DC Animated Universe
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"I need a new car."
Batman's first words to Earl Cooper[1]

The Batmobile was Batman's automobile and primary mode of transportation. It has been redesigned and rebuilt over the years.

First Batmobile[]

Early Batmobile

Batman's early Batmobile.

Not much is known about Batman's early Batmobile. Due to mechanical trouble, he was forced to abandon it and had a more robust vehicle designed and built by Earl Cooper, an out-of-work automobile designer with a reputation as a troublemaker in the industry.[1]

Second Batmobile[]

Inspiration

Bruce gets inspiration for his future vehicle.

2nd Batmobile

Batman's second Batmobile.

Earl Cooper designed and built the second Batmobile (inspired by a vehicle of similar design Bruce saw at the Gotham's World's Fair during a date with Andrea Beaumont[2]) that included such items as a turbine jet, grappling hook, ejection seats, on-board navigation and computer with video uplink, oil slick and caltrops. Batman had two vehicles with this design:

  • The first was destroyed by Penguin.
  • The second was built after Penguin's defeat with several upgrades.

However, the Batmobile was not absolutely durable, as it was once smashed easily by Bane.

In an alternate timeline, resistance leader Bruce Wayne had a very similar attack vehicle to the second Batmobile.

Third Batmobile[]

Third Batmobile

Batman's third Batmobile

The third Batmobile design was completely different from the previous ones. In addition to being used by Batman, it was also driven by Batgirl at times and served Batman through his affiliation with the Justice League.

By the time Terry McGinnis discovered the Batcave, this Batmobile along with the Batwing was still present.[3]

Fourth Batmobile[]

"This is unbearably cool!"
Batman, during his first ride in the Batmobile[4]

5thBatmobile

The fourth Batmobile.

In the mid to late 21st century, a time when vehicles could fly, the fourth Batmobile had flight capabilities that was the main transportation for the new Batman. This new Batmobile would incorporate a similar or greater range of gadgetry as previous Batmobiles and given the fact it's already airborne, precluded the need for the Batwing. The vehicle can pilot itself and can be summoned to Terry automatically when called. It could project a hologram of an ordinary vehicle over itself to avoid suspicion, camouflage itself in similar fashion to his Batsuit,[5] for longer periods of time to deter vandals and tampering. The vehicle is operated through the suit's electronics reducing the amount of effort needed to pilot it, however that may be unnecessary as Bruce was seen piloting the vehicle without it.[6] Its top speed is said to be Mach 3.[7] The Batmobile also has a floor embedded hatch, permitting Batman to drop straight down. The car carries an array of weapons and gadgets. Rear grappling hooks to tow or snag vehicles, bottom mounted magnetic grapples to catch and slow down vehicles. It's also armed with missiles.[4][8]

Background information[]

  • According to Alan Burnett, at one point in Batman: The Animated Series production, Batman would have been "driving a 40s roadster until he got the Batmobile" from Earl Cooper.[9]
  • After the first four or five shows were shipped overseas to be animated, somebody at Warner Bros. corporate expressed nervousness about the shows Batmobile design. "Oh my God, they have a different Batmobile design than in the movie. This will confuse kids and all the licensees. We've got to have the movie Batmobile in the show." However, according to Bruce Timm, Tim Burton came to the rescue. "Jean had the idea of showing Tim our designs and saying 'Is this close enough to what you're doing in the movie?' He said, 'Oh yeah, that's fine. It looks close enough.'"[10]

Sightings[]

First Batmobile[]

Batman: The Animated Series

Second Batmobile[]

Batman: The Animated Series

Feature films

Batman Beyond

Justice League

Third Batmobile[]

Fourth Batmobile[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Bright, Laren, Perry, Steve (story) & Rogel, Randy (teleplay) & Altieri, Kevin (director) (January 24, 1993). "The Mechanic". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 48 (airdate). Episode 55 (production). FOX Kids.
  2. Melniker, B., Uslan, M. (Producers), & Radomski, E., Timm, B. W. (Directors). (1993). Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. United States: Warner Bros.
  3. Burnett, Alan, Dini, Paul (writers) & Geda, Curt (director) (January 10, 1999). "Rebirth, Part I". Batman Beyond. Season 1. Episode 1 (airdate). Episode 1 (production). Kids WB!.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Goodman, Robert (writer) & Riba, Dan (director) (January 31, 1999). "Black Out". Batman Beyond. Season 1. Episode 3 (airdate). Episode 3 (production). Kids WB!.
  5. Berkowitz, Stan (writer) & Riba, Dan (director) (November 4, 2000). "Speak No Evil". Batman Beyond. Season 3. Episode 6 (airdate). Episode 45 (production). Kids WB!.
  6. Bader, Hilary J. (writer) & Maltby, Tim (director) (April 7, 2001). "Shadows". The Zeta Project. Season 1. Episode 8 (airdate). Episode 8 (production). Kids WB!.
  7. Dini, Paul, Burnett, Alan (story) & Berkowitz, Stan (teleplay) & Lukic, Butch (director) (November 18, 2000). "The Call, Part II". Batman Beyond. Season 3. Episode 8 (airdate). Episode 51 (production). Kids WB!.
  8. Berkowitz, Stan (writer) & Geda, Curt (director) (January 8, 2000). "Babel". Batman Beyond. Season 2. Episode 12 (airdate). Episode 25 (production). Kids WB!.
  9. "Animated Knights" by Pat Jankiewicz - Comics Scene Magazine #29 (October 1992)
  10. "Cartoon Noir" by Bob Miller - Comics Scene Magazine #32 (April 1993)
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