The BATSUIT Thread

[Marvel united]

The thing is, I don't think we need CGI to capture the look we're going for. we can do a few things.
1.) Make the mask silicone. That way it will move with the facial muscles and retain an ability to have expression via the face. Give the actor white contact lenses, which will, in conjunction with a silicone mask, allow for a wide range of emotions to be displayed. No need to go CGI when this would achieve the look quite easily. If you want to be easier on the actor, skip the lenses and just white out their eyes with CGI. Simple, and would be the closest to the expressive nature the mask displays in comics.
2.) Keep a similar static mask to what we've had, but give the actors white contact lenses/cgi their eyes white. You still have the makeup in this scenario, but you get the white eye look, and have eyes that can narrow or widen and still emote, ala Deadpool.

This please. We need a prosthetic cowl that conforms to the actor's facial structure. And if done right, we could eliminate the need for the panda eyes. The Arkham game cinematics for example demonstrate perfectly what a photo real prosthetic cowl could look like

Notice the lack of separation between the eyelids/holes and the cowl?

I'd also be down for a fabric cowl

 

[Jekecy]

If you go back to the trailer and rewind just a few more seconds back, you'll see there's a distinct separation between the cowl's eyelids and the actual eyes:

In reality, I'd imagine that cowl would be just as rigid as the past film cowls, only difference being that there's no more panda-eyes required as it's custom fit for the actor's eye shape. Problem with that is now said actor's eyes are constrained to that one size, meaning they can't squint or widen their eyes without ruining the seamless illusion.

I've never been too bothered with the in-universe explanation. If they insist on an unmasking scene without Bruce looking ridiculous, they can opt for him to have a second backup mask. Specifically, a domino mask.

BTAS even had its own solution:

Whatever the case may be, I don't think it's too complicated if the director really wants to dive into portraying the perfect cowl. Digital touch-ups in that area should be all that's required to get rid of unsightly delineations.

 

[Boy Scout]

It was done numerous times in films well enough. They just don't bother explaining where the make-up goes. Which is fine by me. In Returns in the final confrontation, in BvS when Batman returns to the Batcave and watches his tracker on the monitors and in TDKR when Batman returns from his first night after a long break.

It just seems pointless to me to pretend like it isn’t there. Literal panda eyes would look silly, but one solid stripe of pain across the eyes would be fine.

 

[OutOfBoose]

It just seems pointless to me to pretend like it isn’t there. Literal panda eyes would look silly, but one solid stripe of pain across the eyes would be fine.

It would be fine, but also would probably distract from a dramatic moment. It's a minor thing and I don't think it's necessary. Either design tiny holes in the cowl for eyes only (for some reason makes me think about KKK scene from Django), or just pretend that the dark make up isn't there once he removes the cowl. No big deal, imo. Granted, if done well, black strip of paint across the face can add to the effect too. Depending on what they want to do with a scene. We aren't necessary disagree, I think, it will be a new element for Batman in live action for sure.

Another thing... Imagine there's Bat-family in the film. Everyone will have that spray paint on the eyes once they remove their masks/cowls? I'm pretty sure it will look comedic. I'd rather not bother.

 

[Boy Scout]

It would be fine, but also would probably distract from a dramatic moment.

I don’t remember it being a problem on Arrow. I doubt it would be here.

It's a minor thing and I don't think it's necessary.

Neither do I, but I’d prefer it over magically disappearing makeup.

Another thing... Imagine there's Bat-family in the film. Everyone will have that spray paint on the eyes once they remove their masks/cowls? I'm pretty sure it will look comedic. I'd rather not bother.

Those who wear domino masks (AKA everyone but Batman and Batgirl) wouldn’t need to wear makeup, so it wouldn’t be a problem. Even if it were, they can be undressed enough to the point where you understand that they cleaned up a bit off screen.

 

[metaphysician]

Hmm. I think that I favor. . . well, "CGI" is not the right answer, because it might be perfectly doable with practical effects. But I prefer a "high tech cowl" look, in terms of lens and such, over the camo paint eye look. It gives more of a. . . I guess 'primitive' sense to the aesthetic, and I think that it'd be better to give a high tech sensibility to the next Batman. Though I suppose if there are any scenes involving a "primitive Batsuit" in flashbacks, he could be using face paint for those.

 

[Marvel united]

If you go back to the trailer and rewind just a few more seconds back, you'll see there's a distinct separation between the cowl's eyelids and the actual eyes:

In reality, I'd imagine that cowl would be just as rigid as the past film cowls, only difference being that there's no more panda-eyes required as it's custom fit for the actor's eye shape. Problem with that is now said actor's eyes are constrained to that one size, meaning they can't squint or widen their eyes without ruining the seamless illusion.

I've never been too bothered with the in-universe explanation. If they insist on an unmasking scene without Bruce looking ridiculous, they can opt for him to have a second backup mask. Specifically, a domino mask.

BTAS even had its own solution:

Whatever the case may be, I don't think it's too complicated if the director really wants to dive into portraying the perfect cowl. Digital touch-ups in that area should be all that's required to get rid of unsightly delineations.

Well, you could just do what Nolan did for the demon/fear gas Batman in Begins

Make the upper half of the cowl prosthetic/silicone so the cowl's brow/eyelid is seamlessly integrated onto the actor's brow/eyelid.

I may just make a manip using the demon Batman to demonstrate what it could look like.

Love the way the cowl looks in this image. It looks almost like velvet. Definitely not stiff rubber

Silhouette even reminds me of the first appearance look a bit. I wouldn't mind a suit inspired by the early Bob Kane look, especially if it's suppose to be an early Batman

 

[Invader Joker]

I really wouldn't mind something Bob Kane inspired but with a little bit more armor and modern.

Would look ****ing awesome.

 

[Jekecy]

Well, you could just do what Nolan did for the demon/fear gas Batman in Begins

Make the upper half of the cowl prosthetic/silicone so the cowl's brow/eyelid is seamlessly integrated onto the actor's brow/eyelid.

Huh, somehow it never clicked for that Nolan did actually already pull off that method. I just rewatched that scene and everything is indeed seamless in that top-half without sacrificing the look of a traditional bat-cowl. Just cut out the mouth opening and you're set.

Damn near 15 years ago too, so who knows how much more improved that can be.

 

[Boom]

I'd been suggesting a prosthetic cowl for a while now. I always felt it was the most logical way to solve the "bat turn" dilemma with the neck. However I figure two reasons why filmmakers would be against it is it's much more time consuming and the prosthetics are only good for so many hours of the day.

 

[Marvel united]

Huh, somehow it never clicked for that Nolan did actually already pull off that method. I just rewatched that scene and everything is indeed seamless in that top-half without sacrificing the look of a traditional bat-cowl. Just cut out the mouth opening and you're set.

Damn near 15 years ago too, so who knows how much more improved that can be.

Exactly. @Boom brings up a good point about prosthetics but we have come a long way in the 14 years since Begin. They could totally pull it off if they really wanted to

 

[FunkMiller]

Silhouette even reminds me of the first appearance look a bit. I wouldn't mind a suit inspired by the early Bill Finger look, especially if it's suppose to be an early Batman

I really wouldn't mind something Bill Finger inspired but with a little bit more armor and modern.

Would look ****ing awesome.

Fixed that for you

 

[Travesty]

Well, it was Kane’s art, so they would be correct.

 

[Infinity9999x]

I'd been suggesting a prosthetic cowl for a while now. I always felt it was the most logical way to solve the "bat turn" dilemma with the neck. However I figure two reasons why filmmakers would be against it is it's much more time consuming and the prosthetics are only good for so many hours of the day.

This is the biggest detractor I think. Silicone isn't reusable, and it's expensive, so I could see it being somewhat cost prohibitive.

But even then, you'd only need it during scenes we'd need to see emotion from the mask. During action sequences or any shots where we don't need to see Batman emote you could wear a standard rigid mask.

It would still be more costly than just making the mask rigid, but I think it could provide for a great look. And, again, a nice way to differentiate this Batman from past Batman's.

 

[Infinity9999x]

Neither do I, but I’d prefer it over magically disappearing makeup.

Clearly Batman equips his cowls with tiny wind-shield wiper attachments that have makeup removers on them that activate as he removes the cowl. He's Batman, with teh preptimez he thinks of everything. Even his eye shadow.

 

[Invader Joker]

Whatever suit they design, I hope it's one the actor actually feels comfortable in.

Idk, it just would be nice to finally have a batsuit a guy could realistically fight in.

 

[Vaibow]

It just seems pointless to me to pretend like it isn’t there. Literal panda eyes would look silly, but one solid stripe of pain across the eyes would be fine.

It should look like a more subtle version of Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow - that with his hair wet, sweaty, it's a good look... if that's your thing.. also, he should always has a towel at hand to wipe the sweat away and it clears up most of that war paint... if on the roof tops, then, make it look as best like war paint.. then he can be sweating and use his cape to wipe his face if need be..

I have always said the cowl should be in parts, the face, silicon prosthetics, the rest like a scull cap and the neck should have seems which cgi fills in.

 

[Marvel united]

It should look like a more subtle version of Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow - that with his hair wet, sweaty, it's a good look... if that's your thing.. also, he should always has a towel at hand to wipe the sweat away and it clears up most of that war paint... if on the roof tops, then, make it look as best like war paint.. then he can be sweating and use his cape to wipe his face if need be..

I have always said the cowl should be in parts, the face, silicon prosthetics, the rest like a scull cap and the neck should have seems which cgi fills in.

I hope Reeves does this

 

[FunkMiller]

Well, it was Kane’s art, so they would be correct.

What? The Batman design we all know was designed and created by Bill Finger, not Bob Kane. Kane may have drawn the design Finger created, but he didn’t invent it.

 

[FunkMiller]

Whatever suit they design, I hope it's one the actor actually feels comfortable in.

Idk, it just would be nice to finally have a batsuit a guy could realistically fight in.

The problem is, if you design a realistic suit someone could fight in it wouldn’t have a cape, pointy ears, it wouldn’t be all in one, it wouldn’t be skin tight.

There’s always a huge amount of dramatic licence, because in any real fight situation, someone dressed in a bat suit, no matter how good a fighter they were, would get destroyed in seconds.

The bat suit is by definition always going to impractical and uncomfortable. That’s just the way it is. It’s essentially a sweaty skin tight onesie that doesn’t allow for proper body movement, with a big flapping, heavy cape, and a cowl that makes you deaf and destroys your peripheral vision. I’d rather fight butt naked (not a pretty sight) than wear that thing!

I love the character without reservation, but he can only ever work in a fictional environment. There’s just no way it could ever translate into the real world. Nolan did the best he could to get it close, but even in the TDK trilogy, there is a vast, vast gulf between its fiction, and the realities of combat.

 

[Travesty]

What? The Batman design we all know was designed and created by Bill Finger, not Bob Kane. Kane May have drawn the design Finger created, but he didn’t invent it.

It was a collboration between Bill Finger and Bob Kane, but the art is still Bob Kane's. I understand that Kane's initial designs were different, and that Finger came in and suggested new ideas, designs and color schemes, but overall, it's still Kane's art at the end of the day. The thing you quoted was still Kane's art. People like Adams, Aparo, Breyfogle, Miller, Jim Lee, Capullo, etc, these are all artists who have original Batman art that they created, and it's their overall design, but those artists didn't "invent" Batman, they just put their artistic stamp on it. Again, that Batman design wasn't drawn by Bill Finger, it was by Bob Kane. That was his artistic stamp. That's Bob Kane's art.

 

[Jekecy]

The problem is, if you design a realistic suit someone could fight in it wouldn’t have a cape, pointy ears, it wouldn’t be all in one, it wouldn’t be skin tight.

There’s always a huge amount of dramatic licence, because in any real fight situation, someone dressed in a bat suit, no matter how good a fighter they were, would get destroyed in seconds.

The bat suit is by definition always going to impractical and uncomfortable. That’s just the way it is. It’s essentially a sweaty skin tight onesie that doesn’t allow for proper body movement, with a big flapping, heavy cape, and a cowl that makes you deaf and destroys your peripheral vision. I’d rather fight butt naked (not a pretty sight) than wear that thing!

I love the character without reservation, but he can only ever work in a fictional environment. There’s just no way it could ever translate into the real world. Nolan did the best he could to get it close, but even in the TDK trilogy, there is a vast, vast gulf between its fiction, and the realities of combat.

Where is that defined? The only thing I can agree with is the cape. Everything else could conceivably exist (when specifically tailored) on a martial artist without much hindrance to their physical abilities. The films have just done a piss-poor job at conveying it because they've precisely designed it to look cumbersome. A direction which is hopefully rectified once and for all this time around.

 

[FunkMiller]

It was a collboration between Bill Finger and Bob Kane, but the art is still Bob Kane's. I understand that Kane's initial designs were different, and that Finger came in and suggested new ideas, designs and color schemes, but overall, it's still Kane's art at the end of the day. The thing you quoted was still Kane's art. People like Adams, Aparo, Breyfogle, Miller, Jim Lee, Capullo, etc, these are all artists who have original Batman art that they created, and it's their overall design, but those artists didn't "invent" Batman, they just put their artistic stamp on it. Again, that Batman design wasn't drawn by Bill Finger, it was by Bob Kane. That was his artistic stamp. That's Bob Kane's art.

Er... that picture wasn’t Bob Kane art, it was a Mezco doll.

Or are you trying to say that the person who draws the art is responsible for the invention of the character?

Bob Kane drew Batman to specifications given to him by Bill Finger. You even contradict your own argument. You say that artists like Miller, Capullo and Lee didn’t invent Batman, they just put their artistic stamp on it... surely the same applies to Bob Kane?

Finger created the cape, the cowl, the logo, the colouring. He named Bruce Wayne. He thought up the backstory. Kane’s contribution was drawing it all, but he didn’t create it. Hence my original post.

Of course, there’s always a high level of collaboration between writer and artist, but I corrected the posts of the others because they were talking about the design of Batman.... which was invented by a Bill Finger. If you want a bat suit inspired by the original version of it, then you’re talking about Bill Finger’s design.

 

[FunkMiller]

Where is that defined? The only thing I can agree with is the cape. Everything else could conceivably exist (when specifically tailored) on a martial artist without much hindrance to their physical abilities. The films have just done a piss-poor job at conveying it because they've precisely designed it to look cumbersome. A direction which is hopefully rectified once and for all this time around.

In no real world application would someone engaged in unarmed combat wear a cowl that restricts their peripheral vision. They also wouldn’t wear a skin tight onesie. You ever tried to move fast and with grace in a full body wetsuit?

Look, all I’m saying is that a bat suit is never going to work in the real world. I don’t think anyone could argue with that!

 

[Jekecy]

In no real world application would someone engaged in unarmed combat wear a cowl that restricts their peripheral vision. They also wouldn’t wear a skin tight onesie. You ever tried to move fast and with grace in a full body wetsuit?

Look, all I’m saying is that a bat suit is never going to work in the real world. I don’t think anyone could argue with that!

Batman as encompassing concept was never going to work in the real world, I think most fans would concede to that premise. I'm referring to the internal logic of that world as it could exist.

The creative team responsible for bringing that world to life can't operate on the eventual conclusion that it's impossible. It's their job to make it (appear to) work. While I don't think any one film has completely succeeded just yet in making me believe that suit performs as it's being portrayed, they're getting closer.