If you’re going to travel, why not travel in style?
As I sit in traffic during another rush hour commute, I can’t help but notice how similar the cars all are to each other. Real life might not have a ton of variety when it comes to its vehicles, but the DC Universe is another story. DC vehicles can drive up walls, travel through time, and even reproduce (um…yeah). For some heroes (looking at you, Flash), they might not be necessary. But for the DCU’s many non-powered crimefighters, they’re essential. And let’s face it, they’re just cool. You want to know why Batman is DC’s most popular character? It’s very likely the car.
But the Batmobile is only the beginning. In fact, here’s a full octet of the most remarkable rides you’ll find zipping across the DCU.
The Batmobile
Driver/Pilot: Batman
First Appearance: 1941’s Detective Comics #48
Roadside Rundown: The cream of the crop. One of the coolest vehicles in the DC Universe, if not all of fiction itself. It’s had many redesigns over the years, reinventing itself as a sports car, a tank and even an aircraft. Batman has many gadgets for his war on crime, but the Batmobile is arguably the coolest.
Key Features: There are enough cool features to fill an entire book. From gun turrets, grappling hooks, a partial crime lab, an advanced computer and a mini-reactor, this is the car that has it all. (Oh, and there are rumors that it’s alive.)
The Bug
Driver/Pilot: Blue Beetle (Ted Kord), but he’s also let a few of his friends and other Blue Beetles take control from time to time.
First Appearance: 1966’s Captain Atom #83
Roadside Rundown: Imagine what would happen if the Batmobile and the Batcave had a baby with the power of flight, and that’s Blue Beetle’s Bug. The aircraft is Ted Kord’s flying headquarters, but it also serves as a battle vehicle when needed.
Key Features: It can fly, it can fire lasers and it has its own onboard crime lab. This is one of the few vehicles in the DCU that just might make Batman a bit jealous.
Spacehog
Driver/Pilot: Lobo, the Main Man himself. That means nobody else touches it, unless they want to get fragged.
First Appearance: 1983’s Omega Men #3
Roadside Rundown: A motorcycle for interspace travel. This speed demon is not for the faint of heart, which is why it’s owned by Lobo.
Key Features: It has its own miniature power plant and that skull in the front looks really cool. Plus, it’s a motorcycle that runs in space! What more do you need?
The Javelin
Driver/Pilot: The Justice League
First Appearance: Justice League “In Blackest Night”
Roadside Rundown: Not all members of the Justice League can fly or breathe in space. That’s where the Javelin comes in. The unique spacecraft is designed for long-distance transport for the League’s most dangerous missions.
Key Features: The Javelin is capable of traveling through deep space, planetary atmospheres and the deepest depths of the ocean. The vehicle’s weapon system is second to none, with enough firepower to propel a small invasion.
Astro-Harness
Driver/Pilot: Orion
First Appearance: 1971’s The New Gods #1
Roadside Rundown: An interspace mini-vehicle that can help its user channel the energy source known as the Astro-Force.
Key Features: This deceivingly simple-looking vehicle can self-repair and shoot powerful Astro-Force beams at any attacker. The Astro-Harness can also augment Orion’s strength, making him more powerful. Plus, there’s an onboard Mother Box, which comes in handy.
Waverider
Driver/Pilot: The Legends of Tomorrow (and the occasional hijacker)
First Appearance: DC’s Legends of Tomorrow “Pilot”
Roadside Rundown: An aircraft with the power to travel through the timestream. Originally created by the Time Masters to keep the timeline in order, it’s now operated by the Legends of Tomorrow, who use it to create disorder (despite their best intentions).
Key Features: I mean, do you need anything aside from time travel? There’s also a fabricator room, which can generate any type of clothing or food (and yes, that includes beer—think Heat Wave would have lasted a full six seasons if it didn’t?). Plus, there’s Gideon, the onboard A.I., which takes virtual assistance to a whole new level. However, there’s only one bathroom, so plan accordingly.
The Super-Cycle
Driver/Pilot: The original Young Justice team. However, the Super-Cycle had a particular affinity for Slobo.
First Appearance: 1998’s Young Justice #1
Roadside Rundown: A sentient all-terrain vehicle created by the people of New Genesis. This particular model of the Super-Cycle was found by Young Justice. Superboy, who was on a bit of an ego trip, gave the vehicle its name, much to Impulse’s chagrin.
Key Features: The Super-Cycle can phase through solid matter and cause its occupants to become intangible. It also has the ability to teleport. However, by far its weirdest (and most unsettling) feature is its ability to mate with other Super-Cycles, creating baby Super-Cycles. My old Honda Civic never did that.
The Invisible Jet
Driver/Pilot: Wonder Woman
First Appearance: 1942’s Sensation Comics #1
Roadside Rundown: In Wonder Woman’s earliest appearances, the Amazon didn’t have the ability of flight—hence, her iconic invisible plane. The stealth aircraft allows her to traverse the skies while remaining undetected.
Key Features: The Invisible Jet not only has the power to make itself invisible, but it can do the same to all its occupants. Its power of stealth is so great that it remains undetected by even the most advanced military radars. It also responds to Wonder Woman’s mental commands.
Honorable Mention: The Robinmobile
We can’t talk about DC vehicles without spotlighting the Robinmobile. From the giant R to its big glass bubble, this thing is something else. And look at Batman’s face as Robin drives it. I can almost hear the Dark Knight saying, “We talked about this, and I said no.” It’s a shame this was only seen in 1956’s Batman #101. James Gunn, if you can get this Robinmobile on the big screen, I’ll personally make sure every theater is sold out.
Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DC.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Bluesky at @joshualapinbertone and on X at @TBUJosh.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.
