Warning, this article contains spoilers for Batman #106.
The new Batmobile is a major downgrade for Joker?
During Punchline ruined Batman by kicking him out of the Batcave. The Joker War would take everything from Bruce, forcing him to go back to the basics.
With the help of the Bat-family, Bruce was able to retake Gotham and defeat the massive new Joker Gang. The family banned together to save the city that had raised so many heroes, but the damage was done. Civilians no longer trusted heroes like Batman to save the day after the torment of the brutal war. They favored vicious vigilantes like Clownhunter for his brand of justice, which resembled vengeance more than fairness.
The most impactful loss of the war was Bruce's wealth because he no longer had access to the resources he had been privileged with throughout his career. The government had frozen Bruce Wayne's assets after the financial fiasco, and Batman realized it was time to start over. He told Catwoman he would even leave Wayne manor to be closer to Gothamites and live a more modest lifestyle. Nothing is more indicative of this lifestyle change than the downgrade of the most iconic DC car, the Batmobile. In Batman #106, we see Bruce Wayne struggle financially for the first time in his life.
The Batmobile is a staple of the Batman mythos. The Dark Knight has had the sweetest of rides for decades. Whether it be cartoon or live-action, the Batmobile has always been a spectacle to witness. Usually, every iteration is armed to the teeth, sleek, and stocked with the latest technological innovations. The new Batmobile however leaves much to be desired. Despite being a sports car, Bruce's new ride lacks many of the bells and whistles he is accustomed to.
Batman notes the absence of collision avoidance systems to Oracle. Bruce also complains about the speed of his new ride to his sidekick. He ditches the Batmobile to grapple onto an enemy craft, leaving Oracle to pilot the vehicle remotely. The new Batmobile is the first in a long line of low-tech downgrades we will see for The Caped Crusader. The current Batman run will show readers how The Dark Knight fares against Gotham's criminals without his toys and a billionaire's budget.
