Classic Batman & Robin Costumes for a High School Stage Play

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Those are really good; amazing reconciliations of the different takes on the characters that have come out over the years. No matter which take is "yours," it's represented in the final product.

Don C.

[darklord1967]

I bet they would give you a slot to perform this at New York Comiccon in the fall.

Or at least have your students running around the con floor in these outfits. (does NYCC have a costume contest?)

Hmmm... interesting idea. I hadn't thought of that! Wheels are turnin'...

Darklord,

Those are the most amazing custom costumes I've ever seen...just outstanding work. The only thing I would've liked even more is to see is the black on Batman a deep blue like in your original sketch. Never been a fan of the black and gray.
That is in no way a criticism of your work though, just a personal preference.

Thanks, good buddy! And I agree with you: My personal preference would have been to have the black costume items be dark blue instead. The trouble was that orchestrating the precice color matching between all the necessary garment items (between the various different manufacturers) would have been virtually impossible while still maintaining the quality I needed these costumes to have.

For example, assuming I had managed to find and purchase some of the 4-way stretch pleather material in dark blue to make the Batman's cape and shorts, I would have still needed cowl maker Shawn Reevez to color match the same blue when pouring the bat cowls (for both Batman and Batgirl). And THEN, I'd need to find that precise shade of blue in leather so that I could make the Batman's gauntlets. Finally, I'd have to find a way to dye the black Bat boots in blue (virtually impossible) to match everything else. I am aware of a leather coloring spray called Nu-life. But that comes in spray cans (with no way of mixing precise colors), and it is basically a paint that sits on the surface of the leather and cracks after a while.

Also, there is the comic book consideration: The Batman's costume parts were always intended to be BLACK, especially in the early days. The highlights in the garment were represented as blue, but then more and more, the blue dominated over the years. But BLACK was the original intention... kinda like the way black hair was rendered in the comics at the time... with blue highlights.

For of these reasons, (and because of money considerations), I decided it was best to go with The Batman wearing the (easily-matched) BLACK costume items. But my honest preference would have been the MIDNIGHT BLUE versions!

[rche]

I hope you have some of your design discussions as dialog in your play.

[darklord1967]

Actually, quite a bit of it DOES end up in the play. But I am being VERY careful about that. I don't want my own personal take on these characters to necessarily be mistaken for Bob Kane, Bill Finger or Jerry Robinson's... although my preference for the overall mythology is very similar to their original creation.

[LadyZod]

I want to see this.

I want to see this NOW.

You, darklord are a Bat-Tease.

[darklord1967]

Me?? A Tease?? Never!

[daffy213]

Tight work. Thank you for sharing

[Brue]

this is over the top for a high school performance! i am envious!

[darklord1967]

Brue, I consider you a consummate costuming MASTER!! So that compliment means an awful LOT coming from you!

[PNGwynne]

Stunning, beautifully detailed work. I am just gobsmacked--what a great thread. If only Hollywood cared as much as you do...

As a former (college) costume & make-up technician, I am very impressed.

And as someone who has done his own elaborate Penguin cosplay, I can't wait to see what you do with Cobblepot! Great Iceberg Lounge set as well.