The Batman is the newest addition to the beloved franchise. Released earlier this year, the film follows Bruce Wayne during his second year as Batman as he investigates a trail of riddles linked to a series of murders targeting Gotham’s elite. As Bruce does his best to work on this case alone, he quickly discovers that he may need to form new relationships in order to achieve his goal and save Gotham from this masked killer. Directed by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson, The Batman was subject to critical and commercial success, with the only complaint being the long run-time. The film was popular enough that it has already been lined up for a sequel, which is said to feature even more Batman villains.
Pattinson had a very close hand with Reeves in perfecting the bat-suit after the actor, per PEOPLE, spent time in every Batman suit while auditioning for The Batman. This gave Pattinson an idea of what worked and what didn’t, while also giving him a feel for what would be more practical versus what is more for aesthetics. The Batman’s suit is not a far departure from many of the previous Batman suits. That being said, there are still quite a few details that set it apart from many of the others. Here are six details on Pattinson’s The Batman suit that you may have missed.
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6 Wear & Tear
Warner Bros.
The overall look of Pattinson’s bat-suit is far less polished than previous suits have been. Not only does this help establish that Bruce is all hands-on, but it also makes a point to show that this iteration of the character works his very hardest to fight crime. The wear and tear of the suit also helps to establish that The Batman is set in the second year of Bruce Wayne’s life as the masked vigilante. The wearing of the suit also lends a sense of harshness that is seen as a part of Bruce’s dark personality, also shown with the way he treats Alfred. The scrapes and tears in his suit and cape, along with the little blood stains, show that Bruce is not afraid to get his hands dirty to save Gotham from itself.
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5 Signs of it Being Homemade
Some stitching on the suit can be easily seen and is thorough but uneven. This tiny detail may not seem like much, but it gives the suit a much-needed DIY feel. Previous suits have always felt more like a costume that one buys from a store or manufactures in a faceility. From Adam West’s original costume clad with grey tights to Christian Bale’s more heavy-duty suit that is suitable for combat and facing off against heavily armed opponents, each costume prior to The Batman suit has felt professional. Reeves and Pattinson’s decision to make the suit appear as if Bruce and Alfred made it themselves adds a deeper level of vigilantism that had previously gone ignored.
4 Yellow as an Homage to Batman’s Past
Warner Bros. Pictures
The colors often associated with Batman are black, grey, and yellow. Since The Dark Knight, Batman’s colors have drifted away from Adam West’s more vibrant costume to mainly black and different shades of gray. Pattinson’s suit stays true to the newest all-black theme of the bat-suit while also paying homage to the classic black and yellow logo from the 1960s with near-imperceptible yellow accents on the sides of his arms. This tiny detail is very easily missed, but if you pause The Batman and look closely, you’ll see this little reminder of where Batman came from and how far he’s come.
3 Use of Tactical Armour
Over the years, the bat-suit has evolved to suit the realistic needs of the hero. Considering that Batman uses non-lethal forms of combat, he must have a great deal of protection in order to ward off any armed assailants he may encounter. With Christian Bale, we saw a whole new bulky suit with very heavy padding to protect him from being fatally injured. This has continued with Pattinson’s suit in The Batman. The way the suit is designed allows for a great deal of mobility during combat with the maximum amount of protection in his most vulnerable spots so that Batman is able to take a good beating without dropping to his knees right away.
2 Batman’s Skeletal Cowl
Another unique addition that may have skipped your mind is the skeletal cowl that surrounds Batman’s neck. Never before used for the DC character, the cowl is not just there to help Bruce look mysterious, indeed, it serves quite a few purposes. Aside from the obvious protection of his neck from long range shots, it also assists Bruce in protecting his identity when he gets close to his allies and foes alike. This also adds to his intimidating appearance, making his shoulders and chest look even broader, sprinkling some fear into the eyes of his adversaries. The designer for the suit’s cowl and mask said they wished to give a “Grim Reaper feel,” per Slash Film, to the suit and this definitely adds a deathly vibe to it.
1 The Unique Emblem
While the bat symbol does appear on every bat-suit in cinematic history, Pattinson’s emblem is quite unique. This symbol is not just embroidered into the suit itself, but it appears to be made out of some type of metal and attached onto his chest. Fans have theorized that this emblem is made out of a melted down and reshaped version of the gun that killed Bruce’s parents. This emblem serves as more than just a cool new iteration of the Batman symbol as the symbol itself is a tool. Pattinson has since explained that the emblem is a chest plate that pops out so that he can use it when necessary. Not only is this a practical modification to the Batman emblem on the suit, but the execution of this modification has only had fans raving, wanting more from the costume designers who worked on the suit.
