Editing Man-Bat (section)

===''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>