Students

Batman's Batsuit in Real Life: Philadelphia University Student Crafts Functional Combat Suit

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Jackson Gordon, a student at Philadelphia University, recently took to Maryland's Katsucon anime convention to show off his (almost) fully functional Batsuit.

Speaking with USA Today College, Gordon said he invited people he met at the convention to punch him. He said the suit can withstand damage from a blade, but will not be useful against a firearm.

An industrial design student, Gordon used Kickstarter to raise money "to create a real world equivalent of a batsuit that would provide significant protection and be accurate to the character." His page - and photos provided to USA Today College - indicates he succeeded. Among his more pricey requirements were Kevlar and some silicon molds.

"When I came to this college, I was sort of sitting in my room all day," he said. "I'd get my homework done in like, an hour, and then I'd have nothing to do for the rest of the day. So, I figured, I'll do what I always do - I'll start a project."

A martial arts black belt, Gordon said he has already designed a costume Batsuit, but wanted to craft "an actual fully functioning replication of what a person would want in a modern type combat suit," he said on his Kickstarter page.

The suit has a modern look to it, resembling the one from Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" trilogy rather than the Tim Burton "Batman" films. However, the helmet features short, stubby bat ears like helmet Ben Affleck will wear in his portrayal of the Caped Crusader.

"One of the things about the design process that my teacher tells us over and over again that I've learned in my own process but now is more so even true, is that designing is never finished - you either run out of time or you run out of money," Gordon told USA Today College. "So I finished this project last week and all this week when I'm done my homework I'm sitting in my dorm like, 'What do I do with my life?'"

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