Batarang

Batarang
General Information
Official name:	Batarang
First Appearance:	Detective Comics #31
Creators:	Gardner Fox
Type:	Weapon
Used by:	Batman Robin Batgirl Oracle Nightwing Jean-Paul Valley

A batarang is a bat-shaped throwing weapon used by the Batman. These are the most basic and commonly used items in his arsenal. A vast array sizes and types have been designed, some of them razor sharp. They can also be used as grappling hooks when attached to Batropes.

History

The batarang makes its debut.

Though they are named after boomerangs, batarangs have become more and more like shuriken with time. The earliest versions were of scalloped, metal boomerangs which were used to attack opponents and returned to the thrower. Variations of batarangs include those which are able to be opened and closed (presumably so they can fit into Batman's utility belt), those which can be explosively charged and those which are electrified. A grappling hook made out of a batarang and a rope was common until Batman began using grappling hook pistols. There are also the remote controlled Batarangs.

Nightwing uses his own modified version of a Batarang, which he often refers to as "Wing-Dings", shaped after a bird. Batgirl (both Barbara Gordon and Cassandra Cain) and the current Robin also use Batman's batarangs, but the latter also possesses his own 'R'-shaped shuriken. Robin has also referred to his weapons as "Birdarangs" on occasion.

Notes

The original concept of the batarang was developed by writer Gardner Fox in Detective Comics #31 (Sept. 1939). They have since become a staple of Batman's arsenal, appearing in every major Batman television and movie adaptation to date. Following the backlash against the camp Batman television series, the franchise has avoided the overuse of the "bat-" prefix, other than the Batcave and Batmobile. Though shown prominently, the batarangs are very rarely referred to by name.

In the movie adaptations of Batman, the batarangs shown match the adapted Bat-logo of the respective movie franchise. Batman Returns also featured a computerized version which could be programmed to fly after specific targets. Batarangs are frequently featured in Batman video games as basic projectile weapons. In Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, batarangs are essential for numerous tasks. Along with a basic batarang Batman can also use a remote-controlled variant and a sonic batarang used for distracting hostiles.

Trivia

• Outright bat-shaped shuriken first appeared in outside media during episodes of the animated series of the early 90's, however ordinary "ninja wheels" were kept in the vault door of the Batcave in the 1989 film three years prior. Batman Begins had small variants of the standard Batarangs that could be placed between the fingers, emulating the kind first introduced by Frank Miller in his 1986 Dark Knight series.

Gallery

Batman (1960s series) Batarang

Batman (1989) Batarangs

Remote Control Batarang from Batman Returns

Batman: The Animated Series Batarang

Batman Forever Batarangs

Batman Forever Sonic Batarang

Batarang b&r.jpg

Batman & Robin Batarang and Throwing Bird

The New Batman Adventures Batarang

Batman Beyond Batarang

Batarangs used in The Batman animated series

Batman Begins Batarang

Batman: The Brave and the Bold Batarangs

Arkham Asylum/Arkham City Batarang Model

An explosive batarang in Young Justice

Titans Batarang

External links

• Batarang at DC Comics Database