The Oval Is Back!!!

[Cain]

while the Bat trunks are seemingly GONE.

BAM!!! t:

"all the costumes have been in constant change.... You look at the difference between the costume tights that Adam West wore and the gay disco armor that was in "Batman Forever" compared to the modern, militaristic thing that Christopher Nolandoes. They are all completely different but they are all instantly recognizable as Batman." - Morrison

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2010/08/grant-morrison-.html

 

[Motown Marvel]

sigh

 

[Saint]

I prefer the black bat by itself, but it's been ten years since Batman wore the oval so it's cool to see it back. I suspected it would be coming back with Morrison's "Batman Inc," as it represents a more traditional brand icon, fitting Morrison's "Corporate Batman" approach. I wish the trunks (or a harness, or something) were still there. Armoured gloves I could take or leave. Don't like the belt buckle.

As with most Batman "redesigns," it's hardly different at all. Certainly not different enough to complain about, unless one's complaint is that they missed an opportunity to do something really different.

 

[Cain]

I like both but since the stories I grew up on all had him with the ellipse it's nice to see it back from a nostalgic POV. Also since the next chapter in Morrison's Batman opus features the franchising of the mantle by Bruce it makes sense storywise to return to the oval. After all we all know why it was invented in the first place.

I think the costume looks kinda plain without the trunks I'm also sick of Bruce's belts having pouches already. I prefer Dick's bat belt aesthetically. With that said it seems like the comics have finally found a way to guide people to plausibly translate the classic black & gray in live action. It looks very movie-esque.

 

[JokerLedger]

I don't see what the big deal is... looks just liek Earth-1 Batman....

 

[theMan-Bat]

... looks just like Earth-1 Batman....

Basically.

I don't like the absence of the black trunks because it leave it with the grey overtaking the black. I like Batman very stark, a lot of black. The point of the costume is to enabling him to lurk mysteriously in the shadows and appear bat-like and frightening, not appear like a pop art character in a flashy costume. I loath the stripes.

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

I love the oval. Not only does it work as a target for armed bad guys to shoot at, rather than Batman's head, it also acts as a scarring image to the average criminal. Pretend you're a common thief in Gotham City, you just robbed a liquor store, and you're on the run. It's dark and you go into an alley to avoid seeing any police. All of a sudden, a huge, dark shape just drops down in front of you. The monster extends its wings and all you can make out is a yellow oval with a bat inside and you know it's the Batman.

The bright yellow up against the deep black gives a harsh contrast and the yellow has the blinding light of a million suns. While the Batman beats you mercilessly, all you can see is that same oval. It's the last thing you see before you go unconscious, it's the first thing you remember when you wake up, and it's the last thing you think about before going to sleep in your prison cell. The constant haunting of the oval stays with you for the rest of your life, because you know you came face to face with the Batman.

 

[Mace Dolex]

After a long time with just the bat/gray suit it's only natural to bring back the yellow oval and concerning the trunks I guess it's up to an artistic choice since I seem to remember after the 90's Knightquest saga that Batman was revamped without the trunks to only have them back a while later.

Also from a marketing standpoint the yellow oval Batman can sell more toys.

 

[JokerLedger]

if they wanted to go trunkless it would've been better if it was all black.

 

[SuperFerret]

Basically.

It looks odd without the trunks. There's nothing to break up the grey.

 

[JokerLedger]

Should've made the suit all black

 

[SuperFerret]

All black makes him look too plain. You need at least three colors in a good costume to make it look good.

 

[ALP]

if they wanted to go trunkless it would've been better if it was all black.

Precisely.

I love the oval, but Batman looks naked without his trunks.

 

[8Diagrams(WU)]

Finally they get rid of the trunks. But the yellow oval is like one step fwd two steps back.

 

[shadowforce420]

I didn't read the article but if this is Bruce's costume I'm not happy. If it's for Dick then I have no problem. I do love seeing the oval back though, I was introduced to Batman with the oval so I have no problem with it.

 

[The Batman]

Batmans most iconic symbol is back? GOOD. Its been a loooong ten years without it.

 

[Cain]

After a long time with just the bat/gray suit it's only natural to bring back the yellow oval and concerning the trunks I guess it's up to an artistic choice since I seem to remember after the 90's Knightquest saga that Batman was revamped without the trunks to only have them back a while later.

Also from a marketing standpoint the yellow oval Batman can sell more toys.

Yeah that was done to match the movie costume and it lasted like 2 days. IMO it's evidence that an all black costume as some in here claim to want to see just wouldn't quite visually work in the comic book medium.

 

[Cain]

Batmans most iconic symbol is back? GOOD. Its been a loooong ten years without it.

Coincidentally these past 10 years have seen some of my all time least favorite Batman tales (Morrison & some of Brubaker & Rucka's stuff aside). Where as the majority of my favorite stories (Ie: Englehart/Rogers, Grant/Breyfogle, Dixon/Nolan, Moench & Jones runs, Night Cries) all feature the oval. Hmmmm....

 

[The Batman]

Coincidentally these past 10 years have seen some of my all time least favorite Batman tales (Morrison & some of Brubaker & Rucka's stuff aside). Where as the majority of my favorite stories (Ie: Englehart/Rogers, Grant/Breyfogle, Dixon/Nolan, Moench & Jones runs, Night Cries) all feature the oval. Hmmmm....

Its not a coincidence for me...like I said on the DC Boards, the costume of the past ten years is a visual representation of Batman in the 00's: trying desperately to be Frank Miller, and trying to take itself wayy to seriously.

Those stories you listed were done by people who realize Batman can be adventurous AND dark.

 

[ALP]

Yeah on second thought the all black hasn't worked in many of the comics I've seen it featured in. But the oval is boss.

Batman should always have his trunks. It helps the grey from overtaking. Otherwise only the cowl, boots, and gloves & gauntlet are black. Doesn't balance as well.

 

[Saint]

Yeah that was done to match the movie costume and it lasted like 2 days. IMO it's evidence that an all black costume as some in here claim to want to see just wouldn't quite visually work in the comic book medium.

Of course it would work. The Black Panther has been wearing all black since the dawn of time and it works just fine. Cyclops has been wearing all black for several years, and really, it's probably his best look to date. Spider-Man wore an all-black costume and everybody loved it.

I perfectly understand if one prefers black and grey (I do), but it's simply fallacious to claim that all black "doesn't work visually" in comics. No, the problem with post-Kngithfall costume was that it wasn't coloured like an all-black costume; the cape and cowl were almost always coloured with blue highlights and the the bodysuit was always coloured with black highlights, making the cape and cowl appear dark blue and the body appear dark grey.

Coloured correctly, an all black costume would work fine, especially with more modern colouring techniques. I suppose some more detail might be added to the costume for flavour, also.

 

[Haunted Knight]

I've heard the all-black suit referred to as "The Troika" suit. Personally, I really like it. There is a period early in the "Troika" story during which Bruce was drawn in a "creature of the night" fashion, but later in the run Bruce appears more like the cover posted by Cain. IMO, the golden/yellow belt balances the yellow ellipse quite well. An all-black suit has a lot of potential and does not by any means have to be visually boring.
I am pleased with the return of the yellow oval- though the second pic looks WAY better than the first.

 

[JokerLedger]

Gotta disagree... Batgirl has an all black suit and Nightwing had an all black suit. Both look absolutely fine.

Personal opinion of course.

 

[Cain]

Of course it would work. The Black Panther has been wearing all black since the dawn of time and it works just fine. Cyclops has been wearing all black for several years, and really, it's probably his best look to date. Spider-Man wore an all-black costume and everybody loved it.

I perfectly understand if one prefers black and grey (I do), but it's simply fallacious to claim that all black "doesn't work visually" in comics. No, the problem with post-Kngithfall costume was that it wasn't coloured like an all-black costume; the cape and cowl were almost always coloured with blue highlights and the the bodysuit was always coloured with black highlights, making the cape and cowl appear dark blue and the body appear dark grey.

Coloured correctly, an all black costume would work fine, especially with more modern colouring techniques. I suppose some more detail might be added to the costume for flavour, also.

Forget talking to me about Marvel characters let's look at the Batman all black suits this is what the convo is about. From Troika to The Scottish Connection it's all looked very boring. The comic book medium is too visually dynamic for something so plain. Find me a rendering that works and I'll be convinced but thus far that has never been the case.

 

[Cain]

I've heard the all-black suit referred to as "The Troika" suit. Personally, I really like it. There is a period early in the "Troika" story during which Bruce was drawn in a "creature of the night" fashion, but later in the run Bruce appears more like the cover posted by Cain. IMO, the golden/yellow belt balances the yellow ellipse quite well. An all-black suit has a lot of potential and does not by any means have to be visually boring.
I am pleased with the return of the yellow oval- though the second pic looks WAY better than the first.

Funny I think the complete opposite and I also don't like the way the cape attaches to the emblem in the second pic, prefer the way it sits seperately in the first.