Man-Bat’s Dark Fate Proves He’s Batman’s Most Tragic Villain

Warning: contains spoilers for Man-Bat #3!

In the latest issue of DC Comics’ Man-Bat, Kirk Langstrom’s fate is not looking good, confirming that he’s one of the most tragic villains in Batman‘s rogues gallery. On the run as a fugitive, Langstrom is trying to find a way to right his wrongs before his bestial side completely takes over his mind. However, he’s facing quite a few different adversaries, even aside from the Dark Knight. He’s entered the crosshairs of Amanda Waller’s Suicide Squad, and the Scarecrow is after him as well. However, while the Suicide Squad have managed to track Man-Bat down in this latest issue, Harley Quinn gets to have a “therapy session” first, revealing the dark and tragic fate he can expect if he continues down his current path.

With the monstrous Man-Bat strapped down to a couch in Man-Bat #3 from writer Dave Wielgosz with art by Sumit Kumar, Harley Quinn begins to diagnose Kirk Langstrom as a therapist, still considering herself to be a “medical professional”. Firstly, Langstrom reveals his greatest dream and fantasy where everything is fixed perfectly: he’s found a cure for his transformation, he has his wife back, Batman respects him, and Gotham loves him after he restored the hearing damage he caused to several citizens in the series’ first issue.

However, Harley brings Kirk back to reality, confirming what will most likely happen if he keeps operating as he has been: the government will come after him, and he’ll eventually be captured by all kinds of “secret science creeps” as Quinn call them, who will vivisect him “in the name of science.” Furthermore, she’s confident he’ll never be heard from again, and not even Batman will be able to find him.

Having already torn Kirk’s best-case scenario to shreds with some trenchant observations, Harley’s assertion seems to be right on the money. Simple as Batman might think it would be for Man-Bat to turn himself in, his days are numbered regardless of whether he’s caught or not. Unless he can start focusing on smaller goals over absolute solutions, even the most responsible course of action would condemn him to a “living autopsy.” Thankfully, Harley grants Langstrom a second chance to change, letting him go and making it look like he managed to escape before the rest of the Squad arrive. However, the rest of the issue sees Kirk falling into the clutches of Scarecrow, which threatens to rob him of all the time he has left before he loses his mind completely and becomes the Man-Bat for good.

Dr. Kirk Langstrom began his life with good intentions: to try and cure his sister’s damaged hearing. However, his ambition and lack of caution turned him into the Man-Bat, causing the tragic spiral of events that sees time running out in this new series. Unlike villains such as Two-Face or Clayface, Man-Bat isn’t someone who just used to have good intentions, or even a villain like Professor Pyg whose idea of “helping” is to harm others. Kirk is entirely capable of helping others, wants to do it, but can’t quite overcome his original sin to make it happen. Hopefully, Man-Bat will be able to grow past his flaws and take advantage of the second chance he’s been given, provided he can deal with the Scarecrow and continue to dodge Batman and the Suicide Squad.

About The Author

Kevin Erdmann
(2522 Articles Published)

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Kevin Erdmann is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers. With a major in Cinema Studies and a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin is pretty sure he’s writing for the right site. While Kevin is a huge Marvel fan, he also loves Batman because he’s Batman and is a firm believer that Han shot first. Disney also shares a big part of his fan patronage. Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.

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