A "Napalm Capsule" is one of four capsules stored on Batman's Utility Belt. Containing a blue corrosive substance, it was used to burn through objects or stun enemies. Several accounts disputed the contents of the capsule.
History[]
Fighting Catwoman[]
When Batman was taken off guard and strung from the ledge of a building by Catwoman's bullwhip, he readied this capsule while she ranted. After shaking the capsule until chemical began to glow blue, he threw it on her arm, burning her and freeing him.
The substance left a chemical wound on Catwoman's arm, eventually becoming a scar. Bruce nearly discovered it during their date at Wayne Manor.[1] Selina still bore this by the time of Harvey Dent's campaign against Batman. The vigilante offered to have it removed with plastic surgery.[2]
Behind the Scenes[]
In the Wesley Strick script, there were blue and red chemicals in the tube, the chemical changes to glowing purple after being shaken. According to the Super Nintendo manual, the utility belt was equipped with three other chemical tubes. In addition to the blue napalm capsule, Batman carried a green knockout gas capsule and a red explosive capsule. The white pellet's functionality is unknown.[3]
In Returns, Catwoman claims that the capsule contained Napalm, which is supported by the shooting scripts and tie-in material. However, in the Batman '89 comic series, she describes the contents to be acid, which more accurately fits the functionality of the capsule's chemical.
Contents discrepancy[]
Though described as napalm in both film and tie-in material, the chemical in the tube doesn't match the substance's real life properties. The capsule's contents is depicted as a corrosive substance similar to acid, burning and causing injury upon contact. It also disappears, seemingly burning up, after seconds after making contact with Catwoman. The injury Selina receives also matches a chemical burn.
Napalm, on the other hand, is combustible mixture of a gelling agent and fuel. It will only burn when ignited by either flame or extreme levels of heat, and sticks to objects it makes contact with. Unignited napalm will only cause skin irritation and will not corrode objects quickly. After ignition, it continues to burn for hours, and produces high amounts of both Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide (both of which are deadly to inhale). Napalm is explosive and igniting it delivers blast-burn injuries. It can also prove fatal if set off in close proximity to vital body parts or, if ignited, the person unable to remove within a certain timeframe.[4]
Appearances[]
- Batman Returns
- Batman '89 (Mentioned only)
- #3 "Shadows: Chapter Three" (Mentioned only)
Video games[]
- Batman Returns (SNES)- In the Super Nintendo game these are referred to as "test tubes."
Toys[]
The 2015 Hot Toys figure game with two oddly shaped versions of this prop, referred to as "napalm packets." On the initial prototype photos they were painted silver rather than gold, but this was changed for the final release.