Batman Is a DC Icon, But We Were Robbed of His Best Look - Fangs and All
Warning! Contains Spoilers For Absolute Batman #4!
With a character as popular as Batman, it's not unusual for them to have different looks over the years. Batman has had many different Batsuits, each slightly different from the last. However, his latest look is one that most readers wouldn't have minded spending just a little bit longer with.
Absolute Batman #4 – written by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta, with art by Gabriel Hernández Walta – focuses on the very first time that this version of Batman went out and tried to fight crime. He still hasn't figured out exactly how he wants to do it, so he is depicted simply lashing out with violence and anger, all in an attempt to build a reputation of fear.
This resulted in Batman doing some pretty ridiculous things – including wearing red contact lenses to give his eyes a demonic appearance, as well as plastic vampire fangs that he had filled with paralytic.
Absolute Batman's "Bat-Fangs" Added Something Unique To The Character, But DC Got Rid Of Them Too Quickly
Absolute Batman #4 by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles.
Of course, there have been many DC Comics storylines depicting early-career Batman, but Absolute Batman is, by design, intended to be a major upheaval in the Caped Crusader's familiar mythos. So, his first foray into fighting crime on the streets of Gotham had to be visceral, evocative, and memorable – all things Bruce's "Bat-Fangs" and his other costume flourishes achieved. In addition to his fangs, and red contacts, Absolute Batman also has blades across his forearms. While it can rightfully be called over-the-top, it is no surprise that fans wanted more of this Dark Knight than they got.
Batman's costume traditionally represents an era in the character's history – but they don't always reflect Bruce Wayne's psychological state at the time, which the Batsuit in Absolute Batman #4 does.
This outfit could have been an iconic look, not because of how it looks, but because of what it represented. Batman's costume traditionally represents an era in the character's history – but they don't always reflect Bruce Wayne's psychological state at the time, which the Batsuit in Absolute Batman #4 does. This is what makes it stick out in fans' minds, even moreso than the hyperbolic qualities of its capacity for violence. Which is why it is disappointing that it ultimately played such a small role in the ongoing story.
Batman's "Fang Era" Could Have Been An Important Milestone For DC's New Continuity
One That Showed Just How Monstrous He Could Be
Bruce's first Absolute Batsuit was made to symbolize the rage that Batman was feeling. He wasn't looking to make the city of Gotham better, he was mostly just looking for criminals to attack to take his anger out on. That's why the suit is so weaponized, with teeth, blades, and even a gun. While the suit didn't need to stick around forever, having it for more than a few panels would have been nice, as it perfectly shows that Batman nearly became more monster than man in his quest for vengeance.
Costumes are usually used to signify the different things that heroes are going through. Spider-Man is possibly the best example of this, but DC characters haven't done it nearly as much. While Superman has his own black suit era, Batman doesn't really have anything comparable. This could have been that moment. As over-the-top as this outfit is, it could have been expanded on just a bit more, showing how Batman struggled with his hatred of criminals and was trying to present himself as a monster. That's a costume that fans deserve to see more of.
Absolute Batman #4 is available now from DC Comics!
- Alias
- Bruce Wayne
- FIRST APP
- Detective Comics #27 (1939)
- Created By
- Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- Franchise
- D.C.
- Race
- Human
- First Appearance
- Detective Comics
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.
