Someone call the fashion police and tell them to stand down because The CW has given fans their first look at Javicia Leslie's redesigned Batwoman suit and it looks amazing! In looking at the suit, Batwoman's cowl now allows for her natural, curly hair with red streaks to flow freely as she bounds from rooftop to rooftop in search of Gotham's criminal element. She's also got red, finned gauntlets over her forearms, and shorter boots that allow for better movement amidst the city streets. Oh, and is that a scarlet red tinge to her cape that I see? I'm also digging the linework around her chest, too, which I can only assume is reinforced kevlar that keeps Wilder safe potentially deadly attacks. All told, I think this is a solid redesign and I'm so very pleased that Leslie is being given the chance to portray Batwoman while sporting her own unique look and style.
Back in September during DC Fandome, Batwoman executive producer Caroline Dries teased some of the new changes coming to Leslie's character, Ryan Wilder.
“Ryan’s journey starts from a place of ‘What can this Batsuit do for me?’ But it’s not long before she realizes the power of its symbol and what it can do for everyone else in Gotham City,” Dries said of Batwoman's stylish redesign. “As Ryan embraces everything that makes her special, she adjusts the suit to fit her physically and figuratively. This meant creating a new body design and new cowl that was undeniably a statement that screamed ‘powerful.’ Maya Mani sent me her drawings and I loved it. The wig was something we never perfected in season one, and Janice Workman crushed it with this new take. Javicia and I saw various prototypes of styles and red ombres, and at one point we were trading our own iPad-doodled versions. Janice translated that into what we are looking at now. When I see it, I smile. It makes me feel inspired.”
Leslie, who was also in attendance during the panel, added, “I love the fact that Ryan is becoming her own Batwoman — it’s her style, her swag, and her moment! It was an honor to be able to collaborate with Caroline and Maya. I felt it was important that viewers could tell by the silhouette that Batwoman was a Black girl. With the form-fitting suit and beautiful Afro, we definitely nailed it!”
“I was asked by Caroline Dries to design a Batsuit that was unique to the character of Ryan Wilder; as she is a highly-skilled fighter, encapsulating her raw, athletic, and passionate nature was imperative,” said Mani. “As Batwoman, Javicia Leslie not only brings a fresh perspective but physical strength to the role. It was important for the new suit to define Javicia’s commanding presence while showcasing her athleticism and allowing her the freedom to express the physical nature of Batwoman, all while looking ultra-cool in the process!”
According to reports, Leslie will rock Ruby Rose's Batwoman suit until slipping into her own during the upcoming season's third episode. The change in her wardrobe is meant to serve as a signal to Gotham that a new hero has arrived and she's come equipped with her own arsenal of wonderful toys.
You can catch a look at Leslie's new Batwoman suit below. Be sure to sound off in the comments and let us know what you think.