Top 10 Batman Vehicles

“The Dark Knight Rises” (2012)

For the third film in the “Dark Knight” trilogy, Batman needs a new form of transport to cover the vast areas of Gotham City. Not a plane nor a helicopter, this unique and nimble air vehicle was dubbed “The Bat” and was designed by Wayne Enterprises as a defense project specializing in “tight geometry” and “urban pacification.” The aircraft is intended to travel between buildings and becomes a crucial form of transport for the Dark Knight. It certainly looks the part with its plated appearance and threatening, growling rotors. Though initially without an autopilot, the World’s Greatest Detective manages to get a software patch installed and uses it to save Gotham from a neutron bomb without nuking himself in the process.

“Batman Returns” (1992)

With his car out of action, Batman has to rely on a new vehicle for the finale of “Batman Returns.” Keeping the jet black aesthetic and general shaping of his Batmobile, the Batskiboat was designed to navigate through the extensive sewer system beneath Gotham City. It also relays the penguins’ positions acting as a portable sonar to the Batcave. We can’t imagine too many scenarios in which Batman would have the need for such a long and wide vehicle with the aforementioned capabilities, but it’s good that he did. It’s a particularly cool-looking craft, though the Caped Crusader would instead reveal the more simply titled Batboat in the next film.

“Detective Comics” #48 (1941) & “Batman” #5 (1941)

The old faithful Batmobile began life as a simple, red convertible in 1941, specifically a 1936 Cord. Originally described as a “specially built high-powered auto,” it quickly darkened in color. By “Batman” #5, the Dark Knight had added a bat head-shaped shield to the front bumper, tail fins, and was streamlined into the rocket-powered car we know today. As iconic as the early printed versions are, the live-action iteration driven by Adam West’s Batman set the standard of the cars that followed. It usually takes the design of a long bodied, jet engined car, and kept that general shape in all live-action films until 2005. 2022’s “The Batman” appears to be bringing the design back to basics with a high-powered muscle car.

“The Dark Knight Returns” (1986)

The Riot Tank Batmobile only appears once in the comic books: during Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns.” Really, the only thing that separates it from its military counterparts is the bulky design and vague Bat features flanking the front. Still, what it lacks in speed or versatility it more than makes up for sheer power and heft. However, despite its sparse comic appearances, it would go on to inspire many of the vehicles that followed, including a later entry. It would cameo in animation in “New Batman Adventures” as well as live-action in “Zack Snyder's Justice League.”

Detective Comics #171 (1951) & “Batman” (1966)

Made popular by the 1966 movie - thanks largely to the image of Adam West’s Batman hanging from it and kicking a rubber shark - the Batcopter made its comic debut fifteen years prior. Strangely, it was actually created by the Penguin to taunt the Caped Crusader. Beyond that iteration, Batman used his helicopter to navigate the city faster and included a stealth mode which rendered it undetectable to criminals (presumably ones who had access to radar). The Batcopter is rarely seen in modern stories, probably having “jumped the shark…” Briefly, Batman also utilized the “Flying Batcave,” a giant Batcopter that served as a homebase when he was banned from Gotham City. However, it was ultimately deemed too impractical to run with its high fuel demands.

“Zack Snyder’s Justice League” (2021)

No, not the “X-Men” character that can teleport; the Knightcrawler as used by Ben Affleck’s Batman is a one-of-a-kind. An all-terrain, walking battle tank, the vehicle is self-correcting, can climb walls and is armed to the teeth. Only seen in the two versions of the DCEU “Justice League” movie – as even Joss Whedon probably thought it was too cool to cut – the Knightcrawler is also quite distinct for its lack of resemblance to anything Bat-related. Instead, it crawls on mechanical limbs, whilst Batman, Alfred or even Cyborg pilots. To be four-legged, in this instance, is to be four-armed…

“Batman” (1989), “Batman Forever” (1995) & “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016)

Although the Batplane had already been around since “Batman” #1, the 1989 movie debuted the variant aircraft Batwing, which quickly became the favored version amongst fans. Quite literally a one-person jet shaped like the Bat symbol, the Batwing has speed and agility unlike anything else. “Batman Forever” showed a new version of a Batwing / Batsub hybrid complete with neon lights and the ribbed detailing that was present on that movie’s Batmobile. 2016 ushered in a new Batwing for Ben Affleck’s Batman, which retained the curvature of the ‘89 version but not the symbol shape. Bizarrely, despite being named for a flying creature, Batman has bad luck with his Batwings as none make it to the end of their respective movies without being shot down…

“Batman Beyond” (1999-2001)

The “Batman Beyond” version of the Batmobile differs quite a lot from its predecessors. For the futuristic animated series, showrunners needed to make sure the new car reflected the times and would fit directly into any sci-fi urban landscape. Firstly, it can fly as well as cruise the streets of Neo-Gotham, but unlike the Batplane or Batwing, it’s still roughly the size of a modern car. Unlike the previous iterations of the Batmobile, it isn’t emblazoned with any of the usual Bat-like scalloped tail fins or emblems. In fact it’s quite straightforward, taking the form of a simple pod for Terry McGinnis to travel in, not too dissimilar from the Batskiboat.

“Batman Begins” (2005)

First introduced in “Batman Begins,” the Tumbler was a completely new take on the Batmobile. Built by Wayne Enterprises, they were designed to rocket jump over gaps in pairs, towing cables in order to build bridges. Instead, Bruce Wayne had it painted black and used it to crush cop cars. Even in its destruction, the gadget-laden vehicle has a trick up its sleeve. An emergency escape vehicle referred to as the “Batpod” was quite literally a bike made from the car’s front two wheels, and became a primary ride for Batman from then on.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Subway Rocket, “Detective Comics” #667 (1993)
No Tickets Required for This Light Rail Train

Bat Rocket, “Batman” #658 (2006)
Batman Really Does Have Lots of Things

Batskiff, “Batman & Robin” (1997)
The Less Said About the Movie the Better, but Robin Does Have a Cool Ice Vehicle

The Speedwagon, “The Lego Batman Movie” (2017)
Pretty Much Every Bat Vehicle Bricked Into One

“Batman” (1989) & “Batman Returns” (1992)

Yep, there’s a reason we didn’t mention it earlier. For an entire generation of fans, Tim Burton’s movie-era Batmobile is the definitive set of wheels. Slick, quick and terrific, the car was the blueprint for the live-action ones that followed, as well as the animated incarnation. It’s gadget-laden, with grappling hooks, grenades, shields, trip-fins and projectile launchers all part of the vehicle’s arsenal. But that’s not where the surprises stop. Everything except the central chamber of the car detaches and reduces it to a thin, missile-like structure for the emergency bailouts, an idea recycled for the Batpod. It’s expected to return in 2022’s “The Flash,” where its appearance is almost as anticipated as Michael Keaton’s Batman himself.