On Leather Wings was supposed to be the first episode broadcast and is possibly the first episode filmed and feels much like a pilot. Introducing several characters who are regulars on the show and sewing the seeds of future story lines, it also has superior animation to many later episodes.
The synopsis is a biologist who studies bats creates a serum that transforms him into a human/bat hybrid called The Man-Bat that resembles a Gargoyle from the show Gargoyles.
This is the first time Batman encounters genetic engineering technology in this show, but it won’t be the last, especially in regards to transgenic implantation (implanting the traits of one species into another). Here, it’s demonstrated that pretty specific genes can be implanted by the technology, enough to give someone (permanently, going by the dialogue) enhanced physical capabilities.
The Man-Bat is strong, fast, durable, and tireless enough to not only achieve true winged flight for a being that looks to weigh up to 200 pounds, but also CARRIES BATMAN ALOFT BEHIND HIM (Batman weighs at least 230 pounds) at high speeds, dragging the Caped Crusader through the sky for high-flying hijinks.
I really can’t imagine a rich fanatic like Batman passing up the chance to become gene enhanced (using his patron animal no less) to be super human, or at least throwing a ton of money into that research, especially given he completely reversed it by himself using his own knowledge of pharmaceuticals and biochemistry in a night and the reversal was total and very rapid. I could easily see him getting a dumbed down version to enhance himself, possibly going all out in true Gargoyle form in times of dire need (like needing to fly), almost like some kind of Bat-Hulk.
Years later, in Batman Beyond, Terry McGinnis (The Batman of Neo-Gotham) would be engineered or “spliced” in such a way against his will, until Bruce was able to cure him.
