|
| “ | My life hasn't exactly gone the way I planned. I Have a lot more to offer the world than losing my mind and trying to eat Batman... I was a respected scientist once... I thought, perhaps, if I could make some sense of this strangeness, they'd respect me again? | „ |
| ~ Man-Bat as Kirk Langstrom. |
| “ | Bat...Man? What...What Did I do this time? | „ |
| ~ Man-Bat as Kirk Langstrom. |
Kirk Langstrom, also known as Man-Bat, major character from the DC Comics and Batman franchises.
He is a bat/human hybrid created through genetic splicing who most commonly serves as both an ally and enemy to Batman.
History[]
Dr. Kirk Langstrom was a biologist specializing in bats. He had hoped to extract bat DNA to give human beings sonar as a cure for deafness. When he tested the serum on himself it did cure his deafness, but it also turned him into a human/bat hybrid in Chicago.
Losing his basic human senses, he went on a rampage in Gotham until stopped by Batman. Coming to like the power of his Man-Bat form. He took the serum again and gave some to his wife Francine Langstrom, turning her into She-Bat.
They attack Gotham together but were again stopped by Batman. However, he does not seem to do intentional evil, because on occasion when he maintains his intelligence in his Man-Bat form he has done good.
Examples include helping Detective Jason Bard, and once helped Superman overcome kryptonite poisoning. Kirk and Francine had two children named Becky and Aaron. Aaron was born in a Man-Bat form due to lasting effects on Kirk and Francine's DNA.
New 52[]
Kirk’s origin and history was altered for the New 52. In this continuity, his wife Francine never truly loved Kirk and only married him to get her hands on the Man-Bat formula for her employer.
After she finally obtained it, Francine used the formula on herself and went on a murderous crime spree as She-Bat before Kirk confronted Francine about her deception. They both transformed and fought each other viciously before breaking off their relationship.
DC Rebirth[]
During DC Rebirth, Man-Bat made a cameo appearance as one of the many trials that Batman's apprentice Duke Thomas has faced in his training.
He later appeared in the Watchmen sequel Watchmen: Doomsday Clock, where Man-Bat is featured on the news as an example of the "Superman Theory" where the government has been experimenting on humans to give them superpowers.
Justice League Dark[]
In the Justice League Dark comics, Man-Bat is ecstatic to have become the newest member of the team. Diana explains to Detective Chimp that her old friend, Etta, suggested that they take Langstrom aboard to help study the horribly mutated bodies from A.R.G.U.S.
Langstrom wished to redeem himself for his past misdeeds by using his scientific know-how to do good for other people, despite currently having the body of a man and the head of a bat.
Langstrom uses various formulas he's developed over the years to augment his abilities as Man-Bat to assist the team in battle. the effects of the formula range from a bat-headed scientist to a feral creature.
Man-Bat had been enchanted by Klarion the Witch Boy, Langstrom develops a new formula that turned him into a multi-headed beast. eventually Kirk return to normal (except current Bat head) then sent hospital and later return.
Infinite Frontier[]
Death of Kirk Langstrom[]
In Detective comic 1040# Man-bat fly Gotham city to find Francine when Batman Follower him and caught up with him. Kirk explains Batman with shocked to discover that a demonic force had followed Man-Bat from the Tower of Fate. Unseen by the Dark Knight, Man-Bat is tormented by the demonic force.
He does his best to contain it within himself, but it feeds on his fears and stews in his chest. Finally, it breaks his resolve and suddenly bursts out of his chest into the material world. The demon boasts about how it will feed on the fears of Gotham and spread its children across the world.
But Man -Bat fatally wounded by the demon bursting out of him refuses to fear the creature and himself any longer. Man-Bat is finally able to contain the creature within himself again and stops it from spreading out across the world and killing others. His wounds, leaving a smoldering hole in his chest that quickly drains him of what life he has left.
With his dying words, Man-Bat asks Batman to never tell the truth of what happened to him, as the knowledge of the demon would allow it to return. Only Batman, unafraid of such terrors, can truly know the fate that befell him. As he tells Batman this, the Man-Bat dies in his arms. It isn't long before Kirk Langstrom is buried, with his wife Francine coming to visit his unremarkable grave.
Task Force Z[]
Mat-Bat was revived as a zombie to become a member of Task Force Z. The team's first mission to capture Crazy Quilt Man Tracking him down he begging to Man-bat let him go before that he uses blast through Langstrom out the roof. Before try to escape he get hit crowbar by Red hood telling him step from ledge and asks questions, but he said not going back to prison then he behind form Bane grab him about break him in half until he will tell everything then Man-Bat come back about killing Jason tell Bane to make him stay down.
They Next mission is Mr. Freeze location to get his supplies that been halt by Mr. Freeze fighting him and his minions. Bane gets frozen by him Jason asks working as team Kirk start go after him but his head frozen use it breaks Bane into piece.
Jason tells Arkham Knight go get Mr. Freeze, but her legs got frozen Red Hood take that chance use a crowbar hit Mr. Freeze helmet with better luck Victor was defeat. Before taking him, Victor told him that his cooling suit is gas can no longer be concatenated that cause explosion of wasteland on ice.
Amelia Shelley checking vitals are normal before leaving right she step out Mr. Bloom show up use needle Lazarus turning him in Kirk from. He been confused what happen to him he explains to him been held prison underground med lab been experimented forced against will by Task Force by suicide mission shock that he didn't won't like test animal Mr. Bloom that he dead but everything thing get better soon.
Krik ask him that going help me for something unfortunate not reason to helping him before Bloom what reason to Krik someone coming but only Deadshot but got nothing what business here and walk off. Mr. Bloom made a deal Kirk that he little concoction to remember the talk when time come, he helps but he is going helping Mr. bloom first before Kirk say something Bloom use Lazarus on him before one of lady come back turning back Man-Bat from.
After few force experiment, He ask Mr. Bloom why a pill can't before but he have more fun than taking the pill but Kriki doesn't this is fun being a test subject. When man name Dr Acheron arrive ask him what he is doing on experiment Bloom this is " current Assistant" helping him in the project he is working on Kirk ask for help been torturing while Bloom cover his mouth.
Bloom and Kirk surgeon on Bane Lazarus Resin neural cognitive functional tissue Bane ask Bloom he promise bring him back to life he did bring a promise that Kirk just only joking he only reason there limit of science but they faces fact there chance get that Mr. Bloom decomposed He enough with him don't tell him limit of science for pathetic for man ask him take all back when hiss of Krik of Man-Bat mouth ready to when Mr. Bloom step out that he give him a minute come something else.
Dawn of DC[]
Kirk is tracking a werewolf, and he needs to find him before he could hurt someone. He saw a woman alone in the street and she got scared and ran through the corner when she saw a creature behind her. The werewolf jumped at her until Man-bat save her telling to run and get inside while fighting werewolf he slashes his leg tries to kill nurse again Kirk came back with injuries leg he injected him a needle turned him back a human again. His mission complete but losing much blood being to pass out a nurse saved him stop the bleeding and recover.
Batman and Robin (2023)[]
Kirk been taking over by persona The Bat want to a new savior of Gotham City by elimination Batman. The Bat use bats as poison Gotham Batman eventually defeated him use a gas got attention bats attacked him return as Kirk while see Batman what he do this time. In after math at Arkham Tower he and Dr. Kafira remove all bats poison system without harm them and remind a mystery since Langstrom had no memory how came back from life or recent time as Man-bat got more information he has multiple since revive from the dead that cause of its Batman find the way work with him to get help.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2023)[]
Kirk Langstrom retuned Gotham academy as professors again now study experiment bat. He is meeting with Mr. Wozaink talking about research bats however their conversation short his system Langdstrom need get his new Man-Bat Serum before changing Man-Bat again he takes it just in time. Batman arrived check on him and asking him to question the student's name Tristian Grey someone control only not him and other Man-Bats creatures. Mother who controls all Man-bats and now she Infected Bruce Wayne slowly change. He rushed in find Kirk ask him to make serum for him however this different serum Kirk never see before he is giving a try but Bruce transomed in vampire-like hit him and escape.
Other Media[]
Batman: The Animated Series[]
Man-Bat appears in Batman: The Animated Series as a zoologist at Gotham City Zoo. Dr. Langstrom had hoped to mix human and animal DNA to create a new species. However he could not control himself in this form and he went on a rampage, (which Batman was blamed for due to a similar appearance). Man-Bat was stopped and eventually cured.
However, his wife Francine was unwillingly exposed to the formula in another episode and transformed into She-Bat. Dr. Langstrom and Batman worked together to return her to normal.
Professor Milo later used Dr. Langstrom's research for his work at Project Cadmus.
He was voiced by Marc Singer.
Beware the Batman[]
In Beware the Batman, Man-Bat appears in the episode "Doppelganger", where Kirk Langstrom is working on a cure for diseases using bat DNA. However, Professor Pyg and Mr. Toad use the DNA on him which turns him into Man-Bat. They then use a drugged collar to control him and he goes on a rampage throughout Gotham. Batman subdues him and removes them collar which frees him. Langstrom then tells Batman and Katana how Pyg and Toad plan to use his work to create an army of hybrid creatures.
The three of them head to Pyg's hideout and free their hostages. While Batman fought Pyg, Katana and Man-Bat fought Toad who was able to reattach the collar to Man-Bat. Toad uses him to capture Katana and attack Batman. He and Batman fight each other until Batman is able to pry off the collar and the two of them catch Pyg and Toad who are later arrested. Batman then convinces Langstrom to continue his research to help him and other people. Langstrom accepts and leaves Batman before he could be seen by the police.
Films[]
- In Batman Forver, in a deleted scene when Bruce enters the batcave, an overgrown bat appears, which may have been a reference to Man-Bat.
- Kirk Langstrom make a cameo appearance in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. He was a scientist that was turned in a bat-like creature after one of his experiments, being known as Man-Bat.
- A Crime Syndicate of America version named She-Bat briefly appears in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths as one of Superwoman's henchmen. This version is a amalgamation of Man-Bat, Catwoman and Francine Langstrom.
- Kirk Langstrom and the Man-Bat Commandos appear in Son of Batman. At the beginning, Langstrom works for Ra's al Ghul in an attempt to create a Man-Bat army to strengthen the League of Assassins. Kirk was also behind the mutagen that Killer Croc empowered himself with where he had sprouted a tail. After the death, Deathstroke recruits him to continue his work, taking his wife Francine Langstrom and their daughter Rebecca (voiced by Kari Wahlgren) as hostages to create the Man-Bat formulas. When Batman finds a lead in Langstrom's lab, a mutated ape that was living there attacked. All three are later rescued by Batman and Damian Wayne. While the mutagen is complete by then, Langstrom creates enough antidote to stop the Man-Bats.
- Kirk Langstrom/Man-Bat appears in Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts. This version was working on a serum to help the deaf and blind, but accidentally turned himself into Man-Bat. The Penguin used this new form to his advantage, giving Langstrom cures in exchange for the Man-Bat's help with crimes and Langstrom creating robotic animals. He appears as part of the Penguin's animalitia. Red Robin manages to get Langstrom's mind to surface in Man-Bat, allowing him to help with defeating the Penguin and defending Gotham against the Midas meteor. By flying into the beam powering the shield, Man-Bat was able to burn out the formula's remains, turning him back into his human form.
- A parallel world version appears as "Batman" in Justice League: Gods and Monsters. This version of Kirk Langstrom developed vampire-like abilities upon consuming a serum to cure his cancer, with Doctor Will Magnus carrying out additional research to develop a further cure for his transformation after providing Kirk with nanites to help perfect Kirk's cure without waiting to carry out additional tests. Kirk was also in love with his friend's wife Tina Magnus, which resulted in Magnus accidentally beating Tina to death in a fit of rage once realizing Tina loved Kirk. Batman works together with the other Justice League members Superman (Hernan Guerra) and Wonder Woman (Bekka of New Genesis) when Magnus attempted to frame the three in order to fulfill plans of injecting everyone in the world with nanites to make humanity work as a collective. When the fight is over and the regretful and remorseful Magnus destroyed himself, he and Superman use Kryptonian data to help humanity while mourning over the loss of his best friend and love interest.
- Man-Bat appears in direct-to-video animated film Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League: Attack of the Legion of Doom, with vocal effects provided by Dee Bradley Baker. He is among the villains that audition for a spot on the Legion of Doom. Man-Bat, the Penguin and the Joker are eliminated because of Lex Luthor's claims that the Legion of Doom doesn't have any extra parking spots at their headquarters.
- Kirk Langstrom appears in Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants.
- Man-Bat makes an appearance in The Lego Batman Movie.
Video Games[]
- The Super NES video game version of The Adventures of Batman & Robin features Man-Bat as an enemy character. He spoke in this game.
- Man-Bat is a boss and playable character in Lego Batman. He is an enemy of Batman, a follower of the Penguin and the fourth boss of Chapter 2 "Power-Crazed Penguin". In the game, he possesses super strength and the ability to glide using his wings. In the Nintendo DS version, Man-Bat is an unlockable character through the "Villain Hunt" minigame. He appears with the Penguin and Catwoman on a riverboat when he sees Batman and Robin. He hides inside when they look for the Penguin. He drops from the roof behind Robin and covers himself with his wings like a vampire then unfolds them to reveal himself, starting the boss fight. He glides from one end of the room to the other dropping bombs. The player needs to build a phonograph to play loud music that stuns him. When he is defeated, Batman and Robin shake him up and spin him around, causing him to get wrapped up in his wings, unable to free himself. At the end of the game, he is seen in Arkham Asylum reading the newspaper upside-down. He is one of two villain bosses that has to be purchased from the Batcomputer after he's defeated in order to be playable—the other being the Mad Hatter.
- Man-Bat appears in Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. He appears as a boss fight at Gotham Cathedral and an unlockable character. He is now capable of actual flight rather than just gliding and he now has sonar.
- Man-Bat appears as a playable character in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham. He has his own side-quest where the player has to help him get an ingredient he needs to complete a formula.
- Man-Bat appears as a playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains, via the "Batman: The Animated Series Level Pack" DLC.
Powers and Abilities[]
- Shapeshifting: Upon injection of the Man-Bat Serum, Langstrom can transform himself into a half-human/half-bat creature. Once the serum wears off, the Man-Bat returns back to human form. After years of exposure to the serum, Langstrom is able to transform at will
- Flight: Man-Bat can fly by way of artificially generated leather wings.
- Sharp claws: The Man-Bat has sharpened claws which are strong enough to easily tear through flesh and muscle.
- Echolocation: Man-Bat can navigate through the air by way of echolocation, similar in function to a bat's radar.
- Echokinesis: Man-Bat is able to create sonic waves that stun people nearby him.
- Animal Empathy: Man-Bat was able to emphatically reach out to local bats and ask them for their help, after which they organized and swarmed his targets.
- Enhanced Strength: Man-Bat has an enhanced level of physical strength.
External Links[]
- Man-Bat on the Villains Wiki
- Man-Bat on the DC Wiki
