Batman #536

Issue Details

Synopsis

DARKEST NIGHT OF MAN-BAT PART 1 - PREDATION Gotham City is in complete darkness and a bat-like creature has started to terrorize the city. An eyewitness goes to the police department and tells Sgt. Bullock about the creature. Bullock lets Batman know about the sightings of the bat creature. Batman reckons that some of those sightings might have been himself but just to make sure about it Batman goes to Kirk Langstrom's house. When he enters, he finds Francine Langstrom lying unconscious on the floor and the place a mess, indicating a previous struggle. Batman knows then that Man-Bat is prowling the city. Batman tells Bullock to call an ambulance for Francine Langstrom and he starts to create the antidote to revert Kirk's mutation.  Meanwhile, Man-Bat attacks some people at the harbor just to feed from their fish. Every second that passes, Man-Bat starts to lose any humanity left inside him and is acting more feral and instinctive. Batman's theory is that because of the prolonged night time, the instincts of a nocturnal animal in Langstrom becomes stronger and controls the man.   Batman patrols the streets to find him and in the meantime he stops a robbery. Just when he is about to knock out the last of the thieves, Man-Bat appears and takes the thug as his prey. Batman ties up a rope on the man's ankle and prevents him becoming Man-Bat's dinner. Man-Bat is furious at Batman and the monster decides to leave Gotham once and for all in order to escape from Batman and to hunt any prey he wants. Batman saves the thief and takes him to the police.   Later, Commissioner Gordon calls Batman and told him that Francine Langstrom is awake and asking for her husband. Batman decides to follow Man-Bat to the north, where the beast has departed and help the doctor trapped in the monster's body.