The Batsuit is one of the most iconic pieces of gear in pop culture. It's as instantly recognizable as a lightsaber and filled to brim with state of the art gadgets. Batman wears multiple Batsuits for various occasions. Most of Bruce Waynes suits have a cape and a cowl.

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Batman's capes and cowls don't just make him look cool - they're equipped with all sorts of awesome functions and bleeding edge features. We're going to breakdown 10 surprising things that Dark Knights cape and cowl can do. Whether you're a casual comic book reader or a die-hard DC fan, get ready to have your mind blown!

10 The Cowl's 'Bat-Ears' Can Fire Off

Batman's whole shtick revolves around emulating bats to the best of his ability. That's why he made the Batcave, that's why he dresses in dark colors, and that's why he put a pair of 'Bat Ears' on his cowl. But that Bat Ears aren't just fashionable - they're also functional.

If the Dark Knight is in a bind and he's quickly running out of time, the cowl's Bat Ears can fire off like darts! This feature is very rarely used because most writers and artists think it's kind of silly. We think it's an interesting way for Batman to use his head - literally.

9 The Cowl Has a Security System

Bruce Wayne is a smart, charismatic, and courageous hero through and through. He's also extraordinarily paranoid! The man is such a skeptic that he plans and revises ways to beat the entire Justice League - including himself - regularly. Batman's also very particular about who uses his gear.

Case in point, the cowl has a built-in security system. If an unauthorized person tries to don the Caped Crusader's cowl, they'll be in for a surprise. The cowl can discharge non-lethal but very painful dosages of electricity. Batman's cowl can also release knockout gas as an alternative. Finally, the cowl will deactivate its higher functions if everything else fails.

8 The Cowl Has Radio Antennas

We've all seen Batman talk to himself over the years. When he's not arguing with the voices in his head, the Dark Knight is typically talking with a friend. Bruce can do this because his cowl has a pair of built-in radio antennas.

The Bat Ears usually house these antennas in most suits. Batman can communicate with people across the world and pick up on special frequencies. The Bat of Gotham can even use his antennas to tap into police scanners. Just like a computer transistor, Bruce aims to make his antennas smaller and smaller with every new suit he creates.

7 The Cowl Deflects X-Rays (And X-Ray Vision)

Bruce Wayne wears his cowl on for many reasons - intimidating opponents, looking cool, etc. But the main reason Batman wears a mask is to protect his identity. Simply wearing the cowl is enough to fool human eyes. But beings with x-ray vision require a more nuanced touch.

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After meeting Superman during the World's Finest comics, Batman lined his cowl with lead. Lead is one of the few elements that can repel x-rays. The Dark Knight is cool with Superman knowing his identity, but he wants to keep other superbeings out of the loop. The lead lining is very thin, yet very effective.

6 The Cowl Has An Echolocation Feature

Here's another feature inspired by bats. Echolocation is a type of biological sonar. Numerous species of animals with poor eyesight use echolocation to 'see.' Dolphins can use echolocation to help move around the deep sea. Shrews can use it to help them burrow. However, bats are the masters of echolocation - all species of bat can use echolocation to see in pitch black caves.

Batman can also use echolocation thanks to his cowl. Bruce doesn't have any innate superpowers, but this is about as close as it gets. Bats can simply press a button and gain a solid visual understanding of his environment.

5 The Cape Doubles As A 'Shock Blanket'

When first responders arrive at the scene of a crime, victims tend to be thoroughly shaken up. To help comfort someone who's just experienced a traumatic event, first responders will give them an emergency blanket. Also called 'shock blankets,' these pieces of gear help victims cope with stress.

Batman is aware of this technique and uses it in times of crisis. As a student of psychology and a philanthropist, the Dark Knight understands the benefits of always having a shock blanket on deck. That's why he made his cape detachable, warm, and smooth. In the aftermath of a catastrophe, Batman can use his cape like a 'shock blanket' to comfort someone.

4 The Cape Is Fireproof

Most of Gotham City's most dangerous criminals have a psychological illness that codifies them. The Riddler has an Inferiority Complex while the Ventriloquist has Dissociative Identity Disorder. Garfield Lynns, known as the villain Firefly, is a Pyromaniac. The first few times Batman encountered Firefly, Bruce almost actually died in a fire!

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To help combat the Firefly's flame-based weapons, Bruce upgraded his cape. He integrated fire-resistant materials in its design and used a special coating to improve its flame resistance. The Bat stomped out the Firefly with the help of this upgrade. Since then, Batman never leaves home without a fire-proof cape.

3 The Cape Works Like A Parachute (But Much Better)

Here's the scene; it's a late night and a gang of gunmen is on the loose. They rob Gotham's National Bank then, bail in a getaway car. The Gotham City Police Department chase after them but ease up after a brief gunfight. With the cops long gone, the gunmen drive on. They almost make it out of the city when they look up and see Batman gliding down on them.

BOOM! Batman stops the car, KO's the crooks and leaves them for the GCPD. The Dark Knight pulls stunts like that all the time. He's able to do it thanks to his lightweight, aerodynamic cape. According to Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne, two fo Bruce's sons, the cape is more effective than a parachute. Considering that parachutes and dense cities don't mix too well, we believe that claim.

2 The Cape Has Metal In Its Edges

The cool thing about Batman's gadgets is that most of them are multipurpose tools. The Gotham Knight's grapple guns are good for getting out of trouble as well as tying foes up. The Caped Crusader's gauntlets can deflect attacks and have supercomputers built in them. Bruce's cape is no exception to this trend.

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Not only can Bats glide with his cape, but he can also use it as a weapon. Batman can strike foes with his cape and stun them - a feat we've seen often in the Arkham games. That's because the tips of Bruce's cape are lined with metal. This metal isn't very heavy, but it can concuss criminals with enough force.

1 The Cape Works In Real Life (Sort Of)

Christopher Nolan, Johnathan Nolan, and David S. Goyer's Dark Knight Trilogy get a lot of credit for grounding Batman in the real world. The heroes and criminals who live in Gotham are humanized while the fantasy elements of the Batman Mythos are left by the wayside. Yet, Batman's cape still functions just like in the comics!

Turns out the truth is stranger than fiction. The Ministry of Defense helped the DK crew create a cape that expands with a touch. While you can jump off a roof and glide with the cape yet, members of the Ministry suggest that we're not that far off from getting a version with gliding capabilities.

NEXT: Batman: 10 Suits We Want To See On The Big Screen (And 10 We Don't)