After 76 Years, One Lost Piece of Batman Lore Finally Returns

1 hour ago 6

BATMAN BLACK COSTUME AND BLUE AND GREY SUIT

Published Apr 12, 2026, 9:01 AM EDT

TJ Mills is an editor on ScreenRant's Comic team, where she combines her lifelong passion for DC with her analytical background as a former Intelligence Analyst. Since joining ScreenRant in 2023, she has specialized in covering major DC storylines, character evolutions, and industry developments.

After 80 years, a previously retired piece of Batman lore is officially returning to canon, and surprisingly enough, it is all thanks to Harley Quinn. However, fans are left wondering how DC Comics will explain this epic yet highly outdated piece of era-defining lore's return.

DC solicitations for June are officially in, and the sneak peek at writer Elliott Kalan and artist Carlos Olivares’ upcoming June 24 release of Harley Quinn #63 is of particular interest, as it shows the return of a piece of Batman lore that we never thought we’d see again: the Bat-Face Batmobile from the 1940s.

The return of this iconic iteration of the Batmobile sees Harley driving it on Harley Quinn #63's main cover by Ted Brandt and Ro Stein, making it likely we will also see an in-narrative debut. Most fans will agree that we were under the impression that we’d never see this design again, especially in mainstream continuity, so its return is more than noteworthy.

The Bat-Face Batmobile of the 1940s, Explained

Main Cover by Ted Brandt and Ro Stein for Harley Quinn #63 (2026)

The classic “bat-face” Batmobile, courtesy of Jerry Robinson, first appeared in Batman #5 and was defined by its bulging, rounded design, and, of course, its ornate, exaggerated “bat head” front, featuring pointed bat ears and eye-shaped headlights. This design lasted for nearly a decade until 1950, when Dick Sprang introduced a new Batmobile design in Detective Comics #156.

Sprang’s design essentially evolved from Robinson’s, featuring a bat-mask-shaped nose that blended into the car's body, making its features less exaggerated and sleeker. Hence, fans haven’t seen the Robinson design in decades, making its comeback an epic return to a design fans thought was lost to the ages.

Why Is Harley Quinn Driving an Outdated Batmobile?

Cover B David Nakayama Variant for Harley Quinn #62 (2026)

Those who haven’t been keeping up with Harley Quinn may be wondering why she is driving a Batmobile in the first place while dressed as Batman. This is a development that happened after DC’s recent crisis event, DC K.O., where Earth’s heroes and villains fought in a deathmatch-style tournament for a single champion to acquire enough Omega Energy to take on Darkseid in his King Omega form.

While Harley was knocked out of the tournament during her fight against Zatanna, she still kept some of the Omega Energy she managed to obtain during the tournament. This has led to a powered-up Harley, who has taken her newfound power to mean she also has a responsibility to defend her neighborhood from crime, hence her newly claimed BatQuinn persona.

Harley Quinn Has a Brand-New Costume That Turns Her Into DC's New Batman

Harley Quinn’s new era has finally arrived, and with it comes a new codename and costume that have essentially turned her into DC’s new Batman.

While Harley is taking her newfound identity as BatQuinn seriously, this is Harley Quinn we’re talking about, so her interpretation of what it means to be Batman is more than a little campy and outlandish. Hence, it makes sense why she would allegedly commandeer one of Batman’s more ridiculous rides.

Again, we have yet to see the Bat-Face Batmobile debut in the narrative, so it has yet to be confirmed that Harley is actually driving this ride in her latest story arc. However, Ted Brandt and Ro Stein’s various cover art for Kalan’s series has been pretty accurate in reflecting in-narrative developments. Hence, it is extremely likely that this version of Batman’s Batmobile is returning to DC main continuity, albeit with Harley Quinn driving it.

Themyscira · Amazonian Trial Edition How Well Do You Know
Wonder Woman?

🌏OriginsParadise

⚡PowersTruth

☠VillainsWar!

🎥FilmsDCEU

💫LegacyIcon

FOR THEMYSCIRA! →

Wonder Woman is an Amazonian princess who left her hidden island homeland to help humanity during a great conflict. What is the name of the island paradise where the Amazons live?

AAtlantis BThemyscira CAsgard DOlympus

✓ Correct! Themyscira, also known as Paradise Island, is the hidden homeland of the Amazons — a race of immortal warrior women blessed by the Greek gods. Shielded from the outside world for millennia, it is where Diana was raised and trained before venturing into the world of men.

✗ The Lasso of Truth says that’s not quite right! The answer is Themyscira. Atlantis is the underwater kingdom of Aquaman, Asgard is Thor’s realm in Norse mythology, and Olympus is the home of the Greek gods. Themyscira is the hidden paradise where the Amazons have lived for thousands of years.

In DC Comics’ classic origin, Wonder Woman was formed from clay by her mother and given life by the Greek gods. Who is Wonder Woman’s mother, the Queen of the Amazons?

AHera BAthena CHippolyta DArtemis

✓ Correct! Queen Hippolyta is Wonder Woman’s mother and the ruler of the Amazons. In the classic origin, she sculpted baby Diana from clay and the gods breathed life into her. Hippolyta is a fierce warrior and wise leader who has guided the Amazons for centuries.

✗ The Lasso of Truth says that’s not quite right! The answer is Hippolyta. Hera is the queen of the Olympian gods, Athena is the goddess of wisdom, and Artemis is a fellow Amazon warrior (and sometimes rival to Diana). Hippolyta is Diana’s mother and the beloved Queen of the Amazons.

Wonder Woman wields a magical golden weapon that forces anyone bound by it to tell the truth. This iconic weapon is one of the most recognizable in all of comics. What is it called?

AThe Golden Bolas BThe Lasso of Truth CThe Chain of Honesty DThe Rope of Hestia

✓ Correct! The Lasso of Truth (also known as the Golden Perfect) was forged by the god Hephaestus from the Golden Girdle of Gaea. Anyone bound by it is compelled to speak only the truth. It is virtually indestructible and can also restore lost memories and dispel illusions.

✗ The Lasso of Truth says that’s not quite right! The answer is the Lasso of Truth. While the lasso is sometimes connected to Hestia in certain continuities, its official and iconic name is the Lasso of Truth — Wonder Woman’s most signature weapon and a symbol of her commitment to honesty and justice.

Wonder Woman’s most iconic arch-nemesis is a powerful figure from Greek mythology who represents war and conflict. In many storylines, this villain is the god of war himself. Who is Wonder Woman’s greatest enemy?

ACirce BCheetah CAres DHades

✓ Correct! Ares, the Greek god of war, is Wonder Woman’s most mythologically significant foe. As a champion of peace, Diana stands in direct opposition to everything Ares represents. Their conflict is the eternal struggle between peace and war, compassion and destruction.

✗ The Lasso of Truth says that’s not quite right! The answer is Ares. Circe is a powerful sorceress and recurring villain, Cheetah is one of Diana’s most personal enemies, and Hades is the god of the underworld. But Ares — the god of war — is Wonder Woman’s ultimate mythological nemesis.

Gal Gadot portrayed Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe films starting in 2016. In her first solo film, Wonder Woman (2017), Diana travels to the world of men during which historical conflict?

AWorld War II BWorld War I CThe Cold War DThe Vietnam War

✓ Correct! The 2017 Wonder Woman film set Diana’s first adventure during World War I, a deliberate departure from her comic book origins which were tied to World War II. Director Patty Jenkins chose WWI to emphasize the senseless horror of war and Diana’s idealistic belief that humanity is worth saving.

✗ The Lasso of Truth says that’s not quite right! The answer is World War I. While Wonder Woman’s original 1941 comic debut was set during WWII, the 2017 film moved the timeline back to WWI. Diana leaves Themyscira with pilot Steve Trevor to fight in “the war to end all wars,” believing Ares is behind the conflict.

Wonder Woman wears a pair of iconic silver accessories on her wrists that can deflect bullets, energy blasts, and virtually any projectile. What are these indestructible accessories called?

AGauntlets of Atlas BThe Bracelets of Submission CSilver Shields DAmazonian Arm Guards

✓ Correct! The Bracelets of Submission are indestructible gauntlets worn by all Amazons as a reminder of their past enslavement by Hercules. Wonder Woman’s pair are particularly powerful — forged from the remnants of Zeus’s Aegis shield in some versions — and she uses them to deflect virtually any attack.

✗ The Lasso of Truth says that’s not quite right! The answer is the Bracelets of Submission. The Gauntlets of Atlas grant super strength in some storylines but are a different item. Wonder Woman’s iconic silver wrist guards — the Bracelets of Submission — are among the most recognizable accessories in comic book history.

Wonder Woman first appeared in DC Comics in 1941, created by a psychologist who was also the inventor of a real-world device. Who created Wonder Woman?

AStan Lee BBob Kane CWilliam Moulton Marston DJack Kirby

✓ Correct! William Moulton Marston, a psychologist who also invented an early form of the lie detector (polygraph), created Wonder Woman. He designed her as a feminist icon — a hero who would triumph through love and truth rather than violence. The Lasso of Truth was directly inspired by his polygraph work.

✗ The Lasso of Truth says that’s not quite right! The answer is William Moulton Marston. Stan Lee co-created Marvel heroes like Spider-Man, Bob Kane co-created Batman, and Jack Kirby co-created many Marvel and DC characters. Marston, a Harvard-trained psychologist and lie detector inventor, created Wonder Woman in 1941.

The Cheetah is one of Wonder Woman’s most enduring villains — a woman who transforms into a powerful cheetah-like being. In the DCEU film Wonder Woman 1984, which actress portrayed Barbara Minerva/Cheetah?

ARobin Wright BKristen Wiig CConnie Nielsen DLucy Davis

✓ Correct! Kristen Wiig, best known for comedy roles in Bridesmaids and Saturday Night Live, took on the dramatic role of Barbara Minerva in Wonder Woman 1984 (2020). Her character starts as a shy, overlooked archaeologist who gradually transforms into the savage Cheetah after wishing for Diana’s power.

✗ The Lasso of Truth says that’s not quite right! The answer is Kristen Wiig. Robin Wright played Antiope (Diana’s aunt and training mentor), Connie Nielsen played Queen Hippolyta, and Lucy Davis played Etta Candy (Steve Trevor’s secretary). Kristen Wiig portrayed the villainous Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984.

REVEAL MY SCORE →

Trial Complete Your Amazonian Rank

/ 8

Are you worthy of the Lasso of Truth — or still in training on Themyscira?

↻ FACE THE TRIAL AGAIN

Harley Quinn #63 from DC Comics is available on June 24, 2026!