The synopsis is a biologist who studies bats creates a serum that transforms him into a human/bat hybrid called The Man-Bat that resembles a Gargoyle from the show Gargoyles.

This is the first time Batman encounters genetic engineering technology in this show, but it won’t be the last, especially in regards to transgenic implantation (implanting the traits of one species into another). Here, it’s demonstrated that pretty specific genes can be implanted by the technology, enough to give someone (permanently, going by the dialogue) enhanced physical capabilities.

The Man-Bat is strong, fast, durable, and tireless enough to not only achieve true winged flight for a being that looks to weigh up to 200 pounds, but also CARRIES BATMAN ALOFT BEHIND HIM (Batman weighs at least 230 pounds) at high speeds, dragging the Caped Crusader through the sky for high-flying hijinks.

I really can’t imagine a rich fanatic like Batman passing up the chance to become gene enhanced (using his patron animal no less) to be super human, or at least throwing a ton of money into that research, especially given he completely reversed it by himself using his own knowledge of pharmaceuticals and biochemistry in a night and the reversal was total and very rapid. I could easily see him getting a dumbed down version to enhance himself, possibly going all out in true Gargoyle form in times of dire need (like needing to fly), almost like some kind of Bat-Hulk.

Years later, in Batman Beyond, Terry McGinnis (The Batman of Neo-Gotham) would be engineered or “spliced” in such a way against his will, until Bruce was able to cure him.

In this episode we are introduced to Catwoman and occasional villain Red Claw. Catwoman demonstrates a unique piece of technology that you wouldn’t think was too amazing, except it can do some cool feats. Her retractable claws.

As you can see here, they allow her to climb brick buildings, which suits her career but would also greatly aid Batman in what he does.

She then goes on to use the same claws to cut glass, which would also help Batman during his stealth missions:

After this she also attacks Batman and shows that her claws are sharp enough to damage is semi-armored cape, also useful for a hand to hand fighter like the Bat:

Their utility is further demonstrated by freeing her and Batman from ropes:

And finally, she demonstrates one of the most important features, they’re retractability, after all, you don’t want to be slicing up things you just mean to grab:

He eventually does adapt this technology for the futuristic Batsuit in Batman Beyond:

But he should have done it much sooner given the advantages to mobility, stealth, escapology, and combat it would have afforded him. And her claws and gloves are sufficiently advanced in the present time that they wouldn’t have inhibited his performance at all, given Catwoman’s demonstrations of skill, agility, and dexterity.

What I want to do with this series of articles is to do an episode by episode examination of the technology that Batman encounters, either from villains or other people, and see how he’d realistically incorporate those technologies into his suit or regular arsenal instead of never seeing/using them again. And I get why he doesn’t; “so the show can happen” and “still be true to his character and stories”. But that’s boring and doesn’t have overarching plot development. So I guess call this a suppositional fan-fiction maybe? I don’t know.

Anyway, I’m going to start writing the first article immediately after posting this.