Batman -Early Years

From Gadgets to Vehicles; besides James Bond which debuted in the 60s, no other franchise or character is synonymous with such accessories as The Batman. From the beginning, the creation of the character was attributed to artist Bob Kane who came up with the idea of a bat hero, with wings as his costume (not a cape). It was not until as recently as 2015, which was 75 years since the first story was told did Writer Bill Finger receive recognition for his contribution to the original creation of the Dark Knight. This includes the detailing of the costume, the alter ego of Bruce Wayne, comprising his childhood origin, and comprising most of the character’s supporting cast. Finger and Kane both introduced Dick Grayson, an orphaned character that Bruce took under his wing as kinship to, which humanized the character from the 40s to the 60s. That was until the first season of the 60’s serial that made the character campy. From that point, the many writers and artists of the comic returned the hero to a more serious or dramatic tone. In the 40s Robin, the Joker, and Catwoman were introduced, it was in the mid to late 70s did we get the introduction to Arkham Asylum (a nod to H.P. Lovecraft) and Lucius Fox.

1939 Cadillac 

The introduction to the Batcave, a lair beneath Wayne Manor was introduced in early 1944, but the first introduction to the Batmobile was in 1937 which was depicted as an ordinary red car. The two Batman and Robin Serials which aired in the 40s had the Dynamic Duo secretly ride around in Bruce Wayne’s Car. Batman and Robin 1943 provided the most basic batmobile in the catalogue history of batmobiles as Bruce Wayne drove a 1939 Cadillac series 75 Convertible. Batman and Robin 1949, saw him drive a Maroon ’49 Mercury Convertible - it’s only special feature was its top would open which meant Bruce Wayne was driving. The Batmobile became popularized in 1966 with the introduction of the Adam West series. It was a concept car that debuted at the Chicago Auto show in 1955. A Lincoln Futura. Some of its gadget features included a rocket launcher, 180 degree Bat-turn, Detect-A-Scope, a Bat-Phone, laser Rockets, nose-mounted chain slicer, and police beacon. The animated series based on the 60s show gave the duo ejector seats. The 1989 Michael Keaton Batmobile was a 22 ft long Old Corvette body on an Impala Chassis, and was said to have a sound of a Chevy V-8 engine. It would be the first vehicle to introduce armor plating, grappling hooks, an escape pod, and jet turbines.

’49 Mercury Convertible

Like his Car, Batman’s arsenal of weaponry also too expanded, from a rope hook, flashlight, smoke sticks, and a radium gun of the 1943 series. However, the 1943 and 1949 serials were poorly funded and The Batman never touched his utility belt, it was more a fashion accessory than a place holder for is iconic gadgets. That changed in 1966 when Adam West’s utility belt became almost a crucial character to the show itself. It roughly possessed around 30+ items, the top 12 considered was the Bat-a-rang, Bat-Shield, Bat-Cuffs, Laser Gun, Binoculars, Anti-Mesmerizing Bat-Reflector, Magnifying Glass, Universal Drug Antidote Pill, Bat Pill, Bat Wake, Batnasia Gas, and Bat Gas Tranquilizer Spray. 

The Bat-zooka was equipped on the bat boat, and the batshark-repellent was equipped on the bat-copter, in accordance to the 1966 movie, As the physics of carrying 30+ gadgets is not possible unless Batman was aware of the quantum fields surrounding Dr. Who’s Tardas. it’s better to not over think the rationale here. Bob Kane's drew inspiration from Walter B. Gibson's The Shadow - A character who was a wealthy Socialite who moonlights as an urban vigilante.  In Batman the animated series Adam West takes on the voice role of Grey Ghost, A superhero character Bruce Wayne idolizied as a child. in the 1992 episode of "Beware the Gray Ghost"