The Dark Knight Rises The TDKR Batsuit Discussion Thread IX

[Brother Jack]

At this point, I think that if there is a new bat-suit in the film it'll be something brought up in the third act of the film, after Bane presumably defeats Batman and he returns with some new hardware to take him down.

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

Jack I still have hope, it is still a possibility.

 

[DKDetective]

I'm not sure if the suit has been drawn this way for awhile, but I picked up the first issues of the New 52 Justice League and Detective Comics, and I'm quite liking the costumes featured in those, especially the Detective Comics one. It's got the style of the cloth suit, but it's quite clearly armoured, if you look in the right places. (Particularly the back of the neck, not pictured.)

Would love to see this on screen.

I'm sorry but I can't stand the way Jim Lee draws Batman, especially the new 52 designs. Those armored Gauntlets and Boots look way too scifi and totally out of place for Batman. Don't get me wrong, I actually prefer an armored Batman, but this just looks horrible in my opinion. Uggh, and those ridiculously short ears. He doesn't even look like Batman anymore. I see Daredevil.

 

[EliteF50]

Maybe because Jim didn't draw that? He's not doing Detective Comics.

 

[DKDetective]

Maybe because Jim didn't draw that? He's not doing Detective Comics.

My bad, it looks a lot like his style and I thought he was the lead on all the new redesigns.

 

[EliteF50]

My bad, it looks a lot like his style and I thought he was the lead on all the new redesigns.

He did design it, but he didn't draw that panel.

I love Jim's art, so maybe I'm biased, but the way he draws Batman in the new Justice League is perfect. Exactly what I'd like to see on screen.

 

[DKDetective]

He did design it, but he didn't draw that panel.

I love Jim's art, so maybe I'm biased, but the way he draws Batman in the new Justice League is perfect. Exactly what I'd like to see on screen.

To be fair to Jim, I do quite like his Superman. However, to me, his Batman is just totally wrong. Can you explain to me what you like so much about his Batman designs because, frankly, I just don't get it.

I find the physique to be too similar to Superman. I used to like how back in the 70s and 80s Batman and Superman had more distinct body types. The short ears don't look like Batman to me. Don't get me wrong, there are some very good short-eared designs (eg. TDKR and Year One), but Lee makes them way too short. I don't like his choice of colours. The new Justice League aside, he tends to choose a ridiculously light blue for the cowl, cape, gauntlets, and boots.

His Batman just has the totally wrong vibe for me. The whole point of the costume is theatricality and to instil fear in criminals, which is why the light colours and short ears, scallops, etc. of the Lee designs bug me. My perfect Batman would be a Neal Adams-based design with a black/grey colour scheme. When it comes to more modern designs, this is about as good as it gets for me:

 

[regwec]

Shrinkage, tearing, and blood stains (Tide ain't getting those spots out buddy).

Other than the fact that I loath the idea, let's face it. If a fabric-based or organic suit does make a on-screen appearance, then it'll probably be a fabric most Bat fans will dislike. In addition, think about all the experiences Batman has gone through on the big screen (shot, stabbed, lit on fire, etc.) How efficent would a fabric-based suit actually be in combat? It's likely that the organic suit would fade away or tear apart from the abuse in just two scenes. He'll be back in armor (body armor to be exact) before you know it. So what's the point?

You are being inconsistent. You say that the rubber wetsuit is a believable costume in which Batman would fight crime, because it is described as something else in the movie. Meanwhile, you say that fabric would not be credible, because it must behave as fabric would in reality, and be described as such.

My point is that the heavy rubber wetsuit is no more believable a representation of something that is both flexible and resilient than would be a costume made of fabric and padding. Either costume could and would be described as the same thing in a film.

Finally, movies being movies, I doubt that Nolan would feel compelled to show a fabric costume "fading" or "tearing". After all, he doesn't feel compelled to show Batman making pools of sweat and wriggling out of the rubber suit the moment he has finished fighting crime. The fabric suit would, in the movie's narrative, be resistant to tearing. You see?

 

[bane]

This thread will be so pointless when the movie is out and there's no new suit.

 

[DaveMoral]

To be fair to Jim, I do quite like his Superman. However, to me, his Batman is just totally wrong. Can you explain to me what you like so much about his Batman designs because, frankly, I just don't get it.

I find the physique to be too similar to Superman. I used to like how back in the 70s and 80s Batman and Superman had more distinct body types. The short ears don't look like Batman to me. Don't get me wrong, there are some very good short-eared designs (eg. TDKR and Year One), but Lee makes them way too short. I don't like his choice of colours. The new Justice League aside, he tends to choose a ridiculously light blue for the cowl, cape, gauntlets, and boots.

His Batman just has the totally wrong vibe for me. The whole point of the costume is theatricality and to instil fear in criminals, which is why the light colours and short ears, scallops, etc. of the Lee designs bug me. My perfect Batman would be a Neal Adams-based design with a black/grey colour scheme. When it comes to more modern designs, this is about as good as it gets for me:

Odd. I always thought Batman and Superman, and almost every other DC hero... especially in promotional artwork that is still common today(where it looks like Neal Adams or Jim Aparo did the work)... all have the exact same physique. All the Super Powers promo art, which I still see everywhere today, looks like they used the exact same body templates for every male character.

I think Lee's Batman is great. Nearly perfect in most ways. Sure, the ears are short... but that harkens back to a good chunk of Batman's comic history. A good deal of the 40s, 50s and 60s had the shorter ears. Kane/Finger and Adams/O'Neill did longer ears and that stuck for a good long while. But then we have Miller and Machuzelli popularizing the short-eared design. Seems most comics have found a median design on that front for the last decade or so.

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

This thread will be so pointless when the movie is out and there's no new suit.

Well for those of us that have hope, that hasnt been 100% confirmed yet bane.

 

[The Joker]

This thread will be so pointless when the movie is out and there's no new suit.

It almost seems pointless anyway even if Batman does get a new suit for the final confrontation, it still looks like he's spending the bulk of TDKR in the TDK suit.

A new suit should be present for most of the movie. Not the tail end of it.

 

[Brother Jack]

Jack I still have hope, it is still a possibility.

Oh, I do too.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

You are being inconsistent. You say that the rubber wetsuit is a believable costume in which Batman would fight crime, because it is described as something else in the movie. Meanwhile, you say that fabric would not be credible, because it must behave as fabric would in reality, and be described as such.

My point is that the heavy rubber wetsuit is no more believable a representation of something that is both flexible and resilient than would be a costume made of fabric and padding. Either costume could and would be described as the same thing in a film.

Finally, movies being movies, I doubt that Nolan would feel compelled to show a fabric costume "fading" or "tearing". After all, he doesn't feel compelled to show Batman making pools of sweat and wriggling out of the rubber suit the moment he has finished fighting crime. The fabric suit would, in the movie's narrative, be resistant to tearing. You see?

Oye. I don't see how my argument is inconsistent.

Rubber has been used for a long time now. Other than the fact that rubber is more durable than fabric, the material can protray the role of armor (visually) in the hands of the right editor and director. Furthermore, rubber is more cost-efficient and less time-consuming than fabric in the long run. Five or six rubber suits is cheaper than fifty specialized fabric-based suits (possibly graphing the material onto the body armor for maximum effect).

Hey, a bullet-resistant organic suit CAN work on the big screen. After all, it is a film. The writers, editor, special effects department and director can simply come up with a half-a**ed explaination to how it would work in combat and pull a "Deus Ex Machina" when coming to damage but that's hardly the point. Rubber has proven to be the superior element when coming to visuals and reliability on set.

Going further, kevlar plates are more believable than let's say a spider-silk suit to the general audience, at this point.

 

[Nevincer]

A new suit should be present for most of the movie. Not the tail end of it.

Agreed. I'm not anticipating a new suit at all at this stage. If there is by chance one near the end and it looks cool, well... what a waste, considering a reboot is coming after this.

 

[regwec]

Rubber has proven to be the superior element when coming to visuals and reliability on set.

The current effort certainly isn't visually superior to many other superhero costumes; it looks far more ugly and malformed than most.

As for "reliability", when exactly was this put to the test? I don't recall it.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

The current effort certainly isn't visually superior to many other superhero costumes; it looks far more ugly and malformed than most.

Your opinion.

As for "reliability", when exactly was this put to the test? I don't recall it.

Never, because no sane director wants to take a huge risk on finding out.

 

[Godzilla2014]

I'm not sure if the suit has been drawn this way for awhile, but I picked up the first issues of the New 52 Justice League and Detective Comics, and I'm quite liking the costumes featured in those, especially the Detective Comics one. It's got the style of the cloth suit, but it's quite clearly armoured, if you look in the right places. (Particularly the back of the neck, not pictured.)

Would love to see this on screen.

I would as well.

 

[regwec]

Your opinion.

Yes, and a lot of other people's.

Never, because no sane director wants to take a huge risk on finding out.

?

So, you are saying that rubber has been "proven" to be more "reliable" than fabric; despite the fact that fabric has never been put to the test? Your understanding of proof, evidence and empirical reason is a bit shaky.

Never mind. Let's reflect on how many successful action movies feature main characters who are not wearing sculpted rubber wetsuits. I have never heard an argument advanced that James Bond can't wear a tuxedo, because it might fade or tear.

It actually sounds a bit silly, when you put it like that, no?

 

[Blue Sugar]

Batman without trunks? Blasphemy!

 

[TheSmoothKnight]

I don't have a problem with the TDK Batsuit, but I do understand why some people would like to see a new one.

 

[Blue Sugar]

I don't have a problem with the TDK Batsuit, but I do understand why some people would like to see a new one.

Aight!

 

[DoomsdayApex]

Yes, and a lot of other people's.

Yes, and a lot of other people love the suit.

?

So, you are saying that rubber has been "proven" to be more "reliable" than fabric; despite the fact that fabric has never been put to the test?Your understanding of proof, evidence and empirical reason is a bit shaky.

Never mind. Let's reflect on how many successful action movies feature main characters who are not wearing sculpted rubber wetsuits. I have never heard an argument advanced that James Bond can't wear a tuxedo, because it might fade or tear.

It actually sounds a bit silly, when you put it like that, no?

It's elementary. See, rubber is a stronger and more durable element than fabric. How do we know this? Well, if Science class tought us anything, it's that an elastic polymer (with a touch of Sulfur) is thicker and tougher than a textile that networks yarn. Thus making Rubber > Cloth in terms of strength and reliability.

Batman doesn't work for MI-6 nor does he target to 'take out' opposition.

Comparing Batman to heroes or anti-heroes that kill and/or work with an organization to accomplish the mission sounds a bit silly, don't you think?

 

[dark_b]

At this point, I think that if there is a new bat-suit in the film it'll be something brought up in the third act of the film, after Bane presumably defeats Batman and he returns with some new hardware to take him down.

the fight at the city hall with Bane on the stairs is when Batman returns back. it is the old suit. maybe he wil have a new suit for the final fight, which they will IMO not show in promotion

 

[regwec]

That is all irrelevant. Sure, rubber is more durable than fabric in reality (which it why tires are made of rubber, but Batman is not a tire), but you are not suggesting that the Batsuit is supposed to be seen to be rubber any more than I am suggesting that a fabric-based costume would be described as "cotton" or whatever. Both would be described in the same pseudo-scientific BS terms already used in the movie, but the fabric based costume would allow the actor much better freedom of movement, be cooler, look nicer, and allow him to look more like Batman. In my opinion, obviously.

Now, you original point was that rubber had been "proven" to be more visually appealing and "reliable" than fabric (despite fabric never having been tried). You went on to warn that a fabric costume might fade or tear. I don't understand your basis for this concern, given that almost every character in every movie ever made has worn a fabric costume that, sure enough, probably needed the odd touch-up between takes.

The only other meaning I can affix to your comments is that you think audiences will only accept rubber as a representation of bullet-proof or otherwise resilient material. Is this genuinely what you believe?