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| Batwing | |
|---|---|
 Cover forUntold Tales of Spider-Man #2 (October 1995), the first appearance of Batwing. Art byPat Olliffe and Al Vey. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Untold Tales of Spider-Man #2 (October 1995) |
| Created by | Kurt Busiek Pat Olliffe |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | James "Jimmy" Santini |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Team affiliations | The Initiative Avengers Academy |
| Abilities | Superhuman speed Flight via bat wings Enhanced hearing Echolocation Night vision Sharp claws and fangs |
Batwing (James "Jimmy"Santini) is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics.
His first appearance was inUntold Tales of Spider-Man #2 (October 1995), and he was created byKurt Busiek andPat Olliffe.
Batwing appeared as a supporting character inAvengers Academy beginning with issue #20 (Dec 2011), making occasional appearances throughout the series.
Young Jimmy Santini joined his father in investigating illegaltoxic waste dumping inCarlsbad 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 abat-like creature. After arriving inNew York City, Jimmy lives under an old pier and begins stealing food to survive.
When New York CityCouncilman 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 ofSpider-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 getReed Richards orHank 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 theLizard 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 theNew 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 superheroCivil War, Batwing enters theFifty State Initiative as one of the recruits atCamp Hammond along withGorilla 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 theSiege of Asgard,Penance evades the guards and convinces Batwing,Bengal, and Butterball into helping theAvengers Resistance.[6] Batwing and Butterball later organize a new superteam forNorth Carolina, based inMorganton, to replace the incarceratedU-Foes.[7]
During theFear Itself storyline, Batwing appears at a meeting held byProdigy regarding magical hammers that have crashed into the earth. He aids the team in rescuing survivors and appears during the battle againstThor Girl, who had regained her powers.[8]
Batwing is part of the new class of students when theAvengers Academy moves to the former headquarters of theWest Coast Avengers.[9][10]
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.
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