Bat out of Hell
Deadline for Batman: Dynamic Do-Over is February 4th. I was struck by inspiration at the last minute, as per usual.
Part of what always rubs me the wrong about Batman in the comics is that he's supposed to be scary. That's the whole point of being a bat in the first place. He can be a detective and a father and a dark knight, but over all of that? He has to inspire nightmares to be effective.
So... Why is he in grey and blue (and yellow) tights? Why can we see his mouth? Why does he look human?
So here's my Batman. His cowl is replaced with a full helmet, covering his face. No sympathetic frowns or smiles, no nose to break or eye to bruise and therein prove the beast can bleed. The faceplate becomes a one-way mirror, a translucent screen, projecting flickering, blinking eyes and teeth dimly in the dark. Might contain a built-in voice changer, making every work out of his mouth and eerie, disjointed digital hiss/growl.
His cape and main body armor also get a makeover. Batman's dissolved his exclusive contract with the bats for this, sorry guys. Now it's the whole animal kingdom: butterflies that copy their venomous cousins, cats and caterpillars that look like vipers, etc. With his cape wrapped around him, this Batman looks like some patient, glaring owl. But the open cape is the real show. His whole front is now a monster with too many teeth and not enough face, fangs parted just enough to make the shape of a jagged red bat. The bat-mouth design is repeated on the back to confuse and disorient attackers in his blind spot - Think men wearing masks on the backs of their heads to scare tigers.
And you can't see this part, but there's fewer batarangs (ugh) in that belt, and more fear gas grenades. My Batman wouldn't hesitate to steal that idea.
Because honestly? Imagine this bastard running at you, fast, screeching, while you're on a bad trip.
Anyhow. Open challenge to everyone: If you're not going to participate in the Crisis of Infinite Batmans, that is fine. But do a redesign anyway. No specific character, no specific theme, no prizes, just go to town an a superhero that needs it. And then submit it to P:R. Maybe link it in the comments to this thing too. No deadline but the sooner the awesomer. You guys can do this for sure. Or are ya scared? :P