Warner Bros. Nailed The Perfect Batman Suit For The DCU 11 Years Ago
A new Batman is on the horizon in James Gunn’s new DC Universe. While we’re still in the dark about who’s going to play this new Dark Knight or what he’s going to look like in The Brave and the Bold, Warner Bros. actually has the perfect blueprint for the DCU Batsuit (and they’ve had it for the last 11 years).
When it comes to modern live-action depictions of Batman, there’s been a tendency to lean more into realism by making the Batsuits predominantly black. This is something the movies have only recently broken away from by adopting a more comic-accurate gray costume with a black cape and cowl (as seen with Ben Affleck and Robert Pattinson).
I’m very excited about the possibility of the DCU’s Batsuit leaning even further into the comic accuracy and more fantastical aspects of Batman lore, including his overall style. Keeping that in mind, there is a beloved version of the Batsuit that could be perfect for the DCU’s Dark Knight, one that never made it into live-action.
The DCU Should Use Batman’s Arkham Knight Suit As Key Inspiration
Back in 2015, Warner Bros. and Rocksteady released Batman: Arkham Knight, the third and final game in the Arkham trilogy. Not only was this the game that first featured the whole of Gotham City, but it also introduced the drivable Batmobile as The Dark Knight faced a city under siege.
Additionally, Arkham Knight also gave Batman a brand-new armored Batsuit designed by Lucius Fox, an advanced suit with “flexible plates overlaying an MR-fluid (magnetorheological fluid) armor layer“. Naturally, the suit also incorporated The Dark Knight’s vast arsenal of cutting-edge tech and gadgets. While it had armored plates, Batman still had an impressive range of flexibility thanks to the unique liquid-armor integration.
Beyond its practical utility, the overall style of the suit, cape, and cowl was also well received by fans. Still opting for the traditional grey-and-black color scheme as seen with the previous two Batsuits in the first two Arkham-verse games, it would be very cool to see something like Arkham Knight’s suit being used as a key inspiration for the DCU Batman’s costume on the horizon.
The suit feels sleek and modern, while still honoring the visual style of the comics. It very much looks like the kind of suit Batman would create, especially in an expansive world shared with powered heroes like Superman (and hopefully more of Batman’s fantastical rogues in Gotham).
The Arkham Knight Suit Only Needs One Tweak For A Peak DCU Batsuit
DC Comics: Close up of Batman bloody while punching
As great as the Arkham Knight suit is, I do feel as though one key addition would elevate it even further in live-action: white lenses on Batman’s cowl.
A live-action Batman cowl with permanent white lenses has long been one of the most requested features from fans, and for good reason. The white lenses are a staple of Batman’s design in the comics, instantly giving him a more intimidating presence in the dark alleys of Gotham. However, the movies have only sparingly used variations of white eyes for select scenes (and they’ve never been permanent).
Bold Reimagining · Alternate DC Universe Test Your DC Comics Absolute Universe Knowledge
♆️SupermanReimagined
🦇BatmanNo billions
⚔️Wonder WomanReforged
⚡FlashSpeed
🌐UniverseAbsolute
01
DC’s Absolute Universe is a new line of comics launched in late 2024 that reimagines iconic DC heroes in a world without the legacy advantages they traditionally have. Which DC event/storyline set up the creation of the Absolute Universe?
✓ Correct! The Absolute Universe was born from Darkseid rewriting reality in the current DC continuity. This cosmic act of villainy created a parallel world where DC’s greatest heroes exist without the advantages and support systems they traditionally rely on.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is Darkseid’s rewriting of the DC Multiverse. While Dark Crisis, Infinite Frontier, and Flashpoint Beyond are all significant DC events, it was Darkseid’s manipulation of reality that gave birth to the Absolute Universe.
02
In Absolute Superman, Kal-El’s origin is dramatically different from the main universe. Instead of being raised by the Kents in Smallville, how does Absolute Superman grow up?
✓ Correct! In the Absolute Universe, Kal-El lands not with the Kents but in an immigrant community, growing up without wealth or privilege. This reimagining strips away Superman’s traditional support system while keeping his core values of hope and justice intact.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is that he’s raised in an immigrant community with no wealth or privilege. The Absolute line is built on the concept of heroes without their traditional advantages, and Superman’s new upbringing reflects this perfectly.
03
Absolute Batman reimagines Bruce Wayne without his billionaire status. In this version, Bruce Wayne has a very different civilian occupation. What is Absolute Batman’s day job?
✓ Correct! In the Absolute Universe, Bruce Wayne works as an engineer and construction worker. Without the Wayne fortune or Wayne Enterprises, this Bruce builds his gear and gadgets with his own hands and working-class ingenuity, making him a truly self-made Batman.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is engineer / construction worker. Absolute Batman strips Bruce Wayne of his billionaire status entirely. This Bruce is a massive, imposing figure who uses his engineering skills and physical labor background to craft his own Batman arsenal.
04
Absolute Batman’s costume and physique are dramatically different from the traditional Batman. This version of Bruce Wayne is much larger and more imposing. Who is the writer of Absolute Batman?
✓ Correct! Scott Snyder, who previously wrote the acclaimed New 52 Batman run, is the writer of Absolute Batman. His bold reimagining of Bruce Wayne as a working-class hero without billions has been one of the breakout hits of the Absolute Universe line.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is Scott Snyder. Known for his legendary Batman run featuring the Court of Owls and other iconic storylines, Snyder returned to the Dark Knight with Absolute Batman, completely reinventing Bruce Wayne for this new universe.
05
Absolute Wonder Woman reimagines Diana in a significantly different setting. In this version, the character’s mythology and origin pull from different cultural influences. Who is the writer of Absolute Wonder Woman?
✓ Correct! Kelly Thompson writes Absolute Wonder Woman, bringing a fresh take on Diana’s mythology and origin. This version reimagines Wonder Woman’s world with different cultural influences while maintaining the warrior spirit at the core of the character.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is Kelly Thompson. While all four writers are acclaimed in the comics industry, it’s Thompson who helms Absolute Wonder Woman, crafting a bold new vision for Diana in the Absolute Universe.
06
The Absolute Universe was created as a result of Darkseid altering reality. A key difference is that in this universe, heroes don’t have the traditional advantages and support systems. What concept describes this — that these heroes exist without their usual “safety nets”?
✓ Correct! “Heroes without legacy” is the core concept of the Absolute Universe. These versions of DC’s iconic characters exist without the inherited advantages, mentors, wealth, and support networks that traditionally define them — forcing them to become heroes purely on their own terms.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is “Heroes without legacy.” The Absolute Universe is built on the idea that Darkseid stripped these heroes of their legacies — Batman has no fortune, Superman has no Kents, Wonder Woman has no Themyscira as we know it.
07
Absolute Flash reimagines Wally West in the Absolute Universe. In this version, the Flash’s connection to the Speed Force is portrayed differently. Who is the writer of Absolute Flash?
✓ Correct! Jeff Lemire, known for his deeply human storytelling in titles like Sweet Tooth and Animal Man, writes Absolute Flash. His take on Wally West reimagines the speedster’s relationship with the Speed Force in the context of the Absolute Universe’s stripped-down heroic landscape.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is Jeff Lemire. While Williamson, Waid, and Adams have all written excellent Flash stories in the main continuity, it’s Lemire who brings his unique storytelling vision to Absolute Flash.
08
Absolute Superman is written and drawn by a critically acclaimed creator who handles both the writing and art duties on the series. Who is this creator?
✓ Correct! Absolute Superman is written by Jason Aaron with art by Rafa Sandoval. Together they’ve crafted a powerful reimagining of Kal-El, placing him in an immigrant community without the Kent family’s support, creating one of the most compelling new takes on the character in years.
✗ That answer didn’t make it through the Absolute reboot! The answer is Jason Aaron (writer) with Rafa Sandoval (art). While Jim Lee, Grant Morrison, and Jorge Jiménez are all legendary DC creators, it’s the Aaron and Sandoval team that brings Absolute Superman to life.
Analysis Complete Your Absolute Knowledge
/ 8
Are you an Absolute expert — or still in the main continuity?
Adding white eyes to a gray-and-black Arkham Knight-inspired suit would complete the look, bridging the gap between comic accuracy and cinematic realism like we’ve never seen before on the big screen. More importantly, it would absolutely help differentiate the DCU’s Batman from previous depictions, and even concurrent versions (like Robert Pattinson’s The Batman).
At the end of the day, Warner Bros. really doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel when they already have a ringer waiting in the wings. They already nailed one of the best Batsuits 11 years ago. Now, it’s just a matter of bringing that same kind of style to live-action, finally giving fans the definitive live-action Batman look from the comics they’ve long been waiting for.
Systems
Released
June 23, 2015
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
