ARMOR, CAPE AND COWL: THE HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF BATMAN'S SUIT
From the moment of his dramatic debut in the pages of Detective Comics #27, Batman has captivated comic book audiences with his cape and cowl. Elemental, compelling, intimidating and mysterious, the superhero suit has remained a defining symbol for the Dark Knight throughout his 80-year history.
Originally designed to instill fear — as told in Batman's origin story in Detective Comics #33 and more thoroughly in Frank Miller's Batman: Year One — the black and grey costume stood out among the flashier superhero outfits of the day. Equipped with a utility belt, the Batman was a macabre, creepy figure, creeping among the shadows of Gotham city.
To celebrate the 80th anniversary of one of DC Comics' biggest stars, SYFY WIRE took a look back at the evolution of Batman's superhero suit with comic book historian Peter Sanderson.
"Arguably Batman's costume did not look that fearsome in the 1940s through 1960s, but it did [when it debuted in] 1939, and it has credibly looked intimidating from the 1970s through the present," Sanderson said. "[Additionally] Batman's utility belt, a component of his costume from the beginning, demonstrates his ingenuity in creating the weapons and tools he needs, as well as his foresight in preparing for so many possible contingencies."