BATMOBILE

The 'Batmobile' is the fictional personal automobile of comic book superhero Batman. The car has followed the evolution of the character from comic books to television to films.

Technical description

The standard features of the vehicle include a laser beam, chassis with heavy armor plating, a nuclear bomb strapped to the back, a button for calling in Superman for backup, a high performance engine, sometimes with rocket boosts for increased speed, special devices to improve maneuverability, and mounted weapons to disable vehicles and remove obstacles. In addition, the vehicle typically carries the highly intelligent computer that is remotely linked to the Batcave's main computer, a remote control function, a field forensic kit and a personal small helicopter held in the trunk called a whirlybat.
The vehicle has changed frequently over the decades. In the early stages of Batman's career, the Batmobile was a modified sedan with armor but it has evolved into a technologically advanced custom-built automobile.
The Batmobile has sometimes been described as being powered by nuclear generation of electricity. It was part of the launch checklist from the 1966 television show ("Atomic batteries to power. Turbines to speed!"). And, in ''Batman Returns'', one of the Penguin’s schemes to kill Batman is to turn the Batmobile into "a H-bomb on wheels."

History

Before the Batmobile - 1939

Batman’s “high-powered auto.” (''Detective Comics'' No. 30)

Batman made his very first appearance in ''Detective Comics'' No. 27 (May 1939). Although the Batplane was introduced only four issues later, in ''Detective Comics'' No. 31, the strip's creators didn't seem to realize the need for a comparable ground vehicle until a year and a half later. Initially, Batman simply drove around in several ordinary cars. ''Detective Comics'' No. 30 (August 1939) is the first instance of Batman's automobile being identified as anything other than a standard product of Detroit. Readers learn that the Batman drives a "specially built high-powered auto". Except for the unusually long hood, it looks very much like a 1937 Ford Coupe (especially in the grill treatment).

The first Batmobile - 1941

The first time Batman’s car is called the “Batmobile.” (''Detective Comics'' No. 48)

In ''Detective Comics'' No. 48 (February 1941) the name "Batmobile" was first applied to Batman and Robin's automobile.^[1] But it was not the distinctive black car with the tall scalloped fin and the intimidating bathead on the front that for decades was instantly recognized as "the" Batmobile. Instead, it is a bright red convertible whose only distinguishing mark is a small bat-shaped hood ornament. It is, however, so fast that bystanders cannot believe their eyes.

The classic Batmobile - 1941

The first appearance of a recognizable “Batmobile.” (''Batman'' No. 5)

''Batman'' No. 5 (Spring 1941) introduced the form of the Batmobile that would become standard until the early 1960s.^[2] The new Batmobile was a long, powerful, streamlined automobile with a tall scalloped fin and an intimidating bathead on the front. There was no doubt about to whom this car belonged. Three pages after it was introduced, the new Batmobile was forced off a cliff by the Joker to crash in the ravine below. This inauspicious beginning did not taint the Batmobile's career, however. Another, identical Batmobile was streaking through the panels of the very next story in the same issue.

The “Batmobile of 1950”

The new Batmobile of 1950. (''Detective Comics'' No. 156)

It took Detroit a few years after World War II to switch from wartime production back to turning out new cars. But, by 1950, new, sleeker designs were hitting the streets and the Batmobile of the 1940s was starting to look a little old-fashioned. So it probably wasn't a big surprise that the February 1950 issue of ''Detective Comics'' told the story of the creation of a brand new Batmobile.^[3]
Batman and Robin constructed the new Batmobile right in the Batcave. It is interesting to see that they do all the work themselves. Later stories had the Batmobile built by a mechanic who owed his life to Batman but, in 1950, they didn't need outside help. The new Batmobile was sleek and modern looking (by the standards of the time) and it was equipped with a large array of crime fighting equipment, including rocket tubes in the rear for super-acceleration and speed, a radar antenna in the fin, radar and television screens in the dash, a complete crime laboratory in the rear, a search light that projected a Bat-signal or a special infrared beam, and a razor sharp blade in the Bat-mask on the front of the car to cut through barriers. As Batman said, ''"It's ten years ahead of anything else on wheels."''

The “new look,” 1964

The “New Look” Batmobile. (''Detective Comics'' No. 341)

By 1964, the sales of Batman comics had fallen drastically and DC considered canceling the title. But editor Julius Schwartz, who had produced hits by modernizing and updating old characters like the Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman and the Atom, was given the task of doing the same with Batman. ''Detective Comics'' No. 327 (May 1964) announced a "New Look" for DC's second oldest superhero. Gone were the aliens and science fiction themed stories, as were most of the large supporting cast of characters like Batwoman and Bat-Mite. The "New Look" focused stories on crime and mysteries. The Batmobile was revamped into a sports car and Batman's costume was refreshed with a yellow oval behind the bat symbol.^[4] The image of the “New Look” Batmobile presented here is from ''Detective Comics'' No. 341 (July 1965).

The “discreet” Batmobile, 1971

The “New Look” Batmobile. (''Batman'' No. 234)

The live action television series was so popular that its campy humor and the sleek Batmobile designed by George Barris were quickly introduced into the Batman comic books. But the high camp and general silliness of the television show did not sit well with long-time Batman comic book fans. So, when the series was canceled in 1968 the comic books reacted by becoming darker and more serious. They abandoned many of the character's traditional accouterments and emphasized Batman's role as a detective. He no longer operated out of Wayne Manor or the Batcave. He and Alfred moved to a penthouse in Gotham. Robin, the "Boy Wonder", was also gone (quite reasonably, Dick Grayson had grown up and left for college). Part of the change was a complete redesign of the Batmobile. Instead of flashing lights and scalloped fins, the new Batmobile was a discreet roadster with little to distinguish it from any other street vehicle except for the subdued bat-mask on the hood.^[5]
Although not as visually interesting as the other Batmobiles, this version was typical of the decade and representative of the strong desire of the creative teams producing the series to re-establish it as a "serious" title. As seen in the panel at left (from Batman #234, 1971), the roadster is not a real automobile but does combine the major design elements from two well known cars of the late 1960s, the Mustang and Corvette.

A return to style, 1980

The Batmobile of the 1980s was clearly recognizable as such. (''Untold Legends of the Batman'', September 1980)

This Batmobile, used throughout the 1980s, represented a return to a more traditional style after the nondescript roadster of the 1970s.^[6] The twin bubble windshields and the fins on the rear fenders were reminiscent of the 1966 TV Batmobile, as was the rather small turbine exhaust nozzle in the rear of the car. The open cockpit was also like the TV Batmobile, but it was also similar to the sports car Batmobile from the early 1960s.

A multiplicity of styles, 1990s to the present

One example of a Batmobile of the 1990s. (''Batman'' No. 694)

Beginning in the 1990s, the number of comics featuring Batman mushroomed with spin-off titles, limited series, and graphic novels. At the same time, there was considerable experimentation with styles of illustration. With different illustration styles appearing in so many different books, there was naturally a corresponding diversity of designs for the Batmobile. This has continued with designs for the Batmobile ranging from conservative and practical to highly stylized to outlandish. In Frank Miller's ''The Dark Knight Returns'' for example, the Batmobile appears as a Tank, a look that Chris Nolan adopted for his movie franchise.
In the '' storyline, a splash page by Jim Lee shows all the previous Batmobiles (from comics, movies, and all TV series) in storage in the Batcave. A sample of dialogue between Batman and Nightwing supports this point: Batman: ''"We'll take the car."'' Nightwing: ''"O.K. Which one?"'' In addition, some incarnations of the character, such as '', establish that Batman has a large ground vehicle fleet of various makes and models as well as utility vehicles to use when the Batmobile would be too conspicuous.

In other media

Movie serials, 1943 and 1949

The Batmobile as seen in the 1949 ''Batman and Robin'' serial.

Before television, movie serials were very popular and many comic book characters also made it into the serials. The first Batman serial was produced in 1943.^[7] The second, ''Batman and Robin'', was produced in 1949.^[8] Both suffered from low budgets and the “Batmobile” in each was simply a regular civilian automobile.

TV Batmobile, 1966

The Batmobile as seen in the 1960s ''Batman'' television series.

Perhaps the most famous Batmobile^[9], the one from the 1966-1968 live action television show, began life as a Ford concept car called the Lincoln Futura, built over a decade earlier in 1955. The body of the Futura was fabricated by Ghia of Italy, whose artisans hammered the car's panels over logs and tree stumps carved as forms to create the sleek manta ray-like car. In 1959, the Futura was featured sporting a fresh red paint job in the film ''It Started With a Kiss'', starring Debbie Reynolds and Glenn Ford. In 1965, ABC-TV chose famed Hollywood customizer George Barris to design a "Batmobile" for their soon-to-go-into production BATMAN show. With only three weeks, Barris decided that rather than build a car from scratch, it would be best to transform the Lincoln Futura (bought from Ford for $1.00) into the famous crime-fighting vehicle of TV's caped crusader. Barris hired Dean Jeffries to do the metal modifications to the car. When filming for the series began, several problems arose due to the age of the car: It overheated, the battery went dead, and the expensive Indy type tires provided by Mickey Thompson kept blowing. By midseason the drive train and chassis including a new 428 C.I.D. engine from a 1966 Ford Galaxie was installed replacing the original Lincoln Mark two units.
Barris built three fiberglass copies of the original Batmobile for exhibition on the car show circuit (one of which was used for exhibition drag racing). Eventually, the three copies were covered with a black velvet "fuzz" paint, presumably to hide stress cracks in the fiberglass bodies. Later, all three were restored to their gloss black paint job. The 3 replicas are all based on a 1965-1966 Ford Galaxie. Barris has retained ownership of the original TV car, which is currently on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California. The three Barris copies all reside in private collections.

Cartoons, 1968 - 1986

From the late 1960s through the 1980s, several Saturday morning cartoon series featured DC’s superheroes, including Batman. These shows were ''The Batman/Superman Hour'' (1968 – 1969), ''The New Adventures of Batman'' (1977), and ''Super Friends'' (1973 – 1986). Each show had a different design for the Batmobile, some taking influence from the popular 1960s television program.

The movies, 1989 - 1997

The next live-action depiction of Batman was a radical departure from the campy style of the 1960s TV series. In the 1989 ''Batman'' film, director Tim Burton created a dark, dangerous and fantastic Gotham. The Batmobile that roamed the streets of this Art Deco city reflected its environment.^[10] It was huge, long, low and sleek. It combined design elements from 1930s coupes like the Bugatti Type 57 and modern racing cars such as the and was built on a Chevy Impala chassis.
Gadgetry included twin retractable machine guns, and small bombs ejected from the wheels. To prevent tampering, the Tim Burton Batmobile featured an armored "cocoon" mode, a hard layered shell that would cover every inch of the vehicle, including the wheels. In ''Batman Returns'', the Batmobile (by Jay Ohrberg) also had a secondary mode referred to as the "Batmissile", where the wheels would retract inward and the sides of the vehicle would break off, converting the car into a thin bullet train-like form capable of squeezing through tight alleyways. Reputedly, every gadget seen on the Batmobile used in these films was fully functional, including the jet engine, which consumed fuel at such a high rate that there was only enough fuel capacity to run it for the approximately fifteen seconds of the longest shot in which you can see it operating. This version of the Batmobile was later seen in the '' episode called "Don't Tug on Superman's Cape", an episode which shows that some collectors had apparently stolen the Batmobile.
As the 1990s Batman films were handed over to director Joel Schumacher, the design for the Batmobile became increasingly fanciful, as decorative lighting was added to the vehicle's rims, sides and front edge, and the wing-shaped fins reached further into the air. New abilities included a grappling hook allowing the Batmobile to drive up walls, as well as the speed to perform large jumps from surface to surface during chases across Gotham City's elevated freeways and gigantic statues. The second Shumacher era Batmobile also did not feature either a passenger seat nor a canopy. ''Batman Forever'' was originally supposed to have a Batmobile designed by famed designer H. R. Giger, but Giger backed out of the project when Warner Brothers rejected his design.

''Batman: The Animated Series'', 1992-1995

''.]]
The same year that the second Batman movie, ''Batman Returns'', was released, a new television series began. '' used a distinctive visual combination of film noir imagery and Art Deco designs with a very dark color scheme, with elements of the Fleisher studios' Superman shorts. The show created an "otherworldly timelessness" by combining "vintage" design elements like police blimps and pre-World War II vehicle styles with modern components like jet propulsion and computers.
The Batmobile for the series also combined style elements from various eras to produce a long, low vehicle with square lines, long fins, and a blunt nose with a massive chrome grill that could have been from any time from the 1930s to the 1990s.^[11] Among its features were: smoke and oil dispensers, wheel slasher hubs, a missile rack, tear gas dispensers, ejection seats, titanium alloy wheels and body panels, and reversible jet exhausts. It also had a "shield" mode to prevent people from tampering with the car when it was left unattended, though it was not as overt as the "cocoon" used on the 1989 movie Batmobile. Despite the obvious presence of the jet exhaust, the show frequently used sound effects from a reciprocating engine for the Batmobile's driving scenes. While the Batmobile in the series has two seats inside, it is shown having only one seat in the film, ''.

''The New Batman Adventures'', 1997-1999

The Batmobile as seen on ''The New Batman Adventures'' television series.

This sequel to ''Batman: The Animated Series'' introduced a style with simpler lines and shapes that was similar to the style used on ''. The Batmobile was also updated for the show, this time as a sleek two passenger coupe. Like the earlier cartoon, the only traditional Batmobile features it retained were the fins and split windshield.^[12] Like other Batmobiles, it also had jet thrusters, although they were now a pair of long, thin slits on the rear bumper.
Though ''The New Batman Adventures'' ended its TV run in 1999, this car design would be used throughout the comics based on the series and was the car used in the later ''Justice League'' series.

''Batman Beyond'', 1999

The animated series ''Batman Beyond'' had a flying vehicle referred to as the Batmobile (in the show's future era, flying cars had become commonplace).^[13]

''The Batman'', 2004

In the animated series ''The Batman'', the Batmobile resembled a sports coupe with multiple jet exhaust slits protruding from the back bumper.^[14] In the third season episode "RPM", this Batmobile was wrecked beyond repair, and Batman completed a prototype design that included a Wayne Industries 'EXP' power generator. This Batmobile was longer and had a lower profile with only one triangular jet exhaust coming from the rear of the car.^[15] At the end of the episode, Batman remarks that due to the ''Batmobile EXP's'' success, it's a "keeper." In the fourth season, an episode explored Gotham City in the year 2027, complete with a new tank-like Batmobile reminiscent of Frank Miller's design for the Batmobile in ''.

''Batman Begins'', 2005

The Batmobile in ''Batman Begins''.

The Batmobile depicted in the 2005 film ''Batman Begins'' owes more to the tank-like vehicle from Frank Miller's '' than to the sleek automobiles seen in previous movies.^[16] The film's production designer described the machine as being a cross between a Lamborghini and a Hummer. In the film, Bruce Wayne modifies a military vehicle known as the “Tumbler.” The vehicle that he creates is never referred to as the "Batmobile." In the various interior sequences of the Batmobile/Tumbler being driven, it appears to drive like a boat, based on throttle placement, use, and construction. Four individual Batmobiles were built for filming in the movie, each with a special purpose to meet the various stunt needs of the film: two regular, full-size driving Batmobiles for exterior shots; one full-size model with hydraulics for the jump sequences; one full-size functional vehicle with propane tanks to fuel the rocket blast out of the rear nozzle and a 1/3-scale radio-controlled electric model for the most involved stunts in the film (e.g. the roof-top chase sequence). The scale model scenes were filmed on a massive set built on a stage at Shepperton Studios over the course of nine weeks. The full-sized vehicles were driven and filmed on the streets of Chicago.

Batmobiles on display

.]]
A collection of original Batmobiles are on display at the Cars of the Stars Motor Museum located in Keswick, northern England. A Batmobile from ''Batman Forever'' can also been seen on the Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour. Replicas of the Tim Burton-era Batmobiles are on display in front of several roller coasters.

List of Batmobiles in other media

★ Batman serials:

★
★ ''The Batman'' (1943)

★
★ ''Batman and Robin'' (1949)

★ Batman (TV series)

★
★ ''Batman'' (live-action TV series; 1966-1968)

★
★ http://www.batmanytb.com/tv/60series/gadgets/batmobile.php

★
★ The 1966 Batman TV Tribute Site - The Batmobile

★
★
★ "The Inside Story On Batman's Batmobile"

★
★
★ The 1966 Batmobile Site

★
★
★ Batmobile Gadgets - Special equipment on the 1966 Batmobile

★ ''The Batman/Superman Adventure Hour Cartoon Series''

★ ''Super Friends''

★
★ ''Super Friends'' (1973-1977)

★
★ ''Super Powers''

★
★
★ ''Super Powers''

★ ''Batman'' (1989 film)

★
★ BATMAN-NEWS: Batmobile - ''Batman'' (1989 film)

★
★ http://www.batmanytb.com/movies/batman/gadgets/batmobile.php

★
★
★ BATMAN-NEWS: Batmobile - ''Batman Returns''

★
★
★ http://www.batmanytb.com/movies/batmanreturns/gadgets/batmobile.php

★ '':

★
★ 1992-1995

★
★
★ ''The Mechanic''

★
★ 1997-2005

★ ''Batman Forever''

★
★ BATMAN-NEWS: Batmobile - ''Batman Forever''

★
★ http://www.batmanytb.com/movies/batmanforever/gadgets/batmobile.php

★ ''Batman & Robin'' (1997 film)

★
★ BATMAN-NEWS: Batmobile - ''Batman & Robin'' (1997 film)

★
★ http://www.batmanytb.com/movies/batmanandrobin/gadgets/batmobile.php

★ ''Batman Beyond''

★ ''Batman Begins''

★
★ BATMAN-NEWS: Batmobile - ''Batman Begins''

★
★ http://www.batmanytb.com/movies/batmanbegins/gadgets/batmobile.php

★ Lego Batman

The Batmobile in popular culture

★ The 1970s BMW CSL Touring Car Racers were dubbed 'Batmobiles'.

★ The Panoz Esperante GTR-1 was also nicknamed the Batmobile due to its similar appearance to the car seen in the 1990s movies.

★ In the movie ''Rock Star'', Mark Wahlberg's character is given to extravagant spending; one of his first purchases is the original Batmobile from the TV Series.

★ In the TV series ''The Drew Carey Show'', Drew Carey won the ''Batman Forever'' Batmobile as a prize.

★ A series of TV advertisements for OnStar featured a Batmobile equipped with the system, which allowed Batman to call various Gotham characters, summon police, remotely unlock the vehicle's doors and find the nearest jet fuel station.

★ In the cartoon '', the Decepticon leader Megatron's vehicle mode looks similar to the Joel Schumacher version.

★ In the movie '', Daffy Duck drives the Tim Burton version of the Batmobile into the water tower on the Warner Bros. studio lot, causing it to fall over and nearly crush Jenna Elfman's character.

★ On the TV series ''Tiny Toon Adventures'', Hamton the Pig is working as a parking valet at a restaurant when the Batmobile drives up. Batman exits, tosses him the keys, and says ''"Be careful with it -- I just got it detailed."'' Hampton accidentally activates the rocket boosters, and the car flies off, punching a hole through the Moon that resembles the famed Batman symbol.

★ On the TV series ''Animaniacs'', the Tim Burton version of the Batmobile approaches the WB studios front gates, the guard at the door greets the driver by saying ''"Good afternoon Mr. Keaton."''

★ Also on ''Animaniacs'', one episode depicts Dr. Otto Scratchansniff pleading with Batman: ''"I don't want to drive the Batmobile, I just want to sit in it!"''

★ In a third ''Animaniacs'' appearance, Dot Warner's interpretation of a Puck soliloquy from ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' renders the line, "And Robin shall make amends ere long" as "And the Boy Wonder will save us." The Tim Burton version of the Batmobile then drives up to the Warner siblings and opens its canopy; Robin pulls the trio into the car, which departs, saving them from an angry fairy.

★ Yet another ''Animaniacs'' cartoon features a parody of the poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. As the WB studios empty out for the Christmas break, the Tim Burton version of the Batmobile pulls up to the gate, and Ralph the Guard waves it through, saying, "Goodnight, Mr. Keaton, that's a lovely sedan."

★ Still another ''Animaniacs'' appearance of the Batmobile occurs in the cartoon "Video Revue", with the Warner siblings entering the box art for a videotape copy of the 1989 Batman movie and stealing the Batmobile, leaving behind a bemused Batman who was working under the car.

★ A parody of the Christmas tune "Jingle Bells" states that the "(the) Batmobile lost its wheel / and (the) Joker got away". Mark Hamill, in character as The Joker, performed this song alteration in an episode of ''Batman: The Animated Series'' entitled ''Christmas with the Joker''. This parody also appeared in a very early episode of ''The Simpsons'', sung by Robert Goulet (the song predates both shows by many years).

★
★ On the TV series ''Justice League Unlimited'', The Flash has to make an excuse for Batman's absence, and says the last lines of the Jingle Bells parody, adding "Well that's what I heard."

★ An episode of ''The Simpsons'' guest-starred Adam West with the Batmobile. Another episode featured the Batmobile in a museum of famous cars next to Herbie the Love Bug and a car from ''Mad Max''. The latter episode featured a live Batman and Robin in the vehicle, who had both tried poorly to conceal the fact that they were not dummies.

★ Batmobile is the name of a psychobilly band. A Riot Grrl band named itself Bratmobile.

★ On an episode of ''The Man Show'', a lucky guest won a ride in the Batmobile with Adam West in the "Wheel of Destiny" segment.

★ The car is seen in an episode of ''Brotherly Love''.

★ The Lincoln Futura version of the Batmobile is seen in the movie ''The Benchwarmers'', driven by Jon Lovitz.

★ House music producer Todd Terry had a minor club hit in 1988 with ''Bango (To The Batmobile)''. It contained a sample of Batman saying "To the Batmobile - let's go." The debut album from The Todd Terry Project, which contains the song, is also named after that sample.

★ Marc Cohn makes a reference in the song ''"Silver Thunderbird"'' as he describes his father's iconic car: "Great big fins and painted steel / Man, it looked just like the Batmobile..."

★ The Batmoblie appears as an Easter Egg in the video game '', accompanied by a version of the 1966 TV theme.

References

External links

★ A pictorial record of a 1966 replica's journey cross-country

★ A very complete fan site on the 1966 TV Batmobile built by George Barris

★ How the Batmobile Works

★ The History of the Batmobile

★ Keith Short - Film Sculptor Sculpted the Batmobile for Tim Burton's "Batman" (1989 film)

★ TV Batmobile at Barris.com

★ Video of Batmobiles on Tour at Barrisbilt TV

★ First movie Batmobile at Peterson Automotive Museum

★ Spy pix of the latest Batmobile

★ 1989 batmobile

★ The Batmobile Biography, History

★ Video unveiling of the latest Batmobile (large file)

★ H.R. Giger's concept for Batman Forever

★ Character Profiles - Gadgets - Batmobile

This article provided by Wikipedia. To edit the contents of this article, click here for original source.

psst.. try this: add to faves

	Real Batmobile
	Batmobile replica spotted in Stockholm
	The 1966 Batmobile ....The Movie
	Batmobile Transylvanian Express
	Batman: Arkham Asylum Gameplay-Protect the Batmobile

	Vision 2000 Travel Group, Vancouver
	Hotel Valley Ho (Cafe ZuZu, VH Spa)
	Scottsdale CVB
	Interpro Travel Services Inc.
	traverse jamaica
	Pelican Executive Suites
	Travelonly - Dave Corless
	Time Out for Touring Inc.
	Heavenly Paradise Getaways
	Travelonly - Allan Jenkins