The 50 Coolest Batman Gadgets

Sure, Superman may be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, Spider-Man can stick to any surface imaginable, and Wolverine has those indestructible claws, but there is no cooler gimmick in the comic book industry than Batman's collection of gadgets. Since the character's creation in 1939, the Caped Crusader has introduced the world to some of the sharpest tech innovations in all of pop-culture, and he has even managed to evolve with the technological advancements in the real world over the decades.

It seems like for every situation Batman finds himself in, he has a gadget ready to deal with it. And that is exactly why this character has endured for over 70 years. He wasn't born with super powers, and he wasn't bitten by a radioactive bat; instead he uses his tech resources to help him win his war on crime. He's the working man's hero who just so happens to be a billionaire playboy.

And with the character getting ready to end his current cinematic saga this Friday in The Dark Knight Rises, we decided to take a look back at The 50 Coolest Batman Gadgets.

RELATED: The 90 Best of 90s Electronics

50. Finger Taser

Notable appearance: Detective Comics #871

Batman’s arsenal is filled with countless non-lethal gadgets for his war on crime. And while some of them are large and somewhat gaudy, a recent addition to his armory is so small you would never even know it’s there unless you really piss him off. In Detective Comics #871, Batman unleashed a powerful taser hidden in the index finger of his glove on Becca Mulcahey as she snuck up behind him in an attempt on his life. Small and compact, this weapon is perfect for the Dark Knight when carrying excess weight is not an option.

49. Collapsible Bat-Sword

Notable appearance: Batman: The Brave and the Bold

It’s not like Batman to carry around a weapon capable of such lethal potential, but the collapsible Bat-Sword from the Batman: The Brave and the Bold cartoon is an exception. Resembling a lightsaber from the Star Wars universe, this sword was used by Batman when battling against an army of robots unleashed by the Clock King. This gadget is yet another ingenious creation exclusive to the Dark Knight’s animated world. It just goes to show that not all of the character’s classic toys had to start out on the comic book page.

48. Electromagnet

Notable appearance: Batman #584

At all times, Batman carries with him a miniature electromagnet capable of erasing any video tape or audio recording someone might try to make of him while he’s out fighting crime. This has made any footage of Batman nearly impossible to get, thus keeping his actual existence a mystery to the world. This little gadget first appeared in an issue of Batman written by Ed Brubaker that focused on a documentary film crew gathering evidence about whether or not Batman actually exists.

After realizing they actually got a clear shot of him, he took it upon himself to use the electromagnet to erase their footage, while probably killing their careers in the process. As the crew went home to their dingy studio apartments, Batman went home to his spacious mansion and billions of dollars. Justice had been served.

47. Bat-Ice Skates

Notable appearance: Batman & Robin

The hidden ice skates in Batman’s boots may be completely obsolete 364 days a year, but on the one day that he squares off against Mr. Freeze they quickly become the difference between life and death. With just a simple tap of his feet—a la Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz—these delightfully campy skates instantly pop out of the soles of his boots and the Dark Knight is ready for whatever frozen environment Freeze has created. The best part? He installed these in his costume before he ever knew Freeze existed. Talk about being prepared.

46. Freeze Grenades

Notable appearance: Batman: Arkham City

Based off of the technology created by Mr. Freeze, Batman can use these freeze grenades in Arkham City to subdue enemies, slow down the monstrous Clayface, or create ice platforms to travel on the water with. When thrown, these grenades instantly explode and encase anything around them in a block of ice. This is a quick and convenient way to dispatch one or multiple enemies with the minimal amount of fuss.

45. Fake Vampire Teeth

Notable appearance: Batman: Year 100

Paul Pope’s gritty, futuristic look at Batman was both brilliant and severely underrated when it hit stands in 2006. In the story, Batman is hunted by an overreaching government in Gotham’s police state, but it’s never made clear who is exactly under the mask. What is clear, though, is that this version of Batman is far more frightening than what we have grown accustomed to over the years.

And one of the tactics he uses to scare criminals is a pair of fake vampire teeth that he created. This makeshift tool makes the scum of the city truly believe that he is an otherworldly creature of the night, and it quickly brings these criminals to their knees before he ever has to throw a punch.

44. Underwater Boot Propellers

Notable appearance: Batman #611

When Poison Ivy has Superman under her control, she orders him to attack Batman and Catwoman during Jeph Loeb’s best-selling storyline, “Hush.” The Man of Steel’s initial attack sends both Catwoman and the Dark Knight into the water below with very little hope for survival. Fortunately for a quickly-drowning Catwoman, not only can Batman swim, but he has miniature propellers built into his boots that allow him to glide through the water.

Within moments, the Caped Crusader grabs Catwoman by the hand and brings her to safety. Like most of his gadgets, we have never seen these propellers before or since their one appearance, but they’re very cool nonetheless.

43. Computerized Batarang

Notable appearance: Batman Returns

We’re not denying the Caped Crusader’s accuracy, but even the best of us need some help every once in a while. That’s why in Batman Returns he pulled out a computerized Batarang that automatically targeted nearby enemies and flew around with a mind of its own, seemingly. It worked by traveling on a predetermined path that Batman punched into its miniature console.

This was a convenient way to ensure accuracy and defeat numerous foes with one throw. Unfortunately this gadget has never been seen again in any medium. It seems like even a billionaire has his limits, and this might have been a bit too costly for his bat budget.

42. Magnetic Batarang

Notable appearance: Green Lantern #16

The magnetic version of the classic Batarang is the perfect tool for the Dark Knight to take out robotic threats from throughout the DC Universe. As many of us know through unfortunate household accidents, it’s never a good idea to put a magnet near electronics, and this tool uses that principle as an offensive measure in Batman’s super-powered brawls.

In Green Lantern #16, by writer Geoff Johns, Batman uses this Batarang to scramble the high-tech armor of the Rocket Reds and magnetize their armor together, making them vulnerable to an attack by Black Lightning. Not even a pack of armored Russian war machines stand a chance against an unhinged billionaire with a few cool toys.

41. Handheld Rocket Boosters

Notable appearance: Batman: Under the Red Hood

Although they have never been used in the comics, Batman’s handheld rocket boosters can be seen in the recent animated film Batman: Under the Red Hood. While chasing the deadly Red Hood through an alleyway, Batman reached into his belt and slapped two metal disks on a nearby dumpster.

Suddenly, both disks shot out flames like a jet engine and turned the dumpster into a trash-filled projectile of doom. These handheld rocket boosters give Batman the ability to make any heavy object into a jet-propelled weapon. And in a city that has an estimated two dumpsters for every five people, Batman’s got plenty of ammunition.

40. EMP Gun/Remote Electrical Charge Gun

Notable appearances: Batman: Arkham City, The Dark Knight Rises

Every new Bat movie needs a new gadget, and in The Dark Knight Rises, Christopher Nolan has equipped our pointy-eared hero with a pretty tough looking EMP rifle. We don’t know how he’ll employ this gun in the movie, but in the brief glimpses we have gotten of it from the trailers, it’s clear that Bats means business when flaunting it.

And in the recent Arkham City video game, the Dark Knight uses something similar looking to this called the Remote Electrical Charge Gun. When used, Batman can take down enemies or operate electrical equipment from a distance when shot at. We don’t know of any sight more intimidating than that of Batman staring you down while brandishing a gigantic electrical rifle.

39. Remote-Controlled Batarang

Notable appearances: Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City

When a straight line of sight isn't possible, Batman often employs a remote-controlled Batarang to get around tight corners and reach cramped spaces. Once thrown, this seemingly ordinary Batarang has a camera in it that lets Batman steer it via the use of a remote control. While doing this, he can drive this gadget to hit targets that are impossible to get to with a normal Batarang. It also gives him the ability take out multiple enemies in opposite corners of a room.

38. Gas Pellets

Notable appearances: Comics, Batman: The Animated Series

When Batman needs to dispatch a room filled with enemies without the luxury of time on his hands, he usually throws a few gas pellets their way. These various gasses are non-lethal ways to knock out opponents so the Dark Knight can get to work. These gasses usually include anesthesia or tear gas, and can either be thrown in capsule form or be shot out of a specialized gun that he carries at all times. These types of gadgets make Batman a one man SWAT team in his urban war against the mob and murderous psychopaths.

37. Cryptographer Sequencer

Notable appearances: Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City

In the recent Arkham games, one of the tools that Batman is equipped with is the cryptographer sequencer, which allows him to hack into things such as mechanical locks, radios, and computers. All he has to do is stand within a few feet from a terminal, find the right frequency, and within moments the Dark Knight is in full control of whatever he wants in Gotham City.

This gadget comes in handy not only when Batman wants to break into an enemy’s hideout, but when he wants to tap into police scanners and encrypted computer systems as well. Back when the character debuted in the ‘30s, this type of stuff was all done with the most basic of tools, but the cryptographer sequencer is useful for sleuthing in the digital age.

36. Bat Cowl Tear Gas

Notable appearance: Batman/Superman #3, Batman #609

One of the security systems that Batman has actually built into his own costume is a cloud of tear gas that sprays anybody trying to remove his mask involuntarily. In the third issue of Jeph Loeb’s Batman/Superman title, this gas gets used on a brainwashed Solomon Grundy as he attempts to reveal Batman’s secret identity to the world.

Soon enough, the mountainous walking corpse was on the ground courtesy of the sadistic mind of the Caped Crusader. This just further proves that from the tips of his pointy ears to the soles of his boots, there isn’t an inch on this man that isn’t armed.

35. "Knightfall" Gloves

Notable appearance: Batman #500

As Bruce Wayne lay prone and paralyzed after having his back broken by Bane, Jean-Paul Valley briefly took over the mantle of Batman in the classic "Knightfall" storyline. Once he donned the mask, he made a few modifications to the suit—the first one being a high-tech pair of gloves that housed multiple gadgets. Complete with claws for climbing up buildings and the ability to rapidly fire Batarangs out from a specialized compartment, these gloves were far deadlier than anything Wayne ever envisioned, but there is no denying their effectiveness.

They might not jive with Batman’s non-lethal philosophy, but these mechanized gauntlets were pretty cool looking when they first debuted in the ‘90s. Unfortunately, Valley soon redesigned the whole costume into a Robocop-esque nightmare in metal. Needless to say, we weren’t big fans of that look.

34. Pneumatic Mangler

Notable appearance: The Dark Knight

Batman’s gadgets aren’t always about grace and style; sometimes they just have to get the job done. Take the pneumatic mangler for instance. Attached to his right gauntlet, this bulky cutting tool can extend over Batman’s palm, allowing him to slice through solid objects such as doors and vehicles. We’re first introduced to it in The Dark Knight when he uses it to punch a hole through the side of the Scarecrow’s van as he tries to flee after a drug bust. It might not look like much, but it’s got it where it counts.

33. Rocket Boots

Notable appearances: Batman Beyond, Batman Beyond Unlimited

Batman’s futuristic Beyond suit isn’t just cool looking; it also features some of the most impressive gadgets and gizmos in the character’s history. And one of the inventions that has allowed him to catch up with an ever-evolving world of crime are his rocket boots.

Giving the Dark Knight the ability to “fly” for the first time ever, these boots allow for easy transport across the man-made caverns of the Gotham in record time. They're especially useful during the copious amount of car chases the character has to endure on a weekly basis.

32. Heated Batarang

Notable appearance: Gotham City Sirens #24

Sometimes Batman leaves the cave with a choice of weapon specific for the villain he knows he is about to face. And whenever he crosses paths with the monstrous Clayface, he usually makes sure he brings along his special heated Batarangs. This gadget has a built-in device that causes it to heat up to near-volcanic temperatures when deployed.

When used on Clayface, this Batarang heats up his muddy hide and instantly dries it out—causing him to crumble to the ground. Obviously this tool can be used on other foes than just Clayface. Batman has used variations of this same idea on Mr. Freeze and his frozen victims throughout the years as well.

31. Cloaking Device

Notable appearance: Batman Beyond

One of the other impressive aspects of the Batsuit from Batman Beyond is the cloaking device that Bruce Wayne installed on it. Giving himself and Terry McGinnis the ability to appear invisible to the naked eye and radar, this is an extremely valuable asset to the character’s crime fighting exploits. In the new high-tech world of Gotham City, the Batsuit had to evolve, and this cloaking device is just another step towards the future for the Dark Knight.

30. Audio Frequency Jammer

Notable appearance: Batman Returns

In Tim Burton’s Batman Returns, the Penguin tricked the public of Gotham into loving him and quickly established himself as a leading candidate for Mayor. With the public on his side, it was then solely up to Batman to expose him for what he truly was.

First, he burned audio of the Penguin exposing is ulterior motives onto a CD.He then used a jamming device from the Batcave to tap into the Penguin’s audio frequency while he was giving a speech and cut the sound off. Then he played his incriminating evidence over the loudspeakers at the speech while he was miles away in the cave.

His Mayoral bid was instantly over. Of course the Penguin then went on a rampage after the speech and put countless members of the public in danger as Batman kicked back in his cave after a job well done.

29. Line Launcher

Notable appearances: Batman (1989), Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City

When the traditional grappling hook just won’t do, Batman often uses his trusty line launcher to get where he needs to go. This gadget shoots a cable both in front of and behind Batman, and once these cables hook into nearby walls, he can then zip on this line through windows or in between buildings. Most famously, he used it to save Vicki Vale from the Joker in the Gotham City museum in Tim Burton’s Batman. This gadget is best served for quick escapes when trying to move vertically is impossible.

28. Electric Batarang

Notable appearances: Batman Beyond, Batman/Superman #21

Sometimes a normal Batarang just isn’t enough, so Batman often uses an electrified version of the weapon in order to take down larger enemies. In the Batman Beyond cartoon, this weapon was staple of the state-of-the-art Dark Knight as he was often facing off against large robots and armored villains that were susceptible to this type of electricity. He doesn’t use these often, but when he does, the electric Batarangs are some of the most devastating weapons in Batman’s cache.

27. Ear Microphone

Notable appearances: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises

In another example of combining style with function, the microphones hidden in the pointed ears of Batman’s cowl give Bruce Wayne the perfect listening device to eavesdrop on the citizens of Gotham. This move was more out of necessity than anything because without these microphones, Batman’s tight mask would render him deaf.

In the comics, the microphones in the hollowed-out bat ear transmit the audio to a sound amplifier next to his real ear that allows him to hear anything he’s pointed at—even if he’s nowhere near the target. This helps when he’s spying on potential enemies from long distances. He can even hear people’s conversations through windows and thick walls.

This device wasn't introduced into the character's cinematic universe until Batman Begins when Christopher Nolan actually showed just how Batman created his complex cowl.

26. Tranquilizers

Notable appearances: Batman #405 and 406

Contrary to popular belief, Batman isn’t dependent on advanced technology to survive. In Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One, the Dark Knight employed one of the most basic, yet effective, weapons in his arsenal: the tranquilizer. It first appeared when Batman used a mechanical needle gun to tranquilize the mob’s limo drivers at the Falcone compound. It was quick and painless, but it got the job done.

Later on, while being forced to combat the Gotham City S.W.A.T. team from the shadows, he shot a simple blow dart that was loaded with a tranq at one of Gotham’s finest. Without making a sound, Batman dropped him like a bad cell phone plan. See, you don’t need fancy tech emblazoned with a bat logo in order to fight crime.

25. Cell Phone Sonar Device

Notable appearance: The Dark Knight

Batman’s a busy dude, so sometimes he needs to outsource his gadget creation to Lucius Fox—Wayne Enterprise’s resident tech-geek. In The Dark Knight, Lucius created a way to have the signal emitted from everyday cell phones to be turned into a unique sonar beacon that only Batman could see, through the use of some specialized lenses. This sonar signal gave Bruce Wayne the ability to see everyone in the area of the signal, even if they were hiding in buildings or under ground.

Most famously at the end of the movie, Batman used this device for everyone's cell phone in the city, which helped him find the Joker. This device also gave the Caped Crusader the ultimate tool to potentially spy on all of the citizens of Gotham without their knowledge. It’s a morally grey area that would make Stalin proud.

24. Kryptonite Ring

Notable appearance: Batman #612

Batman may know a lot about combat, chemistry, technology, and costume design, but the dude really needs to brush up on his social skills. Case in point; one of his best friends in the superhero world is Superman. And how does Batman show the Man of Steel how much he means to him? By carrying around a kryptonite ring at all times in case he ever needs to belt him.

It might not be the most neighborly thing to do, but this ring did actually come in handy when Poison Ivy placed Superman under her spell and forced him to go after Batman. With ring in hand, the Dark Knight managed to subdue Superman long enough for him to break the spell.

23. Bat-Tracer

Notable appearances: Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: Arkham City

When the Dark Knight needs to keep tabs on an enemy, but doesn’t want to follow them too closely, he usually slaps a miniature tracking device on their shoulder so he can follow their movements. Small in size and virtually weightless, Batman can pick up a signal from these tracers from blocks away and follow that signal to wherever the villain is heading. This gadget is most useful when following a lowly henchman back to his boss’ hidden headquarters. For an expert in man-tracking such as Batman, these mini devices are among his most important gadgets.

22. Glider Wings

Notable appearances: Batman Beyond, Batman Beyond Unlimited

In the future, Batman has ditched the cumbersome cape and built himself a pair of retractable wings that are both fashionable and functional. Once deployed, these wings help Batman glide through Gotham with ease. While the Batman Beyond suit already has rocket boots to help him fly, the glide function allows Terry McGinnis to travel the city without wasting a lot of the suit’s power. The movement while gliding is also a good deal slower than the boots, allowing Batman to travel much more deliberately while on a sensitive case.

21. Rebreather

Notable appearances: Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, Comics

Whenever Batman’s adventures take him into the depths of Gotham Harbor or any major ocean, he’s forced to reach into his utility belt and whip out his rebreather. Giving him the ability to breathe under water once fastened to his mouth, this tiny gadget has proven vital to the Dark Detective’s wetter stories.

The rebreather can either be a simple moth component or part of a larger scuba suit which he often employs when he’s forced to go even deeper into the water. Contemporaries like Aquaman and Superman might be able to survive under water on their own, but Batman’s rebreather evens the playing field just a bit.

20. Explosive Gel

Notable appearances: Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City

Sure Batman is in impeccable shape, but he isn’t capable of pulling off superhuman feats of strength on his own. So when the Caped Crusader needs to knock down a wall or bust through a floor, he depends on his explosive gel.

Once dispensed from his gel gun, this explosive liquid can be detonated via a remote control. It’s not extremely powerful, but it’s useful in taking out larger objects in his way. And, of course, in order to stroke his own ego even more, whenever he sprays the gel he always does so in the shape of a bat. If he doesn’t brand himself, who will?

19. Utility Belt Taser

Notable appearances: Justice League, Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: Arkham City - Harley's Quinn's Revenge

In desperate scenarios, Batman’s utility belt turns into a weapon itself. When someone other than the Dark Knight attempts to look through his belt to find out his secrets, a strong electrical charge is sent through it that will render an opponent temporarily unconscious. This is one of the reasons that his enemies can’t simply snatch his belt off from behind. It also means that Batman’s belt is about as dangerous as the man himself.

18. Batmobile Remote Control

Notable appearances: Batman (1989), The Dark Knight

You probably think you’re a big shot because you have a remote starter on your car, right? Well, Batman doesn’t just have a remote starter on his Batmobile; he has the ability to drive the damn thing with his voice. While escaping from the Joker with Vicki Vale in the 1989 version of Batman, the Dark Knight ordered the Batmobile to pick them both up through the use of a voice-activated remote control. Within moments the car was there ready for Batman to hop in.

More recently in The Dark Knight, Batman used a similar technique on the Scarecrow and some members of the mob to intimidate them in a parking garage. Again using some type of remote control, Batman ordered the empty Batmobile to fire rockets blindly at parked cars to terrorize his targets. No doubt it’s a cool gadget to have, but we’re not sure the owners of these now-smoldering piles of former automobile could see the novelty of such an invention.

17. Disruptor

Notable appearance: Batman: Arkham City

Possibly the best new Batman gadget to be introduced in the past decade, the disruptor is the ultimate tool for a man who isn’t exactly impervious to bullets. When used, this disruptor can jam any firearm from a considerable distance. This means that Batman can hide in the shadows and make an enemy’s gun obsolete for an easy takedown.

Unfortunately this can only jam two guns at once, and it takes a long time to cool down after it’s used twice. But it’s still an invaluable gadget for Batman’s adventures. And it doesn’t only work on standard guns either; it can also be used on Mr. Freeze’s ice gun and wall-mounted automated machine guns.

16. Bat Signal

Notable appearances: Batman (1989), Batman Returns

It might not be the most traditional gadget, but it’s one of the most effective. The Bat Signal is the ultimate way for Commissioner Gordon to get in touch with the Dark Knight—who we’re pretty sure doesn’t have a cell phone plan. Now some interpretations of the Batman legend claim that Gordon came up with the idea of the signal—like Batman Begins—but in Tim Burton’s Batman, it's Batman himself who creates it.

The signal in Batman Returns is even more impressive because Bruce Wayne created a series of mirrors on top of Wayne Manor that instantly move into place to reflect the Bat Signal into his study whenever Gordon activates it. This alerts him to the signal even if he’s not looking out onto the Gotham skyline.

15. Bat-Nets

Notable appearance: Batman Gotham After Midnight #2

In the recent Gotham After Midnight miniseries by writer Steve Niles and artist Kelley Jones, Batman employs the use of multiple Bat-Nets to render his opponents incapacitated. He has used nets plenty of times in the past, but these high-tech versions are much different than the bulky things he used to carry around.

At first they just appear like tiny mechanical bats that he throws into the air, but within seconds they each shoot out a sophisticated net that tightly wraps around enemies like a spider’s web. Spider-Man might want to look into any sort of legal action he can take here.

14. Batsuit Taser

Notable appearances: The Dark Knight, Batman #609

One of the often overlooked aspects of Batman’s suit is that it actually has its own security devices built into it. Whenever Batman is out of other gadgets, he has the ability use a control in his glove to send a powerful electric charge through his costume to take down enemies that try to touch him. In The Dark Knight, one of the Joker’s goons tastes this shock personally when he tries to remove a prone Batman’s mask.

This idea originated in the comics—most famously during the “Hush” storyline when one of Gotham’s resident thugs got roasted after attempting to take a peek underneath his cowl. We just hope Alfred wears rubber gloves when doing his laundry.

13. Built-In Lie Detector

Notable appearance: Batman #3

Batman is the master of interrogation, and no matter how strong-willed a criminal may be, eventually they all squeal under his boot. But how does he know that these criminals aren’t just lying to him when he’s attempting to get sensitive information from them? That’s where one of his more recent gadgets comes into play.

Hidden in his cowl is a built-in lie detector that reads a criminal’s heart rate and body temperature. The detector then shows a message to Batman through his cowl’s lenses telling him whether or not he’s being lied to. Honestly, this is one of the more implausible gadgets that the Batman writers have come up with in recent years, but it’s hard to deny just how useful something like this would be for a crime fighter.

12. Bat-Bomb

Notable appearances: Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Begins

Batman doesn't usually carry explosives on him, but his miniature Bat-Bombs are an exception. Used most often to blow locks off of doors or to knock down walls, these little bits of mayhem are very rarely used for offensive reasons. Most famously, Batman used these bombs to escape from the reinforced confines of Arkham Asylum during Batman Begins.

Being no larger than a golf ball, these bombs are easy to carry around in case they are ever needed. A version of this same idea also appeared briefly in Batman & Robin when the dynamic duo used some gaudy looking Bat-Bombs to blow up Mr. Freeze’s makeshift spaceship. But the less said about that, the better.

11. Bat-Cuffs

Notable appearances: Batman: The Movie (1966), Batman: The Animated Series, Comics

You would think that knowing every form of hand-to-hand combat on Earth would be enough to subdue enemies, but more often than not Batman relies on his Bat-Cuffs to truly restrain criminals. Often times shown as being in the shape of a bat (of course) these nearly-unbreakable cuffs are used after Batman clobbers a criminal and needs to leave them waiting for the police to arrive.

Over the years he has built specialized cuffs for his more powerful enemies like Bane and Killer Croc, but they are often too bulky to be carried around all the time. More recently in the comics, these cuffs have been modernized to resemble the strong plastic handcuffs used in law enforcement.

10. Power Armor

Notable appearance: The Dark Knight Returns #4

This gadget-laden power suit of Batman’s only appeared in one story, but it is easily the most memorable moment in the history of DC Comics. When Frank Miller portrayed Superman as an out of control tool of the government in his neo-noir epic, The Dark Knight Returns, it was up to Batman to take him down. Obviously Batman can’t handle the Last Son of Krytpon on his own, so he employed the use of a gargantuan power suit to aid him.

Enhancing his strength and durability by incalculable amounts, the newly-armored Batman finally took down the Man of Steel—with some help from the Green Arrow and his kryptonite arrows, of course. This was one badass piece of machinery; however, we’re glad he only used it once. After all, he’s Batman not Iron Man.

9. Bat-Shark Repellent

Notable appearance: Batman: The Movie

Even though it only appeared once, the Bat-Shark Repellent has become one of the most famous gadgets in Batman lore. Used to get rid of a very random Great White that was dangling off of his leg, this spray saved the Caped Crusader from certain doom in his big screen debut.

Now why exactly did he have this bizarre tool on him at the time? Beats us. The more pressing question we're asking is why did he have so many cans of it in the Bat Copter? One thing you can say about the dude; he’s always prepared.

8. Smoke Pellets

Notable appearances: Batman (1989), Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Begins

When taking down mobsters and psychopaths, it’s important for Batman to rarely ever be seen. And that’s why he’s made use of various smoke pellets and grenades during his career. The use of stealth is something that was ingrained in his mind after receiving tutelage from the League of Shadows, and he carried those teachings over to Gotham City.

When used, these pellets emit enough noxious smoke for Batman to escape from a dangerous situation with ease. He has also used these pellets in order to distract enemies so he can take them down easier. The special lenses in Batman's cowl allow him to see through hazards like smoke without any trouble, but we'll get to those a bit later.

7. Gauntlets

Notable appearances: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises

In the original comics, Batman’s edged gauntlets served very little purpose other than to look snazzy. But when Christopher Nolan launched Batman Begins in 2005, he gave this design a logical reason for existing that has since been adopted by every version of the Caped Crusader.

In the movie, Bruce Wayne wore these gauntlets as a prospective member of the League of Shadows while he was training abroad. And once he returned to Gotham, he incorporated them into his Batsuit. The razor-edged spikes on these gauntlets can dig into the sides of buildings, block knife and sword attacks, and be used as an offensive weapon against enemies.

Later on in The Dark Knight, Lucius Fox invented new high-tech gauntlets for Batman that could actually fire mini Batarangs out of them as projectiles. This alteration memorably saved Batman’s life from the Joker towards the end of the movie.

6. Ultrasonic Bat Beacon

Notable appearances: Batman #406, Batman Begins

Who needs sidekicks like Robin, Nightwing, and Batgirl when you can summon an entire army of winged companions to your aid with just the touch of a button? During a battle with the Gotham City S.W.A.T. team during Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One, Batman activated an ultrasonic bat beacon hidden in his boot. When pressed, the device emitted a sound wave that attracted hundreds of bats from beneath Wayne Manor to his location in order to create a diversion for his escape.

This idea was later brought to the big screen in Batman Begins during a similar scene where Batman is escaping from the G.C.P.D. in Arkham Asylum. Both moments were portrayed as happening early in Batman’s career, and afterwards it left the cops, criminals, and civilians of Gotham wondering whether or not there was something supernatural about the Caped Crusader.

5. Cowl Lenses

Notable appearances: Comics, Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City

Have you noticed that whenever you open up a Batman comic or watch a Batman cartoon that his eyes are always completely white? That’s not an artistic decision; this look serves a purpose. At all times, Batman actually wears high-tech lenses that provide a multitude of functions. He can switch these lenses between night vision, thermal vision, x-ray vision, and a host of other optical settings that help him with solving crimes.

These different settings come in handy whenever Batman needs additional help finding his target. But aside from one brief scene in The Dark Knight, these lenses have been mainly absent from the movie series for some reason. Despite not getting any love in live-action, there is no doubt that these lenses have been a staple of the look of the Bat for decades.

4. Memory Cloth Cape

Notable appearances: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises

What makes Batman’s costume stand out from the rest of the gaudy garbs of the superhero world is that everything on the suit is practical. And nothing exemplifies this school of thought more than the memory cloth cape that debuted in Batman Begins.

Most people just view his cape as a showpiece that is meant to terrify criminals. And in some respects that’s true. But when electric currents from his gloves are pulsed through this high-tech cloth, it hardens up and quickly becomes a rigid pair of bat wings for gliding through the city. This helps with the illusion that Batman is actually flying—a tactic that feeds his “creature of the night” aura that the criminals of Gotham fear.

3. Bat Computer

Notable appearances: Batman (1989), The Dark Knight, Batman: The Animated Series, Comics

Even though Batman is easily one of the smartest characters in the DC Universe, he also has plenty of help along the way. And one of the most vital tools that he uses is the Bat Computer, which is housed in the Batcave. Working as a digital database for nearly every crazed villain, politician, and socialite in the world, this computer can spit out information for the Caped Crusader at lightning speed.

It has a record of everything from fingerprints to facial recognition software for his more complex crimes. It's so advanced that it’s practically sentient at times. Over the years, it has become so important to his job that he even has a mobile version of this computer mounted in the dashboard of the Batmobile and on his gauntlets at times.

2. Grappling Gun

Notable appearances: Comics, Batman (1989), Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight

For a hero who can’t fly, yet has to travel the length of one of the largest cities on Earth in a timely fashion, it was vital for Batman to invent a way to swing from building to building without the danger of falling to his death. Thus, the Caped Crusader thought up the legendary grappling gun. With the ability to support his body weight—and often times that of another person—this gun fires out a cable that can attach to buildings, police helicopters, or any other object in his way allowing him to swing freely.

In all of the recent comics, cartoons, and movies, Batman has had some version of this gadget on his utility belt. Over the years the design has gotten smaller and smaller, while the cable itself has gotten stronger and longer. And when Batman isn't using it for transport, it can also be implemented as an offensive gadget to tie up crooks or rip chunks of wall down upon unsuspecting criminals.

1. The Batarang

Notable appearances: Comics, Batman (1989), Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Returns, Batman Begins

There are no gimmicks here; the standard Batarang is easily the most important piece of Batman’s arsenal. These specialized throwing stars are nothing more than sculpted metal in the shape of a bat. Simple, right? You tell that to the thugs that the Dark Knight punctures with these bad boys every night.

These weapons are specially crafted by Batman himself to be both aerodynamic and dangerous, and throughout the years, the character has altered the original design to fit whatever situation he finds himself in. These variations include a thick boomerang-like model that can knock out an enemy, razor-sharp versions that can slice through objects, and quick release mini-Batarangs that can easily fold on a hinge and be placed in his belt.

The main draw of these Batarangs is the ease in which Batman can travel with them. Being that they are so small, and that they are able to be reused, the Batarang is easily the most reliable item in his arsenal. This is one of the only gadgets in Batman’s history to be adapted across nearly every medium with minimal changes. And the reason is simple; the design is so perfect that no alterations need to be made. It’s a testament to Bruce Wayne’s genius that he can take the simple design of a boomerang and adapt them to fit his nocturnal mystique.