As one of DC Comics’ stalwart characters, Batman has become one of the most famous and beloved superheroes ever created. He’s been around since 1939, and in that time has featured in a massive array of comics, live-action and animated films, TV shows, cartoons, and merchandise. Usually depicted as a dark and troubled hero, the other sides of his persona have grown to include him being a brilliant detective, a genius, and a multi-faceted hero who relies on a fleet of futuristic vehicles, tech, and gadgetry as much as his amazing fighting skills.
Many of those gadgets have become famous over the years, mostly from showing up in the many big-budget films Batman has been a part of. However, given his long and wide-ranging history as a comic book character, there have also been many amazing gadgets we haven’t yet seen on screen. As James Gunn continues his much-anticipated reboot of the DCU, until we see him on screen again, here’s a look at 15 awesome Batman gadgets we haven’t seen in a movie yet.
15 Finger Taser
Batman’s many suits over the years have become iconic for how much tech and weaponry he’s been able to pack into them. Aside from his legendary utility belt, there have also been other parts of the Batsuit that Batman has been able to conceal a wide array of gadgets in. One of those is the fingers of his gloves, where he conceals a finger taser.
The Taser is very Handy for When He Fights at Close Quarters
Utilizing it to deliver a surprise jolt of electricity or a mild shock to enemies, the finger taser has been used to deliver a heftier blow through a punch or even a single touch — one strong enough to incapacitate enemies without permanently harming them.
Showing up in various iterations of the comics, video games, and animated movies and shows, the finger taser works with a power source, converter, and electrodes that allow him to deliver the surprise shock when fighting in close quarters.
14 Bat-Cuffs
Batman often works with law enforcement, but usually has an array of gadgets and devices they would love to have. A perfect example is his Bat-Cuffs. While not dissimilar from ordinary handcuffs, Batman’s cuffs are more durable and robust. That’s obviously a very necessary trait, since he often comes across bad guys that require a lot more force than conventional criminals.
They Are Symbolic of the Fact that He Often Operates as a Vigilante Lawman
Also playing into the symbolic nature of Batman’s persona as a detective, but also the extremity of his vigilante-style crusades for justice, the cuffs represent how brutal he can be. Willing to deprive enemies of their freedom if he needs to, he’s used them to detain his enemies before. Of course, they’re also symbolic of the fact that, in many timelines, Batman is a fugitive from the law himself.
Batman’s murkier side has led to suggestions by many writers and fans, that he’s actually a villain himself.
13 Bat-Eye
Often depicted as a super sleuth kind of hero with an arsenal of high-tech gadgetry that would make James Bond envious, Batman is usually ready for any situation. From a surveillance standpoint, one of his most intriguing gadgets is the Bat-Eye. Portrayed as a literal sphere that resembles an eyeball, the device is kind of bulky, but has proven invaluable for spy and reconnaissance missions. The Bat-Eye isn’t to be confused with Brother Eye, which is a surveillance satellite Batman used to spy on Metahumans and which later spawned the villain, OMAC.
It’s Very Useful Though Not Very Ergonomic
One of his prominent uses of it came during an issue of the Batman Detective comics where the Bat Eyeball was used to spy on a meeting of Gotham’s most notorious underworld figures. He’s also used it to track down a kidnap victim, proving its versatility and why it would work so well in a movie. Essentially a spherical drone that’s decked out with a myriad of sensors, audio and recording capabilities, it would probably need a more ergonomic design to show up in a movie.
12 Magnets
Batman’s utility belt is an iconic part of his suit, and has been known to hold all manner of high-tech gadgetry and even weapons. While not as glamorous as some of his other gadgets, he’s also been known for carrying powerful magnets in his utility belt too. Serving multiple purposes, the magnets have been used in a variety of ways over the years.
Not Your Average Magnets
Like everything designed and used by Batman, even the humble magnet is far from average when deployed by him. That’s because his magnets are strong enough to disarm opponents of metallic weapons and to climb metal structures. However, one of his most memorable uses of them came in the “No Man’s Land” comics, where he used them to easily move about a metal-strewn wasteland caused by an earthquake that struck Gotham.
11 Flamethrower
Despite having an entire arsenal of gadgets, all kinds of creative weaponry, and even explosive devices, Batman isn’t known for using lethal items. Nevertheless, he does occasionally resort to some pretty devastating devices when he needs to. A good example of this is his use of a flamethrower. Usually used as a compact device or something that can easily be integrated into his suit, Batman’s flamethrower encompasses a design that minimizes the amount of harm it can cause while still being effective.
He’s Used it to Brilliant Effect in the Comics
In the “Batman: Year One” timeline, he notably used the flamethrower for a daring escape plan while trapped in an abandoned building where Gotham’s police force had him surrounded. Rather than using it against police, he chose to set parts of the building on fire, so he could create a smokescreen and a thermal updraft. With an adequate distraction in place, he used the opportunity to escape via the roof. While flames aren’t new in Batman movies, we’ve yet to see him being the one throwing them.
10 Bat-Sword
Yes, you read that right, Batman has even used a sword. While not one of his most frequently used gadgets, it has made an appearance in the comics and animated iterations of the character. Portrayed as extremely durable, he’s usually reserved it for use against similarly armed opponents.
He Was Trained as a Ninja
It may seem a little weird to picture the Batman we know from the movies using a sword, but it should also be kept in mind that he was trained as a ninja and often faced off against enemies like Ra’s al Ghul. His is a custom-made sword and enhanced with his own tech. He famously used it in “Batman: Sword of Azrael” where he fought an armored opponent.
9 Projectile Ears
Batman’s famous cowl isn’t just used as a fashion statement and often encompasses creative functionalities that aid him in fights. In some iterations of his suit, the cowl is equipped with projectile ears that can detach from it and be used as unconventional weapons. As the famous ears are pointy, they have the advantage of doubling as projectiles in an emergency situation.
Brilliant, Deadly, and Hilarious!
Another brilliant example of how cunning and creative Batman can be, the projectile ears have come in handy in the comics. A great example of this was seen in the “Batman: Arkham Knight” comic series where he was being restrained but needed to disarm a device from a distance.
He’s also used them against villains, which is kind of hilarious, actually. Picture being in a fight with Batman, thinking you have him beaten, only for him to pull off his ears and fling them at you like he would a Batarang.
8 Propellor Boots
Certainly one of his more unique gadgets, for moments when he may need to be extra mobile, Batman’s propellor boots are usually perfect for the job. Built as small but powerful propellors that his boots are equipped with, they offer added mobility for when the occasion calls. While it may seem like overkill to even have such a feature, the propellors have actually come in handy many times, since he has two types, ones that can help him hover and attachments that can help him swim faster.
They Have Been Used Both to Help People and for Quick Escapes
Given the diverse range of missions and situations Batman has found himself in over the years, there have been many occasions when he’s suddenly needed extra mobility. Triggered remotely or by sensors, they have been employed to reach a victim hanging off the end of a bridge. As they allow him to glide across distances at a pace, or swim faster if he needs to, they have also been handy for escaping dangerous situations.
7 Freeze Gun
Although technically a gun, Batman’s freeze gun is non-lethal and used as a way of neutralizing opponents quickly without killing them. Also used against opponents for whom traditional means of incapacitation won’t work, he’s also been known to use freeze grenades which explode and cause a frosty impact zone when detonated.
It Serves Other Purposes Beyond Being a Weapon
Likely based on tech he borrowed from Mr. Freeze, he may have even confiscated it from him during one of their run-ins. A very cool gun and a versatile weapon overall, he’s also used the gun in non-combat situations, like when he created an ice bridge with it in order to safely rescue hostages in “Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight”.
6 Heated Batarang
Batman’s numerous batarang designs have become iconic over the years. A personalized weapon usually shaped like his logo, batarangs have been seen in various Batman movies. Usually used as an object that can be thrown like a ninja star, they can be extremely useful, deadly, or just intimidating. However, what hasn’t been seen in a movie is the heated batarang, a more formidable example of Batman’s favorite weapon.
We’ve Seen Something Similar in a Batman Movie
Like the name implies, this batarang is heated and has been used in a variety of ways. It was first seen in “Gotham City Sirens” #24 where he used a miniature heater to heat a batarang to scalding temperatures.
A great example of its practicality came when he used it to free civilians trapped in a frozen bus in “Batman: Streets of Gotham”. While we’ve seen something similar in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, those were used more like a set of heated brass knuckles he used to brand criminals and intimidate Lex Luthor with.
5 Face Shield (Bullet-Proof)
Batman’s abhorrence of guns and killing is well known. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop his enemies from using guns, and because his mask only covers half his face, this leaves him vulnerable to gunfire. Although his suit is often made from composites that include kevlar, he’s not invulnerable to bullets.
It’s Been Needed When He’s Encountered Brutal Enemies
To counter this problem, when needed, Batman has been known to don a bullet-proof face shield. He notably used this in Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns” comic series, helping to protect himself from enemies using guns. This gadget is particularly handy when he knows he’s facing villains that are extra brutal and who won’t hesitate to shoot at his face given the chance.
4 Bat Nets
While it hasn’t been seen for a long time, there was a period in the comics when Batman made frequent use of Bat Nets. As ever, while it may seem like a mundane item to use, when it comes to Batman, nothing is ever done in a mediocre way. Whether needed to fight off multiple villains at once, or to just nab a rampaging one, Batman’s nets are anything but ordinary.
They Have Been Useful for Subduing Opponents Quickly
Made from a strong but durable and lightweight material, the Bat Nets have a higher tensile strength than may be apparent from just looking at them. As a result, in comic story lines like “The Long Halloween”, he’s been able to use them for rounding up many criminals at once and subduing his enemies quickly and effectively.
3 Bat-Sleep
It’s no secret that Batman uses a range of gadgets and devices to get the upper hand over his opponents. By design, many of them are used as a means of creating the impression that he’s more than human. While he’s just as capable of knocking out opponents with his hands, other devices like the Bat-Sleep have been used to quickly and painlessly incapacitate his enemies.
He Used Similar Devices in Movies
In timelines like “Batman: Gotham After Midnight”, he used the Bat-Sleep to render a group of guards unconscious while on a stealth mission. Used both as a device that releases a gaseous substance or one that emits a sonic wave, its main purpose is to knock opponents out in a non-lethal manner. While we’ve seen him use gas canisters in films before, none ever fit neatly into the definition of a Bat-Sleep device like the kind he used in the comics. It was, however, famously used in the ’60s Adam West Batman series, in an aerosol can conveniently labeled “Bat-Sleep”.
2 Bat-Laser
Typically used for specialized uses like cutting objects, the Bat-Laser is another handy gadget that Batman has deployed in the comics. Whether used tactically or as a means of getting into places or escaping them, it’s a device that bears the hallmarks of Batman’s brilliance as an engineer. Despite its raw power as something that can be used as a weapon, he usually uses it for delicate missions that require a quiet, precision touch.
It’s Been Used in a Variety of Different Ways
Some great uses of it have come from “Batman: The Dark Knight Series” where he used it to free hostages. He’s also been known to use it to remove obstacles or in scenarios that require a deft tool to make his way through booby-trapped places. In other iterations, his use of lasers was upgraded to a full weapon when he used laser gauntlets.
1 Bat-Heater
When some of your regular foes are lunatics who constantly try to freeze the entire world, it stands to reason that countermeasures which employ heat will come in handy. The Bat-Heater is used for this precise purpose as it’s a device designed to counteract freezing temperatures. It’s been used in some notable ways by Batman, mainly showing up in timelines where the brilliantly devious Mr. Freeze was the city’s biggest threat.
It’s Become A Necessary Tool When Facing Mr. Freeze
In a famous example, Mr. Freeze once plunged Gotham into a kind of perpetual winter. To fight against this, Batman uses the Bat-Heater to melt pathways through areas that have been frozen solid and rendered too dangerous to travel through. The device became a necessity in this instance, since it was the only way for him to stay mobile without his other equipment and gadgets freezing too.
