I Love Apparel: Batman's utility belt

Batman's utility belt is the most characteristic portion of Batman's costume, much like Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth, or Green Lantern's power ring.

Similar belts are used by the various Robins, Batgirls, and other members of the Batman family.

History
Batman historian Les Daniels credits Gardner Fox, (the first writer other than Bill Finger to write the adventures of Batman in Detective Comics), with introducing the utility belt concept in Detective Comics #29 (July 1939).[1] In its first appearance, Batman's utility belt "contain[ed] choking gas capsules."[2] Two issues after the utility belt debuted, Fox also wrote the first appearance of a bat-themed weapon, when the batarang debuted in the story "Batman vs. the Vampire" in Detective Comics #31 (Sep 1939).[3]

Up until 1989, most artists drew the utility belt as a simple yellow belt with a buckle and cylinders around it. In 1986, Frank Miller drew Batman's utility belt with military-style pouches in the Batman: The Dark Knight Returns limited series. This rendition was utilized again in Batman: Year One and used by almost every artist in the Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight comics series. In 2000, the pouches became a standard feature in the depiction of the utility belt.

One feature added to the utility belt in the two Tim Burton directed Batman films, Batman and Batman Returns, was a small motor which would move items from the back of the belt around to the front allowing Batman easier access to his weaponry and tools. The feature was seen briefly when Batman and Vicki Vale were escaping the Joker's henchmen in the alley and when he rescued Selina Kyle from the Penguin's clown henchmen at the beginning of Batman Returns.

A common gag amongst comic fans is Batman's apparent ability to carry a tool for almost every eventuality on his belt, all prefixed with the word 'bat', such as bat-cookies and bat-milk. Often, especially in the Adam West series, Batman could carry everything needed for a particular scenario, from typical batarangs to a miniature batphone which remotely linked to the one in the Batmobile.

Description
Although seemingly unremarkable in appearance, the utility belt is one of Batman's most important tools in fighting crime. Composed of a kevlar strap and metal buckle, the utility belt houses ten cylinder cartridges, which vertically clip onto the outside of the belt. The buckle itself contains a miniature camera and two-way radio. A secondary compartment behind the length of the belt houses Batman's supply of collapsible batarangs.

Each of the ten cylinders contains various tools integral to Batman's war on crime, and are interchangeable with other cylinders depending on Batman's needs for the mission. Through the years, Batman has modified the contents of his belt to accommodate various needs.

During the events of No Man's Land, Batman made use of a simpler worksman's belt with larger pockets due to the necessity of carrying more equipment. After No Man's Land, he designed a new bulkier version of the belt, which resembling the worksman's belt he wore but with high-tech upgrades and security measures.

In the animated series Batman Beyond, the belt is incorporated into the batsuit, with features such as the buzz blade belt buckle, and button on the buckle to activate the suit's camouflage system.

In the more recent animated series The Batman, the belt contains highly advanced gadgets that allows Batman to summon his vehicles, thaw him out in case of being frozen, and control his surveillance batarangs. The belt also locks in place when worn and is therefore, very hard for anyone other than Batman, to take off. Batman once extended the design of the utiltiy belt to shoulder and chest for carrying a number of vampire-fighting gadgetry such as garlic bombs, vaccine to counteract the vampiric virus, and presumably sacred items commonly known able to ward off the creatures such as holy water,crucifix, and rosary in The Batman vs. Dracula when Gotham was on an outbreak of vampirism by Count Dracula. The extention of the belt would also create a shape of a crucifix.

Bat-grenades
Batman typically utilizes two mini-explosive types: small "pellet" grenades with quick-setting contact cement and five-second delay fuses; and concussion/blast grenandes of explosive or flash/bang force with three-second to 40-minute delay, radio-control, or bungee-primia cord detonators.

In other media
A variation of the Bat-grenandes or Bat-bomb[41] appeared in the 1997 live-action film Batman & Robin[42]. These bat-shaped portable explosives could either be thrown or attached with a magnet.

Bat-grenades were also designed for but ultimately, not shown in the 1989 live-action Batman film. With this bomb, following a time run off, an explosive with enormous explosive yield is set free. In the same movie however, Batman was seen using smoke grenades

For director Tim Burton's second Batman film, Batman Returns (1992), the Caped Crusader had in his arsenal, a collection of special "test tubes."[46] These little tubes were hidden in the utility belt, and contained several mixtures of chemicals. They had several effects when thrown separately or mixed together. The blue was napalm[47], the red was an explosive and the green was knockout gas.

Christopher Nolan's film The Dark Knight (2008) had Batman using remote explosive devices that appear to be designed primarily for creating diversions and for making holes to escape or enter from. Fired from a device similar in functionality to a sniper rifle (and which has a fantastically long range), the small and barely-noticeable explosives stick to surfaces by means of a gummy adhesive applied to them. They remain on the surface until detonated, and the force of the explosion is potent enough to destroy concrete pillars.

Grapple gun
The grapple (or line) gun(or Batcable), normally allows Batman to scale up or rappel down tall buildings, or swing between Gotham City skyscrapers on successive lines.

Similar to a grappling hook and speargun, the line gun uses a strong clamp attached to a high-tensil wire for scaling surfaces and/or traversing gaps. It can be recovered by releasing the clamp and rewinding the cable. It was based from one that is designed as compact climbing gear for commando units.

A magazine of explosively-propelled darts attach to de-cel jumpline reels secured with braking and clipping mechanisms inside the grapnel gun sleeve. "Smart" acceleration motors within the grapnel dart head enables attachment to light aluminum, steel, or concrete masonry. The dart is also engineered for snap-on mini-carabiner or high-test de-cel line.

In other media

Batman (1989 film)
This grapple gun was a spring action, speargun-like device that shot a grappling hook and, when needed, paralyzing gas.

Batman Returns
The grapple gun from Batman Returns was based on the first model from the 1989 Batman film. It was revised around the handle. Now, it had more chrome parts. The launcher was now at the lower part, but on the upper surface and it was operated with the thumb.

Batman Forever
The look of the grapple gun changed dramatically for Batman Forever, to fit with the new[63] Batman (Joel Schumacher directed instead of Tim Burton, and Val Kilmer was the star instead of Michael Keaton). Now, it was more powerful and could cut through hard steel and rock, as seen in the opening bank sequence.

Batman & Robin
The grapple gun[64][65][66] from Batman & Robin was very different from the one from Batman Forever. It can be attached on Batman's glove or the utility belt. The 90 m rope it launches can carry as much as 400 kg.

Batman Begins
The grapple gun from Batman Begins was propelled with compressed air works with a magnetic Enterhaken[70]. The thin climbing cable was tested on a load-carrying capacity of 350 lb (160 kg). A static responsive Bat-Cape that act as a Hang glider. His Batsuit offers Batman protection from bullet's and allows him to perform Hand to Hand combat.

The Dark Knight
The grappling hook used in this movie can attach to another gadget to fire (even from great distances) adjustable-timed explosives that will attach to desired targets or surfaces.

NOTE:

I Love Apparel

2008年11月5日星期三

Batman's utility belt

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