Batman has donned several costumes in various films throughout the years. As one of the most recognizable comic book superheroes in the DC Comics universe, Batman’s suits, cars, and other elements are constantly discussed and compared each time a new film is released.
However, Batman’s outfits aren’t the only ones to get a changeup. Other characters, such as The Riddler and Catwoman, have all gotten upgrades to their outfit. If you’ve forgotten what they look like, here’s an easy infographic on Batman’s villains in disguise that will help jog your memory.
In honor of the new Batman film, we look at Batman, Catwoman, and The Riddler’s costumes throughout the years.
2022’s Batman suit was built like a Russian pressure suit. According to The Art of the Batman book, the lace details on the side and back of Batman’s new suit are based on what Russian pilots would wear. It’s also got elastic on the back to make it easier for Robert Pattinson’s character to stretch and punch freely. Batman’s iconic utility belt has received a bit of an upgrade, as we saw in the film.
According to Nerdist, Batman’s utility belt and cowl are now more practical than ever, unlike previous versions. Considering that the 2022 Batman film sees the great defender of Gotham City returning to his detective roots, having a functional utility belt makes perfect sense.
In the 1992 Batman Returns, Michael Keaton wore a Batsuit that looked too stiff and plasticky. Still, it fitted Keaton’s on-screen persona well. The most iconic part about the suit was that it had a more armored look and featured the black and yellow bat icon we’ve all come to love.
Overall, the latest Batman costume looks a bit more minimalistic compared to the ones in the past.
Moving on, 2022’s Riddler, too, looks vastly different.
Paul Dano’s Riddler is nothing like Jim Carrey’s iteration of the enigmatic supervillain in 1995’s Batman Forever. Instead of a campy green Spandex suit, Dano’s version is subdued. He almost doesn’t have a costume per se.
2022’s Riddler looks like your average Joe in the day. He dons a dark green jacket and pants ensemble at night, accessorizing it with a leather mask that covers his entire face. All of this completes Dano’s maniacal character.
It’s difficult to compare 1995’s Riddler to 2022’s Riddler. While they’re the same characters, both actors brought utterly different personalities to the role that fit their purpose at the time. In some ways, Carrey’s Spandex green suit was way more iconic. Although, Dano’s version is the first time the Riddler’s face was ever fully covered.
Lastly, we look at Catwoman.
In 1992, Michelle Pfeiffer’s version of Catwoman in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns looked rough. With noticeable stitches all over, it thoroughly fits the personality Pfeiffer brought to the character. We also loved how she completed the look with a red lip. Iconique!
Pitof’s 2004 rendition of Catwoman, played by Halle Berry, saw the sexiest on-screen version of the femme fatale we’ve ever seen. Unlike Pfeiffer’s version, Berry’s suit looked more like a bra top and showed off her curves in all the right ways.
Dark Knight’s Catwoman saw Anne Hathaway pairing a leather suit with high heels. While it was stylish, the look was sort of impractical. Some fans have even commented that the outfit was much too simple and didn’t serve the character the way it should.
On the other hand, Matt Reeves’ take on Catwoman complements Pattinson’s Batman superbly. Instead of an overly sexy costume, Zoë Kravitz wears a full leather suit and a knitted ski mask with spaces cut out for seeing and breathing. Just like Pattinson’s Batman, 2022’s Catwoman appears to be going back to her cat burglar roots. Unlike the past iterations of Catwoman, Kravitz looks more natural and relatable. She’s even got a sick motorcycle to boot.
In summary, all the costumes in 2022’s Batman took on a more practical look and feel. All of this makes the film feel more relatable and understandable, especially given Reeves’ vision for the film.
It must be said, though, that all costumes we’ve seen thus far throughout the years fit in with the sort of character each director had in mind.
