The Dark Knight Rises The TDKR Batsuit Discussion Thread

[BatScot]

That suit looks awful, just awful. It's laughable and not intimidating in the least. Where's the snorkel and oxygen tank to go along with that scuba suit?

Well, JB I guess that's that then. Sorry to see the request fell on deaf ears.

 

[BatScot]

It should be BATMAN- Concept by bOb Kane Developed by Bill Finger. Kane was the guy who was (illegally) hired by DC though, so he gets the credit, whereas Finger is held in higher esteem by the comics community.

I think you meant to say 'legally hired', then to paraphrase 'BATMAN - Legal CONceptJOB by Bob Kane, all the real work by Bill Finger'

 

[Mr. Earle]

That suit looks awful, just awful. It's laughable and not intimidating in the least. Where's the snorkel and oxygen tank to go along with that scuba suit?

Clearly you have never seen a scuba suit.

I think you meant to say 'legally hired', then to paraphrase 'BATMAN - Legal CONceptJOB by Bob Kane, all the real work by Bill Finger'

They should do that.

 

[craigdbfan]

That suit looks awful, just awful. It's laughable and not intimidating in the least. Where's the snorkel and oxygen tank to go along with that scuba suit?

 

[Nave 'Torment']

It's a double-edged sword, I think. You can either respect all of them or exclude one or some and end up disrespecting them in the process. As an example, I really doubt Nolan, Burton, or even most modern Batfans really "respect" Batman's turn in the Silver Age. In fact, I think most would rather forget it ever happened.

Well, when it comes to dividing the ages like that it gets difficult for me. I'd much rather look at them as separate movements. What is essentially 'Batman Silver Age'? The 'New Look' era that was counter-culture based and devolved into Adam West? If that is so, then no I have a fleeting respect for that. Even though it was 'fun', it missed the entire point that was Batman and regulated him as a generic superhero. That's my biggest problem with stories around that era.

However, the Silver Age in Comics should be lauded on its own. What readers do today is look back at it and equate it with frivolous story-telling, call it 'too cartoony' etc. The point that we had an entire industry struggling to create something original within the confines of the Comics-Code Authority should itself lend some credibility to the stories told at the time. The Silver Age is often mistaken for the Pre-Silver Age, and don't tell me it didn't exist. For Batman that's the era of Bat-Mite, Bat-Woman and the other zany adventures. And if Batman is someone who entered the Silver Age, he was also the first to get out. If we consider it as an 'era', that is, from the early 1950s to the late 1970s, what happens is that we miss a great deal of diversity inbetween. Heck, some of the best Batman stories were written in the 70s under Neal Adams and Denny o' Niel, yet if it's a timeline we want, these stories, very different from the other 'Silver Age' stories, stand on their own. I think that's the beginning of the Bronze Age. But again, I'd rather call these movements rather than eras.

But I get what you mean, not every movement goes with a story or adaptation you're making and in the end someone feels disrespected even if that wasn't the intention. If anything, I think Nolan and Burton are averse to the Adam West Batman in particular, though maybe averse is too harsh a word. I still look at Chris Nolan's Batman and see hints of the Silver Era appearing here and there. Sci-Fi gadgets, for example, were one of the things that Silver Era Batman was famous for, and some of that still appears in Nolan's films. He himself called it a nod to James Bond, and (while I'm no Bond expert), that neatly places it in the same era right?

The Silver Age deserves more respect. People need to realise that comic books really were written for 10-12 year olds back then. (In my opinion, mainstream comic books need to go back to that mentality)

I agree that the Silver Age deserves more respect, but I do not believe that mainstream comics should follow any strict policy. We don't need a specific "Modern Age Batman" or a "Neo-Silver Age Batman" or DC Universe that is defined so stringently. My opinion? Give freedom to the creative talents. Let them come up with their own movements, homages, ideas, target-audiences. And some would argue that most of the comics these days really are written for 10-12 year olds. Or at least teenagers. I mean look at some of the stories that are being released, it's still toned down. I'm not saying we need the 'REALLY DAYUM MATUREE' mentality (the difference between 'adult' and 'mature' is sadly lost in our culture), but if there's any criteria, stories should just be good. Just plain good. And entertaining.

johns and morrison are taking it back to that mentality, purposely, and it's incredibly refreshing

It was when Alan Moore was doing it, and yes, it still is to a certain extent, but the idea of yet another universally-defined 'age' is not appealing to me. I personally prefer Morrison's non-mainstream work to be honest. Don't kill me guys.

WHY U NO SHOOT BULLETS OUT OF RING?

"You musn't be afraid to dream a little bigger darling"

I've got respect for the Silver Age but now that I'm above the target demographic I don't want them going back. Screw the kids, I want my provocative literature.

That's a very selfish thing to say. Graphic Novels provide enough 'provocative literature' as it is. And are you saying that children literature is not provocative at all? By the Bard's Beard!

A good story is a good story. Realism, or a lack of, has nothing to do with it.

Realism only helped Batman Begins, because by explaining in detail why Batman dresses as he does and how his gadgets work, we found out more about the character. I'm not opposed to realism. But I am opposed to watering down superheroes in the name of realism. Not saying that Nolan does this.

In inter-web speak: Epic, Winning

 

[LegendaryCaleb]

He'd break some bones in his hands every other day, that's what's wrong.

Do these 'gauntlets' look like they absorb anything of the punch?

I love that batsuit...idk what it is...but especially in this picture...it looks so badass...maybe its just me

 

[Nave 'Torment']

Because it is the very nature of that collaboration that intrigues me and the more one becomes aware of the facts the more one comes to question Kane’s role even at the earliest stage. Was he there at the beginning, undoubtedly. But so was Bill Finger. Kane would have us believe the collaboration was 90% him, 10% Finger. The truth is almost certainly 50/50 and I would argue that in reality the scale is decidedly tipped in favor of Finger. Did Kane come up with the “initial” idea? Maybe. But Finger is the one most responsible for developing that idea into 'The Batman' that appeared in Detective No. 27. So who is the creator? The one who may have came up with the name or the one who truly created the character? Maybe it's both, but maybe the truth is closer to Created by Finger and Kane.

Very good queries, but this should not be a Chicken-and-Egg debacle. Clearly both parties shared the idea, if it were not for Bob Kane's ideas perhaps Bill Finger would never have expressed his developments? Maybe Finger wouldn't have been swayed toward the things he inputted. It's true, he deserves much more credit than he is given to day, and yes, I agree, it should simply be that: Batman, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. What I don't see is how we, the audience, look back and are immediately enthusiastic at pointing at fowl play, when in reality, it might have been a mutual understanding. It could be right?

I think you meant to say 'legally hired', then to paraphrase 'BATMAN - Legal CONceptJOB by Bob Kane, all the real work by Bill Finger'

Heh. If only. I guess this rings truer to what we believe today.

 

[Nave 'Torment']

I love that batsuit...idk what it is...but especially in this picture...it looks so badass...maybe its just me

I love it too. There's something visceral about it, angry, alive. The Keaton suit was poetic and graceful, almost elemental. This is a different creature.

 

[LegendaryCaleb]

The Keaton suit holds a special place in my heart...but I love the look of the Begins suit...I totally agree on what you said

 

[TheLongestDay]

I love that batsuit...idk what it is...but especially in this picture...it looks so badass...maybe its just me

Its not

 

[Pagan]

I've never been a fan of the rubber suits. heavy,hot,thick rubber suits. bleh. I feel for the actors/stuntmen in them. they restrict the action on top of looking bad. just say no to rubber suits

 

[JAK®]

I agree that the Silver Age deserves more respect, but I do not believe that mainstream comics should follow any strict policy. We don't need a specific "Modern Age Batman" or a "Neo-Silver Age Batman" or DC Universe that is defined so stringently. My opinion? Give freedom to the creative talents. Let them come up with their own movements, homages, ideas, target-audiences. And some would argue that most of the comics these days really are written for 10-12 year olds. Or at least teenagers. I mean look at some of the stories that are being released, it's still toned down. I'm not saying we need the 'REALLY DAYUM MATUREE' mentality (the difference between 'adult' and 'mature' is sadly lost in our culture), but if there's any criteria, stories should just be good. Just plain good. And entertaining.

Yeah, this makes more sense.

 

[BatScot]

What I don't see is how we, the audience, look back and are immediately enthusiastic at pointing at fowl play

Because, quite simply, it is there to be seen. The historical record, including Kane's oft contradictory statements, show that Kane manipulated events to his own credit both financially and in reference to authorship. It is not a question of whether these things occurred but rather a question of how far—and how far back—the shenanigans went. As I've said, my interest is not to eliminate Kane from the equation but to determine—via those documents and records that are available—the primary sources for the Batman character as that character was presented to the world in 1939. It is obvious now that Bob Kane alone did not create Batman and some may be satisfied with the thought that 'Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger' is enough to settle the matter and leave it at that. But should one dig deeper it becomes impossible to dismiss the probability that Kane exaggerated his role at nearly every juncture and having come to that realization one comes to the questions: What exactly was Kane's initial idea and how integral was that idea to the development of the character. Perhaps Kane did in fact present Bill Finger with a sketch of a red costumed figure in a domino mask that he called The Batman. Maybe this was the flame that ignited Finger's creativity. But even if Kane did light the flame, it was Finger and those other writers and artists that came after who burned down the house. I do not doubt that Bob Kane was there at the beginning, but I do question whether he lit the match or simply brought the matchbook to the table.

when in reality, it might have been a mutual understanding. It could be right?

A "mutual understanding"? Do you mean that in the sense of 'collaborative idea' or that somehow Kane persuaded Finger that 'Created by Bob Kane' was how the credit should be?

 

[Nave 'Torment']

Because, quite simply, it is there to be seen. The historical record, including Kane's oft contradictory statements, show that Kane manipulated events to his own credit both financially and in reference to authorship. It is not a question of whether these things occurred but rather a question of how far—and how far back—the shenanigans went. As I've said, my interest is not to eliminate Kane from the equation but to determine—via those documents and records that are available—the primary sources for the Batman character as that character was presented to the world in 1939. It is obvious now that Bob Kane alone did not create Batman and some may be satisfied with the thought that 'Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger' is enough to settle the matter and leave it at that. But should one dig deeper it becomes impossible to dismiss the probability that Kane exaggerated his role at nearly every juncture and having come to that realization one comes to the questions: What exactly was Kane's initial idea and how integral was that idea to the development of the character. Perhaps Kane did in fact present Bill Finger with a sketch of a red costumed figure in a domino mask that he called The Batman. Maybe this was the flame that ignited Finger's creativity. But even if Kane did light the flame, it was Finger and those other writers and artists that came after who burned down the house. I do not doubt that Bob Kane was there at the beginning, but I do question whether he lit the match or simply brought the matchbook to the table.

Good points, I can do nothing but agree with them. My initial concerns were whether or not there is a tendency among fans to always support the 'other' guy? But this is clearly not the matter here. Kudos BatScot.

A "mutual understanding"? Do you mean that in the sense of 'collaborative idea' or that somehow Kane persuaded Finger that 'Created by Bob Kane' was how the credit should be?

I meant the understanding that "my idea, you're developing it," or, "Hey Bill, I had this great idea for a character, any thoughts?" That sort of thing. Did Finger know from the get go that it was meant to be Kane's credit alone? In the comic medium the artist should obviously get 50% of the cred, so what Kane did when he copyrighted the entire thing with his name was just plain wrong.

 

[cwere]

Found a really cool Loki Mask on Ebay by the way. Here's the link if anyone is interested (like me) and can afford one (not like me):

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mask-Icons-Loki...ultDomain_0&hash=item2562ab6438#ht_500wt_1156

 

[cwere]

Oh <FRICK>! Wrong forum lol, happens when u have 15 tabs open in one page sorry guys

 

[cin0]

That suit looks awful, just awful. It's laughable and not intimidating in the least. Where's the snorkel and oxygen tank to go along with that scuba suit?

Your opinion. I think it looks great, I actually prefer it over the one he wore in TDK.

 

[The Only Woj]

The Keaton suit holds a special place in my heart...but I love the look of the Begins suit...I totally agree on what you said

Bulges aside, I miss the neck ... the 'monster' look. My only disappointment was not some subtle texturing done to the surface to make it less 'smooth' rubber. Some kind of distressing to give it a leather-type texture ... like the flesh of a monster.

 

[Galactus123]

BB suit looks great. This is how Batman should look like

 

[Nave 'Torment']

Ladies and gentlemen... I give you the next suit worn by Batman (and his ward).

http://media.**************.com/images/users/uploads/10300/Batman_415.jpg

Discussion closed. Loaded guns will be handed on your way to the roof, poison-shots available in the lobby. Have a nice afterlife.

 

[JStorm]

Ladies and gentlemen... I give you the next suit worn by Batman (and his ward).

http://media.**************.com/images/users/uploads/10300/Batman_415.jpg

Discussion closed. Loaded guns will be handed on your way to the roof, poison-shots available in the lobby. Have a nice afterlife.

Someone got Val Kilmer and Jonathan Rhys Meyers drunk and into some horrible suits.

 

[Travesty]

Ladies and gentlemen... I give you the next suit worn by Batman (and his ward).

http://media.**************.com/images/users/uploads/10300/Batman_415.jpg

Discussion closed. Loaded guns will be handed on your way to the roof, poison-shots available in the lobby. Have a nice afterlife.

ZOMG! Robin haz da chainmail. Realizim+move his neck= bestest suit ever!!!!11!

 

[RakuMon]

At least the batsuit's black and gray?

 

[brett66]

Robin looks like Space Caesar

 

[Harmonica84]

Is it just me or does that batsuit look like a poorly conceived version of the Arkham Asylum armored batsuit?