r/DC_Cinematic • u/Expert_Challenge6399 • 21d ago
DISCUSSION Superman only had trunks because David had a good explanation for why they’d work. What would Bruce’s be
The best explanation I have. He isn’t technically wearing trunks. It’s just a black/Blue undershirt showing from where his armor stops at his pelvis. But my favorite answer. They make him less scary to kids without removing his intimidating appearance to criminals
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u/Master_Prune_1430 21d ago
They open up as a parachute so he can survive a big fall
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u/Expert_Challenge6399 21d ago
He did use them to protect his face when he fell from space
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u/Scary_Equipment_1180 21d ago
Not gonna lie id perfer his cowl have a visor that would deploy in those sorta situations.
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u/Expert_Challenge6399 21d ago
Me too. But Incase it malfunctioned. He’s Batman of course he’d design trunks for that very specific situation
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u/twell-noee 20d ago
The only thing I kept thinking about is how bad it probably smelled. Just thinking about how long he was in the suit in when that happened, pretty sure those Bat jewels weren't smelling like lavender 🤢
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u/slitherfang98 21d ago
protection for his...delicates.
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u/wilyquixote 21d ago
Extra Kevlar. You know where the Joker is aiming that pistol.
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u/No_Detective_But_304 21d ago
The underwear is bulletproof. It protects the Wayne family bat-jewels.
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u/Milk_Man21 18d ago
Honestly yeah that's a good enough answer. Like, it's designed for immobilizing amounts of pain if you get hit there.
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u/coreytiger 20d ago
Canonically, this has been said to be the reason. all the blue trim-gloves, boots, trunks, mask- are insulated against electricity more so than the rest of the outfit.
Artistically, the suit just looks sharper WITH them
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u/KonradDumo 21d ago
My theory is that towards the start of his career, his head was often shrouded in shadow when standing still and when he was in motion, it looked like the opening in his cowl was a giant bat mouth. The trunks are an intimidation tactic to trick criminals into thinking he's a giant, grey skinned, mostly naked batperson.
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u/Bogotazo 21d ago
This is a cool idea. So the trunks were, like, the nose?
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u/bulldoggo-17 21d ago
I think he's saying the batperson is wearing nothing but his underwear and all of the grey is just skin. Seems like that would be pretty intimidating to be confronted by in a dark alley.
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u/No_Signal954 21d ago
Thinking about it and that is actually terrifying and makes me understand why, beyond physical force and hiding, people are so scared of the Batman.
His suit doesn't seem intimidating at first glance, but if you only get quick glimpses of him, your panicked mind sees what it finds scariest and in the dark your mind fills in the blanks.
So yeah he'd probably looks like a giant literal bat person.
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u/Bogotazo 21d ago
Oh fuck. That's scary.
So like...this? https://i.ibb.co/7J16c28Y/underwearbat.png
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u/ran_melolo 21d ago
The giant bat mouth thing is awesome, i've never seen that interpretation before. Is there any art of this?
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u/MrxJacobs 21d ago edited 21d ago
It’s always more intimidating to fight people who are naked or are wearing underwear.
So having underwear on the outside shows you are a crazy person and not to be messed with.
Which is 100% true for Batman
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u/WarmAd667 21d ago
If Batman wants criminals to think he's really crazy, he should start wearing his underwear on his head.
"Nah, not tonight, I'm good. We could run into Batman. Homie wears his underwear on his head."
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u/JayJ4y95 21d ago
It just makes the suit look cooler. I don’t need a practical explanation. The idea is that Bruce wants to be a superhero after seeing his parents die and superheroes wear trunks on the top for color blocking
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u/hailwyatt 21d ago
This. I dont need anything besides "it looks better than without".
We dont explain the freaking capes or the go-go boots or the symbols on the chest. Batman is still gonna be wearing a cowl with little pointy ears on it - trunks are NOT the silliest part of the look.
And thats okay. Its only silly if you write it silly. If no one in-universe ever says "why do they wear their underwear on the outside?" then the audience won't either.
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u/suss2it 21d ago
Did those two Batman movies in the 90s address the nipples on the suit? Because if not the audience still certainly took note.
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u/Economy-Tourist-4862 21d ago
“Can you milk me, Jinxsie…..er, Joker? I have nipples.”
Christian Bale doing a Robert DeNiro voice.
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u/ThatOneAnnoyingBuzz 21d ago
Well, for the symbol on the chest specifically, Batman's is explained. It's to attract criminals gunfire by giving them a clear target, the symbol area is more reinforced than the rest of his suit. That way they don't just aim for the clinks in the armor.
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u/Cakers44 21d ago
Yeah as much as I like how they explained the trunks for superman, I don’t like that it needs to be “justified” for the trunks to show up. They just look good. Like people talk about Snyder apparently wanting to have the trunks and yeah every edit of that suit with trunks just looks better. Who cares if it’s a little silly?
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u/Ill-Philosopher-7625 21d ago
But Gunn clearly disagrees since he almost didn’t put the trunks on Superman. So I think it’s worth asking, what’s the reasoning that would convince James Gunn to put the trunks on Batman?
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u/GiveYourBaIIsATug 21d ago
Batman’s favorite hero is Superman
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u/Ill-Philosopher-7625 21d ago
But Batman’s definitely been around a lot longer than Superman (as seen in Dr. Phosphorus’ backstory) so, what, he just suddenly changed his look to match Superman? I feel like Clark would react the same way he did to Luthor: “Bruce, your obsession with me is creepy.”
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u/BaconKnight 21d ago
Because whether or not the answer applies in universe, it applies to OUR universe, meaning you don’t want kids irl to view Batman as scary. “The Batman didnt compromise!” You’re right, and it found success within its lane. But The Batman has the same problem the MCU has (expressed in different ways): little to no foothold with Gen Alpha/young kids. And it’s not a problem now but it will be in 5-10 years when 30-40 year olds become bored of it like they have with Fantastic 4 and skip it, meanwhile, no young fans to replace the old ones and you get where we are now.
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u/Ill-Philosopher-7625 21d ago
Is there any evidence that young kids are scared of Batman? And that if they are, it would be fixed by giving him trunks? That sounds made up to me. It sounds like fans who want DCU Batman to be exactly like the comics working backwards to try to justify the inclusion of a silly element from the comics.
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u/BaconKnight 21d ago
I would cite the complete lack of adoption of the DCEU's Batfleck by the younger generation as an example. The biggest fans (of the DCEU in general) are Gen X and older Millennials and that fandom didn't develop when they were 5, it developed when they were 15-25.
Or just the complete lack of any social inertia when it comes to comic book movies with children (outside of Superman that just released, because they finally made a family friendly film suitable for all ages and not just teenage edgelords.
I'm not saying we need Adam West or even Schumacher Batman. And I'm looking forward to Reeve's Batman sequel. But us adult, we gotta grow up and realize these characters ARE FOR KIDS. That's not an opinion, that's a harsh fact that our generation (as a Millennial) need to face. And that's okay, that should be okay, that should be how it is. We gotta stop being so selfish with our toys. We're still totally invited along for the ride, but it's not our ride anymore.
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u/Ill-Philosopher-7625 21d ago
I think you’re extrapolating too much. I’m a millennial, and I was a fan of the DCEU, but my fandom absolutely developed when I was a 5-year-old watching BTAS. Maybe that wasn’t your experience, but I don’t see why we should assume your experience is more typical.
I definitely think Batman would be more popular with children today if DC had kept making shows like BTAS.
But none of that says that children are scared of Batman or that trunks would make him less scary. That part is just speculation.
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u/MeatCatRazzmatazz 21d ago
Phosphorus's backstory isn't a clear timeline though. We don't know how long had elapsed between Batman beating him and the beginning of Creature Commandos. And as far as I'm aware, we don't have an idea of how many years it is between Creature Commandos and Superman. Or Superman and Peacemaker S2.
I don't think there's a specific, year-by-year timeline for the DCU just yet.
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u/Ill-Philosopher-7625 21d ago
There aren't many specifics, which would make it easier to retcon, but Phosphorus saying his origin happened 15 years ago definitely makes it seem like his entire flashback, including the Batman part, happened 15 years ago. It's certainly possible to interpret it differently but I think that's a stretch.
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u/DienekesMinotaur 21d ago
I mean if we're going with a Batman and Damian story and it's set anywhere close to when Superman happens, he'd have to have been active for longer than Clark, because he needs to be active long enough not only to train multiple Robins, but for Talia to do her assault and have had Damian like 12 years prior.
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u/ASZapata 21d ago
When did Bruce ever want to be a “superhero”? He becomes a superhero later into his career, it was never his intention at the outset.
And, uh… cooler is subjective.
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u/EntertainerKnown2054 21d ago
I don't see how it makes the suit look cooler at least on live action. It just looks silly and outdated. The past few Batman's had the right idea about his suit being armor rather than just a costume
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u/PM_ME_MERMAID_PICS 21d ago
The best explanation is no explanation at all. Not every single detail needs to be explained to the audience. David's explanation was a meta thing anyways, no one actually mentions it in the movie.
I think the worst mindset you can have when making superhero movies is thinking that you have to justify every detail. Superheroes are an inherently goofy concept, and Batman isn't an exception to that. We can talk all day about how the trunks don't serve a practical purpose, but neither do the pointy ears or the bat symbol on his chest. Just let superheroes be superheroes, man.
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u/DerelictInfinity 21d ago
Honestly, yeah, I’m perfectly fine with not having an explanation for the trunks lol
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u/ultimategamerguy69 21d ago
Absolute Batman very much provided a use for those horns, thank you very much. Now, do I see the mainline Batman doing that? No, but we can dream... I can think of a clown or 2 who deserves it
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u/chrisd848 Do You Bleed? 20d ago
The Batman actually did attempt to find a practical reason for the bat symbol on his chest ironically lol but I do agree with you
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u/THE_REAL_SHABLAM 21d ago
It’s a harness kinda thing he wears that his belt is connected to..?
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u/Expert_Challenge6399 21d ago
He has to wear them so his belt holds something up
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u/davidlicious 21d ago
So if it’s not to intimidate children but to still frighten criminals? Then what about criminals who are children who are stealing your tires? What do you then?
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u/Prometheist7 21d ago
We don’t need an explanation. It’s time that superhero content stops feeling apologetic for being what it is. There’s no need for a justification, it just is what it is. If people are truly desperate for some reasoning, you could just say that his outfit/trunks over the tight leotard was inspired by performers costumes in the play Bruce was watching with his parents the night of their murder.
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u/Scary_Equipment_1180 21d ago edited 21d ago
The whole "he set out to scare criminals not kids" argument is so dumb to me for this one reason. The kid was scared because batman was shrouded in shadows with glowing white eyes and devil horns. Slapping on undwear isn't gonna change why that kid was scared to begin with. The best thing batman can do to appeal to kids is carry lollipops in his utility belt for them.
"He looks scary, but hes a nice monster, not a mean one!"
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u/Expert_Challenge6399 21d ago
Even in daylight. Kids are scared of the Easter bunny and mall Santa’s. But I do like the lollipop
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u/zackphoenix123 21d ago edited 21d ago
If a kid isn't afraid of Batman, I'd be worried for their sanity. They seem like the type of person who'd walk to a stranger offering them ice cream in their white van.
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u/bulldoggo-17 21d ago
Being a weird loner who creeps around at night and hands out candy to kids is just going to get him on a list. Or elected to public office...
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u/Kiki_And_Horst 21d ago
The best reason is because the grey suit looks stupid without them.
I don't think we need to search for a rationalization why superheroes dress the way they do, because nobody really wears capes anymore either (although at least Batman can use his to glide), or has decorative talons on the gloves, or wears a cowl, etc. If it really needs a reason, let's say it's a codpiece to avoid getting hit in the balls.
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u/badfortheenvironment 21d ago
I'd love if it was just a stylistic norm within this particular universe.
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u/AUSpartan37 21d ago
I'm pro superman trunks but anti batman trunks. Not saying they couldn't make it work but I would prefer them not do the trunks.
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u/KaiKai_12 21d ago
He starts out with no trunks to be serious and intimidating then lightens up after spending time with Superman. He goes from serious and fear mongering vigilante to a more hopeful and light hearted superhero who takes himself less seriously.
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u/No-Transportation482 21d ago
Competitive strongmen used to wear them and batman and superman were made during the era when those strong men were popular so there look is based on them
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u/NightFire435 21d ago
He wants to instill fear in the criminal element. Wouldn't you be afraid if a muscle-bound tank of a man was chasing you in his underwear?
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u/Because_Im_BATMAN00 21d ago
The same one Batman doesn’t want to scare kids only criminal and also superhero costumes in general are based on circus and pro wrestling which has its roots in circus also along with strong men.
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u/Legal-Visual8178 21d ago
“Let’s just say I set out to scare criminals, not children.”
- Batman, Justice League: New Frontier
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u/socialmedia031975 21d ago
I will die on the hill, that there is Superhero Batman and Detective Batman.
Superhero Batman has Robin and the Batfam, wears blue, gray and gold, has amazing gadgets, acrobatic skills, and martial arts and has a plan for everything.
Detective Batman wears black with maybe a little gray, fights alone against serial killers, human traffickers, and drug dealers, spends a lot of time brooding.
Clown Prince of Crime Joker - Superhero
Cutoff face Joker - Detective
Gunn needs Superhero Batman and Reeves can keep Detective Batman.
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u/Moon_chile 20d ago
Gunn kind of hinted that his Batman wouldn’t have trunks. I don’t care one way or the other. I just want the casting to be good and the character to both be a) not campy and b) not too much like Battinson if they end up telling the truth and not using The Reeve’s Batman continuity for the DCU (which I’m still hoping for, even though they continually say “that’s not what we’re planning to do rn”)
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u/ACCTAGGT 21d ago
I don’t get this need some people have for Batman to have trunks too. Superman, fine. I can accept it even if I have never liked trunks on them. And I respect David's explanation actually. But please I would like Batman to not follow the same idea.
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u/Dependent_Tomato3021 21d ago
He wears trunks so the commissioner can’t see the outline of his bat-schlong
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u/MatthewMonster 21d ago
Batman — despite terrifying criminals also doesn’t want to scare little kids
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u/HelloFellowKidlings 20d ago
That was David’s explanation to Gunn. Now there doesn’t need to be one. It’s a fantasy comic book universe. Give them underwear, we don’t need an explanation.
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u/Javamac8 20d ago
Trunks can be used to mask his face from burns when de-orbiting without a spaceship.
seriously
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u/Echo__227 20d ago
It's really simple: the reason people wore trunks in real life.
Tights are great for flexibility, but you need something more stiff to support your belt and cover your dick.
I think superhero costumes would suddenly get a lot more comic accurate if the designers focused on making something the actors could move in comfortably rather than a thick layer of stylized foam.
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u/Jpsw230995 20d ago
I'd go for the New Frontier explanation when he changes from Black to Blue.
"I set out to scare criminals, not children."
Just apply that to the trunks.
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u/atxluchalibre 20d ago
It’s a mask for his wiener, so chicks wouldn’t recognize Bruce Wayne’s meathammer.
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u/Miley4Lyfe 21d ago
I’m not strongly against trunks, but I can’t think of a reason why they should be used.
I guess the best way, if it has to happen, is to not address it at all.
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u/Formal-Stage940 21d ago
but I can’t think of a reason why they should be used.
They look cool
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u/dmkelly17 21d ago
Similar reason to Superman’s. He primarily sticks to the shadows and attacks quickly and stealthily to prey on the fear of criminals, but at the same time, he doesn’t want to scare children and the victims of those criminals, so he wears them as a way to show he means them no harm or fear.
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u/Zestyclose-Ad3151 21d ago
I don’t think having the trunks is gonna make him any less scarier to children
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u/Bitter-Bluebird1224 21d ago
BatRizz needs the extra layer of cloth to protect himself from Damian part 2
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u/SickOfIdiots69 21d ago
Superman didn't have trunks because David had a good explanation for them.
David came up with an explanation because it'd been decided he needed to wear them.
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u/Jakarisoolive 21d ago
It hasn’t been done before. We have yet to see a live action Batman who wears the trunks.
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u/SliceofRife 21d ago
They are made of a special material that absorbs impact to protect his privates. He Superman get punch in the nuts and had them developed immediately after. He may be a Billionaire but those family jewels are priceless.
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u/nattybow 21d ago
I would love it if we were all just done trying to explain or rationalize anything about comic book movies. Put the characters on the screen in a great story doing cool shit and let us enjoy it. That’s why Superman worked and it didn’t feel the need to explain anything. T-spheres, Hawkgirl’s anything, Guy Gardner’s haircut? Take it or leave it! No more trying to reconcile it, just let it be what it is.
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u/markhughesfilms 21d ago
Because Superman has been trying to convince heroes to project a more heroic image, and this is overlapping with Batman taking his own son as a sidekick, so I think it’s possible that trying to impart more ethics to his homicidal son and taking cues from Superman works.
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u/YannickBelzil 21d ago
The belt/trunks are actually some sort of harness combo where the decel-line/bat-rope is connected.
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u/vladmanstudios 21d ago
Or it could simply be a tactical codpiece that's just a bit darker than the rest of the armor
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u/ClassClown2025 21d ago
If I was writing this I’d approach it as a Batman that has stepped out of the shadows and became a superhero. He’s inspired others to join him. He takes inspiration from Superman because Batman is meant to scare criminals not children. From a design standpoint the trunks on both Batman and Superman break up the colors of the suit.
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u/D72vFM 21d ago
1 they break the shape and help distinguish the body
2 they stop the bulge from being very noticeable
3 he should be in the shadows most of the time they wouldn't even be that noticeable
4 arkham asylum and city had them and they looked more than good
5 they looked fine in Superman too
6 it's a comic book character
7 why not
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u/ProfessorEtc 21d ago
Spandex wasn't invented until 1958. That is a wool onesie underneath the modesty trunks.
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u/ShhImTheRealDeadpool 21d ago
The bat compartments tube into the fabric to house more items; so he needs to separate the compartments from the undergarment without chafing the suit. To do this he had Alfred buy briefs online, they were meant to be dyed gray like his suit but they came in bulk as blue.. the retailer doesn't offer refunds so he then tailored his cowl, gloves, and boots to fit the color of the briefs so now he wears "trunks".
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u/Dancing_Anatolia 21d ago
It strikes fear into the criminals of Gotham. How would you feel if a ripped giant wearing his underwear on the outside was running after you?
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u/eightcell 21d ago
Superman: I have them because they are silly and disarming. I don’t want people to be scared of me.
Batman: I have them because they serve a tactical purpose - are bullet proof and draw gunfire. I also need to be able to take two dozen kicks to the groin and keep going.
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u/JoelOfSkalitz 21d ago
I don’t like trunks in live action. Not even superman looked good wearing them. Keep that in comics and animated shows period.
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u/WonderfulBlackberry9 21d ago
They can follow what his batsuit was in the opening of Arkham Knight. It was pieces of his suit separated to resemble dark trunks, but it was actually armour/kevlar/suit fibres.
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u/amaya-aurora 21d ago
Maybe it’s a recent change due to seeing how it made Superman less scary to kids. Batman wants to scare the shit out of criminals, but not kids, and that could be a way to do that.
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u/DistributionAntique 21d ago
I’ve been saying this a lot but Batman should have multiple suits. Some with the trunks, some without. Some that are blue and grey, black and grey or even all black. Some that are fully armored, and some that are cloth like. Some with white eyes (if it works in live action obviously) and some with none.
It’s Batman we’re talking about at the end of the day. Why limit him to just one style? Especially if when we’ll be introduced to him in the DCU, he most likely would’ve been Batman for a decade? Imo he should be like Iron Man who had a bunch of different armors.
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u/Proper-Highway-1881 21d ago
I want him to have an extra long, Dracula like cape. I want him to be able to cover his entire body with the cape like he does in the comics and the animated series. Too many iterations treat his cape like it’s just a black version of Superman’s cape. It should be completely different. It helps him hide in the night.
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u/jrod4290 21d ago
This is why I don’t want Batman to have trunks. David’s reason makes sense both in universe and for the movie. I can’t imagine that Batman would get trunks in the DCU tbh
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u/DienekesMinotaur 21d ago
Similar to Clark, Bruce doesn't want to scare kids.
Make it part of the utility belt.
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u/themeloturtle 21d ago
the trunks hide the bat bulge from the spandex, bruce didn't want to called the dick knight
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u/Otherwise-Data9935 21d ago
There really isn't a good one for Batman and I don't think he's wearing the trunks and that's good in my opinion
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u/SuperMajesticMan 21d ago
I think its kinda silly to outright say whether he should have trunks or not, since it depends on how they design the rest of the suit. If it's an all gray "flat" suit like this one, trunks are basically needed to fill in the empty space.
But there are plenty other suit designs where there's no need for trunks.
And that being said, I do find it hard to believe that Bruce is like "Alright I'm gonna make a scary bat costume so that criminals are afraid to go out at night in case they get caught by the Batman. Also I'm gonna put a speedo on it for some reason."
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u/DaddyEybrows 21d ago
Two most probable reasons IMO:
They’re not really trunks, but a darker section of the suit placed underneath lighter-colored armor (like the Arkham Origins or Gargoyle of Gotham designs)
Robin, obsessed with this new hero coming out of Metropolis, keeps begging Batman to dress more like him; Bruce gives in when he designs a suit to join the Justice League
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21d ago
Don't need an excuse. They been there for 80 years and movie kevlar gimp suits look like ass.
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u/First-Promotion-8898 21d ago
Did you read Batman: Damned? That one panel that was edited out? That's why.
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u/GameknightJ14 21d ago
Same reason as Superman, to make him look a little goofy to kids so he's less scary. If Batman wants to be scary, he's going to be, trunks or no trunks, but for little kids, they can be used to put them at ease.
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u/Mcicle 21d ago
Personal hot take, while I prefer Superman with the trunks, I honestly prefer Batman without. I think a suit made up of blacks and greys has plenty of ways to do a good design without them, and I think not having them would further set him apart from Superman visually as one of the big 3 alongside Wonder Woman
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u/TheCakeWarrior12 21d ago
Because he has looked like that in the comics, that’s honestly the only justification you need for it
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u/zackphoenix123 21d ago
Seeing a man with visible underpants running at you is 100x scarier than someone without.
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u/ViniciusMT07 21d ago
Because his costume looks better with trunks. That's all the reasoning you need.
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u/Environmental_Cap191 21d ago
Dick and Alfred added then as a prank to knock him down a peg when he was being too him.
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u/G-Man6442 21d ago
The fact that we’ve now seen they work and there’s no reason not to?
Comic movies need to embrace being comics and Imm glad that’s the path we’re going down.
I don’t want the dozenth gritty down to earth Batman that uses every excuse not to include villains we care about.
I WANT ANOTHER LIVE ACTION IVY DAMNIT!
GIVE US A WHOLE SIREN MOVIE!
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u/AdCommercial605 21d ago
His favorite hero is Superman