right, sorta... Two Face said "Black and grey wouldn't work" period, which is not true.

A blue suit would look kinda corny.

I do not advocate a blue suit, and nothing in my post implied that I did... my sig ain't BlackGray for nothing you know

 

[Keyser Sushi]

The reason Batman had a blue costume in much of the early costumes is because the color black had to have blue accents according to printers. The Kane Batman was never suppose to be Blue - but Black and Grey.

That's absolutely correct. If you look at the earliest Batman comics, his cape and cowl were predomanently black, with blue highlights. In the 40's when Robin came on the scene and Batman's world lightened up, the blue-to-black ratio also shifted. But it was, clearly, meant to be black and grey.

With that in mind, it's fair to say that the grey tights and such are probably really just done to add visual contrast and make Batman look like something other than an ink blob on the printed page. It's fair to assume that a real-life Batman would wear all black.

I also feel the need to point out that Bale's Bat-suit had a nice contrast between matte black and gloss black, giving it a subtle contrast similar to the grey-and-black look. Personally, I'm satisfied with that.

 

[Mr. Socko]

With that in mind, it's fair to say that the grey tights and such are probably really just done to add visual contrast and make Batman look like something other than an ink blob on the printed page.

Lol, that last bit made me laugh.

It's fair to assume that a real-life Batman would wear all black.

I wouldn't assume that in any way, shape, or form. A real life Batman would not exist because he'd be caught and sent to prison. Being a vigilante is against the law and on top of that, having the police call you with a Bat-signal would be outright insane. The police would surely condone such a thing. Not to mention if someone in the real world would try to be Batman, a rubber suit would slow them down so much and it'd be sweaty in there so they would hibernate until winter.

I also feel the need to point out that Bale's Bat-suit had a nice contrast between matte black and gloss black, giving it a subtle contrast similar to the grey-and-black look. Personally, I'm satisfied with that.

Very true

Now that we're talking about blue suits, Didn't Clooney wear a semi-blue suit in batman & Robin...

 

[BatScot]

... a little less black (i.e. grey) in the right places would have worked just fine, in terms of both looks and stealth:

That being said, the die is set—at least as far as Nolan's world is concerned—and the color is unlikely to change, and I do not suggest that it should change now that it has been established, but I wholeheartedly maintain that the costume could have been better realized to being with.

 

[Keyser Sushi]

Lol, that last bit made me laugh.

I cruise to amuse.

I wouldn't assume that in any way, shape, or form. A real life Batman would not exist because he'd be caught and sent to prison. Being a vigilante is against the law and on top of that, having the police call you with a Bat-signal would be outright insane. The police would surely condone such a thing. Not to mention if someone in the real world would try to be Batman, a rubber suit would slow them down so much and it'd be sweaty in there so they would hibernate until winter.

Aye-aye, Captain Literal!

Very true

Now that we're talking about blue suits, Didn't Clooney wear a semi-blue suit in batman & Robin...

Yep.

 

[Keyser Sushi]

... a little less black (i.e. grey) in the right places would have worked just fine, in terms of both looks and stealth

That's absolutely true. But what purpose would it serve? Remember, Nolan was trying to take as few leaps in logic as possible, and whenever possible he wanted a fairly plausible explanation for things. It's hard to imagine that a guy dressing as a giant bat would choose to wear anything other than black. Grey wouldn't hurt his ninjaness, it's true, but what purpose would it serve?

Instead, Nolan used the blending of different materials into the costume to explain the contrast and give the *appearance* of the traditional costume without literally going black and grey.

That being said, the die is set—at least as far as Nolan's world is concerned—and the color is unlikely to change, and I do not suggest that it should change now that it has been established, but I wholeheartedly maintain that the costume could have been better realized to being with.

Eh. When I saw the first pictures of the costume I was horrified by how bad it looked, but in the context of the movie I thought it made perfect sense, and, actually, I've come to love it.

 

[Mr. Socko]

... a little less black (i.e. grey) in the right places would have worked just fine, in terms of both looks and stealth:

That being said, the die is set—at least as far as Nolan's world is concerned—and the color is unlikely to change, and I do not suggest that it should change now that it has been established, but I wholeheartedly maintain that the costume could have been better realized to being with.

That last one is simply amazing.

 

[BatScot]

Bale's Bat-suit had a nice contrast between matte black and gloss black, giving it a subtle contrast similar to the grey-and-black look. Personally, I'm satisfied with that.

Unfortunately, that ‘subtle’ contrast—though interesting in a few still shots—was not readily apparent in the film, and had that contrast been more visible I might well have been satisfied also, but as it is I am left wanting something other, even if it is only slightly so.

 

[Mr. Socko]

You didn't like the Begins costume?

 

[Keyser Sushi]

Unfortunately, that ‘subtle’ contrast—though interesting in a few still shots—was not readily apparent in the film, and had that contrast been more visible I might well have been satisfied also, but as it is I am left wanting something other, even if it is only slightly so.

Look up "subtle" in the dictionary, Sherriff. As it happens, it was bald-assed apparent in a few still shots. In the film it was, in fact, subtle.

 

[Mr. Socko]

I don't think I've seen these shots you people speak of. Are they shots of the film? Or photo shoots?

 

[BatScot]

That's absolutely true. But what purpose would it serve? Remember, Nolan was trying to take as few leaps in logic as possible, and whenever possible he wanted a fairly plausible explanation for things.

As I noted earlier, military studies show that monotone grey and monotone black both perform well in urban night conditions and it is fair to assume that a defense contractor—such as Wayne Industries—would have been aware of this, and had the Nomex Survival Suit for Advanced Infantry been monotone gray instead of clear silicone, that condition alone is a perfectly plausible explanation (and one which would have negated the need to ‘explain’ the black bat-suit in subsequent scenes). Of course this does not negate the validity of an all-black suit, but a gray suit is also within reason and is an option that does not require an elaborate explanation.

 

[Keyser Sushi]

As I noted earlier, military studies show that monotone grey and monotone black both perform well in urban night conditions and it is fair to assume that a defense contractor—such as Wayne Industries—would have been aware of this, and had the Nomex Survival Suit for Advanced Infantry been monotone gray instead of clear silicone, that condition alone is a perfectly plausible explanation (and one which would have negated the need to ‘explain’ the black bat-suit in subsequent scenes). Of course this does not negate the validity of an all-black suit, but a gray suit is also within reason and is an option that does not require an elaborate explanation.

Actually the suit WAS grey. Bruce painted it because he wanted to disguise the armor as much as possible. I would assume, given the cowl with ears and facial sclupting, and the cape that doubles as bat wings, that Bruce was trying to appear as though he were a monster, not a man in a costume.

So he just painted over the suit to make it all one color, a dark color that would make it difficult for human eyes to read much detail.

 

[Keyser Sushi]

I don't think I've seen these shots you people speak of. Are they shots of the film? Or photo shoots?

The ones in question are photos taken during filming, but not actual shots from the film. They are Batman standing on rooftops... in one in particular, there is a lot of light on him, causing much of the suit to appear grey, while the bat on his chest, the gauntlets, cowl, and cape remain black. it's a striking image, but it never shows up in the movie - because Batman never allows himself to be spotlighted like that in the movie.

 

[Mr. Socko]

Oh ok, ic.

Batman looked really scary in the scene where you see what Crane thinks he looks like under feat gas. Thats how Batman should always look, with black goo coming out of his mouth. I bet thats how Batman would have looked if Burton did Batman Forever

 

[Keyser Sushi]

Oh ok, ic.

Batman looked really scary in the scene where you see what Crane thinks he looks like under feat gas. Thats how Batman should always look, with black goo coming out of his mouth. I bet thats how Batman would have looked if Burton did Batman Forever

LOL!

I sometimes fear for your sanity, Socko.