Batcomputer

Last updated
Batcomputer
Batcomputer (Detective Comics 711).jpg
The Batcomputer, as it appeared on the cover of Detective Comics # 711 (May 1997)
Art by Graham Nolan
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Batman #189
In story information
TypeComputer
Element of stories featuring Batman

The Batcomputer is the fictional computer system used by comic book superhero Batman. It is located in the Batcave.

Contents

Portrayal in fiction

The Batcomputer is usually portrayed as a powerful supercomputer on par with the cutting edge of the field. As real-world technology has progressed, the fictional portrayal of the Batcomputer has evolved. The machine began as a punch-card computer and is currently portrayed as a quantum supercomputer.

Comics

The Batcomputer often acts as a plot device or tool for exposition.

In the Death in the Family storyline, Jason Todd uses the computer to deduce the identity of his mother.

Live-action

Batman (TV series)

The 1966 Adam West TV series featured the Batcave [1] extensively, and portrayed it as a large but well-lit cavern filled with all sorts of computers and devices.

In keeping with the show's camp style, a number of whimsical devices were portrayed as part of the cave's computing suite. These included:

  • Bat-diamond [2] (power source for the Batcomputer, must be far more pure than a natural diamond, it is well over 10,000 carats (2.0 kg))
  • Accelerated Concentration Switch (increases computing power of Batcomputer when it is strained)
  • Dual Identity Bat-sensor
  • Bat-analyzing Gears
  • Batcomputer Ingestor Switch
  • Batcomputer Bat-resistance Signal (light comes on when the Batcomputer does not understand the question)
  • Special Escaped Archcriminal Bat-locator
  • Bat-correction Signal (alerts Batman or Robin when they say something incorrect)
  • Anti-crime Voice Analyzer
  • Special seismological attachment
  • Batcomputer Input Slot (enter some information source, such as a phone book, so a search can be performed)
  • Illustrated Bat-slides (Alfred created these to be more informative than the usual cue cards)

The "Batcomputer" was actually surplus equipment from Burroughs Corporation and was one of many pieces of such equipment not only used in the Batcave in the 1966-68 Batman TV series, but also in other 20th Century Fox TV productions of the period, such as Lost In Space and The Time Tunnel (coincidentally, the former aired in the same time period as Batman during 1966 and part of 1967).

Film

Batman (1989)

The Batcomputer that was used in the 1989 film Batman was realistic in its design. The Batcomputer first appears when Bruce Wayne is in the Batcave seeing in the security videos of the manor when Commissioner Gordon is alerted of Jack Napier and Lt. Max Eckardt's arrival at Axis Chemicals. Later in the film, it is seen when Batman brings Vicki Vale to the Batcave show the lethal combination of The Joker's health and beauty products. Finally, Bruce uses the computer to observe The Joker's challenge to him while recalling that he killed his parents years ago.

Batman Returns

The Batcomputer is first seen when Bruce read the files of the Red Triangle Circus of The Penguin. He also uses the computer to damage Penguin's campaign for mayor of Gotham City via frequency interference by playing a recording in which Penguin was insulting the citizens of Gotham. Towards the end of the film, Alfred does the same thing against the army of penguins in the service of the villain.

Batman Forever

The Batcomputer briefly appears behind the large Batemblem in the Batcave when Bruce is discussing with Dick Grayson after Dick saved Batman from Two-Face in the subway that's under construction. The computer is used to watch a news report on the incident. The Batcomputer is ultimately destroyed by The Riddler.

Batman & Robin

In the 1997 film Batman & Robin , Alfred programs his brain algorithms into the Batcomputer and creates a virtual simulation of himself.

The Dark Knight & The Dark Knight Rises

The Batcomputer as presented in The Dark Knight is a super-computer with advanced capabilities featuring an 8 Monitor setup with several Dell PowerEdge Server class Desktops adjacent to his main desk. From the screenshots, it's shown to be using a form of Linux from the Joker screen captures. The advance capabilities include facial recognition, access to Gotham City traffic and city cameras. The Batcomputer likely has access to the Gotham City police department criminal database.

Batman also used an even more powerful Surveillance supercomputer to track down, the Joker, via a form of sonar using cellphone imaging technology. It was later destroyed due by Lucius as being too much power for one man.

In The Dark Knight Rises , Batman uses a different batcomputer again to search for Selina Kyle's fingerprint data criminal records from the GCPD database. The computer is now located in the refitted Batcave with a dual monitor setup.

DC Extended Universe

The Batcomputer appears in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice . It is used to reference the Flash, Wonder Woman (who appears in the film), Cyborg, and Aquaman. The Batcomputer also works to research criminal activity. In Justice League , it is shown being mainly used by Alfred to help the team on the mission.

Animation

Batman: The Animated Series

In this series, Batman utilizes the Batcomputer as an information database and research tool in the episodes "The Laughing Fish" and "His Silicon Soul."

Batman Beyond

In Batman Beyond , the elder Bruce Wayne uses the Batcomputer to monitor his successor as Batman, Terry McGinnis, and his Batsuit.

The Batman

The 2004 animated series The Batman features the "Bat-Wave" warning signals, which called Batman before the Bat-Signal went into service.

Beware the Batman

In Beware the Batman , the Batcomputer shows some degree of sentience and personality. It constantly tells Batman the unlikely odds he has of surviving a certain mission or situation. It is voiced by JB Blanc.

The Lego Batman Movie

The Batcomputer (here called "'Puter") is one of the main characters in The Lego Batman Movie , jokingly voiced by Siri. This HAL 9000-like version of the Batcomputer seems to be sentient and is loyal to Batman and has the ability to remotely control Batman's vehicles, selecting music to be played during fights, as well as some standard virtual assistant features such as reading e-mail, controlling electronics connected to it. It is also shown to have a parental lock feature which Alfred can activate to prevent use by Batman.

The Batcomputer "lives" in Wayne Manor, on Batman's vehicles and in his mask, and is activated by the password "Iron Man sucks".

Video games

See also

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References

  1. "1966 Batcave". Batmanytb.com. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  2. Wagstaff, Keith (2012-07-16). "9 examples of improbable superhero technology". Time. ISSN   0040-781X . Retrieved 2020-08-12.