Why does Batman leave his mouth exposed?

[Sketcher]

It seems like a pretty obvious tactical error. It'd be easy for a criminal to inflict serious damage on the area. He could get his jaw/teeth broken by a fist, baseball bat, crowbar, etc. Not to mention it gives clues to his identity - skin color, shape of mouth, dental records (if anyone can get that close to him).

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Is the mask supposed to be nearly invulnerable or something?

 

[Christopher]

"Who are you?"

"Mm'm Bmtmmn."

That's why.

Of course, in Batman Beyond, the futuristic high-tech Batman suit had a full-face mask that somehow had a visible mouth on the outside, the sort of thing that's much easier to pull off in animation than in reality.

 

[Agent Richard07]

I find the exposed mouth odd too, but I accept it because it's part of his iconic look.

 

[Gaith]

Because

​

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

For the same reason that a pair of glasses makes Superman unrecognizable.

 

[TemporalFlux]

Because

​

Yep. That was one of his inspirations.

The New 52 also presented a strange idea in Catwoman #1. They say now that Batman spreads some kind of gel over his exposed skin that mitigates damage from punches, cuts, etc. So they're saying he does wear a full face mask in a sense; it's just that the part on his chin is clear.

 

[Melakon]

It makes Bruce Wayne remember to shave every day.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

For kissing.

 

[marksound]

Because

For the same reason that a pair of glasses makes Superman unrecognizable.

Tied for the win.

 

[Guy Gardener]

The dates have been sliding for quite a while.

Unless his parents took little Brucie to see a really really old movie...

Antonio Bandaras is going to be the Batman's inspiration quite soon.

 

[Nerys Myk]

The dates have been sliding for quite a while.

Unless his parents took little Brucie to see a really really old movie...

Antonio Bandaras is going to be the Batman's inspiration quite soon.

Are there no revival movie houses in Gotham?

 

[Christopher]

The dates have been sliding for quite a while.

Unless his parents took little Brucie to see a really really old movie...

Antonio Bandaras is going to be the Batman's inspiration quite soon.

In fact, the name of the movie the Waynes saw that night was never specified in the comics until Frank Miller established it as The Mark of Zorro in The Dark Knight Returns in 1986 -- as an homage to the influence Zorro had on Bob Kane in creating the character. So it was already meant to be an old movie at the time.

I believe the first version of the origin to name the movie was probably "The Fear," the 1985 Super Powers Team episode by future Batman: TAS producer Alan Burnett. In that version, the movie was Robin Hood. Although you'd think that would've been an inspiration for Robin rather than Batman.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Someone did a story where Tom and Martha took Bruce to see Finding Nemo.

(I'm serious. They didn't say "Finding Nemo", but there was a fricking Clown Fish on the movie screen in several panels... So maybe the artist was screwing around and the writer had no idea what was happening?)

And then after the shock of his parents dying, Bruce butched it up so he didn't seem like a wuss... Not in this comic, but how we bridge the schism.

I mean what's worse?

"My Parents died taking me to see Finding Nemo."

or

"My parents died taking me to see Zorro"

From an 8 year olds perspective that's a world of difference.

And I know you think you're still young Neyrs, but the only place you could see an Antonio bandaras Zorro Movie on the big screen is at a Revival movie theatre.

Dark Knight returns is the "sequel" to All-Star Batman and not regular Batman, or New 52 Batman.

I was rather chuffed when I fiigured that out, but then they just forgot to make any more All-Star Batman, so it didn't matter.

 

[Nerys Myk]

And I know you think you're still young Neyrs, but the only place you could see an Antonio bandaras Zorro Movie on the big screen is at a Revival movie theatre.

Yeah and that changes my point how? The Waynes don't have to take Bruce to a new film on that fateful night.

I'm 54. The reminder I'm not young is staring at me from the mirror every morning.

 

[Guy Gardener]

You asked if there were revival theatres in Gotham.

I put forward what I believed was evidence that there was.

I'm sorry that you're so old, but if it's any consolation, half the time I think that you're Michael Ansara who went home most nights for 6 whole years to make love to Barbara Eden in her prime.

 

[Nerys Myk]

You asked if there were revival theatres in Gotham.

I put forward what I believed was evidence that there was.

I'm sorry that you're so old, but if it's any consolation, half the time I think that you're Michael Ansara who went home most nights for 6 whole years to make love to Barbara Eden in her prime.

It was a rhetorical question.

Barbara Eden is a fine consolation prize.

 

[Trekker4747]

Why would he cover it? When people attack you with knives or guns they don't go for exposed areas of the body that move quickly and are thus hard to hit they go for center-mass. The torso. There's no need to cover it, it's not a likely target.

dental records (if anyone can get that close to him).

"Hey Batman, do you mind biting down on this gel and waiting 30-45 seconds for it to set and then give it back to me? By the way what dental agency do you use?"

 

[Mr Light]

So he can breathe?

 

[Guy Gardener]

Many years ago, my comic shop guy insisted that Batman had a Lazarus Pit.

But that was before Knightfall.