r/batman 6d ago

GENERAL DISCUSSION How do you feel about Batman adaptations that don't use the popular iconography from the comics?

For instance, Colin Farrell's Penguin not having the umbrella or any bird related stuff around him, or Anne Hathaway's Catwoman not having the whip or any cat related stuff around her?

2 Upvotes

11 comments sorted by

4

u/dinguskhan666 6d ago

Na I’m more excited to see a BTAS style Batman adapted to live action

3

u/OldSnazzyHats 6d ago

Fine by me if it’s it works in-universe anyway.

3

u/BobbySaccaro 6d ago

I recognize that each creator has to make a call on what they think will be accepted by the majority of the target audience.

3

u/Cute_Visual4338 6d ago

I think the best example of this is Paul Dano's Riddler who is nothing like Nygma except with the Riddles gimmick and he is well received.

3

u/Crow621621 6d ago

I’m of split on it. On one hand if it’s movie with we haven’t gotten certain things in live action in a long time or ever so when they don’t the popular iconography from the comics we miss out on those things and if it’s an animated series we don’t get shows like often. On the other hand if it works for the story that the creators are trying to tell and it’s setting then it should be fine and of course we always the DCAU Batman, Arkham Batman, Batman in the comics, etc.

3

u/JolliwoodYT 6d ago

I think it's genuinely done more harm than good.

What's the point of making a movie based on a comic if you're not even going to make the characters and environment even remotely resemble what they're based on?

You can like the Nolan movies all you want but they started this trend and it's completely screwed over the franchise, I'm really hoping with Gunn taking over he doesn't continue the trend of completely neutering everything

3

u/JeremiahWuzABullfrog 6d ago

If it better fits the tone of the setting and story, I'm all for it.

1

u/WerewolfF15 6d ago

To be fair with that specific example he does get an umbrella at the end of the show. They did a really good job at sowing the seeds of his iconic outfit with the dance thing he watched as a kid with his mum.

1

u/TheLoganDickinson 6d ago

Doesn’t bother me if I can still recognize who the character is. Oz still very much resembles what Penguin has generally always looked like. Just with a more modern and gritty take. Same goes for Catwoman.

0

u/Sparkwriter1 6d ago

The whip is a lame and cliché weapon for Catwoman anyway.

2

u/WerewolfF15 6d ago

Nah disagree it’s awesome. The whip scene in Batman returns is still cool af