The Man Who Would Be Bat

**"The Man Who Would Be Bat"** is the fourth episode of the first season of *The Batman* and the fourth episode overall.

## "The Man Who Would Be Bat"

### Episode

4 (production order)4 (overall)
5 (airing order)

## Synopsis

While pursuing Batman, Yin and Bennett find themselves drawn to Wayne Industries by a flock of bats. The pair quickly learn that they are connected to a project being worked upon by a scientist named Dr. Langstrom, who claims to Bruce that his work is to help cure those who are deaf. In reality, Langstrom, obsessed with the Batman, is actually developing a serum to mutate himself into a giant beast called "Man-Bat" that needs to feed on animal blood. With Man-Bat out of control, Batman must stop him before he changes from animals to humans for sustenance.

## Plot

Detectives Ethan and Ellen are chasing Batman. Batman eventually escapes by using the turbo in the Batmobile, which produces a flash powerful enough to temporarily blind the and fast enough for him to escape. They then see bats flying, and decide to follow them to find Batman. The bats arrive at Wayne Industries.

Ethan and Yin then go to Bruce, and Ethan tells that he knows he's Batman. Bruce is concerned, until he finds that Ethan is joking. Yin demands investigating the building for Batman. They go to Langstrom's lab, which the bats flew off to. Kirk admits that he did nothing recently but wait for his bats to return. The detectives leave. Bruce then asks why he wasn't updated on this project, and demands to shut down the project. Kirk begs him not to because he's doing all this for his deaf niece. Kirk tells him that he's about to discover a cure for deafness. Alfred asks if keeping the project was such a good idea, and Bruce tells him that Kirk's on the verge of a breakthrough. Bruce tells that he can provide some personal funding. He goes to give Carly a gift, but finds out she's not actually deaf. Bruce then heads to Wayne Industries to find the truth. Bruce finds that Kirk has been focusing on Batman. Kirk admits that he wants to be like Batman, not as a crimefighter, but as just a bat. Kirk then drinks a serum, transforming himself into Man-Bat.

Man-Bat tries attacking Bruce, but Bruce traps him in a fridge. Man-Bat manages to escape by flying up. Bruce calls the Batmobile, but then sees the detectives, prompting him to cancel the call. The detectives want to investigate the lab again for further evidence, but then get a report of a bat assailant, and they assume it's Batman. Bruce calls the Batmobile and suits up. At Gotham Zoo, Man-Bat takes a goat to feed on. Batman asks Alfred about any suspicious Man-Bat activity, and he finds that a bunch of mammals have been drained from blood. Batman spots Man-Bat, and gives chase. Batman grapples up a building then grabs onto him. Man-Bat eventually throws him away. Man-Bat gets to Batman, until Man-Bat reverts to Kirk. He claims that 2 more serums and Man-Bat will rule forever. Before he drinks another serum, Batman throws it away with a Batarang. The detectives arrive and try to arrest him, but Batman throws a smoke bomb and escapes. Kirk meanwhile drinks another serum, however,before he finishes it, Yin arrests him, assuming he's Batman. Batman shows up and clears the confusion. Kirk however then transforms again into Man-Bat. He throws away Yin and Batman and grabs Ethan.

Batman places a tracker on Man-Bat,while Yin calls for a chopper. Batman asks Alfred, who was asleep, to prepare a few things. Batman follows Man-Bat to the sewers. Man-Bat meanwhile tied Ethan upside down, and then uses echolocation to find Batman. Batman finds and frees Ethan, then Man-Bat tries to attack him. The two engage in a fight, and Batman activates his jetpack. Man-Bat follows Batman across the sewers, while Ethan climbs out. Batman then uses sonar, which tampers with Man-Bat's echolocation. Batman lures Man-Bat into attacking him, only for Batman to dodge and for Man-Bat to hit the pipes, releasing the water pressure on him. Batman flies away,while Man-Bat reverts to Kirk once again. The police arrive and arrest him. They go to the Wayne Industries to search Kirk's lab, but find it empty, prompting them to leave. At Arkham Asylum, Kirk is seen writing a formula.

## Cast/Characters

* Rino Romano as Bruce Wayne/The Batman
* Peter MacNicol as Dr. Kirk Langstrom/Man-Bat
* Alastair Duncan as Alfred Pennyworth
* Steve Harris as Detective Ethan Bennett
* Ming-Na as Detective Ellen Yin
* The Joker (cameo in a photo)
* Carly

## Events

- Character debuts:

* Man-Bat
* Carly

## Trivia

* Bennett knew Bruce since high school.
* The man with the telescope bears a resemblance to producer Glen Murakami.
* Carly's voice actress is uncredited.
* Ellen Yin was the one who named Langstrom's transformation, as she was the first to call it " Man-Bat ".
* The title of the episode*, The Man Who Would Be Bat* , is a reference to the 1975 film *The Man Who Would Be King* , starring Sean Connery and Michael Caine.

## Errors

* Yin has a case of the disappearing badge.
* When Batman escapes from Man-Bat, he runs through a vertical sewer, but in the next scene the sewer is placed horizontally.