The Dark Knight Rises The TDKR Batsuit Discussion Thread VI

[Saint]

Holy crap I didn't even notice that they got rid of the trunks when I read Astonishing X-men. I don't know, maybe that's a testament to good costume design? Or am I just blind?

Good design, I say. Cassaday also made Cyclops look awesome for maybe the first time ever.

 

[thedarks0ldier]

and the bermejo/adams hybrid

 

[regwec]

The second one is sort of mad but cool.

 

[GlasgowBat]

I sometimes wish Bruce would have created the Fear Gas Batsuit to really **** with criminals...

After BB, i'd always liked the idea that Bruce would derive a diluted version of crane's gas to use when going into take out some thugs or whatever. Fear was a huge weapon of his in the docks scene and throughout the films, so why wouldn't he try to elevate that as much as possible?

Make them even jumpier, and therefore easier to take out.

Ach well. Would like a new suit, and confident we will get one, but i don't mind the suit from TDK as much as most seem to. Looks like Batman enough for me to live with.

 

[Saint]

and the bermejo/adams hybrid

With the exception of the cape attaching to the symbol, I'm on board with both of these.

 

[thedarks0ldier]

With the exception of the cape attaching to the symbol, I'm on board with both of these.

Thanks man. I'll try to do some non-roughs of these designs, make them look more crisp and shisa.

 

[GlasgowBat]

I'm quite keen on the bermejo/adams one, altho I also am not overly keen on the emblem cape attachment.

Good stuff man.

 

[.:TheDarkKnight]

After BB, i'd always liked the idea that Bruce would derive a diluted version of crane's gas to use when going into take out some thugs or whatever. Fear was a huge weapon of his in the docks scene and throughout the films, so why wouldn't he try to elevate that as much as possible?

Make them even jumpier, and therefore easier to take out.

Ach well. Would like a new suit, and confident we will get one, but i don't mind the suit from TDK as much as most seem to. Looks like Batman enough for me to live with.

That'd make me really happy, he just wasn't that type of guy in BB or TDK though. Maybe he's got some to use in TDKR considering he's going to be a bit more scary (now that Batman has killed people).

 

[GlasgowBat]

Yeah, I don't know, it just seemed like a perfect opportunity for him to utilise it. And would allow for some really cool sequences.

I suppose thematically it would have clashed with TDK somewhat, so perhaps you are correct, and it would be better to include it in TDKR. Unlikely, but if we assume that, for a section of the film at least, Bruce does start to "get lost in this monster" he has created, this could convey this quite nicely.

 

[Godzilla2014]

Goodbye, Mr. Earle. A worthy opponent and good friend.

 

[Godzilla2014]

As Dave pointed out, it's inspired by old school circus strongmen and acrobats.

Today, trunks persist for a couple of reasons, not the least of which is that it spares the artist from drawing a skin-tight spandex crotch. Batman is a prime example; when you take away his trunks, the entire costume is drawn ridiculous skin tight, and then you have this weird, baggy, wrinkling spot over the crotch because obviously nobody wants to see a skin-tight crotch.

I can agree with that.

The other reason (and the most important reason) is colour balancing. Superman and Batman both look better with red and black trunks, respectively, balancing the design of their costumes. Of course, there are ways around this (the modern trunkless Wolverine design solved the problem quite capably), but that requires more significant redesign--and when it comes to Batman and Superman, is unnecessary and probably undesirable (as we see with the awful new Superman look).

Batman looks fine without trunks. In fact I think he looks better without them.

Finally, superheroes wear trunks. That's superhero fashion, just like capes and emblems on their chests.

This is sort of a circular response, since the original question is why superheroes wear trunks.

and the bermejo/adams hybrid

Except for the blue (blue has no place on a Batman costume in my opinion) and the yellow highlighting, your Lee Bermejo/Neal Adams hybrid looks good.

 

[Saint]

As an aside, Arkham City's Robin:

Spoiler

http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/117/1177294/batman-arkham-city-20110620041631503.jpg

 

[J. Senoah]

As an aside, Arkham City's Robin:

Spoiler

http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/117/1177294/batman-arkham-city-20110620041631503.jpg

Is that real?

If so, I like everything except the hair. I also wonder if that's Tim Drake since with the "r" symbol and bo.

EDIT: Yup. It's Tim Drake.

EDIT 2: After looking at it a second time, I really hate the design. It looks like a crappy cosplay. Not a fan of the baggy pants ot the boots. Or the gloves. Or the cape. He looked much cooler in his 90s ninja-like Robin costume.

 

[J. Senoah]

Why not? I'm not talking about the mask, I'm talking about the body armor which isn't too far off from what we saw in the other Batman movies; Spawn's suit just looks more organic. At first glance, it looks like skin, and that's what I'd like to see with Batman. Afterall, he is a creature of the night.

 

[Saint]

Batman looks fine without trunks. In fact I think he looks better without them.

Good for you. You already know that I won't agree to that sentiment.

This is sort of a circular response, since the original question is why superheroes wear trunks.

Which is why I gave my more substantial reasons first. You even responded to them, which makes it sort of absurd for you to then complain that I didn't satisfactorily answer the question.

Finally, the argument is valid whether you approve or not; not everything in fashion is a matter of practicality; much of it is simply a matter of what is fashionable, for whatever reason. Why do people stretch massive holes in their ears? Because they think it's fashionable. Why to trunks persist for superheroes? Because some people think that's what's fashionable for superheroes.

 

[KneelBeforeZod]

Why not? I'm not talking about the mask, I'm talking about the body armor which isn't too far off from what we saw in the other Batman movies; Spawn's suit just looks more organic. At first glance, it looks like skin, and that's what I'd like to see with Batman. Afterall, he is a creature of the night.

I haven't seen Spawn in a long time ... but I think it looked like skin because it pretty-much was. Spawn's suit was of supernatural origin ... kinda like the Venom suit in Spider-man 3 or even the Green Lantern suit. It was organic because an organic suit fit with the character.

Batman is supposed to wear a suit constructed by/for Bruce Wayne for practicality as well as theatricality. It shouldn't be organic looking, because it isn't organic ... it should reflect the technology required to make it, and should look manufactured, not organic.

An "organic" looking Bat-suit wouldn't fit with the character.

JB

 

[Boom]

Batman without the trunks looks like a naked grey man.

 

[J. Senoah]

I haven't seen Spawn in a long time ... but I think it looked like skin because it pretty-much was. Spawn's suit was of supernatural origin ... kinda like the Venom suit in Spider-man 3 or even the Green Lantern suit. It was organic because an organic suit fit with the character.

Batman is supposed to wear a suit constructed by/for Bruce Wayne for practicality as well as theatricality. It shouldn't be organic looking, because it isn't organic ... it should reflect the technology required to make it, and should look manufactured, not organic.

An "organic" looking Bat-suit wouldn't fit with the character.

JB

I disagree completely. Batman even states in Begins that he needs to be theatrical to scare his enemies. That's why he becomes Batman in the first place. If anything, an organic suit fits the character better than the puzzle piece suit we saw in TDK.

And no, the suit shouldn't reflect the technology because that completely defeats the whole purpose of becoming Batman.

Also, I want to make it clear that while I want Batman's costume (remember, it's a costume) to look organic, I obviously don't want it to be his real skin incase you were confused on that.

Lastly, don't feed me this nonsense about practicality when Batman wears a cape and chooses not to cover his mouth--those are two things that would without a doubt hinder him in battle, but we accept in because it's a man who dresses like a bat to fight crime. Fantasy.

 

[Godzilla2014]

Good for you. You already know that I won't agree to that sentiment.

Alright with me.

Which is why I gave my more substantial reasons first. You even responded to them, which makes it sort of absurd for you to then complain that I didn't satisfactorily answer the question.

Finally, the argument is valid whether you approve or not; not everything in fashion is a matter of practicality; much of it is simply a matter of what is fashionable, for whatever reason. Why do people stretch massive holes in their ears? Because they think it's fashionable. Why to trunks persist for superheroes? Because some people think that's what's fashionable for superheroes.

Oh, so you were saying that their persistence in superhero costume designs is due to historical precedent and historical association? That makes sense.

Batman without the trunks looks like a naked grey man.

I disagree. I think he looks great without trunks. The associations they're meant to imply (circus strongmen) doesn't really fit with Batman's character (he's more well known for his intelligence).

 

[KneelBeforeZod]

I disagree completely. Batman even states in Begins that he needs to be theatrical to scare his enemies. That's why he becomes Batman in the first place. If anything, an organic suit fits the character better than the puzzle piece suit we saw in TDK.

And no, the suit shouldn't reflect the technology because that completely defeats the whole purpose of becoming Batman.

Also, I want to make it clear that while I want Batman's costume (remember, it's a costume) to look organic, I obviously don't want it to be his real skin incase you were confused on that.

Lastly, don't feed me this nonsense about practicality when Batman wears a cape and chooses not to cover his mouth--those are two things that would without a doubt hinder him in battle, but we accept in because it's a man who dresses like a bat to fight crime. Fantasy.

Like I said ... it is a mixture of practical and theatrical. The bat-part is theatrical. The suit itself is supposed to be bullet-proof (or at least resistant), etc. It has to reflect the technology integrated into the suit. An organic-looking suit wouldn't fit with the Nolan Universe. It has to look like something that would be manufactured ... not something that grew on him.

He wears a cape because he jumped off a building without the cape (while fleeing Gordon) and nearly killed himself (remember the base-jumping conversation in BB?). The cape has a practical explanation in the Nolan Universe. It may get in the way during fistfights ... but its helpful for jumping off buildings, and for theatrical purposes.

JB

 

[craigdbfan]

I agree with Boom's sentiments. Without the trunks he looks like a naked grey man.

I think if they insist on removing them than make the entire costume black instead of grey. That'd be an interesting change for the comics.

 

[Saint]

Oh, so you were saying that their persistence in superhero costume designs is due to historical precedent and historical association? That makes sense.

That's the main point, yes; the other part of it is the unquantifiable property of fashion. Fashion is weird, and people wear some weird, unusual stuff; you can't always explain it objectively, just like art.

 

[Lencho01]

How would you guys feel about something similar to Arkham City's Robin (Tim Drake) suit?

http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/167637-robin-revealed-in-batman-arkham-city

 

[Saint]

I agree with Boom's sentiments. Without the trunks he looks like a naked grey man.

I think if they insist on removing them than make the entire costume black instead of grey. That'd be an interesting change for the comics.

I'd prefer to stick to the classic scheme, which I think is more visually interesting, but yes, an all-black costume would be okay. Batman as he appeared in Morrison's JLA was more or less all black, and it worked (also, Howard Porter draws an amazing Batman).

 

[Saint]

The Arkham City design is a little too "street" for my tastes, but besides that I think they did a good job adapting the core design to a more mature, practical look. The bodysuit looks solid (though I miss the yellow notches on the chest), and the reinforced gloves and boots aren't bad. Even the shaved head is interesting (though not very "Robin").

I don't care so much for the short cape, though--and though I sort of like the idea of loose-fitting pants, here I think they contribute to the "street" vibe that I don't really like.

All things consider, though, I like it.