Kite Man Glides In
Author's Note: Hello, dear readers, and welcome back to Episode 11 of my Batman '66 continuation! I've been having so much fun writing these so far, and I hope that you're enjoying reading them just as much! Without further ado, let's begin the episode!
It's another breezy day in Gotham City! In Gotham Park, youth are gathered for the annual Gotham City Kite-Flying Contest, which features an extremely tempting $10,000 cash prize! Gotham's Chief of Police, Miles O'Hara, was standing on guard near a tree next to Commissioner Gordon, hidden from the sight of anyone who might be tempted to steal it.
Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, and Bonnie Linseed were present, and Bonnie was wearing the yellow go-go boots from her Mystique Maiden costume. Bruce was wearing a light black and white tuxedo, and Dick was wearing a t-shirt and light jeans.
"Steady, Bonnie," Bruce told Bonnie as her Robin-themed kite flew gracefully through the air around a variety of other kites present. "The key to kite-flying is to catch the wind at just the right angle."
"Gee, Bruce," Dick told his mentor. "Thanks for taking me and Bonnie out here."
"Youth need fresh air for proper development, Dick," Bruce Wayne said.
"Just try to beat my superior kite-flying skills, my boy wonder," Bonnie giggled. Her kite gently flew in the breeze as Mayor Linseed, the well-mannered African American mayor of Gotham City, walked around smiling and holding a microphone. The cash prize sat nearby in a money bag on top of a table. Commissioner Gordon walked up to Bruce Wayne.
"Ah, Bruce Wayne!" Commissioner Gordon smiled, and they shook hands. "It's so nice to see you!"
"I couldn't miss such a fine day outdoors, Commissioner," Bruce Wayne said, "and taking Dick and Bonnie out for an afternoon together is just another bonus."
Commissioner Gordon sighed and looked up at the sky. "I remember when I flew my first kite as a boy. I called it 'Ol Flighty. Those were the days."
"Sure'n I remember flyin' my first kite too, Commissioner," said Chief O'Hara, walking over to Commissioner Gordon. "The good 'ol days of runnin' in th'clover with nothing to worry my wee mind."
"What a wonderful day today for the Gotham City Kite-Flying Contest to take place!" Mayor Linseed grinned, staring up at the wide variety of kites swerving through the air, including one with his face on it. "A nice breeze, the sun shining down…what could go wrong?"
Right after Mayor Linseed said this, the breeze suddenly picked up, causing several kites in the contest to become tangled together.
"Oh, my!" Mayor Linseed chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "That was quite the breeze."
Within the chaos, Bruce squinted his eyes. He noticed a man in the distance on a hang-glider flying up in the air.
"What in the name of Gotham is going on?" Commissioner Gordon asked.
"Holy hang-gliders," Dick muttered, looking at the same spot in the sky that Bruce was.
"Who is it?" Bonnie asked, putting one hand on her forehead like a visor.
The man on the hang-glider became clearer and clearer until everyone could see a man in a green suit with a diamond in the center of the suit's chest area. He was also wearing shining goggles and a green helmet. The hang-glider began diving in the direction of the table, and everyone quickly ducked.
"Kite Man!" he exclaimed eagerly as he flew through the air. "Oh, yeah!"
While everyone was focused on Kite Man, a giggle was heard in the crowd. The confused onlookers watched as a young woman swerved through the crowd. She had long yellow hair, and was wearing an orange domino mask, an orange outfit, and long orange boots with ice skates at the end of them. As she made her way through the crowd, her ice skates left a trail of ice on the ground, causing many curious witnesses to slip and fall.
"What the devil-?" exclaimed Chief O'Hara as he attempted to chase after the mysterious female but ended up slipping.
"Go get 'em, my frozen flame!" Kite Man called down from the air.
"I've got this, Kitey!" the woman giggled. "Nobody can outskate the Golden Glider!"
Chief O'Hara struggled to stand up, and other officers attempted to help him but suffered the same fate. The Golden Glider used this opportunity to grab the money bag containing the prize money, leaving more ice on the ground as she skated away, then blew kisses to the disoriented crowd. Additionally, Kite Man's henchmen-three of them, named Flighty, Windsock, and Avi-began stealing jewelry and other valuables from kite-fliers.
"That was given to me by my wife!" one desperate man cried as a ring was taken off his finger.
"Adam, my watch!" a woman exclaimed, turning to her husband.
"That was a gift to me by Governor Stonefellow," Mayor Linseed moaned as Kite Man's henchmen stole his wallet. "Please, anything but that…"
After the robbery in Gotham Park, Kite Man, Golden Glider, and their henchmen quickly made it back to their hideout at the abandoned Gotham Kite Factory, with Kite Man landing his hang-glider on the roof, then discreetly folded it and carried it downstairs into the main area of their hideout. Large kites were scattered around the room, and posters were hanging on the walls. Old machinery was also covered with dust, and banners were hanging from the ceiling.
"Oh, Kitey!" the Golden Glider grinned, gripping Kite Man's arm. "You certainly flew high at Gotham Park today!"
"Of course I did, Lisa," Kite Man smiled, gripping Lisa back. "Because I'm Kite Man! Oh, yeah! Now we just need to put Plan Fly High into action!"
"Which is what, Kite Man?" Flighty asked.
"Here's the plan, guys," Kite Man said as he and his group gathered around in a huddle. "This is what we'll do…"
Back at Gotham Park, Bruce, Dick, and Bonnie were still recuperating from the effects of Kite Man's robbery.
"Holy high altitude," Dick whispered to Bruce. "What do we do now?"
"I parked the Batmobile around the corner," Bruce whispered back. "I figured that something like this would happen, so I made sure to take the necessary precautions. Our costumes are in the trunk. You wait here with Bonnie."
"I…need to take care of some Wayne Foundation business," Bruce Wayne told Bonnie. "You wait here with Dick, and I'll be right back."
With that, Bruce Wayne ran off to a hidden alleyway, leaving Dick and Bonnie alone in a now-empty Gotham Park.
"You know, Dick," Bonnie said, holding Dick's hand, "if you don't mind me asking, how did you become Robin?"
Dick's eyes turned a somber grey. "It's alright, Bonnie. My parents were circus performers until they were murdered by a crime boss named Anthony Zucco for refusing to let the circus become a mob front."
"That's terrible, Dick!" Bonnie said, staring into Dick's eyes. "It's no wonder that you seemed to be staring off into space during that circus performance before you admitted your…secret to me."
"Batman took me in shortly after their deaths," Dick continued. "I've been with him ever since."
Bonnie's eyes began to twinkle. "I want to be with you forever, too."
"Me too, Bonnie." Dick stared deep into Bonnie's eyes as she reached into her purse.
"While Bruce is off doing business," she smiled, handing Dick his Robin outfit, then reaching for a bundle of clothes containing the remainder of her Mystique Maiden costume, "don't you think we should suit up? We do have a robbery to foil, after all."
"Let's go, partner," Dick blushed as the two of them ran behind an oak tree.
When they appeared from behind the oak tree, Bruce-now Batman-was standing triumphantly in the middle of Gotham Park, his cape blowing in the wind.
"Looks like you took the quick-change route, Robin," Batman said. "To the Batmobile! We can check the portable Batcomputer there."
The three heroes ran off towards the hidden alleyway that Bruce had dashed off to, and they saw the Batmobile, with its sleek black and red paint job, sitting in front of it. Batman opened up the trunk to the Batmobile, and Robin and the Mystique Maiden could see the portable Batcomputer sitting within it.
"The portable Batcomputer should be able to tell us Kite Man's next move," Batman explained, pressing buttons on it in order to input information into it. The portable Batcomputer whirred, then seconds later, a ding! was heard as it expelled a piece of paper.
"Ah!" Batman said, reading from it. "Wendy's Windsock Factory….Gabriel's Glider Factory…and the recently abandoned Gotham Kite Factory…"
He paused.
"The recently abandoned Gotham Kite Factory…" Batman repeated. "That must be it!"
As was the routine, Batman, Robin, and Bonnie-now known as the Mystique Maiden-jumped into the Batmobile.
"Atomic batteries to power…" Robin said.
"...turbines to speed…" the Mystique Maiden added.
"Roger," Batman confirmed. "Ready to move out."
The Batmobile whirred to life, fire spraying from the back of it as Batman drove it towards the abandoned Gotham Kite Factory.
The Batmobile now stopped in front of the Gotham Kite Factory, and the trio got out. Robin tried opening the door, but the knob wouldn't budge.
"The door!" Robin remarked. "It's locked!"
"Then up we go!" Batman said, taking out a Bat-Rope and tossing it onto the roof of the Gotham Kite Factory. It held as Batman tugged it, and the three heroes began their climb. The climb was rather uneventful until they approached a window, which suddenly opened as they stood beneath it.
"Hey!" smiled a boy who looked no more than nine years old who was wearing a miniature Batman costume. "It's Batman!"
This boy was next to a girl who looked to be the same size and age as him, but she was wearing a miniature Batgirl outfit.
"Where's Batgirl, Batman?" the young girl asked.
"Fighting crime, just like us, young ones," Batman replied.
"Cooool!" the two said in unison. "We love you, Batman!"
"It's always great to meet another fan," Batman said, "especially those as young as yourselves. Make sure to eat all your vegetables."
"We will, Batman!" the young boy said eagerly, and he closed the window. Batman, Robin, and the Mystique Maiden continued their Bat-Climb until they reached the top of the Gotham Kite Factory.
Now on the top of the Gotham Kite Factory, the trio quickly stepped onto solid ground. The rooftop was empty, and the trio of heroes noticed a door leading to a stairwell. Batman quietly opened the door, and down they went into Kite Man's hideout.
Batman, Robin, and the Mystique Maiden walked down the stairs and saw the same room where Kite Man was discussing Plan Fly High. Suddenly, Flighty, Windsock, and Avi jumped out from behind several of the kites in the room.
"Holy ambuscade!" Robin and the Mystique Maiden exclaimed together as a Bat-Fight began.
Batman and Robin quickly punched Flighty and Windsock in the face, sending them stumbling to the floor.
SOCK!
The Mystique Maiden was cornered by Avi, but she spun around wildly and hit him with a kick that just barely made contact, but was enough to send him crashing to the ground.
URKKK!
"Did I really do that…?" the Mystique Maiden asked herself as Windsock came up to Robin, and the Boy Wonder quickly socked him to the ground.
POW!
Batman punched Flighty, knocking him into one of the stray machines in the corner of the room.
ARRGH!
"Batman!" Robin exclaimed as Windsock cornered the Boy Wonder and began holding him against the wall. When the Mystique Maiden ran to rescue him, she accidentally tripped on a stray kite string on the floor, right into Batman.
"We've won!" grinned Kite Man, who was suddenly standing in the corner of the room with a triumphant look on his face. "Oh, yeah!"
Back on top of the Gotham Kite Factory, Batman, Robin, and the Mystique Maiden were tied to three kite frames which were high up in the air. These frames were connected to an electrical shock device which was ticking down via an analog number screen. Kite Man and the Golden Glider were looking up at them, and the two of them were grinning from ear to ear.
"You've really outdone yourself, Kitey," the Golden Glider grinned.
"The winds of fate are in our favor, Goldy," Kite Man boasted. "When the shock device reaches zero, these three will be shocked by ten-thousand volts of electricity. Ben Franklin would be proud."
"Your kite-loving personality could easily make so many children around the world happy," Batman remarked, struggling in his ropes. "What a waste, Kite Man."
"Now where's the fun in that, Bats?" Kite Man asked. "Either way, I'm sure that the children had plenty to tell their parents after our little escapade in Gotham Park."
"Quite right, Kitey," the Golden Glider grinned. "Those kiddies will probably have stories for days."
"It's a shame that we can't be present to see your electrifying exit," Kite Man said as he and the Golden Glider walked over by the staircase leading down to their hideout, "but we've got a high-flying plan to put into action! Oh, yeah!"
Kite Man and the Golden Glider walked down the stairwell and closed the door, leaving Batman, Robin, and the Mystique Maiden alone on the rooftop of the Gotham Kite Factory. The analog screen showed 3:00 and counting, and the heroes struggled as they attempted to break free from the ropes binding them.
How shocking! Batman, Robin, and the Mystique Maiden to be shocked with ten thousand volts of electricity? What a shocking development! Stay locked in your seats, Bat-fans-come back tomorrow! Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel!
Author's Note: What a shocking cliffhanger! It may interest my readers to know that my 1966 Kite Man was inspired by a bit of the modern interpretations of Kite Man, which is why he's dating Golden Glider in this. Kite Man's "Oh, yeah!' is also a sanitized 60's-style homage to Kite Man's iconic "Kite Man! Hell yeah!' in the modern comics. Another thing that may interest readers is that Chief O'Hara's first name, Miles, is a reference to the also Batman '66 continuation movie, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, where his first name there is also Miles. With these tibdits mentioned, stay tuned tomorrow for the cliffhanger's conclusion and Episode 12!
Until then,
Gabe S. :)
