Summary
- Longstanding DC character Man-Bat's redemption arc has been one of the most permanent in the publisher's history – sadly, the character has taken a dark turn once more, as he rejects heroism and sets out to menace Gotham again.
- Man-Bat's tragic backstory and efforts to redeem himself have made him a fan-favorite character over the years, but his status as a DC hero has finally unraveled, leading him back to a life of crime and villainy.
- Despite Batman's efforts to convince him to remain devoted to heroism, Man-Bat's journey ends in tragedy and betrayal, making him a Gotham rogue once more.
Warning! Contains Spoilers For Batman and Robin #9!One of the most prominent redemption arcs among Batman's rogues gallery was the infamous character Man-Bat, who turned his back on crime. The character operated as a member of the Justice League Dark at one point, and even joined the Caped Crusader's Bat-Family as a hero – until now, as it seems Man-Bat has once more returned to his original villainous ways.
Batman and Robin #9 – written by Joshua Williamson, with art by Nikola Cizmesija – featured Man-Bat's villainous backslide. Man-Bat explains to Batman that despite him having previously been on the Justice League Dark, and working with Zatanna and Wonder Woman, it seemingly didn't get him anywhere – and he's not wrong.
Man-Bat was pivotal in helping defeat the Upside-Down Man, and saved the entire universe, and yet, somehow, he still managed to end up locked back up in Arkham Asylum and killed during the tragic events of A-Day.
Man-Bat was never a malicious character, which is why his turn as a hero was so believable, but it seems that all the character's work to redeem himself has been undone.
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Man-Bat Rejects Heroism, As He's Set To Menace Gotham Once More
Batman and Robin #9 – Written By Joshua Williamson; Art By Nikola Cizmesija, Simone Di Meo, Rex Lokus, & Giovanna Niro
Man-Bat has always been a tragic villain. He didn't intend to become a monster and go on a rampage through Gotham City. Kirk Langstrom just wanted to cure deafness and his experiments with bat DNA ended up transforming him. Batman has continually tried to cure him, and sometimes he's even gained control over his bat-form. In some stories, the entire Langstrom family are bat-people. Man-Bat was never a malicious character, which is why his turn as a hero was so believable, but it seems that all the character's work to redeem himself has been undone.
As Kirk Langstrom discovered, heroics are more trouble than they're worth. Despite having been a member on Justice League Dark and fighting to save the world, at some point, Langstrom was still placed back in Arkham Asylum, which caused him to lose his life during the A-Day attack. It's unclear why Kirk Langstrom was in Arkham, but after being killed there, he was revived as part of the Task Force Z squad. Kirk was forced to go on missions for the government, as essentially a zombie, in order to win back his life.
Considering everything Man-Bat has been through, it's hard to blame him for returning to a life of crime.
Man-Bat Shockingly Turns His Back On The Bat-Family
No Longer An Ally
Considering everything Man-Bat has been through, it's hard to blame him for returning to a life of crime. While he was a monster, he was shown compassion by Batman, and was constantly given help until he was able to control himself. That's when he was a villain. As a hero, he was tossed into Arkham Asylum, left to be killed, and then transformed into a zombie servant of the government. With where the path of being a hero led him, it's really no surprise that classic Batman character Man-Bat is once again on the side of evil.
Batman and Robin #9 is available now from DC Comics!
Batman and Robin #9 (2024) | |
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Batman
One of DC's most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world's leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
