| Kirk Langstrom | |
|---|---|
| |
| Information | |
| Species: | Human |
| Hair: | Brown |
| Eyes: | Black |
| Relatives: | Francine Langstrom (wife) Dr. March (father-in-law) |
| Base: | Gotham City |
| Voiced by: | Marc Singer |
|
Kirk Langstrom was a scientist working in Gotham City. After exposing himself to an experiment, Langstrom was prone to transforming into the Man-Bat.
History
Kirk Langstrom once worked with Dr. Emile Dorian, who made the T-99 mutagen. After Dorian fled Gotham, Langstrom continued to work on the mutagen, although the mastermind behind this was his father-in-law, Dr. March. While working at the Gotham Zoo, Langstrom ascribed to Dr. March's theories of bat evolution. Agreeing with March's belief that bats would make the next evolutionary step (a capability humans lacked), Langstrom set to work creating a formula that would allow humans to make this jump as well.[1]
After imbibing the formula, Langstrom transformed into the monstrous Man-Bat. The serum, however, was incomplete; the transformation was only temporary, and needed further refining to become a permanent "solution". As Man-Bat, Langstrom began robbing chemical and pharmaceutical companies in his quest to achieve the perfect formula.
In a city as crime-laden as Gotham City, combined with his chiropteric powers, Man-Bat was able to steal with relative ease. It wasn't until he assaulted a guard during a robbery that he attracted the attention of the Gotham Police Force. Luck, however, was on Langstrom's side; District Attorney Harvey Dent and Detective Harvey Bullock mistook the crime spree for the actions of Batman.
Setting out to clear his name, Batman tracked Man-Bat to the Gotham Zoo, and witnessed Langstrom's transformation. However, after a brief fight, Batman subdued the creature and injected Man-Bat with a counter-serum. As long as Langstrom refrained from imbibing the formula again, he would remain in his human form.[2]
Months later, Batman turned to Langstrom for aid when Selina Kyle had been abducted by creatures exhibiting similar human-animal qualities. Langstrom identified it as the work of his former partner, Emile Dorian.[3]
Kirk Langstrom as the Man-Bat.
Shortly thereafter, Man-Bat appeared once more. Langstrom professed to both Francine and Batman that there is no way he would use the serum again, and his story was believed by neither. Batman was willing to allow Langstrom the benefit of the doubt by subjecting him to a DNA test. However Francine, distraught over her husband's inability to control himself, separated from Kirk. With further investigation, Batman learned that Dr. March had been working on Langstrom's Man-Bat formula, still maintaining it was the next evolutionary step. However, before he was able to inject himself, Francine interrupted his work and accidentally received a small dosage.
Batman found Francine, who had since transformed into a bat creature herself, at the Gotham airport. He subdued her and injected her with the counter-serum. Francine then returned to Langstrom.[4]
Sometime later, Dr. Milo acquired Langstrom's notes. Using the research, he began applying genetic splicing to the work of Project Cadmus.[5]
Powers and abilities
As a human, Dr. Langstrom is a scientist. His focus is in the area of bats, but he also specializes in genetic mutation, particularly DNA splicing.
As Man-Bat, Langstrom exhibits characteristics to both man and bat. His strength vastly increases, and he gains the ability to fly. However, his body undergoes a significant mutation, and he appears as a hulking monster. Fortunately, effects of the mutation do not seem to linger when the transformation wears off.
Background information
The Man-Bat made two additional appearances in the comic books based on the series. One was where as the Man-Bat, Langstrom was captured by Dr. Emile Dorian along with Tygrus and the werewolf Anthony Romulus. Another return was where the Man-Bat was once again terrorizing Gotham, and Francine thinks her husband is back to his old ways. Meanwhile, a rival scientist named Perry, who once dated Francine, realizes the truth that Langstrom was the Man-Bat and is seeking to have Kirk discredited, as well as his marriage to Francine ended so Perry can woo her once again. When the Man-Bat reappears before Francine, she believes it to be Kirk, only to have a human Kirk suddenly appear, yelling at this third Man-Bat to leave his wife alone. Batman subdues the third Man-Bat, who is revealed to have been Perry after discovering Dr. March's files and replicating the bat DNA formula.
Appearances and references
Batman: The Animated Series
The New Batman Adventures
- "Chemistry" (Cameo)
Justice League Unlimited
- "The Doomsday Sanction" (Mentioned Only)
References
- ↑ Reaves, Michael, Rogel, Randy (story) & Wilkerson, Cherie (teleplay) & Paur, Frank (director) (October 30, 1992). "Tyger, Tyger". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 30 (airdate). Episode 42 (production). FOX Kids.
- ↑ Brian, Mitch (writer) & Altieri, Kevin (director) (September 6, 1992). "On Leather Wings". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 2 (airdate). Episode 1 (production). FOX Kids.
- ↑ Reaves, Michael, Rogel, Randy (story) & Wilkerson, Cherie (teleplay) & Paur, Frank (director) (October 30, 1992). "Tyger, Tyger". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 30 (airdate). Episode 42 (production). FOX Kids.
- ↑ Perry, Steve, Saraceni, Mark (story) & Saraceni, Mark (teleplay) & Kirkland, Boyd (director) (November 12, 1992). "Terror in the Sky". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 37 (airdate). Episode 45 (production). FOX Kids.
- ↑ McDuffie, Dwayne (story) & Goodman, Robert (teleplay) & Riba, Dan (director) (February 19, 2005). "The Doomsday Sanction". Justice League Unlimited. Season 1. Episode 16 (airdate). Episode 16 (production). Cartoon Network.
External links
- Kirk Langstrom at the DC Database
