Bruce Wayne has debuted an all-new Batsuit asBatman’s latest adventure transforms the Dark Knight while also killing off a major villain. The new suit doesn’t just use different colors, but redesigns Batman’s logo and cowl for an earlier age.
Fans get to see the new look inBatman: Dark Age #5. The series has been retelling Batman’s origin and life beginning in 1950s, with real-time progression that incorporates both real-world events and major DC history into his story. In the issue, Batman is active in the mid-70s, now workingalongside Dick Grayson’s Robinand taking on organized crime in Carmine Falcone, as well as fending off the deadly attentions of his former mentor Ra’s al-Ghul.
At this point in Batman’sDark Agecareer, the hero is shown in a striking all-black costume, with his cowl, cape, and torso all the same color (a rarity for the Dark Knight.) The costume accentuates Batman’s “creature of the night” reputation while giving him aretro bat-symbol and cowl ‘ears’ that are fashioned after bat ears rather than his traditional ‘horns.’
The death of such a long-lived and essential Batman villain deserves a look worthy of the occasion, andDark Ageprovides…
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Batman Gets an All-Black Redesign in Dark Age’s 70s Continuity
Bruce Wayne’s New Suit Includes a Reimagining of His Cowl
Batman: Dark Agehas offered up a major reinvention for Bruce Wayne, merging his story with real-world historical events as well as consolidating his extensive lore. In this world, Bruce was trained as part of anelite military operation by Ra’s al-Ghul,working alongside the future Green Arrow and Wonder Woman villain Maxwell Lord. Batman has also been given a new connection to Arkham Asylum with the revelation that his mother was a patient there, and sidekick Dick Grayson has seemingly become an amalgamation of every version of Robin, with his tragic death teased as a future development.
With so many changes, it makes sense to give Batman a stylish new look, and Michael Allred and Laura Allred create a Batsuit that’s at home in the 70s setting while still feeling iconic. This is enhanced even further given the death this issue of Ra’s al Ghul, who burns alive despite Batman trying to save his life.The death of such a long-lived and essential Batman villain deserves a look worthy of the occasion, andDark Ageprovides, with the end of the issue implying thatJoker is ready to rise upas the hero’s new nemesis.
Robin’s New Costume Redesigns Him to Look More Like Batman
Despite DC refusing to change Robin’s design in the past, a recent comic sees him wearing a new costume that mimics Batman’s suit, with dark colors.
Batman’s Villains Get Their Own 70s Redesigns
Catwoman and Robin Look Especially Great
The Dark Knight isn’t the only one getting a makeover fromDark Age-Catwoman, Robin and Gotham rogues including Penguin, Riddler and Mad Hatter all get 70s-style new looks. These redesigns echo Adam West’s ‘60sBatmanTV series, which imagined the villains as products of a similar era (though in that case, at the actual time.) Interestingly, Allred was also the artist forDC’sBatman ‘66comic- a continuation of West’s TV canon uses its actors’ likenesses. It’s an impressive feat for Allred to be able to detach from that iconic version of the Dark Knight’s world and imagine a whole new take set in a similar era.
Batman: Dark Ageis a stylish and moving take on the Dark Knight’s lore, bringing together many of the character’s most iconic moments into a new story that still manages to have its own twists and turns. The cover for the next issue suggeststhe new all-black Batsuit will be sticking aroundasBatmanfaces the Joker, giving fans more of this incredibly stylish look.
Batman: Dark Age #5is available now from DC Comics.
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
