Get into a conversation with anyone about the Batman movie series and chances are, at some point during the discussion, the subject of Batman’s nipples will come up. You can say to yourself “nah, that’s crazy talk”, but the cold hard truth is, there are a lot of people out there who are obsessed with Bat-nipples.
Completely obsessed with the nips. But why? Why do Batman movie fans love to bring up the subject of Batman’s nipples?
Let’s take a look.
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What’s the deal with Batman’s nipples?
When Batman first started to appear on screen, either in the black and white serials of the 1940s, or in Batman: The Movie from 1966, no one thought about the Caped Crusader’s nipples. It was likely that Lewis Wilson, Robert Lowery and Adam West all had their respective share of nipples (two per person), but no one really felt the need to think about it and/or speak of it.
And why would they? They certainly weren’t on show and anyway, Batman’s nipples were Batman’s business and no one else’s! So, when did the obsession with Bat-nips begin?
Well, to answer that question I must point you in the direction of two films: Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997). In Batman Forever, the Caped Crusader is played by Val Kilmer and in Batman & Robin he is played by George Clooney.
I draw your attention to these two films because this is where the subject of Bat-nipples first arose. It is in these two films that Batman’s nipples got screen time and became the source of much discussion ever since.
So, what do I mean exactly, when I say “Batman’s nipples”?
Well, what I (and many other people) are referring to are the nipples that appear on Batman’s Batsuits in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. The nipples don’t appear on every suit worn by the Dark Knight – just two of them – but they are there, just take a look.
The first suit worn by Val Kilmer throughout the majority of Batman Forever has nipples, while the first suit worn by George Clooney in Batman & Robin also has nipples. Towards the end of each movie, both actors change their suits and in both cases, the suits become nipple-less.
Chris O’Donnell who plays the role of Robin in each film also wears a suit that sports nipples. One suit in Batman Forever and two in Batman & Robin.
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Why do the suits have nipples and why are they so controversial?
When the suits were created for these movies, they were designed around the naked male form. A decision was made to add nipples (as men have nipples) and that’s why some of the suits feature this part of the anatomy.
As for why they are deemed controversial, well this is because none of the Batman films that came before Batman Forever featured suits with nipples. It simply wasn’t something that was considered, and the later inclusion of the nipples seemed rather perplexing to some fans.
It should also be noted that in Batman & Robin, the character of Batgirl is introduced and she is given her own Batsuit. Yet this suit does not feature nipples. Some people have argued that if Batman and Robin can wear suits with nipples, then why should Batgirl be excluded? Equality for all, and all that.
Of course, nowadays the subject of Batman’s nipples has become something of a joke or a way to dismiss Batman Forever and Batman & Robin as less important Batman movies. However, back during the 1990s, when the films were getting more attention, some Bat-fans were pretty angry about the nipples.
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What is the biggest misconception about the Bat-nipples and do they really matter?
When it comes to the Bat-nipples there are a couple of misconceptions.
The first misconception is that every Batsuit in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin has nipples. As stated above, that’s not true.
The second misconception is that people were angry about the nipples from when they first appeared in Batman Forever. That’s also not true – the reaction to the nipples only started to get vocal with the release of Batman & Robin.
When Batman Forever hit cinemas in 1995 some might have found the nipples a little strange, but no one really talked about it. However, when Batman & Robin arrived in 1997, and was met with a largely negative response from critics and audiences alike, that’s when the nipples became a hot topic – and has remained a subject of discussion ever since.
Some people really do not like seeing nipples on the Bat-suit. Other people really don’t care. It is a case of each to their own.
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And finally, the one thing everyone missed about Mr. Freeze
And now for something few people seem to notice (and no one complains about).
Back in 1997, the inclusion of nipples on the Batsuits caused a great deal of discussion and derision, with many mocking this design aesthetic, leading to questions about why they were included. All these years on and even to this day Bat-nipples crop up in conversations about Batman’s movie career, with many calling out the Dynamic Duo’s nipples as a strange milestone in the Caped Crusader’s cinematic journey.
Yet despite the significant focus on Batman and Robin’s chest, there seems to have been a significant oversight when it comes to breast bumps in connection to Mr. Freeze. See if you can spot it in the image above.
Did you see it? Nope? Then take another look.
On close inspection of the Freeze suit, it’s not just Batman and Robin who proudly showcase their nipples – Mr. Freeze shows off his nipples too! They have been hiding in plain sight the whole time, but they are there.
The nipples are less obvious on the Mr. Freeze suit, because the costume is more mechanical in appearance. But look closely and you can see Freeze nipples proudly displayed on his chest plate.
So, why has no one ever made a fuss about the Freeze nipples in the same way they have about the Batnipples? That’s a very good question.
Maybe Bat-fans don’t see the Freeze nipples as such a big issue, because the suit is less natural in appearance. Or possibly there is less chatter about the Freeze nipples because many people simply missed them.
I’ll leave that one for you to decide.
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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this post about Batman’s nipples. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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