Batwing (Spider-Man character)

Affiliations: Butterball (Emery Schaub), Valerie Cooper, Lizard (Dr. Curt Connors), New Warriors (Debrii, Justice, Night Thrasher, Rage, Scarlet Spiders, Slapstick), Skrull Kill Krew (Catwalk, Dice, Moonstomp, Riot, Ryder), Secret Warriors (Druid, Nick Fury, Hellfire, Phobos, Quake, Stonewall, Yo-Yo), SHIELD, Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Wasp, Young Avengers (Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), Hulkling, Patriot (Eli Bradley), Speed, Vision (Jonas), Wiccan)

Enemies: Randolph Cherryh, Firebrand, King Cobra, MAULER, Mr. Hyde, Ragnarok (Thor clone), Skrulls, Stegron, Yellowjacket (Skrull imposter, Criti Noll)

Known Relatives: Dr. Antonio Santini, (father, deceased), Carlotta Santini (mother)

Base of Operations: Currently Unknown (presumably living with his mother);
    formerly Mobile;
    formerly a space beneath a pier in Manhattan
    briefly trapped within the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico;

Powers/Abilities: Batwing possesses batlike wings, which extend from his index fingers to his ankles--giving him the ability to fly and maneuver at incredible speed, extremely long razor sharp claws and teeth, night vision, superhuman speed and agility, and large, bat-like ears giving him enhanced hearing, and he can produce high-frequency sounds, possibly for echolocation (like SONAR). His fingers are elongated into "ribs" that stretch across his wings, giving him greater control over his movement. He is also lightly covered in patches of fur.

Weaknesses: Jimmy appears to be at least partly feral, he doesn't wear any clothing (of course, that would be hard, as his wings stretch from his fingers to his ankles) and he speaks in broken English due to his mutation: it is difficul for him to form words. Whether the latter is due to the chemicals that caused his mutation, or the trauma he suffered while living alone in the caves, or simply his youth, is unknown. He is also extremely fearful of people (with good reason). His large eyes are presumably sensitive to bright lights.

Height: 4'2" Weight: 100# Eyes: Black, no visible pupils or irises Hair: Red-brown

History: (Untold Tales of Spider-Man#2 (fb) - BTS) - Young Jimmy Santini accompanied his father on a trip to investigate possible illegal waste dumping in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, where Antonio was either shot by the polluters, or fell to his death in a deep chasm (the details in Jimmy's diary were very murky on that point). Jimmy was left alone, lost in the caverns for an unknown amount of time, were he drank polluted water "That tasted like metal" to survive Eventually, he was rescued, and returned to his mother. However, the chemicals began to take affect, and the boy sprouted wings, at which his mother proclaimed him a demon, and Jimmy ran away, further mutating as he wandered the country, stealing food to survive. Eventually he came to New York, and made his home under an old pier. Jimmy began stealing food from people dining on rooftops, scaring them away with is appearance and cries, to avoid hurting anyone. His appearance caused the press to dub him "Batwing".

(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#2) - Jimmy swooped down upon New York City Councilman Randolph Cherryh and his girlfriend as they dined on the rooftop of Cherryh's high-rise. Terrified, Cherryh told Batwing "Take the Girl! Not Me! Not Me!" But Jimmy just stole a few apples from their table. Humiliated, the Councilman decided to put out a high bounty on the "monster." Peter Parker, who was having financial troubles at the time, decided to go after the little bat-creature. He arraigned for a large party at the Councilman's home, hoping to lure Batwing into the open. It worked, but Spidey was horrified when Cherryh's men began shooting at the creature, and he webbed their guns up, and then took off after the fleeing mutant. Batwing scratched him several times with his claws while trying to escape, and when Spidey hit him back, he fled, back to his home under the pier.

Spider-Man followed him, and discovered that Batwing was just a scared kid, stealing food to survive. He read in Jimmy's diary about his history, and offered to help him, but the boy was scared and burst through the pier, right into the hands of Cherryh and his men, who had been secretly following in a helicopter. The Councilman didn't care that Jimmy was just a kid, and was about to kill him when Spidey intervened, webbing down his men. Batwing flew off, terrified, despite Spidey's offer to get Reed Richards or Henry Pym to help cure him. Cherryh threatened to ruin Spider-Man for interfering, but Spidey just told him off, webbed his mouth shut, and stuck him in a garbage can. As the police arrived and searched Batwing's lair, Spider-Man voiced hope that when they found the diary, they might be able to get help for the boy.

(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#7 (fb) - BTS) - Spider-Man had struck up a friendship with Batwing after their fist meeting, bringing him much needed food and companionship.

(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#7) - Spider-Man brought Jimmy some more food, and then offered to get Reed Richards to help cure him. Jimmy, however, was naturally afraid of people, due to the mistreatment he'd suffered from "normal" people like Cherryh, and ran away at the suggestion.

(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#9) - Spidey found his old scientist friend Curt Connors, and asked him to use his expertise to help cure Batwing. However, an accident in the lab caused Connors' alter ego, the villainous Lizard to emerge, and he battled and defeated Spider-Man before fleeing into the sewers. Spider-Man managed to re-create an antidote for Connors, and, along with Batwing, traveled into the sewers to find and cure him. Batwing aided Spidey in locating, reasoning with, and finally returning Connors to his human form. Connors felt sympathy for the boy, possibly due to his own young son's suffering with cancer, or just basic human compassion, and offered to help him. The pair were seen leaving New York atop a train, to search for a safe place where they could search for a cure in peace.

(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#24) - While attempting to cure Jimmy, Dr. Connors failed, and Jimmy reverted to his Batwing persona. Batwing returned to New York, and engaged Spider-Man in another battle. Spidey, of course, was unwilling to hurt him, but Jimmy, having lost his father and been rejected by his mother, wanted to die. Breaking away, Spider-Man tracked down Jimmy's mother, and convinced her that Jimmy was still her son, mutant or not, and that she was wrong to reject him. Just as Batwing was about to be shot down by the NYPD, Mrs. Santini intervened, telling her son that she still loved him. On hearing this, and realizing that he was loved, Jimmy reverted to his human form, and the police backed off. Jimmy went home with his mother, finally receiving the love he had needed so badly.

(Avengers: The Initiative#13 (fb) - BTS) - Batwing found himself back in his bat-form. He agreed to go to the Initiative's Camp Hammond for training, though he hoped he would be cured.

(Avengers: The Initiative#13) - On the bus ride to Camp Hammond, new recruits Annex, Batwing, Gorilla Girl, Prodigy, and Sunstreak were embarrassed by the enthusiastic Emery Schaub, and surprised by the lack of enthusiasm of the residents of Stamford, Connecticut. They were soon greeted at base by Yellowjacket (secretly the Skrull Criti Noll) and Taskmaster, who code-named Schaub Butterball. Over the following weeks they were constantly embarrassed by Schaub, who forced them to undergo extra punishments constantly with his naivety. They even tried hazing him, but his invulnerability allowed him to sleep through it. Bored one night, the six trainees decided to sneak off-base, convincing Schaub to use his powers to help them sneak off the base in a jeep. They drove to a local beach, built a fire, had beer (except Batwing, who was too young), and went skinny-dipping (Gorilla Girl in her gorilla form, disappointing the others). When Sunstreak made a pass at Schaub on the beach because he couldn't be burned by her, he got upset and drove away with the others in quick pursuit. They all felt bad when the learned he was willing to take the rap for them, after Yellowjacket, War Machine, Taskmaster, and Constrictor tracked them down. Suddenly, King Cobra, Firebrand, MAULER, and Mr. Hyde attacked, seeking to kill Taskmaster. The recruits leapt into battle despite the warnings of their instructors and the villains quickly escaped; in the battle, Annex briefly hit King Cobra with sonics, but was soon knocked back by Prodigy, who was thrown by Hyde. Back at base, Schaub was kicked out of the Initiative, making his fellow recruits jealous.

(Avengers: The Initiative#14) - Batwing ate in the mess hall, commenting to Crusader and Diamondback about the poor selection of food. Later, 3-D Man showed up at the Initiative base, claiming there was an invasion of shape-shifters.

(Avengers: The Initiative#15/Secret Invasion#3)- Soon, the Stark technology in the base was rendered inert and Yellowjacket announced the Skrulls had attacked New York. The recruits, under Gauntlet's command, were thrown into action. The recruits fought a deadly battle, alongside the Young Avengers, against the Skrulls in New York City and were quickly overwhelmed.

(Avengers: The Initiative#16/Secret Invasion#4) - The Skrulls killed Proton before the Secret Warriors (Druid, Nick Fury, Hellfire, Phobos, Quake, Stonewall, Yo-Yo) attacked.

(Avengers: The Initiative#17/Secret Invasion#5) - The cadets and their allies, in Nick Fury's safehouse while regrouping, heard "Yellowjacket" announce the Skrull invasion to the world on the television.

(Avengers: The Initiative#18/Secret Invasion#6) - Prodigy nearly came to blows with Wiccan when he feared Hulkling might be a sleeper agent, but Crusader inspired them to put aside their differences. Fury then moved them in to final battle, joining dozens of other heroes and villains in the final battle for New York City.

(Avengers: The Initiative#19/Secret Invasion#7-8) - The massive battle continued. As the battle ended, Crusader rushed after the Yellowjacket Skrull back to Camp Hammond, where he was killed along with the other Skrulls by the Skrull Kill Krew. The Wasp was killed in the battle.

(Avengers: The Initiative#20) - Batwing and the others watched as 3-D Man left, angry with him for killing Crusader.

(Avengers: The Initiative featuring Reptil#1) - Batwing was put onto a team led by Tigra to catch Stegron, who was attacking SHIELD bases all over the United States. After picking up and helping train Reptil, the team failed in their first attempt to catch Stegron in South Dakota. They later caught him in Wyoming.

(Avengers: The Initiative#21) - Batwing was thrilled to open his graduation papers and learn he was being assigned to the Shadow Initiative. He asked Gorilla Girl about her assignment, and she confessed she was heading home to the reserves.

(Avengers: The Initiative#22) - When the evil Thor clone, Ragnarok, attacked, Batwing aided in the battle alongside his fellow recruits and the New Warriors (Debrii, Justice, Night Thrasher, Rage, Scarlet Spiders, Slapstick).

(Avengers: The Initiative#23) - Batwing left Camp Hammond to help with the cleanup after the battle with Ragnarok. He was later prsent when Norman Osborn arrived to shut down Camp Hammond forever.

(Avengers: The Initiative#26) - With a large influx of Initiative recruits under Norman Osborn's regime, the ranks of the Shadow Initiative were bolstered by members of Heavy Mettle (Barracuda, Blackwing, Riot, Stronghold, Warbow), the Larcenous Three (Badd Axe, Firearms), Butterball, Ringer, and Slaughter Boy, who joined Batwing, Bengal, and Komodo.

(Avengers: The Initiative#27) - The Shadow Initiative, after a brief period of training, stormed the Negative Zone gates and started fighting for 42. Among their enemies were Blastaar's alien hordes and inmates, such as Hardball, Arthur Nagan, Condor, and Dragon Man. Slaughter Boy, Blackwing, and Johnny Guitar were the first killed. Firearms soon panicked and was killed at the gate trying to escape. Bengal and Komodo used Butterball to get them in close. The Shadow Initiative moved in until Dragon Man attacked, but that turned to their favor when he began defending the injured Komodo. The tables turned when Hardball began aiding the Initiative, then Taskmaster, Constrictor, Penance, Living Laser, and Scorcher came in to take care of the rest. The survivors of the Initiative began understanding their true place in the Initiative now.

Comments: Created by Kurt Busiek, Pat Olliffe, Al Vey, Pam Eklund, and Steve Mattsson.

Batwing is a truly sympathetic character, and I really like him. Cured by love? Well, it worked for Hannah Connover. Let's just hope that it lasts (Kurt wanted to tie the loose ends of Untold, and#25 - the final issue - was probably reserved to the Green Goblin. I guess it was just a hurried resolution - Daevanator).

Some sources list Batwing's first name as Billy.
This is from when the deranged Lizard confused Batwing with his own son, Billy Connors--Kurt Busiek.

Just one question, why would anyone take their kid with them while on a dangerous investigation of the illegal dumping of toxic waste, ignorance or stupidity?
He didn't expect it to be dangerous, and he was a spelunker -- he'd likely taken his son caving before, and figured this was just a look-around, nothing more. So probably naiveté on his part.--Kurt Busiek

The villain, Cherryh is somewhere between comical and repulsive, telling the "Monster" to "Take the girl!" and willing to kill a little kid because he showed him up as a coward. Hopefully he's still in that garbage can...

He's not -- he ran for mayor in the Miller DAREDEVIL run, and would have won, except Daredevil was able to prove he was in the Kingpin's pocket, and he quit the race at the last minute.--Kurt Busiek

I was reading over Untold Tales of Spider-Man#2 again, and I looked closely at the diary. The first page says , what's visible, anyway:

For more details on those characters, click on the links and/or look on the sites of our links page.

Appearances:
Untold Tales of Spider-Man#2 (October, 1995) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Pat Olliffe (pencils), Al Vey & Pam Eklund (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Untold Tales of Spider-Man#7 (March, 1996) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Pat Olliffe (pencils), Al Vey & Pam Eklund (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Untold Tales of Spider-Man#9 (May, 1996) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Ron Frenz (pencils), Brett Breeding (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Untold Tales of Spider-Man#24 (September, 1997) - Kurt Busiek (plot), Tom DeFalco (script), Bob McLeod (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#13 (July, 2008) - Christos Gage (writer), Steve Uy (penciler/inker), Tom Brevoort Dan Slott, Christos Gage (writers), Harvey Talibao (penciler/inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#14 (August, 2008) - Dan Slott, Christos Gage (writers), Stefano Caselli (penciler/inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#15 (September, 2008) - Dan Slott, Christos Gage (writers), Harvey Talibao (penciler/inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Secret Invasion#3 (August, 2008) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Leinil Francis Yu (penciler), Mark Morales (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#16 (October, 2008) - Dan Slott, Christos Gage (writers), Stefano Caselli (penciler/inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Secret Invasion#4 (September, 2008) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Leinil Francis Yu (penciler), Mark Morales (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#17 (November, 2008) - Dan Slott, Christos Gage (writers), Harvey Talibao (penciler/inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Secret Invasion#5 (October, 2008) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Leinil Francis Yu (penciler), Mark Morales (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#18 (December, 2008) - Dan Slott, Christos Gage (writers), Steve Kurth (penciler), Drew Hennessey (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Secret Invasion#6 (November, 2008) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Leinil Francis Yu (penciler), Mark Morales (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#19 (January, 2009) - Dan Slott, Christos Gage (writers), Harvey Talibao, Bong Dazo (pencilers/inkers), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Secret Invasion#7-8 (December, 2008-January, 2009) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Leinil Francis Yu (penciler), Mark Morales (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#20 (February, 2009) - Christos N. Gage & Dan Slott (writer), Steve Kurth (penciler), Drew Hennessy (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#21-22 (March-April, 2009) - Christos N. Gage (writer), Humberto Ramos (penciler/inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative featuring Reptil#1 (May, 2009) - Christos N. Gage (writer), Steve Uy (artist), Jeanine Schaefer (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#23 (June, 2009) - Christos N. Gage (writer), Humberto Ramos (penciler/inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#26-27 (September-October 2009) - Christos Gage (writer), Rafa Sandoval (penciler), Roger Bonet (inker), Jeannine Schaefer (editor)

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