DC’s The Batman featured the Caped Crusader using a wingsuit, a device that makes much more sense than the wings used in The Dark Knight films. The intense offshoot of the current DCEU canon featured Robert Pattinson as Batman and leaned into mystery and realism, the latter also being a prime hallmark of the successfully gritty Dark Knight series starring Christian Bale. The new The Batman wingsuit was a key part of taking the character in a satisfyingly innovative direction that may be critical to the future success of the DCEU.

The vigilante Batman is an icon of the superhero genre, not least because of his signature gadgetry. Grappling hooks, bat-shaped throwing stars, and convenient inventions galore adorn the hero’s utility belt, but most important are the devices Batman uses to glide or fly, the closest ability he has to an actual superpower As portrayed in the comics, Batman typically has a cape that can be extended as wings or a parachute, or that can otherwise be adapted into gliding apparatus. Despite Batman’s extreme wealth, however, a device like this would be impractical and unrealistic outside the confines of the magic of cinema, as well as being potentially dangerous to use.

Related: Every Parallel Between The Batman & The Dark Knight

The Batman addressed the implausibility of Batman’s flying ability, given its version of the Batman wingsuit. Wingsuits are real devices: jumpsuits with fabric stretched between the arms and legs. The increased surface area provided by the fabric allows individuals to generate more lift and glide through the air, an ability similar to that of flying squirrels. Wingsuits are specifically designed for use in BASE jumping or safely jumping from high places like buildings – a simple, practical device for Batman’s purposes. Pattinson’s Batman’s use of a wingsuit made perfect sense, or at least much more than Bale’s flying contraption.

The Batman's Wingsuit Is More Realistic

The Dark Knight Christain Bale gliding with his cape.

In The Dark Knight, Bale’s Batman uses a cape with electrostatic properties, capable of rigidifying into a functional glider when the hero would send an electric charge through the fabric. Unfortunately, The Dark Knight’s device is more science fiction than fact. Though it could be possible in the future, the stiffening fabric is merely a practical aesthetic effect. While, technically, the type of glider formed by Batman’s cape would be able to fly, Batman would not be able to realistically slow his descent or control his speed overall, which would ultimately prove impractical and dangerous for the hero. Overall, the winged cape is far inferior to the Batman wingsuit in terms of realism and practical application.

However, credit must be given to the faithfulness of The Dark Knight’s cape to its source material. Bale’s built-in glider wings were unmistakably Batman. Pattinson’s wingsuit, while more realistic, is less emblematic of the hero’s classic look. Judging from this aesthetically innovative and determinedly realistic choice by the filmmakers, The Batman's costumes are different than those in any previous Batman movie.

How The Batman Wingsuit Shows Pattinson Is Different To Bale's Dark Knight

Robert Pattinson in The Batman and Christian Bale in The Dark Knight

One of the key differences between The Batman and The Dark Knight trilogy is the chronological point at which each movie intersects with Bruce Wayne's journey as Batman, and the wingsuit handily represents this. Robert Pattinson's Batman is relatively new to the superhero game, so he doesn't yet have Lucius Fox making fancy, tricked-out Batgear to assist him in his crime-fighting (and flying) endeavors. The Batman squirrel suit looks eerily similar to just that – a flying squirrel – but it works in the context of the film. Since Pattinson's Batman has only been a vigilante for two years, he's running on anger, impulse, and adaptability, which grounds the movie substantially. Adding in fancy gadgets like Bale's superpowered cape would've detracted from the tone that Matt Reeves was trying to create. Pattinson's The Batman wingsuit is one of the many factors that underpin The Batman's differences in comparison to earlier iterations — especially the version presented in The Dark Knight trilogy.

Next: Why The Batman’s Plot Is So Familiar To Dark Knight Fans

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