Batman's "Ears" : A question for Batman fans

[twilight]

Hey CBR,

I've just finished reading The Dark Knight Returns for the first time and it reminded me of a question I've been meaning to ask for some time;

What length do you like the the "ears" on Batman's cowl to be?

-Short stubby ones?
-Medium length?
-Ridiculously long?

I'm genuinely interested in seeing what is the most popular among Batman fans.

-Twi

[marshal99]

Comparison. :wink:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/marshal99/comics/zerohour4.jpg

[metalhead_dave743]

I can go for the short or medium. Either one is fine by me. I hate the long ears, I always thought they were retarded looking.

I'm big on the Begins ears as well... I know there are people who don't like them but I like it coming from the back of the head and being scalloped like that. If you play the Begins videogame and put on the gray suit with the black cowl, you'd have a REALLY badass Batsuit.

[juggling man]

Who cares about ear length when you can have a Superman sporting a mullet!

[SKETCHSANCHEZ]

I've become quite fond of short and stubby.

...that didnt sound right. I'll leave it in anyway! Awaaaaaaaayyy!

[flapjaxx]

I had no idea they showed the DKR Batman in Zero Hour(?). Personally I don't really have a preference on the ears, although I think relatively short "normal" ears are best if it's just a normal story in main DCU continuity. In other words, all the other models/renditions sort of pull the reader out and suggest that they're being used for story purposes. I never had a problem with Kelley Jones's ridiculously long ears because the stories were macabre anyway. And in 673 Morrison used the old-style longer "devil" ears to great effect, because in that flashback Batman torments Joe Chill like a demon would.

[pariah-1972]

I like them long as hell (six inches or more) they look more gothic and intimidating and lord knows what kind of radio signals he could be picking up in them.
:evilsmile:

[Alan2099]

Look at the pannel where Batman says, "I've switched Timelines again, Haven't I?" I prefer the lenght to be somewhere inbetween the two Batman shown in that pannel.

[DonC]

It depends on the artist. Short works for Frank Miller's Batman, but long works for Kelley Jones' Batman.

[mgs]

I like 'em short to medium. Sometimes the artist can pull it off with them long, but when done incorrectly, all I think about is how silly the long-ish ones are in the movies and it totally takes me out of the comic.

[hichaec]

Oh, definitely short. I always thought the long ones looked kind of silly - to me, they kind of say "this is the cowl of the EXTREME!!! Batman," which doesn't work for me at all. I have trouble taking them seriously.

I really love how, say, Ed McGuinness draws the short ones.

[pariah-1972]

I don't like them short they look too cutesy for me.

[AlistairCrane]

Depends on the artist. I only like the long ones if they're drawn by Kelley Jones.

[sabongero]

Depends on the artist. I only like the long ones if they're drawn by Kelley Jones.

Amen to that. I loved those Kelly/Moench Batman issues. They just have such a weird paranoid feel to them. And those long ears by Kelley were so demonical that it worked out well with Moench's paranoid, conspiracy-theory laden stories.

Here's a link on their work from PopCultureShock.com:

http://popcultureshock.com/features.php?id=1183


Comparison. :wink:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/marshal99/comics/zerohour4.jpg

Hey what comic book and issue number was this image from ?

[marshal99]

[COLOR="Blue"]Hey what comic book and issue number was this image from ?

It's from Superman: Man of Steel issue 37.

More scans from that issue. :biggrin:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/marshal99/comics/zerohour2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/marshal99/comics/zerohour3.jpg

[Tanjint]

what comic is the 'i've switched timelines again' from?

I'm at work and none of these images are shwoing up...are any of the above references from the planetary/batman story?

-T

[the-wolf]

panel 2 where he says "and you?" Perfect, perfect length.

[siberia77]

Medium!
You gotta be creepy when seen in silhouette but not too big or they get caught on stuff all the time. And probably offer too much wind resistance when swinging around town.

[Batman Fan 31593]

what comic is the 'i've switched timelines again' from?

I'm at work and none of these images are shwoing up...are any of the above references from the planetary/batman story?

-T

That was Superman: The Man of Steel #37, a Zero Hour tie-in issue from 1994. The Planetary/Batman comic book didn't come out until years later.

Here is the cover:

http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/superman-man-of-steel/37-1.jpg

[Supermancho]

panel 2 where he says "and you?" Perfect, perfect length.
Marshall Rogers/Neal Adams/Jim Aparo. They did it perfectly. Medium Lenght. I completely avoid Kelly Jones' Batman.
http://myholes.co.uk/images/uploads/thumbs/thumb_batmanbegins.jpg

[HaroldAllnut]

I like the way Mark Bagley's been drawing the ears over in Trinity (though his art wasn't reason enough for me to keep buying the series). Short ears maintains the image that Batman wants, while also appealing to his pragmatic side. Long ears will hamper his movement through areas with low ceilings/other tight spots, and skilled combatants could grab his ears and knee him in the face... so it's gonna be the short, stubby ears for me.

[Tanjint]

thanks yall

-T

[suprmn19823]

It's from Superman: Man of Steel issue 37.

More scans from that issue. :biggrin:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/marshal99/comics/zerohour2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/marshal99/comics/zerohour3.jpg

I really liked this issue of s:tmos, I think I'm going to have to go dig it out and reread it just for fun. I like the ear leigth of the Neal Adams style Batman. I don't mind the short, I hate the super-long, but the Adams style is perfect!!!!!!!:biggrin:

[Cornelius Stirk]

Medium Adams/Aparo style for me too.

[md62]

Medium Adams/Aparo style for me too.

Me too!!!!

[B. Kuwanger]

Right. Though sometimes the way Aparo drew they looked just a bit long, so I'll add in Jerry Bingham.

Anyone remember Trevor Von Eden? I really liked his style, with the slight but obvious nod to old school, and at times, "ears" that appeared a bit stubby and not quite from the temples. Similar to Mazzuchelli, another favorite.

[robbieglenn]

Who cares about ear length when you can have a Superman sporting a mullet!

Quoted for truth, thats one fine hair cut !

[phantom1592]

panel 2 where he says "and you?" Perfect, perfect length.

Agreed. and not only the ears, that's my favorite Batman period.

[robbieglenn]

god older Batman looks so cool.

[Chad]

I like them long as hell (six inches or more) they look more gothic and intimidating and lord knows what kind of radio signals he could be picking up in them.
:evilsmile:

Don't know about radio signals, but in Batman 258 he escapes from a cell by snapping off his left Bat-ear and pulling out a thermal flare.

Definately long ears for me.

[the-wolf]

Agreed. and not only the ears, that's my favorite Batman period.

Absolutely.

[matthewaos]

Really depends on the artist. I love Kelly Jones' ears, but I can't imagine them on Miller. I also love Miller's and Neal Adam's ears. So I think I don't mind the length...

[Ben Reilly#6]

Personally, I've always been fond of the original Kane/Finger ears. The inch-longer-than-medium, slightly curved horn-like ears are definately a favorite of mine. Also, Mazzucchelli's version of this design from the ads for Year One. I've always been a little dissapointed that the ears are a bit stubbier in the actual series, but it still looks pretty good.

I'm also a fan of Kelly Jone's antennae-ears. Back when I first started my Bat-collection, the few issues I had were from his run in the 90s, so I they kind of grew on me (har har).

It really does depend on who's drawing it, though the Rogers/Adams/Aparo medium length really is the standard/default model.

[Ghost Shark]

Long ears are fin, but really, it's all about the girth. :wink:

[Devil_LeonX]

It's from Superman: Man of Steel issue 37.

More scans from that issue. :biggrin:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/marshal99/comics/zerohour2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/marshal99/comics/zerohour3.jpg

Guys this is the first time I have ever seen this and I would just like to be sure, is the batman on the right the Batman from "The Dark Knight returns" he looks just like him...

[metalhead_dave743]

Guys this is the first time I have ever seen this and I would just like to be sure, is the batman on the right the Batman from "The Dark Knight returns" he looks just like him...


Yeah that's definitley DKR Batman.

[Devil_LeonX]

whoa alright sweet! hey how come hes treating Superman so..well nice I remember that he wasnt exactlyat the best of terms with Sups at least in the first one before they fought..