Warning: Spoilers for Batman #149!

I genuinely believe that one of the coolest things to happen to Batman in recent memory was him receiving a robot hand, no matter what other fans think. I like to think I speak for everyone when I say Batman’s pretty cool. He’s got the coolest gadgets and even the coolest catchphrases. However, it’s been a minute since something new was added to his repertoire to freshen up his so-called “cool factor.”

I’m happy to say that his robot hand, which makes an appearance in Batman #149 by Chip Zdarsky, Michele Bandini, and Steve Lieber, is the exact level of cool that Batman needed to be, well, cool again. I think it’s easy to take for granted how naturally cool the Batman concept is, hence why his physical appearance has rarely been drastically adjusted since debuting in 1940.

Though Batman’s robot hand gets a “fix” thanks to a limb donation from Bruce Wayne’s rapidly aging Zur-En-Arrh clone — that’s comics for you — the massively powerful “cyborg” hand replacement was awesome as both a weapon and a distinguishing physical feature. As a cool, new staple of his character — which will hopefully return sooner rather than later — Batman’s robot hand actually adds to his character and informs us about that character in surprising ways.

Batman’s Robot Hand Is a Major Feature of Zdarky’s Time on Batman

Bruce Wayne Loses His Hand in Batman #134 by Zdarsky, Mike Hawthorne, Adriano Di Benedetto, Tomeu Morey, and Clayton Cowles

In an earlier arc, an encounter with a Failsafe robot created by Zur-En-Arrh (Batman’s crazed split personality) sends Batman into another universe. While there, he finds himself in a fight with that world’s version of Ghost-Maker, who cuts off his hand during the duel in Batman #134. The next issue begins with Batman repairing what’s left of his hand with a tourniquet, old Arkham Asylum equipment, and electro-cauterization to repurpose it into a blade as a temporary fix. Once he’s back in the DC Universe, he crafts himself a mechanical hand that remains useful for him.

After defeating Zur-En-Arrh and tending to the ailments of the Bruce Wayne clone that Zur turned into the darkest Robin, the clone asks Bruce about his hand. Bruce answers simply: “I was slow. The other guy wasn’t” — which is an interesting way to put it for anyone who read Batman #134 and saw how evenly matched Batman and Ghost-Maker were (as they are usually in official DC canon). It’s especially interesting in this conversation, as Batman talks candidly about his fear of slowing down and his need for control.

The Benefits of Batman’s Robot Hand Are Uncountable

Beyond Batman Looking Cool

There’s no denying that Batman’s robot hand is pretty cool (I mean, you could, but you’d be wrong), but it’s more than just an awesome visual and weapon. This hand gives readers a deeper insight into Batman as a character. He felt he was too slow at a moment when he needed to be faster, and the robot hand was both a reminder of his moment of weakness and a way to repair that weakness. In Batman #149, he admits how that’s the same thought process that compelled him to create Zur: a need for control and a need to be stronger.

Batman has no control over the rate his body changes, but to take back that control, he changes his body. None of us have any control over our bodies — which, to me, is scary, but it’s also relatable to see Batman’s fears compel him to circumvent a natural process. He’s trying to mask the weaknesses of his body, and that’s as cool as it is bittersweet. After 85 years, it’s easy for writers to stick to Batman’s usual formula and not add anything new, but I think a robot hand is the coolest creative gamble DC could’ve come up with.

Batman #149 is available now from DC Comics.