10 Most Comic Accurate Suits In The Batman: Arkham Games

Key Takeaways

Comic book-inspired suits honor different DC eras, from Bronze Age to New 52, enhancing the gaming experience.
Some suits are accurate replicas, while others are adaptations blending the comic art with the game’s style.
Developers rewarded PlayStation players with Justice League 3000 as an exclusive costume.

As a die-hard comic book enthusiast and ardent gamer, I must say that the suits of Batman in the Arkham series by Rocksteady are nothing short of a dream come true for fans like me. The attention to detail, the care taken to recreate iconic designs, and the love for the source material shines through in every suit featured in these games.

In the Batman: Arkham series, which has five primary stories, each game features a unique suit for Batman that is well-known among fans. As the games advanced, game creators generously included suits that mirrored those worn by Batman in his comic book appearances.

Various costumes inspired by comic books, including those for Batman and other characters, follow diverse paths. Some strive to replicate the original comics right down to the visual style, while others modify the comic book design to complement the game’s aesthetic. These costume options are not just appealing to gamers, but also to comic book enthusiasts who experience a touch of nostalgia upon seeing their beloved comics transformed into a digital realm.

10 1970s Batman Suit

Blue Has Always Worked On Batman

First Appearance: Batman #232 (1971)

Fans who appreciate the timeless combination of gray and blue will find delight in this suit as it embodies the Bronze Age Batman within “Batman: Arkham City”. The yellow emblem, deep blue cowl, and vivid gray bodysuit are distinctive features that reflect the comic’s Batman during a period when stories once again took on a more somber tone.

During the 1970s, creators like Neal Adams, Dennis O’Neil, Len Wein, and Gardner Fox reimagined Batman, updating his classic design from the Golden Age. This new interpretation became the benchmark for many years, even influencing the suit in the game “Batman: Arkham Knight” as a tribute to a cherished era of Batman lore.

9 90s Catwoman Suit

Selina Kyle Starred And Slayed In The 90s

First Appearance: Catwoman #1 (1993)

It’s unfortunate that characters like Catwoman can’t explore Gotham City freely in Batman: Arkham Knight, as they have detailed costumes or skins. For instance, Catwoman received a DLC suit inspired by her comic run from 1993 to 2001 by Jo Duffy and Jim Balent, which showcased a contemporary design reminiscent of her initial appearance with the distinctive purple color scheme.

In the game “Batman: Arkham Knight,” instead of simply reusing Catwoman’s basic design for Batman’s skin, Rocksteady studios chose to create a more authentic comic book style. This included giving her character longer hair and larger, doll-like eyes.

8 The Dark Knight Returns Suit

The Old Man Batman Who Beat Superman

First Appearance: The Dark Knight Returns

In the 1980s, the graphic novel “The Dark Knight Returns” played a pivotal role in shaping the character of Batman. It depicted an older Batman emerging from retirement amidst a grim, dystopian society. This work has significantly impacted Batman’s portrayal in comics, animation, and even live-action films, with “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” drawing directly from its ideas and designs.

In both “Batman: Arkham City” and “Arkham Knight”, players can choose to embody a stockier, older version of Batman. Interestingly, while “Arkham Knight” keeps the Bruce Wayne character model consistent, it doesn’t perfectly align with the suit’s design. On the other hand, “Arkham City” adapts Batman to resemble his graphic novel appearance more closely, featuring a more brutish and muscular Bruce Wayne.

7 Flashpoint Batman Suit

Thomas Wayne Looks Even Scarier Than In The Comic

First Appearance: The Flashpoint Paradox

As a fan, I’m still blown away by the visuals in Batman: Arkham Knight, even nearly a decade later. Rocksteady cleverly utilized these stunning graphics to breathe life into updated versions of iconic suits that wouldn’t feel out of place in live-action films. One such example is the suit worn by Thomas Wayne during the Flashpoint timeline in The Flashpoint Paradox. In this alternate reality, where Bruce Wayne met a tragic end as a child, Thomas Wayne took up the mantle of the Batman, and his suit reflected that gritty, dark transformation.

In a fresh rephrasing: Batman’s Flashpoint design leans towards paramilitary aesthetics, and Rocksteady Studio enhances this theme by adding armor, padding, and ammunition pouches to reflect his firearms-focused persona. Yet, they retain the iconic features such as shoulder spikes and glowing red eyes that are characteristic of Batman’s villainous counterpart. The outcome is a costume design that remains faithful to the comic book original while adapting it to match modern, realistic visual effects.

6 Batman Inc. Suit

When Bruce Wayne Came Back From The Dead

First Appearance: Batman & Robin #16 (2010)

In both the video games “Arkham City” and “Arkham Knight”, a suit originally from comic books, known as the Batman Inc. suit, makes an appearance. Both games adapt this suit to match the intricately designed environment created by Rocksteady Studios. The Batman Inc. suit signifies a time when Bruce Wayne and some of his most prominent allies band together to safeguard not just Gotham City, but other areas internationally as well.

In Grant Morrison’s “Batman Incorporated”, the design blends old and new elements to shape a superhero-esque Batman that transcends the boundaries of a typical vigilante. This updated version is more heavily armored, yet still adheres to the original character blueprint, and in both games, Batman can don this suit throughout the narrative and various challenge levels.

5 Red Robin Suit

When Tim Drake Became A New But Familiar Hero

First Appearance: Final Crisis #14

In the comic books, Tim Drake is most famously recognized as the third Robin and also as Red Robin. Following Batman’s demise in the comics, he adopted this distinctive look, which significantly contributed to his iconic portrayal of Robin. This made it a fitting choice when Robin was introduced as a playable character in Batman: Arkham City.

The cowled version of Robin allows Batman to show his respect towards his adoptive father, Bruce, while embracing a unique identity, similar to what Dick Grayson and Jason Todd did with Nightwing and Red Hood. Sadly, the Red Robin suit did not return in Batman: Arkham Knight, despite Tim Drake returning.

4 Justice League 3000 Suit

The Cloned Dark Knight Of The Distant Future

First Appearance: Justice League 3000 #1

Not all players of “Batman: Arkham Knight” had the opportunity to acquire the “Justice League 3000” suit, since it was an exclusive for PlayStation users. Despite this, Rocksteady Studio didn’t hold back on the design of the suit, which closely resembles its comic book counterpart, where DC’s most powerful Justice League members are cloned as superbeings in a future era.

In the video game ‘Batman: Arkham Knight’, the designers meticulously replicated Batman’s suit, featuring a hexagonal mesh pattern on the fabric to underscore its technological sophistication, as seen in the original design. Similarly, when creating the ‘Justice League 3000′ costumes in the game, Rocksteady incorporated dynamic armor plates, demonstrating their commitment to authenticity and attention to detail in the suits’ design.

3 New 52 Batman Suit

The Batman That Helped Define The 2011 DC Reboot

First Appearance: Justice League #1 (2011)

In the tail end of the New 52 period, the version of Batman featured in Batman: Arkham Knight was typically portrayed with advanced armor. Given this, it’s not surprising that among all possible comic book suits to include in the game, the design from New 52 aligns best with Rocksteady’s interpretation of Batman.

This version of Batman from the New 52 era, cherished by DC enthusiasts, retains all its signature features. It pitted against some of the most notorious and malevolent villains such as the Court of Owls and Darkseid. The creators skillfully emulated the robust physique and distinctive art style found in Greg Capullo’s work, featuring broad shoulders and a logo that stretches across his torso.

2 Noël Batman Suit

The Perfect Suit For The Holiday Season

First Appearance: Batman: Noël

In the game “Batman: Arkham Origins,” set on Christmas Eve, there’s no better fit than the “Batman: Noël” skin. This skin is inspired by Lee Bermejo’s artwork, featuring the emblem connected to the cape, a more durable Kevlar-like fabric, and a military-style utility belt.

Lee Bermejo’s Batman costume has gained significant recognition in comic books since the release of Batman: Noël in 2011. Not only was this suit showcased in the highly acclaimed prequel game, but fans adored it so much that Rocksteady reintroduced it in Batman: Arkham Knight, where its appearance was further improved with high-definition graphics.

1 First Appearance Batman Suit

The Batman Suit That Started All Batman Suits

First Appearance: Detective Comics #27

The impact of Detective Comics #27 on Batman and DC is immense; this landmark issue played a significant role in shaping them into what they are today. Rocksteady studios acknowledged this by incorporating the initial Batman costume, featuring the characteristic long pointed ears, purple gloves, symbol without ears, and shorter cape, in their game – Batman: Arkham Knight. This design, which has persisted over the years, continues to serve as an inspiration for modern Batman costumes like Batman: Caped Crusader.

In the game “Batman: Arkham Origins,” the suit made its debut, but in “Arkham Knight,” they significantly upgraded it, even paying attention to details like the fabric appearing as if Batman is wearing a tailored long-sleeve shirt. The original suit from the first appearance might not align with the technologically advanced style of “Arkham Knight,” yet it still holds significance as an iconic outfit for navigating Gotham City.

2024-11-07 21:08