"The New Batman" has become the highest-grossing film in mainland China this year
Why do superheroes love "three-piece suits"?
As of April 6, the domestic box office of "The New Batman" exceeded 134 million yuan, making it the highest-grossing film introduced in 2022.
When the actor list was announced, the controversial Robert Pattinson's performance was finally recognized by the majority of the audience. People found that as long as he put on tights and put on a mask, he actually played the same Batman as Ben A. Flake's version isn't that bad.
Why are most American superheroes in film and television works inseparable from the "three-piece suit" of masks, capes, and tights?
Behind this seemingly simple question, there are actually complex reasons from history and culture.
tights
Let's talk about the most common standard of superheroes - tights. This fashion tradition obviously started from the first superhero Superman in the history of American comics.
Whose dressing style did Superman learn from?
In fact, Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster found inspiration for the superhero's shape from the circus's strongman back then.
In June 1938, Superman made his debut in the inaugural issue of Action Comics, and since then began his fashion career of "underpants and outerwear".
Whether it's Hercules or Superman, tights are the best way to show off your figure.
For readers at the time and later audiences, they could easily feel the superhero's sturdy stature and the power contained in its large muscles through the bodysuit of the superhero.
Today, even though there are endless superheroes with all kinds of superpowers, the tradition of strengthening the sense of physical strength by the exaggerated design of tights is still not outdated.
In fact, each version of the superhero movie comes out, and what kind of "upgrade" their armor has been carried out is a major selling point to attract audiences.
Female superheroes haven't been immune to the bodysuit trend, either.
The design of their tights is mainly to imitate the design routine of male superhero battle armor, but while emphasizing the sense of strength, most of the tights of female superheroes also emphasize the characteristics and curves of women.
From the clothes of Black Widow and Wonder Woman, it is not difficult for us to feel this "male gaze".
For superheroes who don't have superpowers, bodysuits especially give them confidence and strength.
In "The New Batman", Batman, who "made his debut" soon, wore a suit designed and built by himself. Although it is not too luxurious, it has a handmade texture of leather stitching.
However, the handsome-looking tights are not so pleasant to wear.
Robert Pattinson revealed that he found Batman's bodysuit quite uncomfortable when he auditioned for the first time: "The head is so small, it's so hot inside, I feel like I've never stopped sweating!"
cloak
The earliest superhero Superman likes to wear capes, and the reason is also from the circus aesthetic.
But beyond that, there's a very practical reason for the cape's popularity.
Superheroes first appeared in the form of comics, so in the paintings, how to show that they are flying?
Expressing through clothes is the easiest way.
Of course, tights can't do that - no matter how windy you are, the tights will stay still.
But the cape does - when flying upward, the cape falls; when landing, the cape floats behind you like a parachute.
The cape also has the function of adding drama to the character.
When the superhero slowly descends into the crowd, the cape behind him will give them a special nobility, as if to say, "Yes, I'm different from you." This is in the "older generation" such as Superman and Batman. especially common among DC heroes.
In addition, whether it is the DC universe or the Marvel universe, Magneto and other villains who are enemies of superheroes also like to wear capes, because this kind of attire can better show their uniqueness and invincibility.
In today's Marvel superhero stories, civilian superheroes are becoming more and more popular, and capes representing noble symbols have become less and less common.
Of course, there are exceptions, such as Thor and Doctor Strange. The former is a god and is originally "superior", while the latter is a magician. His cloak is actually a magical cloak with self-will.
Spider-Man is probably the least cape-wearing superhero.
Think about it, he just popped out the spider silk, but the spider silk stuck to the cloak!
Also, the cape is obviously not suitable for moving quickly between objects.
Especially in the city, if you are not careful, you will be drawn into various wheels. Therefore, in "The Incredibles", the consensus of Superman Bob's family is: "Don't have a cape!"
mask
Just as the cape is a sign of aristocracy, the symbol of the mask is mystery and concealment - when superheroes wear masks, they usually have the magical effect of "grandma don't know".
Therefore, for superheroes such as Spider-Man and Batman who want to disguise their true identities in the crowd on weekdays, the existence of masks is essential.
But covering the face is only the superficial effect of the mask, and Spider-Man and Batman wearing masks seem to have a second "personality".
They bid farewell to common human weaknesses such as cowardice and hesitation, and turned into heroic and resolute superheroes in an instant.
This "I'm getting stronger" hint is especially powerful when combined in the "three-piece" suit, cape and mask.
Similarly, in superhero movies, ordinary people who see superheroes wearing masks and fully armed in their field of vision will always have an immediate "We are finally saved" ecstasy expression.
That's the power of symbols, even though strictly logically speaking, it's not necessarily Spider-Man himself who wears the Spider-Man costume.
That's why superhero movies can always switch actors easily—as long as the mask is right, it doesn't really matter who's under the mask.
In daily life, many people will automatically "play the upper body" when they put on a mask, which is a very common phenomenon among children who play games.
The same goes for superheroes.
With the mask on, Batman is the vigilante who terrorizes Gotham City's dark forces, but without the mask, he's the "nothing but money" orphan Bruce Wayne.
Because the mask is so powerful, superheroes with painful pasts or personality flaws are particularly reluctant to take them off.
In "The New Batman", every time Batman takes off his mask and reveals his pale face, it is actually a process of revealing his soul.
The action of taking off the mask not only means that he is willing to face his heart, but also expresses his determination to uncover the rotten core of Gotham City's gorgeous exterior.
Text/Reporter Li Li