You can become the Dark Knight if you win an auction for an actual Batsuit used in a live-action film, but there's a catch: it's the infamous "nipple-suit." After Tim Burton directed two Batman movies with Michael Keaton, director Joel Schumacher took the reins of the franchise with Batman Forever, and that became the film that first introduced nipples on Batman's costume. The nipples are more accentuated on the Batsuit worn by George Clooney in the follow-up film, Batman & Robin, and this is what most fans will first think of when hearing the word "nipple-suit."
That iconic Batsuit is hitting the auction block this month, giving fans and collectors a chance to own the screen-worn outfit. For display purposes, it comes with a mannequin that has been outfitted with a "hyper-realistic George Clooney head," though the winning bidder would obviously be free to put on the outfit or do whatever else with it that they desire. The official listing for the nipple-suit reads:
Original screen worn superhero costume display constructed of cast foam latex, vinyl, resin components, leather, and other mixed media elements. All expertly painted, finished, and assembled on a life-size poseable mannequin with hyper-realistic George Clooney head with prosthetic grade false eyes. Costume pieces include hero signature cowl, full length superhero cape with 2-cape clips, muscle tunic with signature Batman icon on the chest, muscled tights, peaked and finned gauntlet gloves, and knee-high character boots. The cowl and cape are both marked "GC" for George Clooney and originally came from the Warner Bros. Archives. The body suit is a stunt suit and the "bat" emblem and cape fasteners were created from originals to complete the display. This represents the fifth Batsuit in the modern movie franchise and combined elements of the previous third suit with those of the "Sonar Batsuit," including an iridescent metallic finish, the Utility Belt, and arm fins. The chest emblem reverted to a small oval, melding into the deep black colors of the suit
The costume, described as in "very good to fine condition" and exhibiting minor "age, wear, and handling," was initially designed by illustrator Miles Teves. It was sculpted by costume and props department key sculptor Jose Fernandez under the direction of uncredited designer Bob Ringwood and director Joel Schumacher. The mannequin is 76" x 37" x 18" and the display stand is 24" x 24" x 5".
The Nipple-Suit Has Drawn Great Criticism Over the Years
Batman fans have not been shy about their negative opinions concerning the nipple-suit. Just recently, Batman and Batman Returns director Tim Burton blasted the decision to put nipples on the Dark Knight's costume. Burton said how his films were criticized at the time for being "too dark" and finds it funny how the subsequent films went too far into the other direction, going so far as to put Batman into an actual Batsuit with nipples.
“[Back then] they went the other way," Burton said, per Empire Magazine. "That’s the funny thing about it. But then I was like, ‘Wait a minute. Okay. Hold on a second here. You complain about me, I’m too weird, I’m too dark, and then you put nipples on the costume? Go f*** yourself.’ Seriously. So yeah, I think that’s why I didn’t end up [doing a third film].”
Even if it's controversial, the nipple-suit is still a piece of cinema history, and chances are someone out there with some money to burn will be happy to pick it up.