Analyzing Batman's New Suit

It's out, The Batman costume test with Robert Pattinson. Of course, people are already making their voices heard. You can find plenty of likes and plenty of dislikes. Kevin Smith reportedly loves it. Meanwhile, some are comparing it to Netflix's Daredevil. Let us look beyond pure aesthetic taste. You can like it or hate it, not the case here. Robert Pattinson's costume from this teaser can already tell us about the story and this Batman.

The Cape

What first struck my eye was the cape. We see that the cape has something of a collar as well. Never before does Batman have this collar. Now you can find some variations of a collar aspect in other's like New 52's Earth-2 Batman for example. Historically throughout the media of film, we never see something like this though. Why? Personally, I can find no real technical reason for Batman to have this feature. What the collar does it give Batman this regal vibe. One cannot help but think of the popular mainstream perception of Count Dracula's cape. Batman is known for having something of Count Dracula vibe with being a creature of the night, the bat iconography and a character of wealth.

Robert Pattinson is only 33 years old and will be 34 when the film arrives in theaters. Ben Affleck on the other hand is 47 years old, and was 45 when Justice League was released. It seems from the beginning that Warner Bros. wants to bring back a younger Bruce Wayne/Batman. Many who do not know Pattinson's age may assume he is roughly in his twenties. Now it makes more sense that a young, wealthy man will want to show this wealth in his costume, practical or not, more so than a seasoned veteran like Affleck's Batman. Bob Kane's influence for Batman/Bruce Wayne came from the likes of Mad Anthony Wayne, Robert Bruce and Zorro. All of these men are from wealthy, elite status and nobility. Director Matt Reeves seems to want draw this out with the cape it seems.

The Chest

Rumors and theories are floating about that the bat emblem on his chest is made up from the gun that killed Bruce Wayne's parents. This alludes to Detective Comics #1000. At the same time, it looks like pieces that can be taken out and used...like a batarang.

We are also returning to an armored Batman. Ben Affleck's costume looked a bit more traditional and comic book, compared to the actual armor of Christian's Bale in The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. However, it also does not appear to be one full suit of armor like Bale's. The arm looks to be separate from the chest. In fact, it looks more like a chest plate. You can also see shoulder plates. The best way to surmise this from this small image is this Batman IS wearing hockey pads! More and more, especially when you look at the game and comic-book, Injustice, this armored look for Batman is the new norm. Part of this stems from the most human character in DC Comics needs more than just some cloth outfit or tights. Matt Reeves looks to be wanting to follow this route as well.

The Cowl

I find the cowl quite fascinating you look deeply upon it. Pattinson's cowl appears to be leather! Gaze upon it closer and you will find stitching. When was the last time that the cowl had stitching in any of the films? Never! Now go back to the collar and you can notice it bears a strikingly familiar resemblance to this leather cowl. It is as if this cowl is a bit more self-made and, on a budget, again compared to what we are used to with Christian Bale and Ben Affleck. Over the years we have grown accustomed to the cowl being that...an actual cowl! Go back to the comics and even Batman: The Animated Series, where it is more of a flimsy, cloth mask. Remember Batman takes a gunshot to the cowl in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Doubtful, from looks alone that Robert Pattinson's can. His mask's quality gives a pulp, Golden Age vibe much like Batman's origin and roots.

Piecing all of this together says a lot about The Batman and what Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson are delivering us. The leather stitched mask, the body armor and collar give this rough, rugged Batman, who made his suit down in his shop with whatever tools he has. Think Freddy Krueger making his dreaded glove on his workshop bench in the boiler room. With all of the different elements going into the costume, it does come off as the messed-up rich kid just playing dress-up as some people mockingly make of the character. Christopher Nolan did well, giving us a look into the how of Batman's costume assembly. One problem some fans had with it is how pre-assembled it was. Essentially, Bruce Wayne did not make the costume, Lucius Fox did. Bruce Wayne only put it all together and put a coat of black on it. I am by no means unloading on what Nolan gave us, but looking back this is something fans noticed and grew to critique. Now we can have Batman actually build his costume, with being a journey as well. Rumors have it this is Year Two of Batman's career in the film. Therefore, this will not be his one and only final costume.

If you like what you read here, feel free to like and leave a tip.