Utility Belt

Gallery

Official Name

Utility Belt

Aliases

No known nicknames

Model

Model number or type unknown

Version

Version number unknown

Origin

Universe

Earth-Two, Earth-One, New Earth, Batman (1966 TV Series), DCAU

Lead Designer

Bruce Wayne

AdditionalDesigners

Harold Allnut, Wayne Enterprises, Lucius Fox's Research and Development program, within Wayne Enterprises' Applied Sciences Division

Place of Creation

Batcave, Wayne Manor, Gotham City

Owners

Current Owner

Bruce Wayne, Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, Oracle

Previous Owners

Jean-Paul Valley, Red Hood

First appearance

Detective Comics #27
(May, 1939)

History

Although seemingly unremarkable in appearance, the utility belt remains as one of Batman's most important tools in fighting crime. Composed of a leather strap and a solid steel 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. Through the years, Batman has modified, updated and improved the contents of his utility belt to accommodate various needs. The following list is a sample of some of the items that can regularly be found in the utility belt, but does not represent the complete definitive arsenal of Batman's equipment.

Contents:

• Infrared flashlight
• Infrared ordnance
• Smoke capsules
• Fingerprint analysis kit
• Forensic analysis kit
• First aid kit
• Lockpicking tools
• Kryptonite ring
• Tear gas pellets
• Micro-processor power source
• Micro-recorder (updated regularly)
• Batline spool + grappling gun
• Miniature Laser torch
• Bat-shaped handcuffs
• Various incendiary capsules (including plastique and thermite)
• Rebreather and gas mask
• Tracker
• Cryo capsule
• Sedatives
• Toxin illusion of death
• Mini explosives
• Light Grenades
• Anti fire foam
• Grenades iron filings
• Silver nitrate
• Ultrasonic transmitter (to attract bats)
  
  

Notes

• Presumably the utility belt also contains a compartment for Batman's wallet and the keys to the Batmobile, but this is not regularly addressed within storylines.
• During the No Man's Land period, Batman adopted a bulkier and more practical version of his utility belt: a workman's tool-belt. This enabled him to carry additional weapons and supplies necessary to operate and survive in earthquake-ruined Gotham City.
  
  

Trivia

• The original version of Batman started out wearing a standard leather belt with a round buckle; the primary function of which, amounted to little more than to secure the bat-trousers. In his second appearance, Batman exchanged the round belt buckle for a square one.

See Also

• Appearances of Utility Belt
• Item Gallery: Utility Belt
  
• Images featuring Utility Belt

Links and References

• Batman's utility belt at Wikipedia
• Batman's utility belt at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe