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DC Comics   ·   Released Feb 21st, 1989

Secret Origins #39

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THE SECRET ORIGIN OF MAN-BAT

A mysterious bat-like creature gets into a fight with a band of masked criminals clad only in black. The crime scene earns the attention of the Batman who takes an acute interest in this case. While investigating, he recalls a man named Kirk Langstrom. Langstrom first gained notoriety when, as a child, he was lost for six weeks in the caverns below Gotham City.  The experience changed Langstrom forever. As an adult he became a scientist and devoted himself towards the study of bats. It was his hope that by duplicating a bat's sonar abilities, he could find a way to cure human diseases. He created a formula from a bat gland extract and experimented upon himself. The serum produced highly unexpected side effects as it transformed Kirk Langstrom into a Man-Bat.  Now the Man-Bat was beginning to make his presence known throughout the city. Batman investigates further and meets Langstrom's fiancée, Francine Lee. He pressures Francine into telling him what he needs to know and by doing so, learns that Langstrom is the Man-Bat. Batman and Francine track the Man-Bat down to Biochem, Ltd. where they find him stealing a vial of chemicals. Batman fights with him and during the conflict, the beaker breaks. This was Langstrom's only hope for returning to normal. Enraged, he dives out the window and flies off.  Blaming himself for shattering Langstrom's hopes for ever becoming human, the Batman returns to the Batcave wondering if he will ever encounter the elusive Man-Bat again.

THE MYTH OF THE CREATION

In Africa, Animal Man test out his powers with his family—ever since the invasion and his exposure to the Gene Bomb, he cannot control his connection to the animal kingdom. Unbeknownst to him, the Yellow Aliens who grafted their experimental enhancements onto him are watching and will attempt to cure him. They have also noticed that during their slumber, a disruption of the space-time continuum has happened.  Ten years prior, the same aliens had manipulated him into being exposed to a strange radiation that allowed him to tap into The Red and absorb the abilities of other animals. They have come back to follow up on their experiment and will ensure that it does not go wrong.

Format
Comic
Page Count
48 pages
Cover Price
$1.50
Secret Origins #39
PrevSeries Next
121
57
27

Creators

Grant Morrison
Writer
Grant Morrison
Jan Strnad
Writer
Jan Strnad
Tom Grummett
Penciller
Tom Grummett
Kevin Nowlan
Artist
Kevin Nowlan
Doug Hazlewood
Inker
Doug Hazlewood
Colorist
Helen Vesik
Janice Chiang
Letterer
Janice Chiang
Michael Wm. Kaluta
Cover Artist
Michael Wm. Kaluta
Mark Waid
Editor
Mark Waid
Dick Giordano
Editor
Dick Giordano

Characters

Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred Pennyworth
Prime Earth
Animal Man
Buddy Baker
Animal Man
Prime Earth
Batman
Bruce Wayne
Batman
Prime Earth
Cliff Baker
Prime Earth
Ellen Frazier
Prime Earth
Francine Langstrom
Francine Langstrom
Prime Earth
Man-Bat
Kirk Langstrom
Man-Bat
Prime Earth
Martha Wayne
Martha Wayne
Prime Earth
Maxine Baker
Maxine Baker
Prime Earth
Roger Denning
Prime Earth
Thomas Wayne
Thomas Wayne
Prime Earth

Collected In

  • Animal Man Vol. 2: Origin of the Species TP
    Animal Man Vol. 2: Origin of the Species TP
    Animal Man Vol. 1 (1988 - 1995)
  • Animal Man Omnibus HC
    Animal Man Omnibus HC
    Animal Man Vol. 1 (1988 - 1995)
  • Animal Man by Grant Morrison 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Book One HC
    Animal Man by Grant Morrison 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Book One HC
    Animal Man Vol. 1 (1988 - 1995)
  • Animal Man by Grant Morrison Book One TP
    Animal Man by Grant Morrison Book One TP
    Animal Man Vol. 1 (1988 - 1995)
  • Batman: Arkham - Man-Bat TP
    Batman: Arkham - Man-Bat TP
    Batman: Arkham - Man-Bat (2017)

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