Batarang

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Image:Normal asamiya batman.jpg A batarang is a roughly bat-shaped throwing weapon used by the DC Comics superhero Batman as a non-lethal ranged attack alternative to firearms, which he rejects outright due to the circumstances of his parents' murder. The name is a portmanteau of bat and boomerang, and was originally spelled baterang.

Though they are named after boomerangs, batarangs have become more and more like shuriken with time. The earliest depictions were of scalloped, metal boomerangs which were used to attack opponents and returned to the thrower; However, the recent film Batman Begins showed them as bat-shaped shuriken used for distraction rather than as weapons, fitting in with Batman's ninja training. 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 used a grapple gun in the 1989 Batman film; that weapon has become standard in the subsequent animated series and comics.

Nightwing (the original Robin) is known to use his own modified batarangs<ref>Throwing Bird: Robin's former projectiles were bat-shaped like Batman's, for the fourth film he had his own throwing birds. As with Batman, Robin can launch his weapon with a launcher located on his lower arm.</ref> ("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. In an issue of Teen Titans (Vol. 3), Robin claims that he hid the costs for shipping a Batmobile from Gotham City to San Francisco in "the batarang budget", which he tells the others is "bigger than you might think". In the Teen Titans animated series, Robin uses similar modified batarangs to the adult Nightwing, referred to as "birdarangs".

[edit] History

Batarangs first appeared in Detective Comics #31 (Sept. 1939) in the same year the character was introduced. 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.

[edit] Appearance in other media

The batarang as seen in Batman (1989 film).<ref>Batarang MK1: The batarang is beside bat-grapple Batman's usually assigned defensive weapon. It resembles a boomerang, and it can come back to its thrower. It can be folded up in the center in order to be attached to the utility belt.</ref><ref>The batarang is beside the batrope, Batman's usually assigned defensive weapon. The batarang resembles a boomerang, which can fly back again to its thrower in the construction. At the left and right side can be attached rope around its victim to hold. The batarang can be folded up in the center and gives then a catch to the appearance around it to the chain mechanism asking belts to attach.</ref>	The batarang as seen in Batman Returns.<ref>This time, the batarang looks more similar to the comic book, apart from the fact that it has a small LSD screen. It looks a bit like a bat-shaped Sega Game Gear. The screen was used to target the enemies around Batman. After the weapon was thrown, it would seek and hit the targets wherever they were.</ref><ref>This design of the batarangs is based likewise on the exterior of a bat. The two wings are driven out with pressure of the red button. On the top side a blue LC display and a digital tax cross are attached. With the tax cross Batman the direction as well as the course of the Batarangs can determined. The wings are differently bended depending upon course. The batarang can be set also purposefully at certain objects or persons.</ref>	The batarang as seen in Batman Forever.<ref>Batarang: This film saw a dramatic change to Batman's basic weapon, the batarang. This version can be folded in the center, then the two wings are shifted apart. The process is automatic.</ref><ref>This batarang can be folded up in the center, so that it can be installed on at Batman's equipment belt.</ref>	The sonar batarang as seen in Batman Forever.
The batarang as seen in Batman & Robin.<ref>This proven weapon appears in two new versions. Batman has now a launcher for the batarang on his lower arm. Similarly as the rope the batarang is shot by an easy movement of the arm.</ref><ref>The batarang is shot by an easy movement of the hand gel RPC.</ref>	The batarang as seen in Batman Begins.<ref>Batarang: Based on the Ninja throwing stars called shurikens, Bruce designs these weapons in the shape of a bat, the symbol he adopts to strike fear into the hearts of criminals.</ref><ref>[1]</ref>

[edit] References

Batman
Creators:	Bob Kane and Bill Finger • Other writers and artists
Supporting Characters:	Robin (Tim Drake) • Nightwing (Dick Grayson) • Batgirl • Batwoman • Alfred Pennyworth • Lucius Fox • Barbara Gordon • Commissioner Gordon • Harvey Bullock
Villains:	Bane • Catwoman • Clayface • Harley Quinn • Joker • Killer Croc • Mr. Freeze • Penguin • Poison Ivy • Ra's al Ghul • Red Hood (Jason Todd) • Riddler • Scarecrow • Two-Face • Other villains
Locations:	Arkham Asylum • Batcave • Gotham City • Wayne Enterprises • Wayne Manor
Miscellanea:	Batarang • Batmobile • Batsuit • Popular media • Publications • Storylines • Alternate versions of Batman