Have you ever wondered about the evolution of Bruce Wayne’s alter ego? A lot has changed since those early days…
You may know that the most iconic version of Batman was not always shirtless. In the Silver Age, the caped crusader frequently donned a thin, blue bathrobe. While that may have been fine for a cosplayer or Halloween costume, it wasn’t very practical for fighting crime. So, over the years, Batman has gradually shed his pants as the situation necessitated. He now wears a minimal amount of clothing, leaving his chest and the rest of his body exposed. That isn’t to say that Batman doesn’t wear shirts, though…
There are several reasons why Batman wears clothes. First of all, it’s cold in the city. Batman himself is an efficient heat-generator, so much so that even his sweat is cool to the touch. He also needs to hide his identity from the general public, so putting a shirt on makes him less conspicuous. Finally, Batman’s butler, Alfred, makes his suit and tie a part of everyday life for the Caped Crusader. For example, Batman may ask Alfred to keep his suit pressed and ready, so he doesn’t have to worry about it getting wrinkled while he was fighting crime.
A Variety Of Chest Hair
There is quite the variety of chest hair for Batman. While it may seem like an obvious choice for the character to have a full head of hair, it wasn’t always like that. Even a cursory glance at any of the comics will reveal that Batman has been missing a full head of hair for quite some time. In fact, he has gone through several phases of his hair’s growth, going from scruffy to shaggy to balding to hairless to finally having the full head of hair you see today.
Batman’s hair is often a talking point among comic book fans. While it doesn’t offer much in the way of character development, it is a great way to show how much Bruce Wayne has changed over the years. It starts off as a thin, scraggly mustache in the Batman comics of the 30s and 40s. By the 1950s, it has developed into the thick, bushy full mustache you see in most comic book renditions of the character.
Why Does Alfred Wear A Tie?
Alfred is a butler. He lives with Bruce Wayne, so he usually finds himself around the same social circles as the Caped Crusader. Besides, Alfred is the one who helps Bruce Wayne with his alter ego, so it makes sense that he would adopt some of the same habits as his boss.
While Alfred does wear a tie, it’s very rare that you’ll see him without one. That is probably because he is either meeting with a client or a butler’s uniform simply doesn’t look the same without a tie. If it ever happened that Alfred wasn’t wearing a tie, you may have felt that something was slightly off, but it would be hard to put your finger on exactly what that might be.
Shoulder Pad Fashion
Back in the day, Batman was definitely not the kind of guy to use a scarf to cover his shoulder pads. While that may have been a fashion choice at the time, it wasn’t very practical anyway. Batman’s shoulder pads are thick and protective, so having a piece of cloth covering them is the equivalent of trying to cover up an electric blanket.
It was only around the time that Batman became more of an anime character that he started sporting a scarf to cover his shoulder pads. Back in the day, he would have been too cool for school with no shirt, no jacket, and no scarf. He may not have been the most fashionable guy around, but he sure was the coolest.
What About Those Boots?
Again, it’s not often that you see Batman without his usual outfit of sneakers and gloves, but it happens sometimes. When Batman was first created, it was specifically stated that he would wear a pair of black leather boots. Those were pretty much the only details given about his outfit at the time, which is probably why so many artists drew him wearing boots. That doesn’t mean that you need to have boots to be a decent Batman replica, though. You can just wear a pair of dress shoes and call it a day. It’s not like Batman is going to come down to your house and inspect your shoes before deciding to let you join his cause.
While it is not unusual for Batman to wear pants, it is not very common for him to wear sneakers. That is usually reserved for casual days or when he is working out. If you stop by any gym today, you are likely to see many individuals training next to a wall, using that wall to help them keep their balance as they work out. Without it, they would surely fall over… even the most agile among them.
Batman’s Overall Appearance Changes Over Time
Apart from his hair, Alfred, and maybe his boots, you can generally agree that Batman’s overall appearance changes over time. That is because the character evolves with the times. While some of those changes may be for the better, others may be for the worse. To cite but one example, it wasn’t uncommon for Batman to sport an Afro in the 1960s. It was a stylistic choice that grew out of the counterculture movement. Unfortunately, many people, even today, confuse anime for being a modern day adaptation of the Batman character. That is simply not true. The two have almost nothing in common. So, if you want to dress up like Batman, it is important to understand the differences between the real and animated characters.