Here’s how the iconic Batman logo has evolved over the course of the character’s big screen adventures. 2019 marked the 30th anniversary of Tim Burton’s Batman, which was a watershed moment for comic book movies. The dominant image of the character in pop culture up to that point came from the 1960s Adam West Batman TV series, but Burton’s darker take would change that perception. The filmmaker also helmed Batman Returns, though the darkness and overall weirdness of this 1992 sequel led to Burton being removed from the franchise, as the studio wanted something more family friendly.
The Batman series has evolved in strange ways in the years since, from the neon-drenched, Bat-nipple era of director Joel Schumacher to the grounded reinvention of Christoper Nolan’s Batman Begins. Following Ben Affleck’s departure from the DCEU, Robert Pattinson has been cast as the new Bruce Wayne/Batman for Matt Reeves forthcoming The Batman, which is set for release in 2021.
Batman’s logo and costumes have evolved in interesting ways since Burton’s 1989 movie, so let’s look at how each movie handled his famous symbol.
Batman (1989) / Batman Returns (1992)
Part of the promotional campaign for the original Batman was just the character’s bat logo, with no other pictures or information besides the release date. This proved to be a savvy marketing move, though this symbol is slightly different from the one seen in the movie itself. Michael Keaton’s first logo is surrounded in a yellow oval and has two additional points on the bat tail. The logo found in Batman Returns is much closer to the one seen on the posters and removed the extra points on the tail for a cleaner design.
Batman Forever (1995)
Joel Schumacher began his era with Batman Forever, which cast Val Kilmer as the Caped Crusader. In addition to the infamous addition of nipples on the costume, the actual Batsuit isn’t drastically different, including a slightly altered take on the Batman logo. A much larger take on this symbol is integrated into his Sonar Batsuit in the finale.
Batman & Robin (1997)
George Clooney’s Batsuit in Batman & Robin is metallic gray with the bat logo still surrounded by an oval, but lacking any color. The ice armor he dons in the final battle against Mr. Freeze has a more traditional Batman logo design in a silver color.
The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005 - 2012)
Following the backlash that greeted Batman & Robin, Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins was a total reinvention of the series. Christian Bale’s Batman logo was a much simpler, sharper take, and is integrated into the character’s new batsuit. This symbol returned with minor tweaks for The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, but it appeared much smaller on the batsuit.
Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016) / Justice League (2017)
Ben Affleck inherited the cowl for Batman V Superman, which offered a bulkier take on the Batman logo. This reinvention goes along with the overall approach to Batman’s portrayal, who is more brutish and powerful than previous versions. This logo remained largely unchanged for its reappearance in Justice League.
Next: How The Wonder Woman Logo Changed Over Time
