History Main / WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys

* Like the ''Film/BatmanBegins'' example, ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'' justifies the presence of ComicBook/TheFalcon's winged exo-suit by stating that it was developed for the military by [[Film/IronMan Stark Industries]]. Sam's suit is stated to be the last one in existence, as the others were apparently destroyed during combat in [[UsefulNotes/TheWarOnTerror the Middle East]].

** A behind-the-scenes special on the home video release has an interview with the film's writer, which states that they did this deliberately: everything that Kick-Ass, Big Daddy, and Hit Girl used or bought in the movies had to be something that the writers found online in real life. And yes, that includes [[spoiler: the jetpack]].

* In ''Film/MysteryMen'', the heroes decide they are underpowered, so its off to Dr Heller for [[BlowYouAway Canned Tornadoes]], a Blame Thrower and the incredible ShrinkRay, [[FanService which only shrinks clothing]].

* from ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'' Gizmoduck is easy enough to explain--he's the bodyguard of the world's richest person. WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck from the same 'verse (though with his own show) doesn't seem to have the same setup--he's shown as having many gadgets and gizmos even before the series starts. After breaking a (not the) FourthWall he's asked about this, and promptly shushes the inquisitive fan. Darkwing worked on occasion for the government group S.H.U.S.H. a parody of ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} from the Marvel Universe and may have received both his salary and access to technology from there. The continuation comic from Creator/BoomStudios revealed that, yes, S.H.U.S.H. did pay Darkwing and when he gave up crimefighting, things got ''hard'' money-wise.

* ''ComicBook/TheFlash'''': ''The Flash'' Vol. 1 #141, published in UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|OfComicBooks}}, introduced tailor Paul Gambi, who made the costumes for all the villains in the Flash's RoguesGallery; Gambi has continued to make appearances in this role.

!!Examples:

[[folder:''Batman'']]
* Franchise/{{Batman}} in nearly ''any'' incarnation: The Batcave is furnished with the latest science and computer equipment; plus the secret passages leading to it from Wayne Manor... and yet, no one seems to know about, much less have participated in, the planning and labor that went into all this ''stuff!'' Sure, Alfred may dust and tinker on gadgets, but being the Wayne caretaker surely doesn't give him time for Research and Development while Master Bruce is batting about.
* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'' comics:
** Writer Denny O'Neil may have been the first comics scripter to work this into a storyline. During his initial encounter with Ra's al Ghul (''Batman #232'', 1971), Bruce Wayne is surprised by Ra's in the Batcave. He attempts to bluff it off until Ra's reminds him that ''someone'' had to buy the materials for the Batman's various gadgets... and that "someone" could be traced. Wayne concedes the point and removes his cowl to address Ra's man-to-man.
** The comics have also established that since Bruce Wayne owns Wayne Enterprises, he depends on Lucius Fox to make the money to pay for his operations while diverting useful materials from his business as needed.
** Played with in a storyline where a foreign conglomerate had managed, through various financial tricks and wizardry, to buy out the independent companies which comprised Wayne Enterprise's R&D division right out from under Lucius and Bruce's noses. [[spoiler: Actually, it was revealed that Jason Todd orchestrated the whole thing.]] Along with the rather serious implications for Wayne Enterprises as a business, Bruce later reflects on the implications for Batman. He mentions several unique items used by Batman, saying that eventually those items will be made available in the public sector, while he will have no further access to new gadgets other than those he can create himself in his spare time. After Alfred remarks that he thinks that Batman has more than enough toys to last him for quite awhile, Bruce brings up the additional worry that someone will notice that Batman has been and is still using Wayne Enterprises proprietary technology and begin to put two and two together.
** In one of the Batman novels, it was stated that the Batcave was built by (well-paid) foreign workers, secretly assembled and transported to Gotham, who only worked outside the cave at night, never saw Bruce Wayne, and were flown home again, all without them having any idea where in the world they had been working.
** The anthology series ''ComicBook/BatmanBlackAndWhite'' includes a story, "Heroes", set in 1937; Nazi spies track down the man who designs Batman's gadgets and attempt to coerce him into working for the Reich.
** Since Bruce Wayne's return from the events of ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'', Bruce has publicly gone on record saying that Wayne Enterprises has been funding Batman's war on crime through his gear and has created a new organization: ''Batman Incorporated''.
** One could just as easily apply this question to many of Batman's villains, most notably the Penguin and ComicBook/TheJoker. The Penguin is widely known for his use of trick umbrellas, while the Joker has used everything from acid-squirting flowers to electrified joybuzzers to razor-sharp playing cards.
** In ''ComicBook/BatmanFamily'', we were introduced to the Technician, an inventor who specialises in supplying high-tech gizmos to Gotham City's [=supervillains=], including things such as a giant clockwork monkey.
* ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'' addresses this directly by have all but a few of those wonderful toys manufactured by Wayne Enterprises themselves, effectively making Batman already in possession of them. Lucius Fox even lampshades it at one point.
-->'''Lucius:''' The way I see it, Mr. Wayne, all this stuff is yours ''anyway''.
** ''Film/BatmanBegins'': The various unique gadgets are "dead end" offshoots of [=WayneTech=] R&D, donated by Lucius Fox, one of the few board members to remain loyal to Bruce during his overseas trip. The lower-end gear (such as the costume and armor) are ordered piece by piece from ordinary companies, then assembled by Bruce and Alfred.
--->'''Alfred:''' They'll have to be large orders, to avoid suspicion.\\
'''Bruce:''' How large?\\
'''Alfred:''' Say... ten thousand?\\
''[beat]''\\
'''Bruce:''' Well, at least we'll have spares.
*** ''Begins'' also somewhat explains the Batcave. A natural cave under the southeast wing of Wayne manor, the hidden passage to it from within the manor was pre-existing and explained by being used as part of the UndergroundRailroad. After the Manor burns down, Bruce and Alfred discuss taking the opportunity inherent in rebuilding it to shore up the foundations under the southeast wing, implying that some construction on the Batcave was done perfectly above-board.
** Subverted in ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' when an accountant that works for Wayne actually does notice that company property is missing and discovers the blueprints to the Tumbler. However, Fox manages to convince him to stay quiet about it.
--->'''Lucius:''' [[LetMeGetThisStraight Let me get this straight]]: You think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands. And your plan is to '''blackmail''' this person? Good luck.
** In ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'', [[spoiler:Bane breaks into Wayne Enterprises and steals everything except The Bat.]] And then [[spoiler:it turns out the whole first half of the movie was a plot to get his hands on Wayne Enterprises' experimental reactor so he could turn it into a nuclear bomb. Of course, given his resources, he could've just smuggled his own conventional nuke in, but the whole purpose of using the reactor was revenge.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'':
** The show introduces the character of Earl Cooper, the Batmobile's designer/mechanic who performs the necessary repairs that are beyond Batman's time or ability. The Penguin is able to find Cooper after he orders a series of dead-giveaway parts that could only be for the Batmobile, in his own name. Batman responds by having his "[[{{Beat}} ...]] ''backers''" set up "dummy corporations" for Cooper to order from so that no one will track him down again. This is probably just a euphemism for hiding more crimefighting behind Wayne Enterprises expenditures.
** In "Under the Hood" it's made pretty certain that most of his stuff is attained through [=WayneTech's=] various R&D and subcompanies, thus allowing him to get power bombs, chemicals and gadget even before the military gets their hands on them.
* Burton/Schumacherverse:
** The {{Trope Namer|s}} is ComicBook/TheJoker in Tim Burton's ''Film/Batman1989''. In one scene Batman rescues reporter Vicki Vale from the Joker's clutches using a zipline gun, and the Joker asks his men "Where does he get those wonderful toys?" Used again later on when Batman uses the Batwing to steal all his poison-filled balloons, causing the Joker to scream why nobody told him he had one of those things... [[{{Hypocrite}} only to later shoot it down with a four foot long revolver]].
** The Riddler has a whole freaking island fortress in ''Film/BatmanForever''. Assuming he had the foresight to commission this building project before he lost his scientist job, it still begs the "who built it" question. The novelization actually shows part of the construction of Claw Island. It's an abandoned UsefulNotes/WorldWarII submarine base repurposed to serve as a manufacturing facility for The Box.
* In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'', one of Riddler's patient session recordings has him ranting about Batman, and how he could possibly finance his operation. He quite wrongly assumes that he steals from villains he stops, and uses this to back his argument that Batman is the worst criminal of all. There is a minor explanation given in a chat with Oracle as to how Batman got a backup Batcave onto Arkham Island, but its security is notoriously lax.
** And the variety of the Joker's toys are given something of a lampshade in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight''; when Batman enters the Evidence room in the GCPD, [[spoiler:the Joker hallucination can be found looking at his own display case, lamenting that he can't use any of his gadgets because "do you know how long it takes to make exploding chattering teeth?!"]]
** One of the Arkhamverse comics reveals that the Batmobile was designed by a German auto company, and the order is placed in Bruce Wayne's own name. The company owner just assumes that Batman is defrauding Wayne Enterprises.
** Some EnemyChatter can be overheard through the games where the goons openly wonder how Batman has access to such high-tech gear. One militiaman in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' is persuaded that Batman is some kind of government-funded agent, since that's the only way he could get all his stuff, with his friend chiming in that [[AccidentalTruth Bruce Wayne is probably rich enough to do so as well]], [[IfOnlyYouKnew only for the first to dismiss the idea as ridiculous]].
** ''Arkham Knight'' in turn applies this to the villains. The Knight and Scarecrow attack Gotham with a "3 billion dollar army", complete with soldiers, guns, mines, and tank drones, most of which are actually explained. The Knight is indicated to have been recruiting people (largely mercenaries and disgraced former soldiers) for the army for some time, the guns are explicitly said to have come from [[ArmsDealer the Penguin]], [[spoiler:and Simon Stagg had already developed the technology for the Cloud Burst, and so was simply convinced to use it for their terrorist attack]]. Besides the guns, the Penguin could in theory have supplied the mines and body armor as well. One mook outright asks about the $3 billion, and is told Batman's Rogues Gallery supplied their fortunes for the funding, with Lex Luthor as a probable contributor as well. That still leaves the question of where the freaking tanks came from.
* Again with the Joker in ''VideoGame/LegoBatman 2'', after Batman defeats him in the beginning. {{Subverted|Trope}} somewhat as the wonderful toy in question (the Batwing) was not used to defeat him as soon as they entered the parking lot.
-->'''Joker:''' Where DOES he get these unbreakable toys?!
* ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'':
** D.A.V.E, an A.I composed of various criminal personalities, managed to figure out Batman's identity. One of the factors he mentioned that he used to narrow down the population was the wealth and resource capacity needed to create all the equipment the Batman used. Further data he uses is age, gender, and people who'd have a motivation. This is the same method used by Bane in ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}''.
** One episode featured a politician who used his wealth to build a giant ship to forcibly take over Gotham. Someone remarked that only someone as rich as him could get all those toys. One then wonders how that remarker didn't connect Batman to Bruce Wayne after making that statement.
* {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' by The Music Meister:
-->'''Music Meister:''' His utility belt holds everything, can't find that at the mall!
* [[CanonForeigner Egghead]] from Creator/AdamWest[='s=] ''Series/Batman1966'' used this as a clue when he tried to determine Batman's secret identity; he believes Batman must be rich because [[CrimefightingWithCash crime fighting is a very expensive hobby]].
* ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'': ComicBook/{{Robin}} was able to get a [[CoolCar Batmobile]] shipped to San Francisco by hiding the expense in the Batarang budget. Apparently it's bigger than you'd think.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegoBatmanMovie'':
** The movie, in all its [[MythologyGag/TheLegoBatmanMovie incarnation-referencing glory]], has a version of this trope. [[spoiler:The Joker, [[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs after taking over Wayne Manor with his new army]], discovers every single one of his vehicles and uses them against him and his team.]]
--->[[spoiler:'''The Joker:''' And guess what else I found? [[IronicEcho All your wonderful toys!]]]]
** PlayedForLaughs around the same time when [[spoiler:[[ItMakesSenseInContext the Eye of Sauron]]]] tells the Joker [[spoiler:he's found the Batcave under Wayne Manor.]]
--->'''The Joker:''' [[spoiler:Are you telling me Bruce Wayne is Batman...[[ComicallyMissingThePoint 's roommate?]]]]\\
'''[[spoiler:Sauron:]]''' [[spoiler:[[SureLetsGoWithThat Uh...yeah.]]]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Other Comic Books]]

* ''ComicBook/TheFlash'' v1 #141, published in UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|OfComicBooks}}, introduced tailor Paul Gambi, who made the costumes for all the villains in the Flash's RoguesGallery; Gambi has continued to make appearances in this role.
* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'':
** In the early years, there was a recurring character called "The Tinkerer" who was allegedly the source of much villainous gadgetry. In ''VideoGame/MarvelUltimateAlliance 2'' [[spoiler: The Tinkerer is a major villain, both empowering a bunch of C list {{Supervillain}}s like Electro to become actual threats and allying himself with the HiveMind of Nanites that appear later on.]]
** Spider-Man himself built his web-shooters using parts he... scavenged... from his high school science lab.
** ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan adapted them from devices he inherited from his scientist father's work on polymers. His costume was given to him by his wrestling company. When Peter and Mary Jane broke up, he had no-one to repair his costume or make him a new one, leading him to asking various heroes and villains whenever he ran into them where they got their costumes made.
** In the '80s cartoon ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAndHisAmazingFriends'', it's explained that the OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent is able to afford this stuff because they saved [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]] once and he keeps them hooked up.
* On a related issue, in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse there is a firm named ComicBook/DamageControl, which has a contract with [[BigApplesauce New York City]] to handle the [[HeroInsurance cleanup and repairs following the many superhero battles]] which take place there. Leftover superweapons, battlesuits, and whatnot end up in ComicBook/DamageControl's "Lost and Found" department...
* ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen'' shows Xavier hiring a construction crew, but clouding their minds so that they cannot see the students.
* During ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManJMichaelStraczynski'', Spider-Man met Leo Zelinsky, a tailor in a run-down neighborhood in Queens ("What they call a 'neighborhood in transition',") who was visited by [[ComicBook/FantasticFour The Thing]], who needed a new pair of briefs after an altercation with a fire-wielding villain. Thanks largely to word of mouth, he became the go-to guy for superhero (and some [=supervillain=]) costume needs.
** He's very careful to arrange heroes and villains on different days, so his shop doesn't become the site of a superhero battle.
** There was a story arc in the Deadpool comic, "Johnny Handsome", where Deadpool not only managed to enrage Loki enough to have his scarred face turned into a permanent Tom Cruise likeness (which led to several cases of mistaken identity later on), but also lost his costume, had to order a new one to be made and, for the duration of most of the arc, wore a mish-mash assortment of other characters' costumes (including Wolverine's pants and boots, Spider-Man's shirt and Dr. Octopus's arms).
* For health issues in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, there's the Night Nurse, who will patch up any injured do-gooder who stumbles into her clinic, thus explaining where a lot of superheroes get their medical care without compromising their secret identities.
** Along the same lines, the Nomad series introduced the Undergrounders, who provided discreet medical care to those on the fringes of society.
** There was an old Spider-Man comic where the titular hero was committed to hospital after several fractured bones. They ''never removed his suit'' while tending him! One nurse actually speculated whether the suit was sewn right on his skin. One has to only wonder if there's an anonymous medical insurance specifically aimed at superheroes.
** In a Pre-Civil War Spider-Man arc when Spidey gets hospitalized by Electro and Vulture, the hospital staff remove his mask to treat him, but also mention a specific rule for super-people, "We sign them in under an assumed name and have a hospital-wide media blackout." This was unfortunately foiled by a photographer who let on about the hospital's location, allowing Vulture to kidnap Peter, fly him 300 feet up, rip his bandages off, and disgustedly drop him after realizing that Peter was "a nobody".
** An X-Men character, Dr. Cecilia Reyes, was a mutant who briefly worked with the X-Men during the Zero Tolerance arc, and later on settled down as a private doctor offering anonymity to her powered patients. The list of her patients, aside from several X-Men and former X-men, also included Spider-Man and Daredevil.

* In ''ComicBook/BatmanFamily'', we were introduced to the Technician, an inventor who specialises in supplying high-tech gizmos to Gotham City's [=supervillains=], including things such as a giant clockwork monkey.
* In the 80s-90s ''ComicBook/UncannyXMen'' comic, the Mansion was equipped with Shi'ar technology from Xavier's lover, Majestrix Lilandra. The alien tech has rebuilt the mansion on the [frequent] occasion of its destruction. ComicBook/DamageControl also showed up a time or two.
** In the 2000s, it's revealed that prior to actually founding the X-Men, Xavier was secretly assisted by {{ComicBook/Cable}} (a time traveler with access to 40th century technology), though they later had a falling out over Cable's more militant tactics. Neither the X-Men nor Cable's X-Force knew anything about this.

* The Kate Spencer incarnation of [[ComicBook/ManhunterDCComics Manhunter]] was a prosecutor frustrated by the escape of a supervillain she'd put away. She used equipment from other superheroes and villains that had been impounded by the LAPD, including gauntlets belonging to ComicBook/{{Azrael}} and a staff used by one of the previous Manhunters. Also in the same series was the character Dylan Battles, who described himself as the go-to tech guy for supervillains; he'd served as a henchman for multiple super-criminals before going into WitnessProtection.
* In the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, some criminals buy their equipment from the Tinkerer, as mentioned above. Others get their equipment furnished by their employers (ComicBook/IronMan's enemy Justin Hammer often had his scientists construct specialized weapons for the [=supervillains=] he recruited), and at least one large company runs a highly profitable black market operation in selling deadly weapons and other equipment through the "Sharper Villain Catalogue." Even ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} used to hit up the Tinkerer for {{Trick Arrow}}s back when he was first starting out, often using money he'd stolen from drug dealers.
* ComicBook/ThePunisher gets most of his weapons from the criminals that he kills. Or buys top of the line black-market military hardware, using money he gets from the criminals that he kills. He also had, for a long time, a weapons supplier/inventor named Microchip, who helped him get "special" equipment to go up against [=supervillain=]s... that he kills. Later comics have been showing that Punisher has been receiving equipment and information through various armed forces friends/sympathizers who can doctor supply records.
* Dan Dreiberg (Nite Owl II from ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'') is a GadgeteerGenius with money, and thus makes his own wonderful toys. He also made Rorschach's grappling gun, explaining how the vagabond had such a good gadget.
* Although an official policeman anyway, ComicStrip/DickTracy did not get his two-way wrist radio (introduced in 1946) from the government, but from industrialist "Diet" Smith. Other than that, Tracy has relied on conventional weapons common to normal police forces, such as the night sight.
* "Doomwar" reveals that ComicBook/DoctorDoom actually uses thousands of ''legal'' businesses to fund his evil schemes. Turns out he was able to use his scientific know-how [[CutLexLuthorACheck to make a fortune in medical research and technological patents]].
* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'':
** Though it's never stated outright, it is heavily implied that much of Honor Guard's infrastructure -- from their elaborate flying base to their teleporting call center -- is funded by N.R.-Gistics, the company responsible for the N-Forcer armored hero.
** During the "Confession" story arc, it is hinted that the Confessor gets his funding through judicious use of long-term investment funds. Apparently waiting a hundred years for high-yield returns isn't a problem [[spoiler:if you're a vampire]].
** Jack-in-the-Box apparently funds his crimefighting efforts by being the CEO of a toy company.
** One issue featured a flashback to the villainous Assemblyman, who built weapons and gadgets for anyone with the cash.
** The Black Lab is a group of villains who perform villainous super-science for anyone willing to pay them.
** The Junkman, true to his philosophy, builds all of his gear by scavenging discarded products.
** The Fixit Man is a small-time GadgeteerGenius who repairs assorted used to repair gear for supervillains; he quit due to too much planned obsolescence making everything disposable.
** In the ''Dark Age" arc, the Williams' brothers keep themselves supplied by stealing money and equipment from the various Pyramid bases they've raided.
* The ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica has its medical personnel as key members of the team--Dr. Mid-Nite (a trained physician) and Mr. Terrific (who has [=PhDs=] in [[OmniDisciplinaryScientist everything]]). They also provide medical services to other DC superheroes and their spouses, such as when Lois Lane was nearly killed.
* The Omega Sector of ComicBook/TheMighty is funded by the sales of Alpha One toys, clothes, and other stuff. They have a huge headquarters.
* ComicBook/MadMan gets gadgets from Dr. Flem and sometimes... [[MyLittlePanzer they really are toys.]]
* After ComicBook/CivilWar2006, [[ComicBook/NewWarriors Speedball]] meets the guy who designs the costumes for most super heroes/villains.
* In "Stitch Pitch" in ''Mad House Comic Digest'' #5 a specialist tailor waxes lyrical on the problems and headaches involved in making superhero costumes and nothing but. He ends up in tears when an executive asks him for a "normal charcoal-gray business suit," complaining that it's the first order he hasn't been able to fill.
* In DanielClowes' ''[[ComicBook/{{Eightball}} Black Nylon]]'', superheroes are able to buy gadgets mail order, with many having to save up to buy one or two gimmick items before getting started in the business. The titular hero funds his exploits with a stipend from the government for his work. [[spoiler: Although it's probably public assistance money that the delusional Nylon thinks comes from heroing.]]
* In ''ComicBook/TheMetabarons'', the Metabarons are the inheritors of powers and knowledge from a CosmicEntity. The Metabarons themselves are often too busy killing stuff to take advantage of what they know but since they are ex-planetary rulers, they have their equipment built to their design by an entire race of servitors and a pair of loyal robots. They are also occasionally gifted rarities like the first horse born in millenia by employers who are the rulers of humanity, interstellar corporations and others of that scale. At one point the last Metabaron, No-Name, has his giant space fortress self-destruct, so his loyal robots just goes about building him another one with a new arsenal included after developing the infrastructure to do so on an isolated planet.

* WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}} has a fully equipped Freakalair after getting his powers, apparently without any construction work or expenses. [[NoFourthWall It's a cartoon]]. He can ''do'' that.

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', "Secret Origins": Superman asks Batman if his stockholders know about the newly-commissioned Watchtower, which Batman {{handwave}}s with "hidden as a line item in the Space R&D budget." Sure, that hides the funding, but says nothing about assembly either pre-launch or in orbit. (Although with Superman available, Batman at least wouldn't need a launch vehicle -- or if Clark had a spare weekend, a construction crew.)
* In ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAndHisAmazingFriends'', the heroes' [[ExecutiveMeddling executive-mandated]] [[BeepingComputers supercomputer]] was initially taken for granted. However, by the third season, so many fans had sent letters asking where it had come from that the writers went and wrote an episode surrounding not only the origin of the team itself, but their computer. (As it turned out, it was a gift from [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]].)
* In ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012'', all of the gadgets and vehicles used by Spidey and his team were designed and provided by SHIELD. Spider-Man does start off using web-shooters of his own design like in the comics, but switches to more advanced SHIELD-issued models after Nick Fury assures him that the new ones are much more efficient and versatile.
* Gizmoduck from ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'' is easy enough to explain--he's the bodyguard of the world's richest person. WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck from the same 'verse (though with his own show) doesn't seem to have the same setup--he's shown as having many gadgets and gizmos even before the series starts. After breaking a (not the) FourthWall he's asked about this, and promptly shushes the inquisitive fan. Darkwing worked on occasion for the government group S.H.U.S.H. a parody of ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} from the Marvel Universe and may have received both his salary and access to technology from there. The continuation comic from Creator/BoomStudios revealed that, yes, S.H.U.S.H. did pay Darkwing and when he gave up crimefighting, things got ''hard'' money-wise.

--->'''Lucius:''' LetMeGetThisStraight: You think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands. And your plan is to '''blackmail''' this person? Good luck.

-->'''Music Meister''': His utility belt holds everything, can't find that at the mall!

--->[[spoiler:'''The Joker''': And guess what else I found? [[IronicEcho All your wonderful toys!]]]]

--->'''Lucius:''' "LetMeGetThisStraight: You think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands. And your plan is to '''blackmail''' this person? Good luck."

--->'''Lucius:''' The way I see it, Mr. Wayne, all this stuff is yours ''anyway''.

* ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'': ComicBook/{{Robin}} was able to get a [[CoolCar Batmobile]] shipped to San Francisco by it in the Batarang budget. Apparently its bigger than you'd think.

* In the ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' arc "The Dark Age," the Williams' brothers keep themselves supplied by stealing money and equipment from the various Pyramid bases they've raided.

[[folder: Real Life]]

* The Guild of Calamitous Intent from ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' offers logistical and legal support to its members, provided said members obey the rules of the Guild. They also offer super-scientists and heroes deals where they'll provide them with a selection of villains to pick an arch-nemesis from, much like a dating service.

** Subverted in ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' when an accountant that works for Wayne actually does notice that company property is missing and discovers to the blueprints to the Tumbler. However, Fox manages to convince him to stay quiet about it.

* During ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirlsMovie'', there is a scene where a veritable legion of mutated monkeys start to [[JustForPun ape]] Mojo Jojo's style and unleash a variety of evil plans and doomsday weapons on Townsville, while Mojo stands there dully protesting. While it didn't make it into the final product, according to the DVD commentary, these protests originally included a befuddled "Where are you guys ''getting'' all this stuff?!"

** Since Bruce Wayne's return from the events of ''Comicbook/FinalCrisis'', Bruce has publicly gone on record saying that Wayne Enterprises has been funding Batman's war on crime through his gear and has created a new organization: ''Batman Incorporated''.

** D.A.V.E, an A.I composed of various criminal personalities, managed to figure out Batman's identity. One of the factors he mentioned that he used to narrow down the population was the wealth and resource capacity needed to create all the equipment the Batman used. Further data he uses is age, gender, and people who'd have a motivation. This is the same method used by Bane in ''Comicbook/{{Knightfall}}''.

* ''Franchise/TheFlash'' v1 #141, published in UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|OfComicBooks}}, introduced tailor Paul Gambi, who made the costumes for all the villains in the Flash's RoguesGallery; Gambi has continued to make appearances in this role.
* ''Comicbook/SpiderMan'':

** In the '80s cartoon ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAndHisAmazingFriends'', it's explained that the OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent is able to afford this stuff because they saved [[Comicbook/IronMan Tony Stark]] once and he keeps them hooked up.

* During Creator/JMichaelStraczynski's run, [=Spider-Man=] met Leo Zelinsky, a tailor in a run-down neighborhood in Queens ("What they call a 'neighborhood in transition',") who was visited by [[ComicBook/FantasticFour The Thing]], who needed a new pair of briefs after an altercation with a fire-wielding villain. Thanks largely to word of mouth, he became the go-to guy for superhero (and some [=supervillain=]) costume needs.

* Dan Dreiberg (Nite Owl II from ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'') is a GadgeteerGenius with money, and thus makes his own wonderful toys. He also made Rorschach's grappling gun, explaining how the vagabond had such a good gadget.

* "Doomwar" reveals that Comicbook/DoctorDoom actually uses thousands of ''legal'' businesses to fund his evil schemes. Turns out he was able to use his scientific know-how [[CutLexLuthorACheck to make a fortune in medical research and technological patents]].

* Comicbook/MadMan gets gadgets from Dr. Flem and sometimes... [[MyLittlePanzer they really are toys.]]
* After Comicbook/CivilWar2006, [[Comicbook/NewWarriors Speedball]] meets the guy who designs the costumes for most super heroes/villains.

* In ''Fanfic/AmazingFantasy'', the Prowler's new equipment comes from the [[Franchise/MarvelComics Marvel Universe]] through Mysterio. It's far more advanced than anything available to the authorities in Izuku's world, including a self-driving motorcycle, gas that dissolve Peter's webbing, and a collapsible metal shinai that can electrify itself for added damage.

* Where the ''hell'' do the various police departments in the various ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed'' series games get their [[HammerspacePoliceForce infinite supplies]] of [[CoolCar Exotic and Supercars]] to throw at the street racers (eg. [[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted Need for Speed: Most Wanted]] use of the Chevy Corvettes at the ''FEDERAL'' Heat Level in both versions of the game) You'd think at some point the taxpayer funding would run dry after procuring fleets of $100K sports cars. And, in the same vein, in the games where Cops are playable, where do they even get all the same rare, expensive-as-shit (like the Pagani Zonda Cinque, of which only five were ever made, being somehow available as a police unit) hypercars as the racers?

* ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'': ComicBook/{{Robin}} was able to get a [[CoolCar Batmobile]] shipped to San Francisco by it in the Batarang budget.

** ''Arkham Knight'' in turn applies this to the villains. The Knight and Scarecrow attack Gotham with a "3 billion dollar army", complete with soldiers, guns, mines, and tank drones, most of which are actually explained. The Knight is indicated to have been recruiting people (largely mercenaries and disgraced former soldiers) for the army for some time, the guns are explicitly said to have come from [[ArmsDealer the Penguin]], [[spoiler:Simon Stagg had already developed the technology for the Cloud Burst, and was simply convinced to use it for their terrorist attack]]. Besides the guns, the Penguin could in theory have supplied the mines and body armor as well. One mook outright asks about the $3 billion, and is told Batman's Rogues Gallery supplied their fortunes for the funding, with Lex Luthor as probable contributor as well. That still leaves the question of where the freaking tanks came from.

* After Comicbook/CivilWar, [[Comicbook/NewWarriors Speedball]] meets the guy who designs the costumes for most super heroes/villains.

** Though it's never stated outright, it is heavily implied that much of Honor Guard's infrastructure -- from their elaborate flying base to their teleporting call center -- is funded by N.R. Gestics, the company responsible for the N-Forcer armored hero.

* Though he only appeared in one issue, ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' has (had?) The Assemblyman, who apparently built weapons and gadgets for anyone with the cash. [[spoiler:He was contracted by El Hombre to manufacture a rampaging robot for the hero to defeat in a staged fight. El Hombre's reputation was ruined when the city-smashing robot was backtraced to him.]]

** In the Italian Disney Comics, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck has a superheroic identity known as ComicBook/{{Paperinik|NewAdventures}}: he originally acquired his costume and his first weapons from the heirloom of GentlemanThief Fantomius (an obvious reference to Allain and Souvestre's Fantomas), then shared his secret with Duckburg's inventor extraordinaire Gyro Gearloose, who since then mantained his armory of less-than-lethal supergadgets. The "[[UltimateUniverse Ultimates version]]" of ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'' has him acquire a slew of much more powerful weapons and a Batman-esque lair from the possessions of mysterious billionaire ''Everett Ducklair'' (the authors publicly stated that they aimed to make a very explicit parody of and homage to American comic books).

[[folder:Music]]
* ''Music/MakeItSweet'': Tame example here, but for a band whose guitarist can't even afford to buy a new guitar in a pinch, [=MilkCan=] sure has some expensive-sounding orchestral and horn arrangements on quite a few of their songs.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pinball]]
* Invoked in the original version of Creator/SternPinball's ''[[Pinball/BatmanStern Batman]]'' pinball game; the player must repeatedly visit the [=WayneTech=] mini-playfield and collect eight different weapons to recruit Lucius Fox. Later averted with the discounted "Standard" edition, which removed the mini-playfield.
* Similarly, Creator/SegaPinball's ''Pinball/BatmanForever'' gives a random Bat-gadget if the player shoots the right loop when it is off; collecting several gadgets lights the kickback.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
* ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}'': Sure, Jeff Tracy is a millionaire and Brians is a GadgeteerGenius, so International Rescue certainly has the resources and the technical knowhow to set up their organization, but that still begs the question how they managed to build their entire fleet of futuristic machines, an island base filled with secret compartments to house these machines, and even a manned space station, without anyone finding out. It's hard to believe Brains could have done all that by himself, or with only the Tracy's help.
** There ''was'' a handwave provided in the episode "Terror In New York City" for how the eponymous Thunderbird vehicles are kept in service; components are bought from a variety of different manufacturers -presumably through various shell companies- and no one part is significant enough to clue someone in as to who and what it is going towards, even when they needed to carry out extensive repairs on Thunderbird 2 after some trigger-happy warship captain tried to blow her out of the sky with surface-to-air missiles. Of course, this only explains where International Rescue gets the parts without attracting attention. It doesn't explain how they ever build their vehicles, or their base of operations.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'': In-universe, this is an all-consuming question for all the intelligence services of the Inner Sphere after the arrival of Wolf's Dragoons from out of nowhere. Any unit showing up out of the blue with five regiments of pristine [=BattleMechs=], some of them designs that either haven't existed in centuries or that as far as the Inner Sphere is concerned never existed at all, along with high-tech orbital stations and state-of-the-art factory facilities, is going to spark way more than just a few questions. It got so bad that [=ComStar=] actually instigated a civil war in the Free Worlds League just to get the Dragoons so mauled that they'd have to go back to whatever supply base they had, with [=ComStar=] following along secretly. That plan didn't pan out[[note]]neither did a more direct plan by the Draconis Combine to take over the Dragoons and in that way force them into giving up their secrets[[/note]], and the Inner Sphere would have to wait until 3052 to get the truth: [[spoiler: They were an advance scouting party for Clan Wolf (hence the name) who were originally intended to keep the Clans apprised of the state of the Inner Sphere. They were getting resupplied from Clan sources from stocks of Star-League-vintage equipment, and incomplete records meant that they didn't realize that mechs like the ''Imp'' and ''Annihilator'' weren't constructed by the Star League at all.]]

[[folder:Theater]]
* The page quote is from the demo recording of Jim Steinman's ''Theatre/BatmanTheMusical,'' which references ''Film/Batman1989''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Mercenaries}}'' allows the player, via PDA, to purchase everything from jeeps to helicopters to ballistic missile strikes from an online store owned by the Russian Mafia (with free shipping nonetheless). In the sequel, players had to deal directly with representatives of the factions they wanted to purchase from, and airstikes or gear would be delivered by pilots in the player's employ.

** Big Boss and his MSF company are hired by a pair of ''peaceniks'' with connections to the local Costa Rican government and so the MSF get a defunct oil platform to be their base and a helicopter as initial payment. They then make deals with remnants of the Sandanistas, that fled over from Nicaragua, for troops and info. The MSF would also scout out would-be mercenaries around the world to hire and dragoon captured enemy soldiers and vehicles into joining. With all this manpower, the soldiers with strong technical skills would be assigned to research and build things from C-rations to giant mechs, while others would go do missions for income. Big Boss's later Diamond Dogs company would also do a similar arrangement elsewhere in the world.

* World War II POW's got a lot of stuff needed for both illicit escape attempts and sanctioned activities like theater by pinching items from their captors, supplemented by various items sent from home via YMCA or Red Cross. Through such packages (but using names of bogus charities rather than Red Cross itself), the British also snuck in illegal gear like maps, radio parts, and camera equipment via a wartime intelligence agency called [=MI9=] that sought to use their [=POWs=] in Germany as intelligence assets (as well as aiding their escape attempt). Other countries, supposedly, were less willing to flagrantly violate Geneva Convention provisions that allowed certain items to be sent to their POW's via mail for limited gains in intelligence.

* ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'':

*** ''Begins'' also somewhat explains the Batcave. A natural cave under the west wing of Wayne manor, the hidden passage to it from within the manor was pre-existing and explained by being used as part of the UndergroundRailroad. After the Manor burns down, Bruce and Alfred discuss taking the opportunity inherent in rebuilding it to shore up the foundations under the west wing, implying that some construction on the Batcave was done perfectly above-board.
** Subverted in ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' when an accountant that works for Wayne actually does notice that company property is missing and discovers to the blueprints to the Batmobile. However, Fox manages to convince him to stay quiet about it.
--->"LetMeGetThisStraight: You think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands. And your plan is to '''blackmail''' this person? Good luck."