Neal Adams posted this on his website sometime last year and it has always been a big fascination for me on the design and concept of Batman. Well I thought I would revisit this as a feature every now and then on how other people go about creating their version of the Dark Knight and who better to start of with than Neal Adams:

If I redesigned Batman, I wouldn't exactly redesign him. I would revamp him. I would find the perfect story to do this in and I would attempt to correct errors made along the way as well as make the costume do the work better.I would take disadvantages of the old costume and make them into advantages.

1. The fins on the gloves should not be fabric, but pointed and sharp. The blade should be hidden and pop out with a muscle twitch.

2. Batman's Belt. The old capsules ceased being effective 25 years ago. No, they never were effective, nor is a World War 2 garrison belt. But a utility belt, as in a carpenter's utility belt that holds weapons, grapplers, guns and crime-fighting paraphernalia as a uniquely designed true utility belt would be perfect.

3. Boots are thick soled ninja boots with wraparound flaps velcroed up his leg. In the shank, weapons.

4. Costume. Bulletproof and watertight, thermal coils and refrigerant coils throughout, acid resistant, padded at the shoulders and riddle with structural supports for (if needed) a kind of super strength.

5. Cowl is pulled over a face plate containing radio, infrared biometrics and night vision as well as video feed. A waterproof breathing mask slides and seals over the face for breathing underwater. (Oxygen in utility belt.)

6. Bat symbol subtle but bold. Dark against dark.7. Cape stiffens for flight. Acts as fins underwater.

Same ol' Batman. Man of tomorrow.

Neal Adams

(Source - Neal Adams.com)