DC Comics is set to relaunch its flagship Batman series in September 2025, introducing a fresh look for Bruce Wayne, designed by artist Jorge Jiménez. The new Batsuit revives the classic blue cape and cowl, spotlighting a timeless aesthetic. After nearly nine decades, DC continues to refine the Dark Knight’s legendary attire.
How does this new design stack up against Batman’s iconic costumes? We’ve curated a list of the top 10 Batsuits from the comics, spanning the original Golden Age look to contemporary takes like Batman Incorporated and Batman Rebirth. Explore them below.
For fans of Batman films, don’t miss our ranked list of cinematic Batsuits.
The 10 Most Iconic Batman Costumes in Comics
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10. ‘90s Batman
The 1989 Batman film debuted an all-black Batsuit, a defining look for the Dark Knight across media. While DC didn’t fully adapt this suit into comics (except in Batman ‘89 tie-ins), the 1995 “Troika” storyline introduced a movie-inspired design. This suit paired an all-black body with a traditional blue cape and cowl, adding bold elements like spiked boots, later softened for a sleeker, more menacing look that defined Batman through the ‘90s.
9. Batman Incorporated
Following Bruce Wayne’s return after his apparent death in 2008’s Final Crisis, DC launched Batman Incorporated with a new suit by David Finch. This design reinstated the classic yellow oval around the Bat emblem and eliminated the black trunks, offering a functional, armored aesthetic. It balanced simplicity and utility, distinguishing Bruce’s Batman from Dick Grayson’s, though the armored codpiece slightly marred its sleek appeal.
8. Absolute Batman
The latest addition, Absolute Batman’s Batsuit delivers a commanding presence. Set in a rebooted DCU where Bruce Wayne lacks his usual wealth, this suit transforms every element into a weapon, from razor-sharp ear daggers to a detachable Bat emblem doubling as a battle axe. The cape, reimagined as flexible tendrils, enhances its imposing design, amplified by the character’s sheer physicality, as writer Scott Snyder humorously dubbed him “the Batman who lifts.”
7. Flashpoint Batman
In the Flashpoint alternate timeline, Thomas Wayne becomes Batman after his son Bruce’s death. His Batsuit swaps yellow accents for bold red, with a crimson Bat emblem, utility belt, and leg holsters, paired with dramatic shoulder spikes. This darker, weapon-wielding Batman, complete with guns and a sword, creates a striking and unique alternate-universe design.
6. Lee Bermejo’s Armored Batman
Artist Lee Bermejo’s take on Batman, seen in works like the Joker graphic novel and Batman: Damned, reimagines the Batsuit as rugged armor. Far from spandex, this design prioritizes function with a gritty, Gothic edge, influencing Robert Pattinson’s look in 2022’s The Batman. Bermejo’s Batman is a haunting, battle-worn figure, steeped in a dark, atmospheric aesthetic.
5. Gotham by Gaslight Batman
In the steampunk Victorian world of Gotham by Gaslight, Batman’s suit swaps spandex for stitched leather and a billowing cloak, perfectly suiting its 19th-century setting. Illustrated by Mike Mignola, this shadowy, granite-like Batman remains iconic, with its legacy continuing in stories like Gotham by Gaslight: The Kryptonian Age.
4. Golden Age Batman
The original Batsuit, designed by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, laid the foundation for nearly 90 years of iconic designs. Its curved cowl ears, purple gloves, and bat-wing-like cape deliver a menacing yet colorful look, still celebrated when modern artists revisit this classic style.
3. Batman Rebirth
Greg Capullo’s Batman Rebirth suit, debuted during DC’s Rebirth relaunch, refined the New 52 design with a tactical yet streamlined look. Featuring a yellow-outlined Bat emblem and a purple-lined cape echoing the Golden Age, it balanced modern utility with classic flair, making it a standout among recent redesigns.
2. Bronze Age Batman
The late ‘60s and ‘70s saw Batman’s comics shift to darker, detective-driven stories, with artists Neal Adams, Jim Aparo, and José Luis García-López defining a leaner, ninja-like Batman. Their blue cape and cowl design, with a yellow-oval Bat emblem, became a cultural staple, gracing merchandise and setting a benchmark for the character’s look.
1. Batman: Hush
Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee’s Hush storyline redefined Batman’s modern era with a sleek, elegant Batsuit. Replacing the yellow oval with a stark black emblem, Jim Lee’s dynamic design showcased a powerful, versatile Dark Knight. Its influence persists, with DC reverting to this look after experimenting with armored suits, proving its enduring appeal.
How the New Batsuit Stacks Up
Jorge Jiménez, alongside writer Matt Fraction, will unveil a new Batsuit in DC’s relaunched Batman series in September 2025. Building on the Hush design, it reintroduces the blue cape and cowl with heavy shading, evoking Bruce Timm’s Batman: The Animated Series. The larger, angular blue Bat emblem adds a bold twist. Whether this design will rival Batman’s greatest suits remains to be seen.
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