Jump to content

Batwing (Marvel Comics)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the DC Comics character, see Batwing (DC Comics).
Batwing
Cover for Untold Tales of Spider-Man #2 (October 1995), the first appearance of Batwing.
Art by Pat Olliffe and Al Vey.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceUntold Tales of Spider-Man #2 (October 1995)
Created byKurt Busiek
Pat Olliffe
In-story information
Alter egoJames "Jimmy" Santini
SpeciesHuman mutate
Team affiliationsThe Initiative
Avengers Academy
AbilitiesSuperhuman speed
Flight via bat wings
Enhanced hearing
Echolocation
Night vision
Sharp claws and fangs

Batwing (James "Jimmy" Santini) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

[edit]

His first appearance was in Untold Tales of Spider-Man #2 (October 1995), and he was created by Kurt Busiek and Pat Olliffe.

Batwing appeared as a supporting character in Avengers Academy beginning with issue #20 (Dec 2011), making occasional appearances throughout the series.

Fictional character biography

[edit]

Young Jimmy Santini joined his father in investigating illegal toxic waste dumping in Carlsbad Caverns National Park when his father was either shot in the back by the polluters or fell to his death in the deep caverns (the full details were murky in Jimmy's diary). Jimmy was lost in the caverns and drank toxic water, causing him to mutate into a bat-like creature. After arriving in New York City, Jimmy lives under an old pier and begins stealing food to survive.

When New York City Councilman Randolph Cherryh was once dining with his girlfriend, Batwing appeared and stole some of his apples which humiliated Cherryh. Randolph Cherryh placed a bounty on him which Peter Parker decided to take part on during his financial problems. Cherryh arranged for a party as part of a trap. When Batwing came, the police sprang and began shooting, only for Peter Parker in his alias of Spider-Man to web up the guns and pursue Batwing. Batwing battled with Spider-Man before fleeing back to where he lived under the pier. When Spider-Man followed Batwing to the pier, he discovered that Batwing was just a scared kid who was stealing food to survive. Spider-Man read some of his history before Jimmy ran off right into the Councilman who secretly followed in his helicopter. Cherryh did not care if Batwing was just a youngster, and he was about to kill the boy when Spider-Man webbed down his men. Batwing fled despite Spider-Man's offer to get Reed Richards or Hank Pym to help cure him. Cherryh vowed to ruin Spider-Man's life before having his mouth webbed and himself being shoved into a garbage can.[1]

Spider-Man later asked Dr. Curt Connors to use his expertise to help cure Jimmy. When an accident causes Connors to become the Lizard again, Batwing helps Spider-Man track him down and cure Connors. Connors and Jimmy leave New York for someplace quiet where Jimmy can be cured.[2]

When Connors' cure fails, Batwing returns to New York and battles Spider-Man again. With his father dead and his mother rejecting him, Jimmy hopes for death. Spider-Man locates Jimmy's mother and tells her that Jimmy is still her son, regardless of his condition, and that she was wrong to reject him. As Batwing is about to be shot by the New York Police Department, Jimmy's mother intervenes and tells her son that she still loves him. Upon hearing this and knowing that he is loved, Jimmy reverts to his human form, and the police retreat. Jimmy goes home with his mother, finally receiving the love that he needs.[3]

After the superhero Civil War, Batwing enters the Fifty State Initiative as one of the recruits at Camp Hammond along with Gorilla Girl, Prodigy, Butterball and others. He joins them so that they can help cure him of his bat form.[4]

Batwing is later assigned to the Shadow Initiative.[5] While the rest of the Initiative is busy with the Siege of Asgard, Penance evades the guards and convinces Batwing, Bengal, and Butterball into helping the Avengers Resistance.[6] Batwing and Butterball later organize a new superteam for North Carolina, based in Morganton, to replace the incarcerated U-Foes.[7]

During the Fear Itself storyline, Batwing appears at a meeting held by Prodigy regarding magical hammers that have crashed into the earth. He aids the team in rescuing survivors and appears during the battle against Thor Girl, who had regained her powers.[8]

Batwing is part of the new class of students when the Avengers Academy moves to the former headquarters of the West Coast Avengers.[9][10]

Powers and abilities

[edit]

Batwing possesses bat-like wings which extend from his index fingers to his ankles, allowing him to fly. He also possesses superhuman speed, night vision, echolocation, and enhanced hearing. He has sharp claws and fangs.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Untold Tales of Spider-Man #2 (October 1995)
  2. ^ Untold Tales of Spider-Man #9 (May 1996)
  3. ^ Untold Tales of Spider-Man #24 (September 1997)
  4. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #13 (July 2008)
  5. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #21 (March 2009)
  6. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #34 (May 2010)
  7. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #35 (June 2010)
  8. ^ Fear Itself: Youth in Revolt #1-6 (July - December 2011)
  9. ^ Avengers Academy #21 (November 2011)
  10. ^ Richards, Dave (October 16, 2011). "NYCC: Gage Offers the Runaways Shelter at "Avengers Academy"". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Batwing_(Marvel_Comics)&oldid=1317036052"