You don’t have to be a superhero fanatic to know about the Batman Batcave. The notorious underground lair is headquarters to some of the most popular DC characters to date. From cutting-edge tech to a dinosaur, there are tons of amazing treasures that are trademark to the famous location.
Although the Batman Batcave was recently abandoned as Bruce Wayne adjusts to his new life outside of the manor, there are a few unforgettable mementos that should not be forgotten.
Grandfather Clock
Okay, so this one isn’t in the Batcave, but the grandfather clock is the signature entrance to the elusive location. There are tons of ways to get into the Batcave, from underground tunnels to river mazes.
The Batcave is, in fact, an actual cave that (in canon) was not created but found. In order to access the cave through the mansion, there is one particular spot used in the comics, movies, and many animated series.
There is a grandfather clock that opens up to a secret, winding staircase that ultimately leads to the cave. While this is probably the least exciting thing about Batman’s lair, it’s a perfect way to introduce the ultimate guide.
Costume Displays
The cave is more than just someplace to research and train. In many ways, the Batman Batcave became a home. Arguably – Bruce spends more time here than he does in the rest of the manor at times.
One personal touch is that the retired costumes of his allies remain displayed in the cave. In addition to classic costumes like Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl suit or Dick Grayson’s original Robin costume (pixie boots and all), there is one significant display that is often referenced during dark and depressing moments.
After the murder of the second Robin, Jason Todd, Bruce decided to display his costume as a memorial for his work and a reminder of what he “let happen.” It’s not uncommon for Bruce to take things a little too far or feel like he isn’t doing enough when his focus trails off to the boy that was murdered by the Joker under his guidance.
Despite Jason’s resurrection and prominent return to the Gotham universe, his death was never forgotten and remained a lingering theme in the DC universe.
Even as he runs around as the Red Hood (and even when his falling outs with Batman led Todd to be more of an enemy than an ally), the caped crusader kept the prominent display up in his honor with the epitaph “A Good Soldier.”
Vehicle Collection
Arguably more famous than the Batcave, the Batmobile is a widely recognizable accessory to Bruce Wayne’s superhero adventures. Much like everything else in a franchise that has been around for nearly a century, the Batmobile has gone through several makeovers of the years.
Some fans are even able to identify the era or arc of a Batman adventure just by looking at the design of the car. There are even quite a few favorites – like the classic 1960s Batmobile used by Adam West. Luckily, while the Batmobile experienced several upgrades over the year, the other ones weren’t forgotten.
Many depictions of the Batman Batcave show the collection of vehicles prominently displayed in the center of the room. At first glance, they may look like a fun assortment for Batman to use depending on the mission. Upon a closer inspection, you may just notice several easter eggs of vintage vehicles that are gone but not forgotten.
Bat-Computer
Vehicles aren’t the only high-tech thing stored in this cave. The impressive supercomputer used by the Batfamily, cleverly named the “bat computer,” is also there. This high-tech computer offers everything you could ever imagine.
It’s also gone through several different adaptions over the years based off what society’s definition of cutting-edge tech. The large computer is infused with AI and often used by allies in order to track bad guys, do research, and get any information you can think of.
It always aims to have a futuristic look, which means different things at different points in time. Consider watching Batman: The Animated Series episode where Robin uses it to play the “latest video game” for a fun nostalgia trip.
T-Rex Robot
One prominent fixture in the Batcave is a giant t-rex. At first glance, it looks like an exciting model, but it is actually a giant, animatronic dinosaur. The first appearance of the t-rex dates all the way back to 1946 in batman #35. It was from one of Batman’s earliest cases. It quickly became the centerpiece of the Batcave because it’s pretty awesome. There are quite a few different origin stories to the dinosaur – from amusement parks to a madman that thought he was a caveman.
Giant Penny
After you notice the animatronic dinosaur, the next thing you’ll probably see is the giant Penny. While it’s become an integral fixture of the Batcave, the story surrounding it is pretty forgettable.
Back in the early days of Batman and Robin’s adventures, they faced some petty villains that were rather unremarkable. One villain, in particular, that was pretty much erased from the timeline was the “Penny Plunderer.”
Unsurprisingly, this criminal was obsessed with stealing pennies (which, in all fairness, got you a lot farther back when these comics were published). Joe Coyne (get it?) sold newspapers but was fired for stealing pennies. After an uneventful showdown with the Penny Plunderer where Coyne tried to crush Batman and Robin with an oversized penny, the dynamic duo beat him and kept the coin as a victory trophy.
Of course, this vintage villain can’t hold a light to the modern Batman storylines. Coyne is now officially removed from the timeline in the modern ages. However, the Penny remains.
Newer versions say that another coin-obsessed villain, two-face, was the one who tried to crush him with the giant Penny that overshadows the cave. Aside from an ornamental feature, the coin was used as a weapon on more than one occasion.
Oversized Joker Card
The final “signature” trophy remains prominently on display in the Batcave. The Joker is the most recognizable villain of Batman’s rogue gallery – possibly even any superhero franchise. Unlike the other two Batcave staples, this card didn’t involve retconned origins – it’s just a remnant of some Joer adventure.
It was also a fun item introduced all the way back in the 1940s. It goes through some major appearance changed based on the look of the Joker in the respective universe, but it is always recognizable as the ridiculous trading card.
Batman Batcave – Various Trophies
While the animatronic dinosaur, large coin, and giant playing card are signature Batman memorabilia kept prominently on display, they are far from the only trophies stored around Batman’s lair.
While this changes with the comics, there are several major trophies Batman keeps behind a closed-door – whether to research his enemies or simply relish the victory. Some more notorious items Batman was known for keeping include weapons from a-list enemies such as the original freeze-ray from Mr. Freeze, Penguin’s weaponized umbrellas, and Deathstroke’s sword.
Other items include things like Two-Face’s silver dollar and the Mad Hatter’s hat. There is certainly an endless collection that will hopefully continue to grow beyond the cave.
Did you know the story behind these awesome mementos? Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!
