Kirk Langstrom

Dr. **Robert Kirkland** "**Kirk**" **Langstrom** (ロバート・カークランド・“カーク”・ラングストローム, *Robāto Kākurando "Kāku" Rangusutorōmu*), also known as **Man-Bat** (マンバット, *Manbatto*), is both a fictional character and deuteragonist of the *DC* series. He is both a zoologist and scientist who specialized in the study of chiropterology (Bats) and splicing. He successfully spliced vampire bat DNA with human DNA, which he hoped to prevent and cure the human race of deafness. He tested it on himself, turning into a large human-sized bat-like creature.

A being of animalistic instinct when transformed, Kirk Langstrom constantly struggles to control his transformations but does so with the help and support of his wife and family and Gotham's other Bat-centric figure, the Batman.

"*I knew we've discovered a formula to create a totally perfect cure, to save humanity from deafness. Once I started taking it, I couldn't stop. I desperately wanted to, but **it** took over."*"

—Dr. Kirk Langstrom.

## Appearance & Biography

*Voice actor:* Marc Singer (English), Not Known (Japanese), Not Known (French), Not Known (Italian), Not Known (Dutch), Not Known (German), Not Known (Hebrew), Not Known (Hungarian), Not Known (Finnish), Not Known (Korean), Not Known (Norwegian), Not Known (Polish), Not Known (Romanian), Not Known (Russian), Not Known (Poland), Not Known (Serbian), Not Known (Spanish) Not Known (Swedish), Not Known (Thai), Not Known (European Spanish), Not Known (Latin American Spanish), Not Known (Brazilian Portuguese), Not Known (European Portuguese), Not Known (Latin Spanish)

### Appearance

#### As Man-Bat

* Hair Color: Brown
* Skin Color: Pale
* Eye Color: Black
* Age: Not Known
* Birthday: Not Known
* Height: 6'2"
* Weight: 150lbs.

## Powers and Abilities

### Powers

* **Transformation**: Upon injection of his bat gland extract, Kirk Langstrom can transform himself into a half-human/half-bat creature. Once the serum wears off, the Man-Bat returns back to human form.
	+ **Flight**: Man-Bat can fly by way of genetically generated leather wings.
	+ **Claws**: The Man-Bat has sharpened claws which are strong enough to easily tear through flesh and muscle.
	+ **Fangs**:
	+ **Superhuman Strength**:
	+ **Superhuman Agility**:
	+ **Highly Enhanced Acute Hearing**: To compensate for the loss of sight, Man-Bat has large ears to help him sense what's around him.
	+ **Echolocation**: Man-Bat can navigate through the air by way of echolocation, similar in function to a bat's radar.
	+ **Sound Manipulation**:

### Abilities

* **Genius-Level Intellect**:
	+ **Science**:
	+ **Computer Operation**:
	+ **Chemistry**:
	+ **Genetics**:
	+ **Mechanical Engineering**:
* **Investigation**:
* **Hand-to-Hand Combat (Advanced)**:

### Weaknesses

* **No control**: While Man-Bat, Kirk is reduced to a mindless beast. Since he has vampire bat DNA, he will likely seek out blood to drink.

## History

### Past

When Kirk Langstrom was a boy growing up in Chicago, Illinois, he fell into a cavern and was lost for more than six weeks. Police conducted a massive search for the child and were nearly ready to give up when they finally found him. Though his parents were overjoyed to see their son returned to them Kirk seemed almost sorry to leave the cave due to having taken a liking to the bats living down there.

A short time later, Kirk met six-year-old Bruce Wayne outside of a movie theater. He regaled Bruce with tales of his adventures beneath the earth, and embellished such tales by telling him about the race of half-human, half-bat creatures he encountered.

As an adult, Kirk left his hometown of Chicago and enrolled at Gotham University where he met fellow student Francine Lee.

## External links

* Man-Bat *Wikipedia*
* Man-Bat *DC Database*
* Man-Bat *Batman Wiki*

## Notes & Trivia

* Man-Bat first appeared in *Detective Comics #400 (1970)*
* Kirk Langstrom is an accomplished zoologist specialized in chiropterology and mammal biology.
* Man-Bat's hearing is highly sensitive and extremely loud noises cause him great pain. He is also extremely sensitive to bright light, preferring instead to remain in dark locations.
* It has been theorized that the bat that crashed through the Wayne Manor study inspiring Bruce Wayne to become the Batman was one of Kirk Langstrom's test subjects that escaped from his laboratory some time prior to Langstrom becoming the Man-Bat.
* The Langstroms have two children, Rebecca Elizabeth Langstrom and Aaron Langstrom.
* Despite his size and fearsome appearance, Man-Bat actually feeds on insects like most bat species.