Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman: Killing Time #2
In the latest issue of DC Comics' Batmobile from his earliest days in Gotham (and it's quite impressive). While The Batman starring Robert Pattinson features a prototype Batmobile which has been widely praised, this new early-concept Batmobile seems to have tapped into the same inspiration where Bruce Wayne has modified an existing car, creating something truly epic in this new issue. However, this new version isn't based on a muscle car like the one seen in Matt Reeves' vision for the Batman mythos.
In the first issue of Batman: Killing Time from writer Tom King and artist David Marquez, Batman is attempting to solve a major case where three of his villains came together for the greatest heist Gotham has ever seen. However, it's still early on in his career and one of the first times his villains have teamed up (Catwoman, Penguin, and the Riddler). While the stolen item in question has yet to be revealed to readers, it's been confirmed that it belonged to none other than Bruce Wayne. As such, Batman knows exactly what was taken and seems to be quite desperate to get it back, racing through the streets in an early Batmobile that's never been seen before.
While The Batman's Batmobile looked to be a heavily modified 1970 Plymouth Barracuda with a Ford Triton V10 engine, this new Batmobile debuting in Batman: Killing Time #2 is less of a true muscle car and is much sportier. Instead, it looks to have been modified for major speed and looks to have been built from a Mustang. Incredibly sleek and featuring a spoiler on the back, this new prototype Batmobile sees Batman hitting speeds over 200 miles per hour with an engine that looks incredibly similar to the one seen on the back of Pattinson's impressive car.
As Batman continues making a name for himself in these early days, it makes sense that his car would still be in the first stages of development. Rather than building completely new Batmobiles with their own unique chassis as he does in the present, modifying existing vehicles makes a lot more sense as the Dark Knight is still growing as a vigilante. Batman's equipment evolved and became more advanced right along with him, something Pattinson's Batman will presumedly experience as well with future films (including their Batmobiles).
At any rate, the new Batmobile featured in Killing Time is incredibly impressive. Despite its early prototype status where it might not have a modern Batmobile's bells and whistles, there's something to be said for the modified look. It adds a dynamic realism to the character that's truly epic while also being a great way to depict Batman's early career as this new miniseries continues from DC Comics.
