Bat-Villains and their masks

[Pengy]

Didn't they wear them in the movie?

Which I thought was silly, as anyone with a half a brain would be able to recognize them on account of their clothes; not to mention Joker's dead white face, and green hair. Did they honestly think they were fooling anyone?

Penguin also wore one in 'Fine Finny Fiends/Batman makes the scenes' two parter at the end of season 1.

Honestly Pengy, with that tux, monocle, top hat, umbrella, not to mention the beak nose, you ain't fooling anyone

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Yes but was the Joker "perma-white" or just in makeup?

The masks on Joker and Penguin in the movie bothered me. It was obviously a camp joke meant to elicit laughter from adults, but it only confused us kids, I think.

I guess it did makes sense for Riddler to keep his mask on in public, that way, if he was out in his civvies later, people would be less likely to recognize him. Of course, I don't think they ever showed him in civilian clothes...

Chris

[Riddler Fan]

Actually, Astin's Riddler wore a fireman's suit, a baker's outfit and a street sweeper's uniform in "Batman's Anniversay" and "A Riddling controversy". Granted none of these could be called "civvies" but it is the only time Riddler was seen not wearing his suit or tights. Unless you count when Gorshin's Riddler wore a Revolutrionary War uniform in "Ring of Wax" or dressed as Charlie Chaplin in "Death in Slow Motion" or as Mushy Nebukensar in "Ring Around the Riddler".

[Yellow Oval]

Indeed, many an actor who's character had to wear glasses etc, will pull them off their face to accent a point. In a way, Adam with his cowl was in much more of a "pickle." I once asked Adam about that and he said it was a real challenge, so he had to always be thinking of new ways to make his deliveries not seem "stale" by using body language and speech patterns. Some of Adam's "dean pan" deliveries were done in an attempt to make his emotions come through since his eyes were shadowed by his cowl.

John

Agreed. How many times during Six Million Dollar Man did Oscar Goldman (Richard Anderson) rip his glasses away from his face in deep concern while exclaiming,"Don't do it, Steve! It's too dangerous."

Actually, I'll answer that - weekly.

Col. Steve Austin (Lee Majors) never listened and always responded,"I have to, Oscar. If I don't...Who will?" Just about every show the glasses came off. It was as predictable as Commissioner Gordon always helplessly glancing over to the Batphone in the covered cake dish at the beginning of every episode. Waaay too funny! God, I miss good television!

[BilltheBat]

Gotham villains were all about style and attitude- a mask might be useful when entering the "scene" (and it definitely was a scene, with hierarchy/status defined by reputation for how big, elaborate or successful the scheme a crook put together).

After getting busted the first time, if the real identity was on file, thereafter it only served as "warpaint" to any witness who might see the criminal in public during a heist. A "disguise" outside the M.O. motif was against the grain for the ego of a Bat-villain, unless the very gimmick WAS disguise (False Face).

Since the Joker had a set origin and fixed appearance (permanent skin and hair color changes due to chemical exposure, not make-up), as stated in the comics, changing outfits or hiding his disfiguration would be denying his identity as the Joker- something his mania would never allow. Hiding himself behind a Pagliacci mask or a statue of himself was a perfect joke on his clown motif, something that emphasized his imprint, as opposed to trying to pass for "normal".

The disdain villains had for "square" citizens make the mask or costumes something akin to tattoos or body modification in the world of the show- the reasons run deep in the wearer's sense of identity rather than serving a practical function.

[Riddlersgurl]

Whoa!

That's DEEP!

[Riddler Fan]

I doubt the writers ever went so deep into their villain's personas.

[dell]

Billthebat has some good points; the villain costumes are the same idea as Batman'ss and Robin's costumes except they represent evil instead of good.

[High C]

The disdain villains had for "square" citizens make the mask or costumes something akin to tattoos or body modification in the world of the show- the reasons run deep in the wearer's sense of identity rather than serving a practical function.

Excellent points, Bill. To broaden this discussion to costumes, as you did, gives me a chance to introduce Siren to the conversation. (Of course, Joan never wore a mask as Siren, thank goodness!)

I doubt the writers ever went so deep into their villain's personas.

Not usually, but you'd be surprised. There's a line in the final draft of Wail of the Siren in which Siren actually does reference ditching her 'respectable' civilian clothes for her Siren goddess costume. Unfortunately, the scene was filmed and then cut out for the sake of time, I would assume.

In the scene, Siren is in her guise as world-famous chanteuse Lorelei Circe, after a concert.

http://batgirlbat-trap.com/omake/sit5bn2.jpg

Joan Collins actualy is wearing her own clothes in this scene. Here's the stage direction and dialogue:

***
LORELEI
I yearn to shed Lorelei Circe's--(indicates her clothes)--infernal cloak of respectability. And get back to The Siren's--(smiles wickedly)--monstrous master plan.

She EXITS through a nearby drape, obviously preparing to do just this.
***
(When she reappeared, she was dressed in the Siren's silver Greek goddess gown.)
So the obvious implication here is that to fully become her criminal alter ego, Lorelei Circe needed to change into her criminal costume. Civilian clothes simply would not do.

[dell]

Excellent points, Bill. To broaden this discussion to costumes, as you did, gives me a chance to introduce Siren to the conversation. (Of course, Joan never wore a mask as Siren, thank goodness!)

Personally, I don't see any way of making a mask work with the Siren costume. Nora Clavicle's assitants wore masks while dressed in evening gowns and the look doesn't really work in my opinion. It looks silly more than menacing. Contrast that with Catwoman who loooks great in a mask. And on the good side, Batgirl looks good wearing a cowl.

And I never really cared for masks on the Penguin or the Joker. The Riddler wore one occasionally and I think it worked best for him as compared to the other main male villians.

[Riddlersgurl]

I've said it before, I'll say it again; how in the heck do they see anything through those teeny tiny eyeholes in the masks? Don't those things cut off a person's peripheral vision?

And how in the world did they avoid wardrobe malfunctions with those toga type costumes? One wrong slip and that's it for your modesty!

[dell]

I've said it before, I'll say it again; how in the heck do they see anything through those teeny tiny eyeholes in the masks? Don't those things cut off a person's peripheral vision?

And how in the world did they avoid wardrobe malfunctions with those toga type costumes? One wrong slip and that's it for your modesty!

The closer the mask is to your face the less of your vision would be effected. I would think you could see straight ahead quite well, but as you noted yourperipheral vision would be severly comprimised.

I have heard that actresses use two-sided tape to hold gowns like that in place. Sounds gosh darned uncomfortable to me, but it would work.

[Riddlersgurl]

Doesn't that stuff have a tendency to pull of bits of skin when removed???

Oof! That's gotta hurt.

[brinke]

always wondered why BM and Robin wore their masks inside the Batcave............

[dell]

always wondered why BM and Robin wore their masks inside the Batcave............

So they would remember to stay in character. When dressed as Batman and Robin they always act that way. they never refer to each other as anything other than Batman or Robin. Therefore, it reduces the chance of them referring to each other as Bruce or Dick in public when dressed as Batman and Robin.