Editing Man-Bat (section)

==Fictional character biography==
[[File:ManBatCv3.jpg|thumb|upright|Batman fighting the Man-Bat in the textless cover of ''Man-Bat'' (vol. 3) #3 (August 2006), art by [[Mike Huddleston]]]]
Dr. Kirk Langstrom, a [[zoologist]] who specializes in [[chiropterology]], develops an extract intended to give humans a bat's acute [[sonar]] sense and tests the formula on himself.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rovin |first=Jeff |author-link=Jeff Rovin |title=The Encyclopedia of Supervillains |date=1987 |publisher=Facts on File |isbn=0-8160-1356-X |location=New York |pages=203–204}}</ref> The extract works, but it has a horrible side effect: it transforms him into a monstrous human/bat hybrid creature.<ref>{{cite book |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia|url=https://archive.org/details/dccomicsencyclop00beat|url-access=limited|year=2004|publisher=Dorling Kindersley Limited|isbn=0-7566-0592-X|page=[https://archive.org/details/dccomicsencyclop00beat/page/n194 194]}}</ref> This side effect makes him so distraught that it temporarily affects his sanity. He goes on a mad rampage until [[Batman]] finds a way to reverse the effects.<ref>{{cite book |last=Greenberger |first=Robert |title=The Essential Batman Encyclopedia |date=2008 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=9780345501066 |pages=247–248}}</ref> Later, Langstrom takes the concoction again and the Man-Bat returns. He also coaxes his wife, [[Francine Langstrom]], into drinking the serum and she goes through the same transformation, becoming the She-Bat. Together, they terrorize [[Gotham City]] until Batman once again restores them to normal.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Kronenberg |first=Michael |title=Fright Night: Batman and the Horror Genre |journal=Back Issue |date=October 2019 |issue=116 |pages=15–22 |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]]}}</ref>

On some occasions, Langstrom takes the serum and retains enough sanity to work for the forces of good. During one of these periods, he works with the detective [[Jason Bard]]. On another occasion, in ''[[Action Comics]]'' #600, [[Jimmy Olsen]] inadvertently puts [[Superman]] into a cave occupied by the Man-Bat to protect him from [[kryptonite]] radiation. The Man-Bat calms the maddened Superman and then summons [[Hawkman]], who helps Superman overcome the radiation. Kirk and Francine have a daughter, Rebecca ("Becky"), and a son, Aaron. Because of the effects the serum has on Aaron's DNA, he is born with a deadly illness. Francine turns him into a young Man-Bat to save his life. This occurs in issue #3 of the ''Man-Bat'' (vol. 2) miniseries by [[Chuck Dixon]].

===''Infinite Crisis'' and beyond===
[[File:Francine Lee-Langstrom.png|thumb|left|upright|Francine Langstrom as she appears in ''Batman and the Outsiders'' (vol. 2) #9 (September 2008), art by Julian López]]
The Man-Bat is sighted in [[Alexander Luthor Jr.]]'s [[Secret Society of Super Villains]] during the events of the 2005–2006 storyline ''[[Infinite Crisis]]''.<ref>''Infinite Crisis'' #7 (June 2006). DC Comics.</ref>

In the aftermath of that storyline, both Kirk and Francine are shown to be alive in the 2006 "[[One Year Later]]" storyline. [[Talia al Ghul]] binds and gags Francine, and then threatens to poison her if Kirk does not give her the Man-Bat formula. After Langstrom gives her the formula, she releases Francine as promised. Talia utilizes the Man-Bat to turn some generic members of the [[League of Assassins]] into [[#Man-Bat Commandos|Man-Bat Commandos]].<ref name="Batman #655">''Batman'' #655 (September 2006). DC Comics.</ref>

In ''[[Gotham Underground]]'', the Man-Bat is apprehended by the Suicide Squad.<ref>''Gotham Underground'' #1. DC Comics.</ref> He is one of the villains seen in ''[[Salvation Run]]''.<ref>''Salvation Run'' #2 (February 2008). DC Comics.</ref> Francine appears in ''[[Batman and the Outsiders]]'', serving as the team's technical advisor, and her assistant Salah Miandad operates the "blank" OMAC drone known as [[ReMAC]]. In issue #10 of that series, Kirk appears, seemingly healthy and also aiding Francine.

In the 2008 miniseries ''[[Final Crisis]]'', the Man-Bat is turned into a Justifier and is shown attacking [[Switzerland]]'s Checkmate Headquarters.<ref>''[[Final Crisis]]'' #4. DC Comics.</ref> During the 2009 "[[Battle for the Cowl]]" storyline, following Batman's apparent death, Kirk is haunted by nightmares of becoming the Man-Bat and killing his wife. When Francine disappears, he takes the serum and tries to follow her. After an altercation with the [[Outsiders (comics)|Outsiders]], he returns to his human form and is captured by [[Doctor Phosphorus]], who reveals that the serum is not necessary to trigger the change. Kirk discovers that Phosphorus has also captured Francine and becomes the Man-Bat to save her.<ref>''[[Battle for the Cowl]]: Man-Bat'' #1. DC Comics.</ref>

During the 2009–2010 ''[[Blackest Night]]'' storyline, Francine tracks down Kirk (as the Man-Bat), having created a cure, and revealed that Kirk's next transformation would be permanent if he did not drink it.<ref>''Superman/Batman'' #66. DC Comics.</ref> Kirk attempts to take the cure, but his Man-Bat persona will not let him. Just as Kirk is about to drink it, Francine is wounded in the crossfire of the battle between [[Black Lantern]] [[Solomon Grundy (character)|Solomon Grundy]] and [[Bizarro]] (the latter of whom is already at the scene, trying to prevent Kirk from taking the cure). Distraught at Francine's injuries, Kirk transforms into the Man-Bat, seemingly permanently.<ref>''Superman/Batman'' #67. DC Comics.</ref> In ''Batgirl'' (vol. 3) #10-11, the Man-Bat is seen under the control of the [[Calculator (character)|Calculator]] as a techno-zombie.<ref>''Batgirl'' (vol. 3) #10-11 (July 2010-August 2010). DC Comics.</ref> In the "Collision" storyline of ''Red Robin'', following [[Tim Drake|Red Robin]]'s actions against [[Ra's al Ghul]] and the [[League of Assassins]], the latter attempts to murder people related to the [[Bat-Family]]. The Man-Bat, following Red Robin's orders, protects [[Julie Madison]], a former lover of Bruce Wayne, against Ra's al Ghul's assassins.<ref>''Red Robin'' #12 (July 2012). DC Comics.</ref>

===''The New 52''===
[[File:Man-Bat Batman The Dark Knight Vol 2 28.png|thumb|right|The Man-Bat in ''Batman: The Dark Knight'' (vol. 2) #28 (April 2014), art by [[Ethan Van Sciver]]]]
In ''[[The New 52]]'' (a 2011 reboot of the DC Comics universe), the majority of Kirk Langstrom's history is rebooted. The Man-Bat serum first appears in ''Detective Comics'' (vol. 2) #18 (May 2013). Ignatius Ogilvy also comes into possession of the Man-Bat serum, which he uses as an airborne virus to spread throughout Gotham City's "900 Block".<ref>''Detective Comics'' (vol. 2) #18 (May 2013). DC Comics.</ref>

In ''Detective Comics'' (vol. 2) #19 (June 2013), Kirk Langstrom first appears where he and his wife Francine are escorted by Batwoman to Batman's location. Langstrom reveals that he is the creator of the serum, intending to help deaf people. Taking responsibility as the creator of the serum, he uses a sample of the serum Batman had obtained to inject himself. This creates an anti-virus which also spreads through the air. Langstrom is turned into a Man-Bat (the last remaining Man-Bat) as his anti-virus cures the remaining citizens of Gotham. It was later revealed that [[Emperor Blackgate|Emperor Penguin]] was the one who released the virus.<ref name=det19/> Emperor Penguin later made use of Langstrom's Man-Bat serum when he combined it with the Venom drug and one of [[Poison Ivy (character)|Poison Ivy]]'s plant concoctions to empower himself.<ref>''Detective Comics'' (vol. 2) #20. DC Comics.</ref>

Langstrom re-appears in ''Batman Inc.'' (vol. 2) #10 (June 2013) apparently giving Batman the serum. He claims to be working on an aerosol antidote to the serum as well.<ref>''Batman Inc.'' (vol. 2) #10 (June 2013). DC Comics.</ref> The back-up feature of ''Detective Comics'' (vol. 2) #21 (August 2013), focuses on Langstrom and his wife. He changes from the Man-Bat form into his human form and becomes addicted to the Man-Bat serum, taking it every night. He apparently does not remember his actions from the previous night, yet worries that a string of reported killings are his fault.<ref>''Detective Comics'' (vol. 2) #21 (August 2013). DC Comics.</ref>

During the "[[Forever Evil]]" storyline, the Man-Bat is among the villains recruited by the [[Crime Syndicate of America]] to join the Secret Society of Super-Villains.<ref>''Forever Evil'' #1</ref> The Scarecrow and the Man-Bat attempt to steal the frozen Talons (assassins that are associated with the [[Court of Owls]]) from Blackgate while the Penguin is having a meeting with Bane. Bane arrives at Blackgate as the Man-Bat and his fellow Man-Bats are attempting to transport the Talons to [[Mr. Freeze]] and is able to keep one from leaving.<ref>''Forever Evil: Arkham War'' #2</ref> The final issues of the series ''[[Batman: The Dark Knight]]'' would establish that Kirk is the son of a corrupt wealthy pharmaceutical businessman named Abraham Langstrom, who considers his son as a failure when compared to Bruce Wayne, the son of his business rival Thomas Wayne. Abraham would steal his son's serum, make some of his own improvements and use it to target the homeless (because no one would miss them) before being stopped by Batman, though he is able to plead temporary insanity to avoid going to prison.<ref>''Batman: The Dark Knight'' (vol. 2) #28-29. DC Comics.</ref>

===''DC Rebirth''===
In ''[[Doomsday Clock (comics)|Doomsday Clock]]'', the Man-Bat is featured on the news as an example of the "Superman Theory", stating that some metahumans were given their powers by the government.<ref>''Doomsday Clock'' #3 (January 2018). DC Comics.</ref> He later accompanies [[Black Adam]] in his attack on the White House.<ref>''Doomsday Clock'' #11. DC Comics.</ref>

In ''Harley Quinn Rebirth'', Langstrom's wife goes on a rampage against Harley and her friends, turning Harley and her friend Tony into Man-Bats as part of the [[Penguin (character)|Penguin]]'s plan to break Harley's spirit. Their other friends get Langstrom released and he helps them find the antidote before predictably escaping himself.

The Man-Bat later becomes a founding member of the second incarnation of [[Justice League Dark]].