Fans have mixed reactions to seeing Batman with a beard in his most recent appearance on HBO Max. Batman has a host of unique looks from his decades in movies, TV, and comics, which are mostly differentiated by updated costumes with each depiction. However, in the Caped Crusader's return to the small screen, fans got a look at him boasting a look not often seen in Batman lore.
The first official marketing material for Warner Bros. Animation's Bat-Fam revealed a new look for the show's interpretation of Batman. This version of Bruce Wayne features a thick beard, which he maintains while fighting crime in his iconic costume.
Looking at Bruce straight on, the beard covers his entire face, which is usually clean-shaven under the cowl. Upon closer review, a small bit of bare skin is also visible between the bottom edge of the mask and the top portion of the new beard.
From a side profile, the beard is not only much darker than the new Batman costume (which is not dissimilar from recent live-action Batman suits), but it leaves much of his chin open as the beard surrounds the open area.
Furthermore, Bruce's chin justs out far in front of the rest of his face, making that hairless area relatively flat on the top of his chin.
Without the Batman suit on, Bruce Wayne's beard appears less jarring, as it covers a suitable portion of his face (even with the design used for his chin and jaw).
This animated series' lighter nature allows for the beard to fit a little more seamlessly than most would expect, even if it does not look perfect when the hero is in costume.
While Batman is usually clean-shaven in most media, this cartoon is not the first time he has donned a beard. The Legends of the Dark Knight: Venom storyline from DC Comics in 1991 showed him with a thick black beard for a few panels after he detoxed from a performance-enhancing substance he used to try to save a young girl.
In live-action, Batman has never used a beard while wearing the cape and cowl. However, both 2017's Justice League and 2021's Zack Snyder's Justice League (see new images from the Snyder Cut here) gave Ben Affleck's DCEU Batman a thick beard when he went to a remote village in Iceland to meet Jason Momoa's Aquaman.
In 2012, Warner Bros. embraced the bearded Batman look for Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight Rises. After Bane defeated him and threw him in The Pit, Bruce had to spend months recovering, giving him time to grow a fairly thick beard on his jaw and a mustache on his lip.
Warner Bros. revisited the bearded Batman look in 2023's The Flash, which brought Michael Keaton's Bruce Wayne back to the spotlight for the first time in over 30 years. Here, his Batman was out of action and long retired, having grown a long mane of hair and an unruly white beard in his self-imposed exile.
DC Animation is set to revisit the Caped Crusader and his massive supporting cast with Bat-Fam's release on Prime Video. Starring Luke Wilson, Yonas Kibreab, James Cromwell, and Bobby Moynihan, this series will highlight the inner workings of the Bat family while pitting them against some of the most iconic villains from the heroes' comics history. Bat-Fam begins streaming on Amazon Prime Video on Monday, November 10.
Why Does Batman Have a Beard in Bat-Fam?
Considering how rarely Batman is depicted with a beard in most media, it begs the question of what led to the decision to give him this unique look. Particularly since this is a show made for younger audiences, featuring the hero with a beard and a cape and cowl is a bold choice for an audience that is likely in their early years of watching DC content.
DC may have chosen this route to help the show stand out from other Batman properties, especially with so much new Batman material set to arrive over the next few years. It could also tie back to the Christmas theme from 2023's Merry Little Batman, which featured a bearded Batman.
Visually, Batman having a beard while in costume drastically alters the classic look fans are used to seeing from the iconic DC hero. It may be used so rarely due to the beard not allowing for much of Batman's already covered face to be shown, which prevents fans from connecting to the hero's personality as much.
Richard Nebens joined The Direct in March 2020, now serving as the site's Senior Writer and also working as an assistant editor and content creator. He started his journalism career as a hobby in 2019 and is passionate about sharing news and stories from the entertainment industry, especially comic book movies, comedy, and sci-fi. Richard looks to expand his knowledge about movies and TV every day, and he is eager to stay locked into the latest releases and breaking news at every opportunity.
