It might be Superman’s time to shine, but it won’t be too long until Batman and theBat-Familyget their chance to appear in the DCU. Things are slowly, but surely, developing for James Gunn and Peter Safran’s universe and while neitherBatman nor his familyhave been cast yet, it’s only a matter of time before they debut.
The real question is,when the Bat-Familydoesappear, what should they look like? Gunn and Safran have decades of costumes to choose from and there are plenty of great looks for Batman and his family. But some looks are just so neat and movie-ready, it only makes good sense for them to be brought into live-action. Just look atNightwing’s classic outfit andits slick finger stripes or Red Hood’s balanced look from the New 52. There are a lot of choices available, but when the Bat-Family finally appears, the following designs are absolutely how the team should look.
10Alfred Pennyworth -Batman: Earth OneDesign
First Seen In:Batman: Earth One
While there’s something classy about the butler look, Alfred Pennyworth is more than just a faithful servant to the Bat-Family. He’s got a lot of technical and strategic skills, and he deserves a look that shows off how versatile Alfred really is. Both the DCEU and The Batman opted to give Alfred more modern, but still professional duds, largely a button-up shirt, slacks and maybe a vest. Taking a cue from a book likeBatman: Earth Oneseems to be the right play because,as long as Alfred is still the Bat-Family’s supportive patriarch, he doesn’t need a tuxedo.
9Duke Thomas - Signal Costume
First Seen In:Batman and The Signal #1
Duke Thomas doesn’t have as many appearances outside the comics as other Bat-Family members, so when he finally does make the leap off the comic page, he needs to stand out. What better way for him to do so than in his brightly-colored Signal costume? It’s a rarity in movies to see Gotham when the sun is out, and it would make for a great opportunity to introduce the city’s daylight protector. Hopefully,if Duke does get a chance to shine in the new DCU, he’ll also get to show off his bright yellow Signal costume as well.
8Stephanie Brown - Spoiler Outfit
First Seen In:Detective Comics#648
While Stephanie Brown has been one of the few people in the DCU to be Batgirl, her first appearance in the DCU should have her as her fan-favorite identity as the Spoiler. It’s a unique look that stands out in the Bat-Family, from her purple bodysuit to her black mask with incredibly expressive (almost Spider-Man-like) eyes. Sure the DCU could split the difference and take from her more modern costume that blends her Batgirl and Spoiler sides. Butfor Stephanie’s debut appearance, she deserves to show off her incredibly unique look.
7Tim Drake - Red Robin Costume
First Seen In:Red Robin #1
For many, Tim Drake is the definitive Robin, but unfortunately, Gunn has plans for Damian Wayne to be Robin in the upcomingThe Brave and The Boldmovie. So where does that leave Tim? Why not give him his Red Robin outfit? It’s a natural evolution from his role as the Boy Wonder and an identity fans were on board with before he took back his old moniker in the comics.As long as DCU doesn’t draw from the maligned New 52 version of Red Robin, this is a fine look for Timin the films.
6Barbara Gordon - Oracle Design
Granted, Barbara Gordon has been the de facto Batgirl for a long time, but given that Gunn and Safran are going for a more advanced DCU with an established Bat-Family, it makes sense to have Barbara in her Oracle role rather than Batgirl. Unfortunately, that doesn’t leave her with too many good costume options, as she was mostly plainclothes when acting as the DC Universe’s top information broker. But with a less-fantastical approach to her design,Oracle can stick out that much more in the Bat-Family and the DCU.
5Red Hood - New 52 Look
First Seen In:Red Hood and the Outlaws #1
Red Hood is a fan-favorite character, so it makes sense to go with the design that is the most well-known, namely the one that features his classic red helmet. But what’s probably for the best is if Jason appears wearing the outfit that was introduced at the beginning of the New 52. It’s not that different from his initial costume as it still has the jacket and black bodysuit. But it includes a red bat symbol on the chest. That’s an important distinction because it re-affirms that,no matter what, Red Hood is still part of the Bat-Family.
4Cassandra Cain - Traditional Batgirl Look
First Seen In:Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #120
There has to be a Batgirl in the Bat-Family, and there’s no better option than Cassandra Cain. The public might not know her as well as Barbara, but they’ll fall hard for her, especially if she appears in a costume that heavily borrows from her classic Batgirl look. A black bodysuit with a yellow belt and a yellow outlined bat symbol is a sleek look, and her cowl, with its stitched-up mouthpiece, is incredibly iconic. IfCassandra lucks into being the DCU’s Batgirl, Gunn and Safran can’t fail using her most well-known costume.
3Nightwing - The Classic Design
First Seen In:Nightwing #2
Let’s be real: When Nightwing comes to the DCU, he’s going to be wearing a variation of his classic blue and black outfit, not his hokey, yet beloved, ‘Discowing’ costume. But there’s one detail that should absolutely be included, and it’s one that gets overlooked in almost every other adaptation he’s in. Dick’s blue chest symbol originally went up to his shoulders and all the way down to cover his middle and ring fingers.That kind of attention to detail in a DCU Nightwing costume is going to really be appreciated by fans who are crazy about Dick.
2Damian Wayne - Infinite Frontier Outfit
First Seen In:Robin #1
With Damian Wayne confirmed to be the DCU’s Robin, it’s only a matter of picking out the right outfit for him. While he initially wore the more familiar red, green, and yellow colors, the truth is, those don’t really make sense for a fighter like Damian. He takes way too much after his father and a League of Assassins-trained fighter like Damian isn’t going to wear clothes that make him a target. He’d definitely do better wearing his gray, red, and black outfit from the Infinite Frontier-era,presenting Damian as a Robin who is more battle-ready than previous Boys Wonder.
1Batman - Rebirth Costume
First Seen In:DC Universe: Rebirth #1
There are so many Batman costumes, it’s hard to pick just one for his next big-screen debut. But if there’s one that was universally loved, it was Bruce’s Rebirth costume. It was sleek, it was intimidating, and it even popped a little bit thanks to the accents of yellow in the right place (especially around the bat symbol). While the DCU is probably going to come up with its own unique take on Batman’s costume,it would score a lot of points with fans of the Bat-Family by taking some influence from this beloved outfit.
