Knightwear: Batman's best ever costumes

The clothes make the (Bat)man

While he's best known for being the World’s Greatest Detective, the Caped Crusader can also lay claim to one of the world’s greatest wardrobes. Since he first flapped onto the scene back in the late 1930s, Batman’s iconic uniform has undergone so many redesigns it’s hard to keep track of them all. Some have been nothing more than subtle tweaks to the classic cape and cowl, while others have recast the character in a completely new light. By and large, however, all of these designs have one thing in common: they’re all instantly recognisable as belonging to the Batman.

Batman's latest costume is a bit different.

Earlier this month, Bats got one of his most radical redesigns to date, appearing in the pages of the latest issue of Batman clad in a mechanised, robotic get-up that owes more to Japanese mecha-design than it does men in tights.

Inspired by Bat’s new look, I’ve decided to trawl through the archives and drag some of my favourite ever Batman designs into the spotlight. From the classic, to the iconic, to the downright bizarre, read on for a look at some of the Dark Knight’s most dazzling ensembles.

First appearance

Purple reign

The undies-over-the-tights-combo that started it all, Batman’s original costume is a lot more bat-like than later iterations, and lends the Caped Crusader a slightly more gothic, theatrical air. Although the purple mitts were quickly ditched and the cowl streamlined, with its slitted white eyes, utility belt and prominent bat symbol, this costume is surprisingly close to the one we all know and love today.

Proving that the classics never really go out of style, Scott Synder and Greg Capullo recently used this iconic costume as the inspiration for Batman’s look in their Zero Year story arc.

The Dark Knight Returns

The Dark Knight Returns ushered in a new era of Batman comics and redefined the character for a whole new generation of comic-book fans. Since the ‘70s Batman had been moving in a darker, more mature direction, but it was Miller’s take on the character that finally put some of the hero’s campier excesses to rest, recasting Batman in a much grimmer, grittier mould. In keeping with the story’s despairing, dystopian tone, Miller’s version of the Caped Crusader looks like a lycra-clad wrecking ball: brutal, compact and intimidating.

Flashpoint Batman

Batman’s look is so iconic, so ingrained in our public consciousness, that even the subtlest tweaks can have a major impact on how we perceive the character. Take Flashpoint Batman for instance, the simple addition of a pair of peaked shoulders pads and glowing red peepers are enough to transform the character into something markedly more demonic and threatening. One look at this Batman and you know he’s out for blood.

Interestingly, the Wayne behind this particular cowl isn’t Bruce, but his dad, Thomas. This novel twist on the Batman formula came about as part of DC’s Flashpoint crossover event, which saw The Flash awaken to find himself in a very different DC Universe, one in which Bruce Wayne was the sole victim, not survivor, of the attack on his family. With his son dead, Thomas Wayne takes on the mantle of the bat and becomes the Knight of Vengeance. Unlike his son, Thomas Wayne isn’t averse to a little murder and mayhem, gleefully pitching criminals off of rooftops and skewering super villains with his sword. 

In keeping with his bloodthirsty nature, Flashbat’s costume is wilder, with a touch of otherworldliness; definitely not your friendly neighbourhood Batman.

Pirate Batman

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if Batman was a pirate you should a) probably stop listening to Alestorm records whilst flicking through back issues of Detective Comics, and b) know that you’re not alone. To date, Batman has taken to the high seas twice, the first time as part of DC’s Elseworld comics line, the second during his trip through a series of alternate realities after tangling with Darkseid and getting a faceful of the Omega Sanction.

Batman’s first stab at swashbuckling saw him assume the form of Leatherwing, a British freebooter with a taste for plunder, silk scarves and outrageous parachute pants. There’s a definite whiff of Errol Flynn about this design, and the end result is definitely more matinee idol than scourge of the seven seas.

Luckily, Batman would get a second shot at the pirating game as part of the Return of Bruce Wayne storyline. Hatched from the mind of comic book auteur Grant Morrison, this time-hopping epic saw the displaced millionaire set adrift through time, becoming a caveman, puritan, cowboy and, yup, a pirate. Well, almost - in truth, the issue follows Bruce as he butts heads with legendary seadog Blackbeard; the grizzled, cutlass-waving Batman featured on the cover is a complete no-show. Still, Andy Kubert’s design is a memorable one, and much more in line with what modern audiences imagine when they hear the word ‘pirate’.

Arkham Asylum

It’s no secret that licensed videogames tend to suck the big one, which is why the gaming public was so shocked when Arkham Asylum turned out to not only be a great Batman game, but a great videogame full stop. Fledging game studio Rocksteady went above and beyond in their first attempt to bring the Dark Knight’s world to life, expertly blending the colourful excess of the character’s animated and comic-book adventures with the brooding, gothic atmosphere of the Tim Burton movies.

This melding of styles is best embodied in Batman’s outfit, which draws inspiration from many different iterations of the character. Those bulging biceps and ‘rioded physique immediately bring to mind Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns, while the midnight blue cowl, with its furrowed brow and elongated ears, is reminiscent of Tim Sale’s work on The Long Halloween.The suit even seems to presage Batman’s New 52 outfit, featuring that same padded, slightly utilitarian look. The result is perhaps one of the most balanced Bat costumes ever, one that preserves the classic look of the character while giving it a modern lick of paint.

Tengu Batman

Following the events of Knightfall -- which left Bruce Wayne unable to continue in his role as Gotham’s protector and in dire need of a chiropractor -- hyper-violent maniac Jean-Paul Valley became Batman. Despite his sadistic tendencies, Jean-Paul actually made a pretty good Bats. During his brief tenure, he managed to round up some of Gotham’s most notorious ne'er-do-wells and even put a stop to uber-baddie Bane’s reign of terror.

With Gotham seemingly safe in Jean-Paul’s hands, Bruce Wayne starts looking forward to his retirement. Before he can swap his cape and tights for a pipe and slippers, however, he gets word from Robin that Jean-Paul has blood on his hands, namely that of the serial killer Abattoir and one of his intended victims. Armed with this new information, Bruce vows to take Jean-Paul out of the game and take back his rightful place as Batman. As one would expect from a man who’s just had his back broken, ol’ Brucie isn’t in very good shape, so he seeks out Lady Shiva to help him sharpen up his skills. Shiva helps Bruce rediscover his crime fighting mojo and even gives him the use of a shadowy, ninja-inspired ensemble, the main feature of which is a demonic looking mask carved to resemble the head of a bat.

Batman Noël

For most people, Christmas is a time for gaudy knitted jumpers and novelty reindeer antlers. Not so for Batman, who greets the festive season much like any other: in full-body kevlar, boots and a cape. Still, what Batman’s Noël outfit lacks in festive cheer it makes up for in sheer badassery, offering up a chunky, sculpted look that’s highly reminiscent of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight films.

One of the best things about this design is the way the cape flows into the emblem, making it look almost as if Batman is wearing an old-fashioned cloak - a nod to the Dickensian tale from which the Noël graphic novel takes its inspiration, perhaps? The rest of the design is much more functional, festooned with armour plating, buckles, seams and pouches, all of which give it a distinct militaristic vibe. Batman may not be faster than a speeding bullet, but he could probably survive getting hit by one or two while encased in this get-up.

Batman Beyond

Everything looks cooler in the future, including Batman. Conceived as a continuation of Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond follows 17-year-old Terry McGinnis, a troubled athlete who stumbles across Wayne Manor while trying to fight off the Jokerz Gang. With the aid of an elderly, even crotchetier Bruce Wayne --one whose bum ticker has forced him to hang up the cowl and go into retirement-- Terry manages to repel the attack.

Defeated, the Jokerz Gang retaliate by snuffing out Terry’s pa. At least, that’s what it looks like; Terry soon discovers that his dad was in possession of some top-secret information, information that the shadowy Wayne-Powers Corporation was willing to kill for to keep out of the public's hands. Knowing that he can’t take down such a high-profile target without a little help, Terry goes to Bruce for aid. Suffice it to say, the former-Batman isn’t happy about handing his legacy off to some snot-nosed kid, and tells Terry to take a hike. Intent on avenging his dear old dad’s death, Terry steals a Batsuit and manages to save the day. Despite his prior reservations, Bruce offers Terry an opportunity to take up the mantle, and Batman Beyond is born.

Gotham by Gaslight

DC has published some fantastic Elseworlds tales during its long history, but few have stood the test of time half as well as Gotham by Gaslight. Proving that Batman can work just as well in the fog-wreathed streets of the Victorian-era as he can in the towering, urban sprawl of modern-day Gotham, this 52-page one-shot feels a bit like Batman: Year One by way of Alan Moore’s From Hell.

Featuring artwork by a pre-Hellboy Mike Mignola, this macabre tale is an exquisitely rendered trawl through a seamy, scabrous version of Gotham, one that owes a sizeable debt to the cobbled byways and cramped alleyways of Victorian-era London.

In this version, Bruce Wayne is an affluent gent whose alter-ego, Batman, stands accused of a series of heinous murders. A quick search of Bruce’s manor turns up a bloodied knife and lands him in gaol. Instead of rotting in his cell, Bruce goes on the run and attempts to clear his name by bringing the real Ripper to justice.

Despite the fact this costume has only been aired a couple of times, it’s still one of the most beloved versions of Batman ever, appearing in countless pieces of fanart as well as the videogame Arkham Origins as an unlockable character-skin. Given how popular Steampunk has become in recent years, I’m surprised DC hasn’t resurrected the character. After all, who wouldn’t want to see a few new series based on these cracking alternate-covers released last year?