The Batman Failed to Use the Dark Knight's Best Mask Gadget - CBR - Comic Book Resources

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Batman, now playing in theaters.

Because money is his real superpower, Batman has always had an arsenal of gadgets at his disposal. Batman's various branded accessories were a big part of the charm of Adam West's Batman television series and feature film. While Tim Burton's Batman toned down the camp to match the character's gritty '80s reinvention, he still had gadgets, inspiring the classic Joker line, "Where does he get those wonderful toys?"

Robert Pattinson's turn in The Batman is a more grounded version of the character than most takes, aside from Christopher Nolan's. The Batman doesn't lack toys, including a classic grappling hook and a more functional version of the Batarang. However, one gadget did not make the transition from comics to the screen, and it put Batman in danger on a few levels.

Batman is famous for always having a contingency plan for anything he might encounter in the line of duty. For that reason, many incarnations of the character wear a booby-trapped cowl. If Batman is incapacitated, he has a fail-safe built into his mask that keeps prying eyes from discovering his secret identity. In most cases, this takes the form of a taser shock.

The most famous example of this classic Batman move came in Nolan's The Dark Knight. When Batman blinked during a game of chicken with Heath Ledger's iconic Joker, he fell off his Batcycle and was incapacitated. One of the Joker's henchmen then attempted to pry his cowl off and received a jolt of electricity, which Joker found hilarious. That momentary distraction allowed Jim Gordon the chance to get the drop on him.

Multiple parties attempt to peek under the cowl in The Batman. That includes his ally and love interest Catwoman. But one tense moment stands out from the others. After he fails to stop the bomb around District Attorney Gil Colson's neck from detonating, Batman is knocked out by the explosion. He wakes up in the Gotham City Police Department surrounded by hostile officers, including the Chief of Police. Apparently acting on the honors system, Batman's cowl remains untouched until he comes to. An officer does try to remove it when Batman comes around. It's only Batman's quick reflexes and Jim Gordon's ever-present intervention that keep him from being unmasked in a situation where he is vastly outnumbered.

The Batman splits the difference between the more fantastical caped crusaders of previous cinematic incarnations, including Ben Affleck's Snyderverse version and the Nolan trilogy's attempt at gritty realism. Given that even Nolan's Batman put an electric fail-safe in his cowl, it's a little surprising that Matt Reeves and co. didn't opt to do something similar. It does make a certain amount of sense given when it takes place in this young Batman's career.

The Batman covers new ground for the Caped Crusader on the big screen. It takes place during his second year of vigilantism. It's a period that hits a sweet spot: he's not the neophyte he was in Nolan's Batman Begins, but he's not the grizzled veteran Affleck portrayed either. The Batman's Dark Knight is good at what he does, but he's not yet an efficient machine. He's still prone to mistakes, like not securing his cowl. After his identity is nearly exposed as often as it is in The Batman, it's a mistake he shouldn't make again.

To see the man under the cowl on full display, check out The Batman, now playing in theaters.

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Robert Curran (493 Articles Published)

Robert Curran lives in Deep South Texas. He is a life long fan of comic books, video games, and pro wrestling. He spent five years in the trenches of his local comic book shop. His work has appeared in WWE Magazine (when WWE had a magazine), Comics Should Be Good, and Inside Pulse. Follow him on Twitter @RBCURRAN.