20 Real-Life Gadgets & Technologies That Seem Straight Out Of A Comic Book
Who Needs Superpowers When You Have Technology?
We can't all be Batman, or can we? Modern technology is making such astounding leaps and bounds, you would think it's fiction. From labs to launchpads, scientists and engineers have been quietly cooking up gadgets that would make Tony Stark do a double-take. Meanwhile, AI assistants, biometric technology, and drones have already become normalized. But just because we have all these things, it doesn't make us heroes: Your superpowers lie within, but the gadgets make them more accessible. Here are 20 real-life devices and technologies that seem straight out of a comic book.
1. Smart Glasses
Smart glasses recently released by companies like Meta have become so advanced, they really do resemble what you'd see in a comic book. Smart glasses in real life can take photos and videos, make calls, send messages, and control media using voice commands, much like Tony Stark's.
2. Drones
Have you ever stopped to consider how much civilian drone technology resembles Batman's flying eye? It's a remote-controlled surveillance device that takes high-quality footage. The only difference is you're using it to film your latest vacation spot, not to fight crime.
3. Exoskeletons
Exoskeletons are wearable devices that enhance physical abilities. Iron Man's suit is the best example, and while we have yet to make something as capable as his, exoskeleton technology is surprisingly advanced and improving all the time. It's mostly used in rehabilitation, industrial work, and military applications.
Владислав Давыдов on Wikimedia
4. Prosthetics
Bionic humans are a regular fixture of comic books. While prosthetics are so far only used for people with missing limbs, who knows where the future will take us. Beyond peg legs, some of today's prosthetics are astoundingly sophisticated, electronically controlled systems that can detect signals from the muscles.
5. Brain Microchips
Just last year, we saw the first microchip be implanted in a person's brain, giving Ghost in the Shell vibes. In that comic, the microchip enhances cognitive function, while in real life, it aids people with paralysis.
6. Night Vision Goggles
Night vision goggles first appeared in real life in the 1930s, but they were bulky and cumbersome. Today's night vision goggles, with their sleek design, resemble more what Batman would've used.
7. Hacking Tools
Many comics feature some plot line that involves hacking into computer systems, but perhaps no one is better at it than Tony Stark. Hackers in real life use tools and programs to help them steal information quickly.
8. Virtual Reality
Virtual reality has quickly become a mainstay in the gaming world as well as in education and training. This is much like Iron Man using VR to train against bad guys.
9. AI Assistants
AI virtual assistants like Siri are suddenly a commonality in our world. While they may not have the same personality and clever one-liners as Iron Man's JARVIS, they will still never not make us feel like superheroes.
10. Tasers
Non-lethal weapons like tasers, which are used to subdue opponents, are reminiscent of comic book weapons. They remind us of S.H.I.E.L.D. taser disks or the disabling effect of Thor's hammer.
11. Jetpacks
Yes, jetpacks really do exist. They may not be as sleek as the flying devices you see in comic books, as they tend to be dangerous, use a lot of energy, and are costly, but once refined, they could offer a very cool transportation alternative.
Dominic Kurniawan Suryaputra on Unsplash
12. Biometrics
Biometrics, which read your fingerprint or face to unlock your devices, has become an extremely normalized technology that we use every day. However, it started first in comic books, whether it was Mister Freeze using a frozen finger to get past a gate or the Joker stealing data to access restricted areas.
13. 3D Printers
Long before 3D printers were available to buy online for a couple of thousand dollars, they were merely a plot device in comic books. We wouldn't have imagined that we'd see such technology become fairly common in our lifetime when we saw it featured in Iron Man's workshop.
14. Smart Watches
The image of the comic book superhero talking into their watch is now a reality. Apple watches offer capabilities we would never have dreamed of being so accessible, from making phone calls to telling us about our health data and sleep quality.
15. Wingsuits
Wingsuits may not be a fixture in everyone's closet, but they are a thing, primarily used in extreme sports like skydiving and BASE jumping. While they won't give you the power of flight, wingsuits are reminiscent of Falcon's getup, which helps him swiftly and stylishly move through the air.
16. Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the practice of engineering materials at the atomic level, transforming them into new substances. It's often used as a plot device for superpowers in comic books like Iron Man and Black Panther, but in real life, it's used for things like energy, electronics, and food production.
17. Wireless Earbuds
Comic book characters were communicating through microscopic comms devices before we could even conceptualize them in real life. Now, however, we're all talking through tiny earbuds.
18. Advanced Body Armor
Advanced body armor is a well-known gadget used by the likes of Iron Man and Batman, but it also exists in real life. The application is mostly for military.
19. Grappling Hooks
It's not as if we all have grappling hooks in our pockets, but they do exist and have a variety of practical uses such as tree climbing, naval, military, and search and rescue. It's not just Batman who finds them useful.
Sgt. Joshua Laidacker on Wikimedia
20. Advanced Home Security Systems
It's not uncommon nowadays to have a security camera, motion detectors, and a control panel in your home. What comic book doesn't entail a plot line where the hero or villain needs to get past an advanced security system like that?
