| Batwing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Textless cover of Batwing #30 art by Dan Panosian | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Publication information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Publisher | DC Comics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | David Zavimbe: Batman Incorporated #5 (May2011) Luke Fox: Batwing #19 (June2013) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Created by | David Zavimbe: Grant Morrison (writer) Chris Burnham (artist) Luke Fox: Jimmy Palmiotti (writer) Justin Gray (writer) Eduardo Pansica (artist) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In-story information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alter ego | David Zavimbe Lucas "Luke" Fox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Species | Human | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of origin | Congo, Africa(David Zavimbe) Gotham City(Luke Fox) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team affiliations | Batman Family Batman Incorporated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Partnerships | Batman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abilities | Specially designed combat suit ("Batwing Suit") contains a vast array of high-tech offensive weapons, defensive abilities, and gadgetry. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Batwing is the alias used by several characters inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics. Both versions of the character are superheroes inspired by Batman notable for their technological capabilities. The first Batwing isDavid Zavimbe, aCongolese police officer created by writerGrant Morrison and debuting inBatman Incorporated#5 in May, 2011 before headlining his ownBatwing comic series. This version of Batwing acts as one of representatives of Africa withinBatman Incorporated, being known as the "Batman of Africa".
The second Batwing,Lucas "Luke"Fox, is anAfrican-American mixed martial artist and genius who is the son ofLucius Fox, one of Batman's closest associates. After David retires from the role, Batman offers the Batwing role to Luke, who is eager to accept despite protest from his father.
The Luke Fox version of the character has appeared in theArrowverse TV seriesBatwoman as part of the main cast, portrayed by Camrus Johnson. He takes on the mantle of Batwing at the end of thesecond season.
The character proper appears first in "Batman of Africa", inBatman Incorporated #5 (May 2011), written by Grant Morrison.[1] He was designed byChris Burnham,[2] but was first drawn byYanick Paquette. Batwing has since gained his own monthlyongoing series as part of the2011 DC Universe reboot, featuring art byBen Oliver and written byPower Girl andJustice League: Generation Lost writerJudd Winick.[3][4][5]
According to fellowBatman Incorporated artists, Chris Burnham told iFanboy that he designed the character first, while Paquette was the first to draw him in interiors. In line with Morrison's use of obscure continuity throughout hisBatman stories, the character seems to be based visually on a minor character which appeared inBatman #250 in a story called "The Batman Nobody Knows". In this story, a youngAfrican-American boy tells his friends how he imagines Batman to be, and gives him the name "Batwings".
Writing duoJustin Gray andJimmy Palmiotti took over the book starting withBatwing #19 (June 2013), to introduce a new Batwing, Luke Fox, unrelated to the previous one.[6] The new Batwing character would no longer be the "Batman of Africa", but be more international, along with having more ties toGotham City.[7][8]
David Zavimbe operates as Batwing who is a representative ofBatman Incorporated from the city ofTinasha, within theDemocratic Republic of the Congo.
When David Zavimbe was a young boy in Tinasha, his parents died ofHIV/AIDS early in his life.[9] In the wake of their parents' deaths, David and his brother, Isaac, were conscripted from their orphanage into General Keita's Army of the Dawn. Like many children his age, David became a boy soldier in a war that had devastated his country. The Zavimbe brothers, however, distinguished themselves from other child conscripts through their exceptional obedience and capacity for violence. Their speed, dexterity, and prodigious killing abilities earned them the moniker the Dragonflies and led to their promotion into Keita's elite guard.
On Keita's path to power and domination, he orders the brothers to kill Okuru, one of Keita's major enemies.[10] They accepted a mission to infiltrate and assassinate Okuru. However, Keita's subsequent command to torch the entire village to prevent escapes was met with refusal. Isaac, unwilling to kill innocent women and children, fired a warning shot into the air. This action alerted Okuru's squadron, who returned fire and forced a retreat from Keita's forces.[11]
Incensed by this insubordination, Keita confronted Isaac, who then struck the general over the head with a rock. In retaliation, Keita severely wounded Isaac with his machete as David fled the scene.[11]
Later that night, David sneaks into Keita's room and drugs him before he can make a move. Eventually, Keita comes to be tied up in the back of an SUV. David says he will not kill any longer and drops Keita outside of Okuru's new encampment, while firing shots in the air to notify them.
Following the death of General Keita, David embarked on a journey to the Children's Harbor, an orphanage specifically for former child soldiers. This provided him an escape from his life as a boy soldier.Elsewhere in the United States, Bruce Wayne announcesBatman Incorporated, an initiative to put Batman-like figures in countries all across the world. Soon after that,Batman pays a visit to Tinasha, where he inducts David as the newest member of his team in his quest to stop the global terrorists,Leviathan.[12][13]
Shortly after confronting Leviathan and the false Dr. Dedalus, Batman traveled to an undisclosed location in Africa to recruit a new member for his team, Batman Incorporated. Batman led David on his first mission, equipping him with an advanced Batsuit. David quickly discovered a Leviathan brainwashing cell and, once compromised, narrowly escaped capture. During his escape, he showcased his martial arts skills and utilized the Batsuit's special features, including its jet propulsion..[14]
When Batwing confronts a new villain named Massacre, he is quickly overpowered. During the struggle, the story flashes back to a past mission where Batwing, with the assistance of Batman, successfully captured Blood Tiger. Tiger, a former warlord's captain, had been operating a drug ring.
Continuing his investigation, Batwing discovers a gruesome crime scene with several beheaded bodies. His research with the police leads him to another room full of murdered officers, where he is suddenly stabbed in the back by Massacre.
As Batwing attempts to fight back, he is quickly overwhelmed. Massacre is about to deliver the final blow when Kia Okuru and other officers arrive, firing shots that force the villain to retreat. David passes out during the exchange and wakes up two weeks later in The Haven.
He asks Matu about the shootout, and is told that Kia survived but was badly beaten, and the rest of the officers were killed. David, eager to go after Massacre, is urged by Matu to stay at The Haven to recover from his injuries and regain his strength.
Following his recovery, Batwing and Matu argued about his decision to seek out Massacre. However, Batwing managed to subdue Matu with a tranquilizer dart and left The Haven. He used a previous conversation with Massacre at the police station to deduce his location. Batwing arrived just in time to assist Thunder Fall, a member of a superhero team called The Kingdom, who was in a brutal fight with Massacre. Despite his injuries, Batwing and a severely wounded Thunder Fall managed to escape Massacre and make it to a nearby hospital. There, Thunder Fall revealed that The Kingdom had committed a terrible act, and that Massacre was their punishment.[15]
The full truth is revealed after the heroes rescue Steelback, the tech-powered member of The Kingdom. He recounts that years prior, The Kingdom had been fighting a ruthless dictator in the Congo alongside the People's Army. With the dictator cornered and only the capital city left to defend, The Kingdom withdrew, believing the People's Army could achieve a victory for the people.However, they soon received a message stating that the dictator had allied himself with African crime lords, making victory impossible, even with The Kingdom's intervention. This forced the heroes to grant the dictator amnesty, promising no retaliation.[16]
Following a bomb attack at theUnited Nations,Booster Gold was left grieving the loss of several Justice League International (JLI) members who were either injured or killed in the event.
It was later revealed that Massacre was Batwing's older brother, who had been brainwashed by the villain X. After an attack on his home base left Matu injured, Batwing decided to begin using lethal force in his mission to protect the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Batwing joined with the team calling themselves the Dead Heroes Club, an offshoot of Batman Inc.. The other members areLooker,Freight Train, The Hood,Gaucho, Wingman, andHalo.
 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(August 2017) |
After the events ofBatwing #19, David resigned as Batwing.Lucius Fox would then make a new Batwing suit, which Batman then gives to Fox's sonLuke Fox.[17] Luke plays a significant part inBatman Eternal when he helpsJim Corrigan investigate recent events inArkham Asylum, where theJoker's Daughter is using the spirits of the inmates to resurrect what she believes to be the Joker in the body ofMaxie Zeus (although it is revealed to beDeacon Blackfire). InBatgirl #45, Luke Fox began a romantic relationship withBarbara Gordon, also fighting crime together as their alter egos Batwing and Batgirl.[18][19] Luke Fox was created byJimmy Palmiotti andJustin Gray, the writers ofBatwing #19[20] in April 2013.
In 2016, DC Comics implemented another relaunch of its books called "DC Rebirth", which restored its continuity to a form much as it was prior to "The New 52". Following Red Robin's apparent sacrifice, Luke is recruited to the team that Batman andBatwoman set up.[21]
Batwing is a highly skilled combatant, proficient in martial arts, and is considered a significant threat even without his weapons. He is equipped by Batman with a vast array of advanced gadgets, weapons, and technology to combat crime and corruption.His Batsuit is armored, with the ability to regenerate itself and adapt to different situations. It is also equipped with wings that allow him to fly and glide. As a police officer, it is implied that he received basic police training, which was further enhanced by the guidance of the genius detective, Bruce Wayne.
Possessing his father's intelligence and business acumen, Luke is a gifted technological genius, inventor, designer, and engineer. He is also a trained martial artist and boxer whose skills have been further honed under the tutelage of Batman.[22]
In addition to his combat skills, Luke's immense wealth and connections provide him with nearly unlimited access to Wayne Industries' advanced technology. HisBatwing suit grants him a wide range of offensive and defensive capabilities, including flight, invisibility, enhanced strength, the ability to pinpoint and neutralize electronic signals, and pores in the fingertips that can exude a sedative mist of his own design..[22]
Luke Fox appears in media set in theArrowverse, portrayed byCamrus Johnson.[24]
The Luke Fox incarnation of Batwing appears inCatwoman: Soulstealer, written bySarah J. Maas as part of the DC Icons series of novels.
| Title | Material collected | Published date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Zavimbe | |||
| Batwing Vol. 1: The Lost Kingdom | Batwing #1–6 | July 2012 | 978-1401234768 |
| Batwing Vol. 2: In the Shadow of the Ancients | Batwing #0, 7–12 | April 2013 | 978-1401237912 |
| Batwing Vol. 3: Enemy of the State | Batwing #13–18 | February 2014 | 978-1401244033 |
| Luke Fox | |||
| Batwing Vol. 4: Welcome to the Family | Batwing #19–26 | August 2014 | 978-1401246310 |
| Batwing Vol. 5: Into the Dark | Batwing #27–34,Batwing: Future's End #1 | March 2015 | 978-1401250812 |
| Batwing: Luke Fox | Batwing #19–34,Batwing: Future's End #1 | February 2022 | 978-1779514202 |
An omnibus collecting the entire series was solicited, but later cancelled and replaced withBatwing: Luke Fox.[26]
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