When people think about the most important aspects of Batman's routine, they usually think of his utility belt or the Batmobile. They don't usually think about Batman's ears. However, the internet has just proven that there's one part of Batman's arsenal that doesn't get enough credit - the ears.
As stupid as that may sound, a Batman fan created a post showing what it would look like if Batman did not have ears. Better yet, the post used multiple live-action versions of Batman and what he would look like without ears to demonstrate how important it is to his appearance as a vigilante.
In an Instagram post, Comics and Coffee posted four pictures of the most well-known actors who played Batman in a live-action adaptation of the legendary superhero - Michael Keaton, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, and Robert Pattinson. The caption reads, "And this is why ears on Batman’s cowl matters #comicsandcoffee." The picture shows what all four iterations of The Dark Knight would look like without ears on his costume. Not only do they look a little foolish, but they also don't look any bit intimidating, which plays a part in how Batman fights his enemies - by striking fear into them.
Ever since DC made Batman their iconic dark brooding superhero, the point of his persona was not just that he was a hero whose goal was to eliminate crime without needing to kill anyone, but also that he would make his enemies fear him more than anything. It may not seem like his ears would be an integral part of that equation, but it is. He looks like a petty thief without ears. While there are sure to be more modern changes to the character over time, whether it be Affleck's Batman or Pattinson's Caped Crusader, among the characteristics they should never take away from Batman is his ears because of how big a role it plays in his appearance.
There is nothing wrong with changing the DC comic storylines. Batman didn't always have that persona. What played a role in his popularity early on was Adam West's campy portrayal of him in the 1960s. When Marvel entered the picture, DC was forced to make its heroes more relatable. By adding the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne, Batman became a more appealing hero because of how tragic his backstory was.
Creative liberties like those led to Christopher Nolan's Batman movie franchise becoming one of the best superhero movie trilogies ever made by grounding the series in realism, which played an instrumental role in how superhero movies essentially took over Hollywood. The Batman took some liberties by taking another viewpoint with the Waynes and Bruce's relationship with Alfred, and it worked tremendously. However, some liberties should never be even brought up, and taking away Batman's ears is one of them.
The Batman can currently be streamed on HBO Max
Source: Comics and Coffee