The Christmas Bat has been a real tradition in my family for several years now. It was birthed out of necessity when my mom wanted my brother-in-law and I to put tinsel on the tree strand by strand, which might have taken hours. Instead, we pretty much grabbed handfuls of tinsel from the bag, threw it all on the tree, found a rubber bat left out from Halloween, stuck it in one of the clumps and called it a day. The Christmas Bat tradition was born.
To make your own Christmas Bat, dump a bag of tinsel on a branch (preferably high on the tree for a good lookout spot), get a rubber bat (or real one, if you have access), color in the right eye with a black Sharpie, color in the left eye with a red Sharpie, stick him in the tinsel nest facing out and make sure you get to bed at a decent hour and don’t get up too early.
Omg! Too funny! I love the story! I cannot divulge my identity, but I can vouch for the Christmas bat! It is truly too hideous to nest in one’s tree. Also ugly would be the clumps of tinsel in the tree. And you wonder why your mother has tried to keep the bat hidden from you (along w/Mr. Finky, funky, whatever…)
Wow! I have NEVER heard of a Christmas bat. If you’re diligent enough, I bet you could make it a national Christmas tradtion. I can’t get over the amazing detail in this strip. Not only in the drawings but also in the story. The bat “with the single red eye” is either genius or grounds to take Christmas away from you and your ENTIRE family. Still, great job on this comic. You really keep outdoing yourself. Truly the greatest webcomic out there. Merry Batrmis!!!
Oops. I meant, ” Merry Batmis.” It’s the day after Christmas, I’m still in a food coma from all the pasta and fish we Italians eat on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I’m allowed ONE typo. My New Year’s resolutuion for 2008 is NO MORE TYPOS…that and to get rid of my athlete’s foot.
Mr.Hinky?….henky?..hunky..
Ahhh, yes I remember my parents reading the tale of the Christmas Bat to me as a young child. Even to this day it warms the cockles of my heart…huh? Wait, what?!
I just like using the word cockles. I love your family’s traditions.
Merry Christmas! Sure wish I had a Christmas Bat! All I got was coal.
anonymous, glad you liked it! and by “hideous” and “disgusting” i know you meant “beautiful” and “wondrous.”
mc, wow, with those compliments you can make as many typos as you wish. thanks, and send me some pasta.
anonymous, ah. you must mean my mr. hanky stuffed toy. another heartwarming holiday tale!
john, heheh. cockles.
funnyshaffer, there’s always next year.
funny,funny, funny! but once again another Michael…. Hey, do your friends know that you used to tell an eviler, even scarier version of this story to your niece when she was but a wee tot and that she used to cry and be scared poopless of the christmas bat (with razor blade claws) all so that she wouldn’t want to go into your room and is now in therapy and on heavy medication…?
The story was the best. (And I like “unfavorite’s” version too.) Hee! Christmas Bat. Love it!
OOOHhh! I like that this one comes complete with a “how to” guide!
LOVE the X mas Bat. He’s cute when he’s sleeping.
unfavorite, there are so many stories i used to tell my niece to scare her poopless, it’s hard to keep track.
bon, thanks! may you not disturb the slumber of the christmas bat.
mitch, heheh. next year we’ll have to set you up with a christmas bat of your own.
shari a, i think so, too.
Brilliant and eeeerrryyy!!
Merry Merry!!
That is an awesome christmas tradition!
I think this is the BEST excuse to just throw the tinsel in a wad EVER. That crap is a pain in the ass.
That… was… the most beautiful thing ever! I wish our family had traditions like that.
I have to try that! My family is gonna be all like “WTF!!!” when they see it! LMAO at the last panel!
This strip is great! Next year, the Christmas bat nests at my house for sure!
Aaaah, Judaism…. No tangled decorations to deal with, no trees to kill and discard…. Just candles, games, and fried food. Happy Hannukkah one and all!