I think it is safe to say that no character has undergone as many redesigns as Batman has during his history, which now spans nearly three quarters of a century. Almost every generation of comics fans have their version of Batman. This includes, naturally, evolution not only in his iconic costume, but also in his various gadgets, cars, planes, and supporting characters. While there is certainly something to be said for the idea that something so instantly recognizable should not be messed with, one of the most fun things about being a geek is nerding out over new concept designs for upcoming Batman movies, rejoicing when someone gets it right and complaining really loudly when they get it wrong. Here, therefore, are some of those designs that did not make the grade.
8. David Russell's Unused Batwing Design
David Russell, the storyboard artist for anything from Star Wars to Moulin Rouge, non-surprisingly also drew storyboards for
Tim Burton's 1989 Batman. Among them is a glimpse at the originally planned design for the Batwing plane Batman brings out for the final climactic confrontation with the Joker.
In the film, the plane dramatically aligns with the full moon to form the famous insignia. The concept had apparently not yet materialized at the storyboard stage, however, as the plane there looks more like an actual stealth aircraft, the triangular shape imitating the spread cape of Batman. It's a pretty interesting design, but not even nearly as fitting with the Tim Burton-established unpractical, but dramatic style as the one that ended up in the film.
