On Leather Wings

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Batman: The Animated Series episode
“On Leather Wings”

Episode no.	Season 01 Episode 01
Writer(s)	Mitch Brian
Director	Kevin Altieri
Production no.	–
Original airdate	September 6th, 1992
Episode chronology
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"Pilot episode"	"Christmas With the Joker"
List of Batman: The Animated Series episodes

On Leather Wings was the first episode produced by the writers of Batman: The Animated Series. It became the pilot for the series. It was originally aired on September 6, 1992, becoming the second episode aired. It was also featured as the first episode on Disc 1 of the first volume of episodes that was released in the summer of 2004.

1 Plot
2 Trivia
3 Cast
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Plot

Batman shoots his grappling gun from a rooftop in a scene from the episode "On Leather Wings".

The episode begins with a mysterious bat-like creature that gives off a hideous noise while it flies in the air. It ends up seriously wounding a security guard that works for a Phoenix Pharmaceuticals, a drug company that appears to be based in Gotham City. The next day, Commissioner James Gordon and Detective Harvey Bullock discuss the "Bat-problem" with the mayor of Gotham City, Hamilton Hill. While Gordon notes the irrationality of Batman's sudden violence, Detective Bullock and Mayor Hill agree that some police action may need to be taken to apprehend the Batman.

Later that day, Batman revisits the scene of the attack and finds a tape recording of the creature's noise, as well as a strange item that looked as though it came from an animal. Seeking the truth, Batman, now disguised as his billionaire alter-ego Bruce Wayne, heads to the Gotham Zoo to meet with the unfriendly Dr. March, his daughter Francine, and her husband, Dr. Kirk Langstrom. Hoping to get some clues, Bruce gives away the two items while also noting the suspicious behavior of Dr. March.

After a scuffle with police officers led by Detective Bullock, Batman returns to the Batcave only to be lied to by Dr. March about the two items. As Batman goes back to the Zoo, a commercial break reveals someone burning both the tape and the bag containing the specimen sample. After the break, Batman discovers the truth. Dr. March and Dr. Langstrom collaborated on an experiment to somehow splice together bat and human genes. The experiment ended up turning Langstrom into a bat. In order to continue the process, Langstrom broke into Phoenix Pharmaceuticals, as well as other drug companies to steal important substances. Langstrom then turns into Man-Bat and begins to attack Batman throughout Gotham. As the fight continues, the Gotham Police finally realize that they have been after Batman when they should have concentrated on Man-Bat.

Batman somehow subdues Man-Bat and brings an unconscious Dr. Langstrom back to the zoo. The viewer is led to believe that after some experiments done by Bruce back at the Cave, that Langstrom will not be able to transform again.

[edit] Trivia

This episode was the first and only episode to feature Batman bleeding.
Although this was technically the first episode made, this was not the first one aired. That honor belongs to The Cat and the Claw: Part I, most likely aired first due to the success of Batman Returns.
Harvey Dent has a small cameo in this episode. When Bulllock, Commissioner Gordon, and Mayor Hill are talking about the use of a tactical squad, a dark figure is sitting in a chair and flips a coin.
The opening of the episode is reversed, shot for shot, in the 4th season Justice League Unlimited finale episode Epilogue, which was written before JLU was renewed for a fifth season.

[edit] Cast

Actor	Role
Kevin Conroy	Bruce Wayne/Batman
Robert Costanzo	Detective Harvey Bullock
Lloyd Bochner	Mayor Hamilton Hill
Bob Hastings	Commissioner James Gordon
Richard Moll	Harvey Dent
Marc Singer	Dr. Kirk Langstrom/Man-Bat
Clive Revill	Alfred Pennyworth
Rene Auberjonois	Dr. March
Pat Musick	Female Lab Technician
Meredith MacRae	Dr. Francine Langstrom