Has anyone else noticed that the Batman's costume is becoming more and more reminiscent of something you'd find in HALO or another first person shooter? Take for example this latest iteration done by Kingdom Hearts creator and Final Fantasy designer Tetsuya Nomura:
What you're seeing is a re-imagined caped crusader for Square Enix's Play Arts Kai line of action figures. And yeah, the Batman looks like he's ready to kick some ass but it also looks like he's just a wee bit evil (which I guess is the point).
Seriously though, with regard to other superheroes I don't think I've noticed costume changes that have slowly morphed from tights in the 1960's into full on body armor like the kind worn by Master Chief in other characters. Superman is pretty much the same as he was. The same goes for Spider-Man and Thor. Iron Man was always in a prototype body armor so that doesn't count. But the Batman? No, he wasn't. In fact, this is what he used to look like (golden-age Batman):
Nowadays, instead of holding a gun, the Batman would have one just pop up off of his armor and shoot some kind of weapon out that blows our minds for its flashy effectiveness.
So my question to you is this: why is this happening? Why is his costume changing so much?
I thought about it last night and the only thing I can come up with is that Batman is a very popular character with boys, and boys play video games. The marketing department at DC Comics knows this, and they've chosen to make the costume more and more sinister with ridges and spikes. It's been a slow process...so slow that I haven't really taken note of it until I saw the picture up top. Note the similarities between what the Batman is wearing and the lean armor worn by this hunter in the video game Crysis (click to EMBIGGEN).
Muscles are well defined, weapon is very spikey, and there's lots of detailing all over the skin-tight bodysuit. Anyway, I'm interested to hear your thoughts on this matter. Would you agree that the Batman's uniform is slowly turning into video game military-style combat armor? And if you do agree, do you think it's being driven by first-person shooters like Crysis? I look forward to reading your comments.
It sure looks like it is. Blame the marketing department.
ReplyDeleteHow else is he suppose to fight Superman?
ReplyDeleteMaybe because Batman is always evolving, the next one has to be more impressive than the last, otherwise they're just taking a step back, and if that means adding spiky things, then spiky things will be added :)
ReplyDeleteSeems like in every iteration, the new creative team wants to put their stamp on it. And so the evolution is probably indicative of how our views of how superheroes should be clad have changed.
ReplyDeleteI miss the Batman who is the detective. The Batman that is brilliant and relies more on his mind than his fighting ability.
ReplyDeleteBlame Tim Burton that's where I think they started with that. Of course I love the armored Azrael Batman from the 90s.
ReplyDeleteThat is not Batman. That is the newest Gundam for the Gundam Wing anime. Anyway Batman is a very versatile character. I'm certain if they made major changes to Superman the ultra fanboys especially would go insane. I mean removing the red underwear from the outside was a mini-online controversy. Besides there has been tiny tinkerings with Spiderman's costume over the years. Most are just temporary though.
ReplyDeleteEverything is getting high tek, but are the new stories as good?
ReplyDeleteWith all the armor, I wonder how he can move. It is all from the game media, trying to stir up trouble, up their own game.
ReplyDeleteThat picture makes Batman look like a Transformer on steroids. I suppose such changes are inevitable, but it also looks like the human behind the mask is getting lost in technology, which must always get bigger and more extreme. A metaphor for our times?
ReplyDeleteThey are always experimenting with Batman. They keep re-doing the original story over and over again..adding technology, making it so serious for modern times(since the 1960's show was so corny).
ReplyDeleteJust thinking about it, Master Chief, Bat Man and Iron Man all have one thing in common..they rely on technology because they don't have any real super powers. All three will evolve, but it seems more drastic with Bat Man since he was originally in tights.
Everything is subject to upgrades. I'm sure superman will also change - if he becomes more popular.
ReplyDeleteRobotech Batman?
ReplyDeleteThere's also a matter of practically when it comes to Batman's outfit. He doesn't have any superpowers, so he needs all the help he can get.
It's too bad they've moved away from the Sherlock Holmes-esque side of the Caped Crusader.