The Human Bat is the first of two “Human Bat” novels, written by a noted writer of boys’ stories, followed by The Human Bat v. The Robot Gangster (1950). “The “hero” is The Human Bat, a costumed psychotic who makes Batman appear almost normal. Mechanical batwings give him the power of flight, and from his fingers he is able to project energy beams. His mission is to save young boys from a life of crime. Here he smashes a criminal mastermind (masquerading as a robot spider!) who recruits boy thieves by poisoning their minds with “kleptotoxin”. In the sequel there is more spectacular high camp, and even more violence (dead policemen everywhere!), as the sinister Dr. Syntax sends out a gigantic armed robot to commit jewel robberies. The robot is accompanied by a schizophrenic schoolboy controlled by the disembodied brain of his twin, who has been dismembered by his mad scientist father. By turns hilarious, repellent, and oddly fascinating. (L.W. Currey, Inc.)
First Appearance The Human Bat (Novel, April 1950)
First Publisher W.H. Allen
Appearance List The Human Bat (Novel, April 1950), The Human Bat vs. The Robot Gangster (Novel, September 1950)
Sample Read ○
Description The Human Bat is the first of two “Human Bat” novels, written by a noted writer of boys’ stories, followed by The Human Bat v. The Robot Gangster (1950). “The “hero” is The Human Bat, a costumed psychotic who makes Batman appear almost normal. Mechanical batwings give him the power of flight, and from his fingers he is able to project energy beams. His mission is to save young boys from a life of crime. Here he smashes a criminal mastermind (masquerading as a robot spider!) who recruits boy thieves by poisoning their minds with “kleptotoxin”. In the sequel there is more spectacular high camp, and even more violence (dead policemen everywhere!), as the sinister Dr. Syntax sends out a gigantic armed robot to commit jewel robberies. The robot is accompanied by a schizophrenic schoolboy controlled by the disembodied brain of his twin, who has been dismembered by his mad scientist father. By turns hilarious, repellent, and oddly fascinating. (L.W. Currey, Inc.)
