Summary
From Adam West to Robert Pattinson, the Batsuit from any of the live-actionBatmanfilms and shows have played a huge role in who Batman is as a hero. Typically, the suit includes a mask, utility belt, gauntlets, boots, and the iconic black cape. As time went on, the Batsuit, for the most part, got better and better. Of all the Batsuits that have made the big screen since Burton’s film, however, Ben Affleck’s Batman suit fromBatman v. Superman: Dawn of JusticeandJustice Leaguemay just be the best one DC fans have seen so far.
From its practicality as a superhero suit to its bulky, imposing appearance, the Affleck Batsuit, dubbed the “Batfleck Suit”, is one that stands alone when comparing the Caped Crusader’s live-action wardrobe.
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Ben Affleck’s Batman Suit Isn’t Overly Complicated
One issue that isn’t only a problem with Batman, but with nearly every live-action comic book movie at some point or another, is they’ll sometimes try to do too much. Take for example, Clooney’s blue team suit fromBatman and Robin. The exotic bat emblems andthe weird grooves on the ears meant to more closely resemble that of a bat’swas just over the top and unnecessary. There’s a degree of respect given for taking the risk, but it ended up being a flop.
As for Affleck’s Batsuit,it’s a very simple design that calls back to aspects of the best animated Batsuits. The gray armor with black accessories is the suit that had so many fans fall in love with the franchise throughBatman: The Animated Series. Not only that, but the suit very closely resembled – and reportedly was based on – the suit from the epic comic turned animated film series,Batman:The Dark Knight Returns, notably using the enlarged bat emblem on the chest.
With a sleek look built with very effective armor – as seen when he’s shot point-blank in the back of the head to which he suffers no damage – Batfleck’s suit was just an instant classic. Like inThe Dark Knight Returns, the suit accentuates the buff figure of Affleck’s Batman and inflicts that much more fear into his enemies when they see just how big and prominent his suit is and makes him look.
Plus, Affleck’s suit had a voice modulator, so he didn’t have to worry about sounding like he had something stuck in his throat every time he spoke. The whole point of the raspy voice is to inflict fear, which the modulator does exceptionally well.
Ben Affleck’s Batman Suit Allowed For More Movement
When being a superhero, it’s important that the suit protects the hero from whatever they may encounter while fighting enemies. But what’s the main objective of a superhero? Fighting enemies. Which means mobility is equally, if not more important when designing a superhero suit, a reason the Batfleck suit especially stands out for against the rest.
All the Batsuits in the live-action films, except inThe Dark Knighttrilogy and Matt Reeve’sThe Batman, are made with a one-piece cowl. However,as seen with Keaton and Kilmer in the Burton and Schumacher films, the one-piece cowl doesn’t allow for the best mobility, thus making their fighting styles seem very stiff and uncomfortable.
Affleck’s suit was actually the first live-action Batsuit with a one-piece cowl that let the Gotham hero turn his head from side to side. Not only that, but the design took less emphasis off the armored suit and gave it a sleeker appearance, allowing for smooth fighting techniques to be delivered with little to no body restrictions.
Ben Affleck’s Batman Suit vs. Robert Pattinson’s Batman Suit
As the two newest Batmen, their suits couldn’t be more different. The only similarity is the gray color with black accessories. But everything from the bat emblem to the structure of the suit differs greatly.
Pattinson’s suit is much more heavily armored than Affleck’s. Basically the entire suit is armored with a metallic material that glistens and no doubt could break a couple knuckles for whatever criminal chooses to try to get a punch in. While it looks awesome, it definitely restricts mobility as compared to Affleck’s more slim-fitting suit.
A big difference in the two suits, too, is the mask and cape. Affleck’s mask has the iconic scrunched forehead look that makes him look angry, while Pattinson’s is for the most part fairly expressionless. Affleck’s bat ears are also significantly shorter, giving him a more compact, ready-to-fight look. As for the cape, Affleck’s is attached to his mask, but Pattinson’s is completely separate.
Pattinson’s cape is also raised to a collar that surrounds the entire backside of his neck. It almost reflects more of the detective aspect that is Batman, looking like something from Gothic England. To its credit, that is mainly the focus of Pattinson’s Batman, relying heavily on his detective skills as a darker, more emotionally numb character, and it works tremendously. However,Affleck’s Batman is older, a bit withered, and more frustrated with his vigilante lifestyle as he’s gone about it for so long. So, for a Batman that’s in his rampage era, a bulky suit that fits tight is perfect for his violent fighting.
Overall, Affleck has the best live-action suit in theBatmanfilms. That’s not to say the other suits were bad, because Bale and Pattinson’s suits are right up there with Affleck. But Batfleck’s uniqueness and resemblance to the classic comics and animated shows helps his suit take the crown.
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