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 Edit

While working at the Gotham Zoo, Kirk Langstrom ascribed to Dr. March's theories of bat evolution. Believing bats to possess the capability to 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.

After imbibing the formula, Langstrom transformed into the monstrous Man-Bat (a creature that, as the name describes, possessed qualities similar to both human and 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, 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 Attorner 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. There, he 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.

Months later, Batman turned to Langstrom for aid when Selina Kyle had been abducted by creatures exhibiting similar human-animal qualities.

Shortly thereafter, Man-Bat appeared once more. Langstrom professed to both Francine and Batman that he had not injected himself with the serum, but neither believed him. Francine, distraught over her husband's inability to control himself, separated from Kirk. Batman, however, investigated further. Upon conversing with Dr. March, he learned that the doctor 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 Man-Bat) at the Gotham airport. He subdued her and injected her with the counter-serum. Francine then returned to Langstrom.

Sometime later, Dr. Milo acquired Langstrom's notes. Using the research, he began applying genetic splicing to the work of Project Cadmus.

Powers and abilities Edit

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 Edit

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. Emil 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 is claiming Francine should shedivorce Kirk. It is revealed that Perry learned of Kirk's secret as the Man-Bat and is seeking to have Langstrom discredited. 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. Bat-Man 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 Edit

Batman: The Animated Series

• "On Leather Wings"
• "Tyger, Tyger"
• "Terror in the Sky"

The New Batman Adventures

• "Chemistry" ^(Cameo)

Justice League Unlimited

• "The Doomsday Sanction" ^{(Mentioned Only)}

External links Edit

• Kirk Langstrom at the DC Database Project