As far as grappling hooks and concrete goes, one also has to remember that the comics use metals that don’t exist in our world too - such as COMPLETELY UNBREAKABLE FOREVER Adamantium and the equally-crazy-strong Vibranium (found only in Wakanda). Those materials would probably fare differently against concrete an retain their sharpness.

The classic Batman was all kinds of crazy gadgets in that belt, but the Silver Age was CRAZY with the pseudo-science. The Modern Batman also, apparently, has a mask that shoots out knock-out gas when someone other than him tries to remove it, though. Mostly, the modern Bats just uses his belt for flash grenades and capsules and fold-up batarangs. What I want to know is how Flash fit his ENTIRE costume in his ring. Of course, were it the Marvel Universe (and not the DC, which Flash is), we could say ‘Oh, Pym Particles!’

Also, the Comic Book Urban Legends column is something I look forward to each week, but it’s more about the myths about the creations of the comics themselves, not the pseudo-science contained therein. But tis’s till an awesome column, if you want to see the seedier side of how creators are treated and how they get creative revenge!