Any writers ever address why Batman stays so low tech?

[devilin]

Sure, Batman has some cool gadgets and all an amazing car and jet and all that... but this is a guy who, in the Justice League comics, teleports to anywhere in the world instantaneously and he's still swinging around Gotham City on a rope?

I mean, I understand that the comic books would essentially become something like Iron Man and I don't want that to happen, but I was wondering if any storylines have ever looked at this at explained why Batman would still be slugging it out with Joker hand to hand when he's obviously come across technology and magical items throughout his history that would make things insanely easier.

[G. Boney]

Just one of those things you have to accept. Like glasses disguising Superman or Oracle still being in a wheelchair when there is tech or magic to heal her.

[Project 22]

I have a feeling that it has something to do with the character being who he is. If he really did the whole tech thing, which is entirely possible, he would end up becoming WAY too tyrannical. In doing that, we will have another Brother I scenario. So, that is probably why he strays away from some of the greater tech...

[VanEyck]

I think it's because he actually ENJOYS beating the crap out of criminals with his bare hands.

[Sizzle]

It's been made very apparent he's skeptical of alien technology and magic. I have a feeling it's because he is a control freak and does not like to use what he does not fully understand.

[nepenthes]

in Blind Justice he uses a neurological remote control device while he's injured and stuck in a wheelchair.....spoiler-----> Roy Kane dresses up as Batman to take Bruce's place, Bruce controlling him from afar, although his body is weaker than Bruce's and in one instance he almost dies leaping between buildings. Eventually there's a bit of mind/body swapping madness, Roys control is restored momentiraly and he falls and dies, Batman blaming himself. So he destroys the equipment rather than ever use it again. He could have used it to create an army of Batmen under his remote centralised control but no. And imagine having that option in Knightfall.

So I agree with posters above when in doubt the same aguement should be used for any other high tech equipment that simply doesn't belong in the regular batbooks.

Bruce likes being old fashioned because it forces him to work harder and to maintain his disclipne and his edge. And imo he is partly delusional after all, sometimes the mission is more about himself rather than doing good for other people, so he imposes weird rules on himself that make him feel more honourable
.

[mr. december]

It's possible that things like teleportation and magic shit are just beyond his capabilities to use, manage or understand -- spend three weeks in the cave trying to figure out a piece of alien technology that might help him out? Or just go out and get the job done?

[kalorama]

I think it's because he actually ENJOYS beating the crap out of criminals with his bare hands.

I think there's some truth to that.

Also, the post-Year One Batman has frequently displayed towards superhumans with overwhelming individual power, fearing that it distanced them from their own humanity and made it easier and more likely for them to give in to the darker temptation of power.

[CBikle]

Well...he did dabble in "artificial intelligence" with that whole Brother Eye thing and that didn't play out so well for him (fortunately, Maxwell Lord and Alexander Luthor sort of took the heat off Bats for that debacle).

On a serious note, he's been gradually incorporating and using "sci-fi" level tech when needed and I think this is a by-product of his becoming more comfortable accepting help from other superheroes as well as asking for it.

[kalorama]

The reason he created Brother Eye was exactly because of his mistrust of metas with overpowering individual power. He thought there were too many of them and they needed to be kept in check.

[dreyga2000]

To my knowlegde Batman has gone on record to say he hates magic... and some interperations of the character outright refuses to believe in it in the face of damning evidence contrary.

As for advanced tech I was under the impression while Batman has advance technology, but uses strictly as a back-up measure.


Batman usually doesn't make use of Advanced Technology unless he comes across a threat that he can't deal with hand-to-hand. In which case he heads to cave (usually after getting his ass-kicked) and creates a suit specifically designed to counter said threat.

For example, in War Drums when he runs into Scrab, some chick in a robotic suit, who is able to over power him and Robin in a confrontantion he eneges in second battle with a robotic exoskeleton.

[Ratwedge]

Fancy isnt better.

Alot of people ignore the suit he uses. It has god knows how many devices built into it, hell his cowl alone the US Military would kill to have. His suit is resistant to chemicals, firearms, blunt and sharp instruments all while not weighing him down and restricting his mobility and to top it off it reinforces his own body against many other kinds of trauma. Dont forget the ability camoflague him in his enviroment. The man has personal armour that would make the military need to pick its jaw up off the ground even in the DC universe his suit is ahead of the curve.

If push comes to shove the man has several more options in the suit department. He has power armor but that is usally overkill for what he does. Ironman doesnt go around Alley ways stopping muggings or sneaking around rooftops in the search for serial killers and rapists but we can all agree power armor would be overkill and unwarrented in those cases as Batmans current suit already provides the required tools to handle those jobs.

Even in the Justice League he doesnt need to change the suit because he is not a brawler, not one of the heavy hitters. He is the officer that watches the battlefield and adjusts. Once again his suit more than covers this with its inbuilt computer/communication interface and god knows what other uplinks it has.


Batman's Tech is not about destroying shit with laser beams or Iron suits with missiles and what not. Batmans Tech is about being Stealth, Accurate and Durable. His tech is the stuff that could sneak a small troop of men into the White House, hold a stag party and then lay the blame on Bush. His tech is all about doing the job, not being caught and doing it right the first time.

[Verdammt]

To my knowlegde Batman has gone on record to say he hates magic... and some interperations of the character outright refuses to believe in it in the face of damning evidence contrary.


This begs me to ask, how can Batman hate and not believe in magic, yet he can have a close personal relationship with Zatanna? I know he trusts her about as far as he can throw the Batmobile, especially after the whole mindwipe thing, but isn't it just a little bit hypocritical of him to be close to her personally if he hates what she can do? Or am I reading too much into their relationship status quo?

[kalorama]

This begs me to ask, how can Batman hate and not believe in magic, yet he can have a close personal relationship with Zatanna? I know he trusts her about as far as he can throw the Batmobile, especially after the whole mindwipe thing, but isn't it just a little bit hypocritical of him to be close to her personally if he hates what she can do? Or am I reading too much into their relationship status quo?

More likely, I think you may be taking the word "hate" too literally. He's uncomfortable with magic because it's something he doesn't really understand and can't control.

[Augusto]

This begs me to ask, how can Batman hate and not believe in magic, yet he can have a close personal relationship with Zatanna? I know he trusts her about as far as he can throw the Batmobile, especially after the whole mindwipe thing, but isn't it just a little bit hypocritical of him to be close to her personally if he hates what she can do? Or am I reading too much into their relationship status quo?

You have to keep your friends close to you, and your enemies even closer.

Maybe not enemy but someone you must to keep an eye on her.

Batman stated something like this in "Foreign Bodies". When you have too much power or technology at your disposal, you become overconfident and you loose your edge.

[bannermanonemillion]

Batman stated something like this in "Foreign Bodies". When you have too much power or technology at your disposal, you become overconfident and you loose your edge.

I agree with this.

Batman doesn't like magic but if pushed, he's called upon magicians like Manitou, Zatanna, Fate or whomever is League-worthy to do the job.

Now, I'd love to see a story where Batman is suddenly up against some monstrous creature fueled by magic and he uses a spell to stop the thing. The other Leaguers look at Batman with surprise and Batman admits he's learned a few things over the years, and that like any kind of uber-Grant Morrison-type tech, he'll only use it when he runs out of options.

[Freakzeek]

The Batman Anime Movie Adressed Why He Doesn't Use Tech in one of it's segments

[CBikle]

The reason he created Brother Eye was exactly because of his mistrust of metas with overpowering individual power. He thought there were too many of them and they needed to be kept in check.

Superheroes should stay away from AI research; just ask Hank Pym & Brainiac 5.

Also, Batman was a poor fit for the role he was given in that whole OMAC storyline; the science and the mindset just didn't mesh with Batman.

[Mat001]

Sure, Batman has some cool gadgets and all an amazing car and jet and all that... but this is a guy who, in the Justice League comics, teleports to anywhere in the world instantaneously and he's still swinging around Gotham City on a rope?

I mean, I understand that the comic books would essentially become something like Iron Man and I don't want that to happen, but I was wondering if any storylines have ever looked at this at explained why Batman would still be slugging it out with Joker hand to hand when he's obviously come across technology and magical items throughout his history that would make things insanely easier.


Simple. While he has his work with the League and the Outsiders and all his "wonderful toys", he still perfers to rely on his own brawn when dealing with his foes. They're all human as well and to rely on technology too much is to make him lazy, which in case he comes up against a foe that his technology fails to overpower, he's going to be in a heap of trouble. Bruce prides himself on his martial arts skills and athletism (sp). He doesn't rely on the door technology or the transporter for anything other than trips to the Hall and the Satelite. He perfers his vehicles or the rooftops, the latter being that he can avoid traffic.

When it comes to magic, as noted, he's cautious around it. But has no problem defering to Zatanna, Jason Blood or Dr. Fate. Even if he has trust issues with Blood from time to time and doesn't know the current Fate.

[Pól Rua]

Sure, Batman has some cool gadgets and all an amazing car and jet and all that... but this is a guy who, in the Justice League comics, teleports to anywhere in the world instantaneously and he's still swinging around Gotham City on a rope?

I mean, I understand that the comic books would essentially become something like Iron Man and I don't want that to happen, but I was wondering if any storylines have ever looked at this at explained why Batman would still be slugging it out with Joker hand to hand when he's obviously come across technology and magical items throughout his history that would make things insanely easier.

Because Batman prefers to rely on himself and his own skills, not on high-tech gimmicks that could fail at a crucial time.
Also, have to seen the episode of Mythbusters where they try to build a Batman-style swing-cable? I'm not sure it's as low-tech as you're painting it.

[Kid Kyoto]

In my personal continunity Batman exists in his own world with wierd science but no aliens or magic.

JLA batman, Superman/Batman Batman and all other Batmen who hang out on the mooon and pick fist fights with Darkseid, they're on some other world.

I mean the JLA fixes up earthquakes during their lunch hour, so how could No Man's Land happen? The Flash could search Gotham city in seconds, so why doesn't Batman call him in whenever there's a killer on the loose?

It's one of those things you just have to handwave away because no sane explanation makes sense. Either Batman is a fool for not using every tool he can, or he's a dick who'd rather do it his way than call in help. Best to pretend it doesn't happen.

[Tobias March]

It's possible that things like teleportation and magic shit are just beyond his capabilities to use, manage or understand -- spend three weeks in the cave trying to figure out a piece of alien technology that might help him out? Or just go out and get the job done?

Didn't Grant Morrison have him intuitly create New God tech in Rock of Ages?!