SubscribeNote: Batman can’t be limited to one time and one place; in comics we’ve seen him go everywhere from the prehistoric age to the far-flung future, and now pro artist Ted Naifeh is taking the Dark Knight to the Art Deco age. Inspired by magazine illustrator Russell Patterson, Naifeh’s dreamt up a 1920s Gotham replete with Batman and his assorted rogue’s gallery. Seeing Harley Quinn as a flapper is a no-brainer. – Chris A.
Eric
/ March 16, 2012Nifty!
avantsweater
/ March 16, 2012I’m digging the Batman. The Rocketeer style flight jacket really works with the outfit. A Batman ready for adventure!
It’s kind of funny that actual Batman designs are only really from like 10-20 years after this time period.
(Plz Can someone do New Wave Batman Verse?)
Vito Delsante
/ March 16, 2012Thank you, Ted Naifeh, for ensuring I will get no work done today and will, instead, pore over these images until my eyes bleed. I’m crying on the inside that this doesn’t exist.
artisan54
/ March 16, 2012pretty cool. like the classy look. feel that catwoman needs something more… everything else is great. would like to them in color
G.D.
/ March 16, 2012These are really great. I love the sleek ‘Gatsby’ feel of these designs, and the subtlety of the rogue’s gallery. However, I’m heartbroken we can’t see color on them.
Jay
/ March 16, 2012Joker looks to have some Cesar Romero flavor, who I never liked as Joker but it really works here. If that’s Killer Croc, he may need some work and Catwoman too. But the rest are a natural fit for the 1920′s with Penguin and Two-Face translating the best IMO. Good stuff here.
Alexi
/ March 16, 2012Like the look of these, but is that an uncostumed Bruce Wayne talking to the Joker?
Jackula
/ March 16, 2012Love Naifeh’s work! Joker gets his Romero moustache for real this time. classic.
Angela
/ March 16, 2012These are great. I would love to see a story with these guys. Or maybe I will make my own story. They are inspiring.
tbolt
/ March 16, 2012I thought is was Ra’s al Ghul. The grey/white hair on the sides kind of hints that. Although in the 20′s I’d see him as more a Fu Manchu type than a business man. Really cool stuff would love to see more and some color.
Bruce A.
/ March 16, 2012Alexi, I think that’s meant to be Ra’s al Ghul.
Ian Pryde
/ March 16, 2012I thought it was Ra’s Al Ghoul?
Hanie
/ March 16, 2012Ooooh this is amazing. I especially love that Harley Quinn :)
Itlas
/ March 17, 2012Why Batman has aviator clothes?
He was created only in 1939 so I think he would have a look more similar to his debut on Detective Comics.
I don’t understand why Grundy has a different look,he was buried in XIX century.
Penguin and Two-Faces have no differences with the originals,Joker reminds me Hugh Hefner with that jacket and I don’t understand why Poison Ivy is wearing elegant clothes if she is usually naked,I think it would be better drawing her as a nimph in liberty style or using plants to recreate a 1920 elegant dress.
Catwoman doesn’t have any purpose,nor reference to her character.
I really like the Riddler Style,close to the character but really 1920,so the idea of a deep sea diver Mr Freeze is brilliant,and i love the burlesque Harley Queen,even if I think she would be better with a her black mask painted or at least an heavy black make up on her eyes.
Itlas
/ March 17, 2012P.S. After a reflection I think a look more like The Shadow would have worked better for Batman.
I see an aviator suit more suitable for Superman(fly) or Flash(speed) than for Batman.
Bruce A.
/ March 17, 2012Itlas, I don’t think “aviator” when I look at that design. The jodhpurs make me think more of “adventurer” or “explorer”. The front-panel shirt evokes the US Cavalry. The boots also make me think of a horseman. All evoking men of action. And the opera cape harks back both to Phantom of the Opera, and that Batman’s parents were murdered when leaving an opera performance. (Was that part of the original canon, or added later?)
Alexi
/ March 17, 2012Okay, wow. I never would have imagined a clean-shaven Ra’s, but I guess it fits the time period.
tbolt
/ March 18, 2012Cause it’s not Grundy, its Killer Croc. Notice the scales on the arms and legs.
Itlas
/ March 19, 2012actually is an aviator suit,you can make a comparison with this pic of the Red Baron http://www.frontflieger.de/ricma/1917_07_mvr_kaethe.jpg
Batman origins were rewrited many times,every author added a little detail,but it’s generally accepted that Wayne family was coming out by a movie theather (Miller wrote it was Zorro movie) when Bruce’s parents were killed.The opera if I can remember was only in Batman Begins movie.
But my point is,Batman is a superhero,superheroes don’t dress with everyday clothes usually,they have specific costumes,so why Batman,even in 1920,should use military robes?
For me a look closer to his first 1939′s costume would be better.
Itlas
/ March 19, 2012Thank you :)
I was thinking it was Grundy,but still I don’t understand why he’s a cowboy
tbolt
/ March 19, 2012how is he a cowboy? looks to me like he’s just wearing normal clothes that don’t fit a big crocidile man.
Edwin
/ March 20, 2012I can’t agree that superheroes don’t wear regular clothes. Batman in an adventerer’s suit is just dandy to me, though I feel like the cowl and cape need a redesign to more suit the era. A flight cap with goggles and maybe some bat elements would help integrate it into the outfit. I do agree that Ivy and Catwoman’s outfits don’t QUITE work , though I’m hard pressed to say what about them doesn’t. Ivy’s one piece bathing/bodysuit is provacative, just like her and I feel this would have been more appropriate.
Itlas
/ March 20, 2012I see a cowboy with the texan hat and the colt gun in his hand
maealoril
/ March 21, 2012Wow, I really like this style of batman. I tried to read millers dark knight and it didn’t really thrill me, but with this art style I would definately give it another go (^_^)
Bruce A.
/ March 22, 2012Itlas, Zorro as an influence for the cape is even better for interpreting as “adventurer costume”. Here’s a pic of Douglas Fairbanks as Zorro, wearing the cape. Though I notice from the Google Images search that Fairbanks usually left off Zorro’s cape when the action got physical (the leaping, the jumping, the swinging and tumbling).
Itlas
/ March 24, 2012to me looks like an aviator with a cape just because he’s batman and he have to wear a cape to stay in character
Colin
/ March 24, 2012These are all great, but I’m totally digging the Riddler. Great job!