Is the Batsuit Just a Glorified Ninja Costume?

DC

By Dalton Tevlin

Yes I know what you are probably thinking: “How could he possibly call the greatest suit of all time a glorified ninja costume?” but just hear me out. What I am simply saying is that the Batsuit is amazing in it’s own right, and rightfully so, but in essence it really just is a glorified ninja costume. There are many different elements that I can construct my viewpoint of but I’ll stick to the main points of interest. First we have to think: what is the real purpose of a ninja costume. For one it has to be stealthy, it has to be efficient, and it has to be comfortable and protective. All of these things are major factors in what Bruce Wayne constructs his Batsuits to be and I think as we go through this, you will see my points.

The Batsuit Is as Stealthy as It Gets

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The Batsuit is well known to be Bruce Wayne’s stealthiest tool in his arsenal and that is being modest. The Batsuit’s cape allows him to quickly sneak away in the shadows undetected and the grey and black of his suit really help in blending into the shadows. We all know that ninjas also follow the same philosophy as Batman and stick to the shadows and prance around enemies undetected. How many bad guys that Batman has taken down actually saw him coming? I’m going to guess and say that not that many saw the Bat before he swooped down and attacked.

Utilities Make His Costume Extremely Efficient!

Photo by Julie Scott / CC-BY 2.0

The utility belt that Batman has around the Batsuit makes the costume that much more effective. While he is lurking around in the shadows and stalking his prey, he can pull out a batarang and fling it around the corner, or throw a smoke pellet to cause a distraction or even use his grappling hook to get a better vantage point. If you are a fan of the Batman Arkham Games, you understand exactly what I’m talking about when I say that Batman’s various Batsuit gadgets make his job that much easier. Ninjas always try to get it and get the job done with maximum efficiency and they usually have various tools that aid them along the way, which again is very much like the Batsuit.

It Is as Comfortable and Protective as It Gets

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Bruce Wayne tailor made his Batsuit to be extremely comfortable while it is being worn and it is meant to protect him from anything and everything that may be harmful during fighting crime. Not only is the Batsuit bulletproof but it is also fireproof, waterproof, shockproof, and any other kind of proof that you could think of. This is where the Batsuit gets the title “Glorified Ninja Costume,” because while a ninja costume will give some general protection, it won’t give anywhere near the type of protection you would need when being shot at or inside a burning building. The great thing about the Batsuit is Bruce Wayne gets all of this protection and doesn’t have to sacrifice that much mobility and stealth. You would think a suit with this magnitude of protection would be a giant juggernaut of a suit and would be clanking around, but Bruce finds a way to make it much more efficient with super lightweight materials and energy sources. It’s really amazing, even if it is fictional, to realize just how great of an invention the Batsuit is.

Do You Get What I Mean Now?

If all the things I listed in this piece aren’t enough to convince you that Bruce Wayne’s Batsuit is a glorified ninja costume, I don’t know what will. One point I would like to make is that Bruce Wayne was trained by the League of Assassins, which very much resembles a ninja like regime. He took the skills he learned under the leaders of the League and crafted a Batsuit that would work to his skill set. Bruce Wayne was heavily inspired by his League training when him and Lucious Fox made the Batsuit so that right there should be enough to convince you. Nonetheless, the Batsuit will easily go down as the greatest superhero costume ever worn, fictional or real. It is one of the most iconic suits in the world's history and Bruce Wayne’s invention will truly live on forever!