Batmen of the World: The Applicants!
By lawrenceliberty

1
Three bizarre figures were locked in battle on the grounds of the Standing Rock Native American Reservation in McLaughlin, South Dakota. The community was a well-organized one and the Tribal Council of seventeen elected members did their best to work with very limited funding to maintain order and keep their citizens healthy but unemployment and the crimes that arose from economic need was a problem. Luckily, the region had two highly valued heroes to protect ordinary people from bad elements. They devoted their services to the community for free and Chief Man-of-Bats and his son Raven Red were appreciated by their neighbors. A small group of men and women of various ages cheered the costumed heroes on as they circled a hulking man in jeans and a torn jacket. His features were blunt to the point of looking like they had been carved jaggedly in stone. This was fitting since the local drug dealer called Inyan was in fact made of stone!

Man-of-Bats, who seldom used the word Chief in his costumed identity these days, was a brilliant and selfless physician with the build of a weightlifter. He wore a feathered headdress over a black mask that covered his upper face and make him look a bit like his friend Batman. He also wore a sleeveless brown costume with fringed pants and a bright green bat-like emblem on his broad chest.

As Dr. William Great Eagle he was a tireless advocate for the health and safety of his people. He worked long hours for little pay and he used what money he made to equip himself and his son for their crime fighting roles. As a skilled doctor with military experience as a field medic he was more than capable of handling almost any type of injury. He was an observant man too with a skill at noticing the smallest details of any environment. He had been a hero in various locations but he and his son had made their home here at Standing Rock for several years.

He ducked as the living stone man swung a powerful first in his direction.

“You are too slow, Eric Running Wolf! You move too slowly and you think too slowly. Perhaps your brain is also made of stone!” he said as he braced his feet and shoved the bigger man backward.

As Inyan struggled to keep his balance, Raven Red darted forward and connected with a leaping kick that toppled the brutish man and sent him crashing to the ground.

Raven Red (Charles Great Eagle) was a quick witted young man who worked as a clerk in the Tribal Council’s main office. He had his eye on eventually being elected to the governing body itself. He wore a red short sleeved shirt and black pants and boots. A red helmet covered his head and a bird emblem decorated his chest. He was not as big and strong as his father but he was fast and clever in battle.

He exchanged glances with his father and they both nodded. They understood each other well and knew how to work in unison.

As Inyan struggled to get up the two heroes moved forward and dropped two pellets in his angry face. A vapor rushed out and he passed out.

“Can’t get that effect with an over the counter drug!” joked Raven Red.

Man-of-Bats nodded solemnly and they helped tribal police haul the stunned villain away. The small crowd of onlookers cheered loudly. He was their hero in and out of costume.

“Too bad he didn’t change back to his flesh and blood form when he passed out. At least he needed to breathe even in his stone form!” said Man-of-Bats.

Before Raven Red could reply an old man walked up and approached them. He cleared his throat and said, “Dr. Great Eagle, my gout is bothering me again! Do you have anything to help me?”

The hero nodded and placed one hand on the frail old man’s arm.

“Yes, I do. Come by the office tonight and we’ll try to get you some relief!” he said.

As the old man thanked him and turned away, Man-of-Bats frowned at his son.

“Do you hear something? It sounds like a construction vehicle of some kind!” he said as a loud roar echoed across the land.

Raven Red said, “Yes, you are right! Somebody sure needs a muffler!”

They jumped on two motorcycles parked nearby and raced off toward the thunderous noise.

They saw a startling sight near a large uprising of sheer rock. The rock itself rose above the community and its otherwise stark surface was decorated with an intricate and ancient carving in the shape of a huge winged bird.
The petrogylph or tribal carving depicted the Thunderbird of legend. The ancient carvings commemorated events from tribal history. They were sacred to the people and they were valuable if removed intact and transported to a museum of collector. Apparently, such transportation or theft was intended as the heroes saw the source of the loud noise. A massive tank-like vehicle was rolling closer to the rock and a futuristic platform with a red light on its edge was rising up to reach the edges of the carving.

“That’s like something out of “Space Trek!” I think that is a laser and the driver means to literally cut out the section of rock that has the pertroglyph and drive off with it!” said Man-of-Bats!

Raven Red said, “Not on our watch!”

He raced forward on the motorcycle as his father followed. They were both experts with their cycles and they split up to approach the tank from each side.

Abruptly the laser projector swiveled and turned in the direction of Man-of-Bats!

He noticed the gleaming light and hurled himself off his motorcycle in time to avoid the blazing beam as it struck his cycle and caused it to erupt into flames!

He grunted as he rolled across the rough ground.

“I don’t think I broke a rib but I certainly bruised one!” he mused.

He lunged forward and managed to vault on top of one of vehicles huge treads. He grabbed hold and pulled himself up and on to the side of the craft.

“Now, to find a way inside!” he thought.

Raven Red had already climbed aboard the tank and was swinging himself up and over to reach what appeared to be an entrance hatch via the top of the odd craft.

The vehicle lurched to one side and he fought to retain his grip as he slipped down the side of the tank.

“I’ll be crushed if I slip all the way off!” he gasped.

Suddenly, his father was there and strong arms pulled him to safety on a more secure perch.

Man-of-Bats dropped two pellets from his pouch and a black substance erupted down the front of the tank.

“That should blind the driver!” he thought

Raven Red nodded gratefully and said, “So, now we have a reckless driver in a laser equipped tank! Is that really an improvement?”

Man-of –Bats grabbed the doorway hatch and strained furiously to pry it open! He was a very strong man but something about the hatch seemed to give him more difficulty than he had expected. His stolid features grimaced with pain but he refused to let go or give up.

Raven Red gasped as he realized some kind of electric current was wired into the hatch and his father was fighting considerable pain as he struggled to break inside the tank.

As the tank’s top hatch suddenly snapped open, Raven Red hurled a magnesium pellet into the opening and helped his father move aside as he glanced down at his burned hands.

“Insulation in my gloves failed!” said Man-of-Bats! He rubbed his injured hands and then dropped into the tank.

He saw three costumed men including the driver. They wore matching white costumes with ornate crowns and emblems from playing cards all over their torsos.

Man-of-Bats hurled a small hatchet at the nearest thug and nodded in approval as it pinned him a chair by imbedding itself into the furniture with his sleeve caught between the two objects.

“Don’t worry. You won’t bleed …much!” declared the hero.

Raven Red ducked and then kicked the second costumed villain in the chin. He collapsed on the floor of the tank.

The driver whirled to face them and aimed a gun of some advanced design at them.

They blocked the energy beam with what appeared to be wooden shields but were in fact made of a durable metal.

As Man-of-Bats charged forward and knocked the weird man cold with one stunning punch, he said, “That was close. He almost damaged the petroglyph!”

Raven Red looked down at the costumed man and said, “Ugly and fat but not known to me from any wanted posters!”

Man-of-Bats said, “Jack Spade a.k.a. Hijack. He was once called Hijack and Batman and Robin stopped him after a brief crime spree aimed at the trucking industry. He is an expert driver although never had anything this fancy before! I never understand why guys like this don’t use their skills or super tools to make money in an honest way like construction or demolition.“

Raven Red shrugged and said, ”Who cares? We could use it long enough to rid the reservation of some abandoned and rundown buildings. It would save the council a lot of money!”

Man-of-Bats grinned and said, ‘My son the politician!”

2

The Beijing International Hotel was an impressive skyscraper with 240 rooms in the heart of the Chaoyang District of the bustling Chinese city. The luxury hotel catered to executive level workers from the nearby embassies and anyone who craved a taste of the decadence of the West!
Hu Yifeng the handsome manager loved the hotel. It was his favorite place in the city he grew up in and he devoted most of his time to its care. He was around 30 years old and he relished his job. He liked caring for people and guiding a huge business. He didn’t really worry about things like money or prestige just providing excellent service.

As he glanced around his own opulent office he smiled contently. Perhaps, he was just a bit spoiled. After all, he was very fond of some of the hotel’s luxury features and made regular use of its gym and spa. This helped keep the bright and athletic man in top shape. This was essential because Hu Yifeng had a second job. By night he was also the Batman of China- the Dragon! He loved the various elements of Western culture that were largely frowned upon if not forbidden in China.

He loved super heroes like Batman and Superman and he casually dismissed the native born knockoffs in the Sino-Supermen. They were failures in his eyes. He preferred the American Batman. He had studied abroad in the U.S.A. for a year in Gotham City and he had absorbed as much of Americana as possible during his time as a successful college student. He and a buddy named Manny Croft relished every news or television story about famous heroes like Batman or Nightwing or obscure types like Swashbuckler or Argus.

He had always been a skilled athlete and bright student with the ability to glibly talk his way in and out of trouble. He was popular with women and well-liked by elderly people and children. He sighed as he saw a grim figure stride into his office.

“Of course, not everyone likes me!’ he said softly.

A very gaunt man in a business suit scowled at the younger man and Hu stood up and bowed slightly in respect.

A pretty woman in a dark business suit entered the office and stood respectfully behind her boss.

“I am honored by this visit. I hope you are well!” he said. Hu knew the woman very well. He smiled at her but said nothing.

The older man ran one hand through his thinning gray hair and said, “Yes, I am in good health. I am here to discuss your telephone system!”

Hu frowned and said, “Certainly. Are the lines at the Office of Public Order in disrepair? If so, I can suggest a good serviceman or take a look myself. You know I am not very good with my hands!”

His small joke was met with total silence as the inspector replied, “I am here to remind you once more not to allow any guest to make international calls after traditional business hours. To do so would be problematic.”

Hu knew this meant that the Office of Public Order would not have employees available to secretly listen in and translate all such calls after nightfall.

“We shall obey your wishes as always!” he said.

Hu grinned at Michelle Fen the assistant and then looked back at her employer.

“You should not take this lightly. You were raised as a Red Prince. You were given privileges denied to most people. You were allowed to be the man you have become because of the position I hold in the Party!”

Hu shrugged and bit his tongue as he sighed and replied, “Father, I owe all to you and I will honor you wishes and those of the Party!”

The elder Yifeng nodded and said, “I shall expect no less but I am doubtful of your convictions! I caution you to be careful!”

Hu rushed forward as his father departed and he touched Michelle Fen and said, “You look lovely as always!”

She laughed softly and placed one finger across her lips.

He leaned in and kissed her quickly as she exited the office. He knew it would not be good for his disapproving father to know about his relationship with his pretty assistant at the Office of Public Order.

He opened a small door and removed a gold and red costume with an ornate dragon styled helmet. “He doesn’t need to know I’m also the Dragoon either!”

Later, as Hu tried to forget about his father and their troubled relationship and about his desire to see Michelle, he stood up from behind his large desk and looked at one of the security cameras that depicted a party being held in the hotel’s rooftop restaurant. The crowd was composed of the elite and he knew making sure everything went smoothly for this private party would mean a lot for his business. He frowned as he saw the neatly informed security staff sprawled on the floor and panic-filled diners rushing around in fear of some kind of flyng machines that swooped down into the crowd and skillfully cut off any escape.

“Drones? I think those things are military drones repurposed for something sinister!” he said.

Opening a private elevator he donned his costume and emerged just below the rooftop floor as China’s Batman-

The Dragon! During the construction of the hotel, Hu had arranged for certain secret access points and storage areas to be put in place. He had the only keys and he used them to store materials for his role as the Dragon. He loved being a costumed hero and helped people but he knew the government would imprison him if they could catch him or discover his secret identity. He operated without any official approval or sanction and even being a so-called “Red Prince” or child of a high ranking Communist Party member would not help him should he be exposed.

He frowned as he cybernetically adjusted his Dragon helmet and the night skies became brighter. He realized the drones that were using some kind of extending grappling or probing rods to rob the guests were being controlled by a flying craft that hovered above and released the mechanical devices from an open portal.

He increased his hearing sensors and heard a voice echo from one drone as it cornered a burly but well-dressed man.

“Surrender your belongings or die!” it said.

“The drones convey speech from an operator in that craft,” he mused. He heard the electronically altered voice and his Dragon helmet sensors allowed him to magnify the voice and compare it to recordings he had stored of various past foes.

Shahn-Zi the evil wizard never thought of petty mundane robberies in his own quest for eternal power or revenge on his enemies.

Shiite-Dai or Bodybag was his main foe. The ruthless human trafficker had been defeated by the Dragon on countless occasions but he continued to return with one mad scheme after another from selling organs to slaves.

The masked fiend was a deadly foe.

The bizarrely mutated crime lord Xuanyuan Huangdi or the Four-Faced Emperor was capable with his bizarre multiple sets of eyes but he was strictly a mobster and never relied on high tech tools.

Jiangshi Deathlord the Vampire was a supernatural horror that seemed to rise from the dead every year but he certainly didn’t use drones!

Finally, the beautiful but lethal Chang’e the Moon Princess was immortal and commanded a legion of loyal cultists known as the Warriors in Jade but even a robbery was too small for her lofty ambitions.

He activated a control in his helmet and a broadcast signal suddenly separated the drones from their master’s control. They fell to the ground as the startled guests stared skyward in fear and shock.

“Do not worry. The Dragon has brought down the infernal devices and will save us all!” shrieked one matronly woman.

The Dragon grinned and spread his cape. He flew upward and noticed that his boot jets needed adjusting next time he had some free time.

He had at least one fan below!

He waved to the crowd and soared into the sky. He loved the freedom flying gave him and he approached the weird looking giant craft above. None of the voice recordings matched the altered voice of the commander of the source of the drones. In fact he thought the villain might just be the American criminal called Kite Man.

“I mean the craft looks like a big kite. Just because Kite Man lives in America doesn’t mean he couldn’t branch out!”

The Dragon had read everything he could about Batman and his foes during his own time in Gotham City. He had once witnessed Batman and Robin battle and defeat the Mad Hatter and he had loved seeing his heroes in action.

He dodged a sudden barrage of gunfire that erupted from the front of the huge craft and he twisted and turned as he avoided more projectiles like a gushing stream of a thick oily substance.

“Acid? No matter. It won’t touch me!” he mused.

He raised his gloves and his “dragon fire” blazed out to burn an opening in the strange Kiteship.

“Thanks to good old Manny’s chemical genius my fire can burn through almost anything!” he said.

He referred to his college buddy the brilliant and eccentric Manny Croft who designed his Dragon gear for him and lived in Gotham City. He missed talking with his old friend who loved Batman nearly as much as he did.

He saw three uniformed thugs with raised guns and he spread his wings and used them to deflect the gunfire. He kicked out and disarmed them and then spun around to knock them flat.

He hurried passed the fallen goons to confront a man in green and gold.

“Kite Man! You really are the Kite Man!” he said as he grinned broadly at the idea of fighting even a lesser Bat villain!

Kite Man said, “Yeah! What gave me away? The big kite?”

He sneered in disgust and ran from the Dragon toward a smaller glider.

“He’s a coward!” thought the Dragon.

He swooped down and battered Kite Man with both fists. He was satisfied to see the American villain collapse after receiving three blows one of which had shattered his green protective helmet.

As the Dragon swiftly brought the Kite ship down to the parking area near the hotel, he thought, “This is amazing! My first American super villain! Too bad it could not have been a big name like the Penguin or Two Face!”

3

A yacht on the Moscow River was the scene of a strange gathering of Soviet mobsters. The Vory v Zakone or “thieves in law” consisted of members of a half dozen crime families from across Moscow. The fact that they had agreed to put aside their differences to assemble like this was a significant event. They were either plotting to unite or meeting to threaten one another and initiate a bloody gang war like none ever seen in Russia before.
While guards stationed on deck watched for danger from the shore or the sky, none of them expected trouble to rise from below the yacht itself!

A group of four highly trained commandos in specialized underwater breathing/survival costumes of green and black were calmly attaching explosive devices to the bottom of the huge yacht. They worked in unison and their hulking leader a super villain known as Vodyanoy watched in silent approval. They knew better than to disobey or fail him. Clearly, the infamous river pirate was plotting to eliminate every possible rival with one murderous strike!

At the time of day the mobsters were meeting on the Moscow River, Adrian Ryzhkov was normally hard at work in his office dealing with the ramifications of the Law of Cooperatives that was abruptly transforming much of Soviet society by allowing private ownership of some businesses. It was a complicated and potentially explosive issue but the young lawyer was known for his brilliance and his popularity in Party circles. He was rumored to be a rising star in the Gorbachev regime. He knew the relatively new Soviet leader personally and he liked him. He still kept his private views to himself and he concealed another more fantastic secret from everyone but a select few. The blond and handsome Adrian Ryzhkov had mysterious ties to the magical past of the region. He had inherited magical artifacts and solemn responsibilities to the people and to the world itself. He was in fact a super hero known as the Bogatyr!

At the same time the Soviet mobsters were facing their possible destruction on the yacht summit, Bogatyr (Adrian Ryzhkov) was wearing a suit of chainmail with gauntlets and a winged helmet that rested on his blond hair. He wore no mask but something in the magic he controlled shielded his features from observers. He rode upon a great black stallion and both were borne aloft on the magical steed’s broad wings! He had been alerted to the peril on the Moscow River by his patroness the Mistress of the Copper Mountain or the Malachite Maiden who lived in an other-dimensional realm and had appeared to a younger Adrian to name him as her champion! She had presented him with magical armor and weapons and he used them all as the Soviet Batman- Bogatyr!

He gazed down at the river and the yacht and guided his stallion Pullicane lower and lower! “There are many people who would think I should allow them to die. They are killers and they bring nothing but misery to daily life for millions of people. I can not let them perish. It would be as bad as if I had taken their lives myself and not in fair combat! It would violate my code of honor and without honor I have little for which to live!”

Adrian did not realize that his speech patterns changed when he donned the magical chainmail. He knew it was incredibly durable yet impossibly light weight. He knew it was magical but he had no idea that he changed in subtle ways as well as in dramatic ones when he assumed the role of Bogatyr.

He frowned as he saw the sentries raise their guns in his direction!

He swung his shield around from its place on his back and charged downward!

The seemingly metallic shield was actually composed of a magical metal from beneath the legendary Copper Mountain and it deflected the bullets with ease!

He swung both fists outward and knocked two of the gunman off their feet. A swift punch sent a third one reeling into one of his comrades. Bogatyr struck once more with the edge of the shield and managed to scatter the others as his horse reared up and then used its broad wings to sweep across the deck and upset the startled criminals!

At that moment Bogatyr’s magical senses allowed him to detect evil below the yacht and he guided his horse off the ship to hover above the now visible gang and their garishly garbed leader Vodyanov!

“Have at thee, villains!” he shouted and drew his gleaming sword the gold and white kladenet or swinging sword and allowed it to fly free of his hand! It sliced down through the waters and cut each of the bombs off of the yacht! They did not explode but they fell apart into tiny fragments as the magical aura of the blade broke their structure apart at an atomic level!

Bogatyr enjoyed having allies in the form of his intelligent horse and the seemingly sentient sword. It fought of its own volition and he considered it a partner in a sense. He could rely on it to guard him while he concentrated on other matters!

He kicked out and knocked a swimming gangster aside. He punched a second one and then felt the other three grabbing him from behind.

He smiled grimly and allowed himself to be ripped off the horse. Once in the murky waters, he did not sink due to the magical nature of the chainmail he wore. He used the surprising effect to his advantage and connected with a stinging blow that knocked two of the remaining thugs into each other. He slammed their heads together even as he noticed his horse sweeping the stunned gangsters aboard the yacht with a sweep of its wings!

Vodyanov said, “You do well against pawns but you’ll find me more of a challenge!”

He activated a control in his shiny green and black costume and a small submarine emerged from the waters. It was much smaller than a standard sub but it was well equipped for its size! Pulse bolts shot out of the hull and zoomed toward the yacht!

Bogatyr called his horse to his side and then swung himself up and into the saddle! They flew forward and the hero dropped down in the path of the energy blasts! He brought his sword around in a sweeping arc and its magical energy aura deflected the energy beams!

One of them struck Vodyanov and as the injured villain passed out, the Soviet Batman grabbed him and pulled his prone body to safety.

At that moment dozens of black suited police swarmed aboard the yacht from speed boats that raced into sight and drew along the side of the ship.

Bogatyr helped the police subdue the gangsters and then flew away on his stallion!

“That was a good day’s work! I only wish Polianitsa could have joined me but my sister has duties all her own!” he thought. Adrian’s younger sister Anastasia was equally gifted. The Malachite Maiden had given her magical artifacts of her own and she used them as the female knight known as Polianitsa! The two siblings were Soviet heroes and although looked on with suspicion by the authorities, they were allowed to operate freely for the most part. Adrian suspected at times that this was due to Gorbachev’s influence. Did his leader somehow know his true identity? He couldn’t see how this could be but the man was smart and knew how to handle people of all classes. Anything was possible!

Epilogue

In a luxurious penthouse three elegantly dressed men sat on plush chairs and sipped wine as they watched the actions of their agents Vodyanov, Kite Man, and Hijack through monitoring devices they had secretly placed in the gear they had supplied to the hapless criminals before dispatching them to their separate missions.

“Well, they all failed their job interviews although they followed our plans as best they could!” said the first man who wore an elaborately carved Fox mask.

The second man shrugged as he helped himself to a plate of cookies. He wore a Vulture mask with his costly business suit.

“Our idea was sound. We plan the crimes and equip worthy successors to our nom du crimes while they take the risks. We simply have not found worthy while candidates to pull off our land, sea, and air crimes! We will though. It may take time but while the Terrible Trio enjoys the good life and uses our brains our younger minions will carry out the crimes we plan!” he said.

The Shark, who was the third member of the group, laughed and said, “Of course, those dolts didn’t realize we deliberately sent them to areas in which we expected them to run into heroes of one ilk or another. We had to see how they would deal with costumed meddlers! They failed. They folded. They showed us nothing but how useless they were!”

The Fox said, “Well said, my friend. Still, we will keep recruiting new candidates until we find suitable employees. Perhaps, the Key might suggest someone to us? Would you think a female might be a good choice? After all this is 1988!”

The villains continued their plans late into the night.
The End