It’s really never to soon to start speculating.
As of last week, the monumental One:12 Collective Dark Knight Returns Batman has begun to darken mailboxes and rearrange priorities for collectors across the continent, mine hopefully included by the time this publishes.
In many ways, this figure is so often the end-all be-all in my mind when it comes to Batman. It was so terribly appropriate that the Mattel DC Unlimited one showed up just in time to watch that series finally expire. As a story itself, despite whatever nonsense Frank Miller has done since, Dark Knight Returns is that last great Batman tale, and while it isn’t the end of Bruce Wayne or even his war on crime, it was the last stand for the caped crime-fighter.
But as the inaugural figure of O:12C, Batman is instead this time the champion of a new line, and a new era of licenses and figures, including, inevitably, more Batmen. That’s not to say I’m already looking for my next fix, because I think that my Batman figure needs are to be met for some time following this figure. Instead, think of this as my attempt to entertain the newly re-opened possibilities for my future collection, and while I’m not in any particular hurry to get more Batmen, I’m not going to kick them out of bed for eating crackers, either.
So, some ground rules before we begin: I’m thinking of Bat-versions that, like Dark Knight, would benefit from the use of cloth uniforms, as opposed to providing even more challenges for a new line, like working in lots of armored elements. That means that while I don’t have anything against Batman Beyond, New 52, or Arkham Knight, I see them needing more plastic than fabric, or just plain fabric that isn’t going to be invented for another 20 years. So with that, here we go.
1: 19th Century “Gaslight” Batman
One of the first and most memorable Elseworlds of all time, the Mike Mignola inspired costume for the Victorian era Batman is visually striking and a goldmine for any company wanting show off some fabric skills. The leather cape and boots and the varying texture and tightness of the suit would be simply amazing, and between Batman and Dredd, I would say not at all outside Mezco’s wheelhouse. I put this one at number one easily because like those two, he is an excellent stand-alone piece that doesn’t need a lot of supporting cast or accessories to feel complete.
2: Flashpoint Batman
This Batman eschews a bit more modern, and again, I see it as a nice fit among the currently planned releases in terms of style and substance. Thomas Wayne’s more utilitarian and brutal version of the Batman has been fleshed out very nicely between Andy Kubert’s work on the book, as well as The Flashpoint Paradox movie. The look I’m thinking of is maybe a combination of them, with a looser fitting suit that bunches at the boots, and the expanded red utility belt with dual thigh holsters. I think he could even get away with using the same body as Dark Knight Batman. An advantage he has over the Gaslight version is he could also serve as a gateway to other DC characters, since there are some very good looking variants in the Flashpoint universe.
3: Marshall Rogers 1970s Batman
I struggled a bit with this one, since when one thinks of 1970s or Bronze Age Batman, it’s difficult not to think of Neal Adams, or even Jim Aparo, Don Newton or Irv Novick, in addition to the name I selected. Like Neal’s, Marshall’s run on Batman was short but with great impact, and his dynamic style was a definite influence on many of the artists to follow him. And call me crazy, but I think this version in particular would reap the most benefit from this style of figure. Depending on the final versions, I could also see him reusing the smaller Judge Dredd body for his more gymnast frame.
4: Batman 1966
It seems these days it’s hard to talk about the Batman of 1986 without bringing up the version of 1966. If for no other reason than to book-end your Dark Knight Returns figure, the classic Adam West Batman, which has finally achieved the forgiveness and legitimacy of Batfans of all ages, is an excellent candidate for a real cloth uniform. It would be hard to think of a more “costume” looking Batman than this one, and while he has received a fair amount of figures recently, one more could really put it to bed. Licensing might be a concern, but if Keaton is covered, I’d have a hard time imagining West is not.
5: Lee Bermejo Batman
“Whaaaaa?” The internet says, well, lemme explain it for you. The Arkham games, or even the upcoming Ben Affleck suit made a good contest for this choice, but the truth is, Lee Bermejo’s take on Batman, first seen in Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire was the nexus for all of the “realistic” designs that have followed. Now true, some versions appear more armored than others, but for the most part this uniform is a very straight forward jumpsuit, with a few seams and zippers thrown in, with some movie esque boots and gauntlets. and a serious, fast clipped and heavy duty utility belt. Cap it off with the combined chest emblem/cape and the short-eared and sharp angled cowl, and you have one of the best balances of comic books and realism ever applied to the Dark Knight. And this way, we don’t have to settle for whatever bastardizations the movie version delivers instead. Hey, it might be great, sure, but history ain’t on it’s side.
As I’ve said before in these kinds of articles, agree, disagree, or wanna fight? I await you below. But remember, the criteria is Batman costumes that work in cloth goods without major textile innovations. And again, this is just for the sake of discussion, not banging down Mez’s door demanding more Batmen. At least for another year or so.
