I’m happy to present The Christmas Bat’s fifth installment! Hard to believe the tradition of him appearing in the strip has occurred so many times, but it’s true. It’s gotten to the point that readers expect and request him around this time of year, and I’m all too happy to oblige, since it’s fun for me to take a little break from the regular happenings of the “JEFbot Universe” every so often. For those that aren’t up to speed on the Christmas Bat, or don’t understand what the deal is with the gift wrap (and why TCB should fear it), check these strips out:
• JEFBOT.24_The Christmas Bat
• JEFBOT.106_The Christmas Bat II
• JEFBOT.201_The Christmas Bat III_part one
• JEFBOT.202_The Christmas Bat III_part two
• JEFBOT.300_The Christmas Bat IV
In addition to The Christmas Bat milestone, we are also officially over the 400th strip mark! I might just have to do something to celebrate, but I have to get through Christmas and New Year’s first, then we’ll talk.
Sorry for the missed strip on Tuesday! It wasn’t due to anything as dramatic as my computer failing or my eye becoming diseased, it was mainly due to increased obligations to my day job and just the craziness of the holiday season here at the end of the year. Hopefully the next few super-sized Christmas Bat strips will make up for it a bit. Once 2012 gets here, my schedule will calm down and I’ll be able to get the strip out regularly, and at a decent hour. Speaking of which, I have a meeting I need to be at in a few hours so I’m going to stop typing now.
I’m glad you’re doing better (I hope). AND YAY!!! BATTY!!!!
Erm………. Am I really FINALLY the first commenter????? HOLY BATMAN!!!! Okay, well, I kept that first comment short in hopes of being the first one heh heh… SO! Onward with the REAL comment…..
Okay, I’m always a fan of the Christmas Bat… I can’t believe I forgot about him! But, you’ve been sick too and having issues with your computers, so that may be why I forgot about him (and I’ve not been keeping up regularly on the comments either–that’s actually why I was checking today–to see if you had an update on your eye).
I still think we need a snapshot (or a sketch if you’re doing better) of you with a pirate eye patch. 🙂
What am I doing online at 6:32am (EST) when I should be at work, as well? I got sent home while I was on my way to work… Throwing up. Between pregnancy and my immune system sucking to begin with, this has been a bad, bad year….
yep, you’re the first, Amber!
and glad you’re a fan of The Christmas Bat! i appreciate you checking in on my eye progress, too – it’s almost completely healed at this point, but i’m still trying to take it easy with it, so haven’t been answering comments as quickly as i normally do for the past week or so.
reader Shanna knitted an awesome eyepatch that resembles Mad-Eye Moody’s and it totally helped to stop me from using/touching my eye. if i have some extra time this week, i’ll post a pic.
and, hey! congrats on the pregnancy! (but boo on the sucky immune system.) hope you’re feeling better now. 😀
yes, doing much better, Amber, thanks! would probably be 100% if I could take a sick day or two from work and just take it easy, but oh well, i’m nearly all healed up now.
and: WOOOO! is this your first Firsting!? if so, big congrats! take these Shades of Firsting and wear them well: they’ll help you spot any Christmas Bats that may be lurking in a tree near you. of course, by the time you see one, it may be too late:
😎
YEP! My first firsting!!! I’d given up on staying up (or getting up early) months ago… 🙂 I’m excited now!!! 😀 I can finally rest in peace!
woo!
I’m glad you’re doing better, also!!!
Yay Christmas Bat!!!
Merry Christmas to you and the whole Bot clan 🙂
And Merry Christmas to all of the Jefbot readers!!
BTW love how bright and swirly this strip is!!!
yep, feeling much better, ESQ, thanks!
and yay for the Christmas Bat’s return!
hope you and DK had a very Merry Christmas, too!
thanks! i was trying to give it a more bright, festive look that’s different from the regular strip so thanks for noticing. 🙂
Yaay! Everybodys favorite christmas tradition is back! @Jefbot I really love how you make this so awesome! Christmas is truly the best time of the year!
awww… thanks, DressesAreStupid! hope you had a fun, festive and fantastic Christmas! 😀
The art is so beautiful!
i’m happy you found it beautiful, Daisy_A_Dair! thanks!
HURRAY!
Good Morning Botilians! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza and Happy Boxing day to us all! (I think I covered everyone.)
So yeah I learned a few things about making truffles. Making them in Florida is darn near impossible! They get all over you everywhere! They were a great success though and my next batch later this weekend will be bacon chocolate truffles…..Details to follow and popssibly pics.
I love CB! I’m hoping to make a plushy of him in the next few days. Yeah it will be after the holiday but I R a busy lil Pixie!
Once again, I wish you all a happy, joyous and SAFE Holiday! I expect to see you all on Monday! (Or you can check in on our Facebook page.)
Jeff, the art work is amazing! I’m glad your eye is feeling better.
Pixie, I will commit virtual bigamy for a bacon chocolate truffle.
Marry me.
hurray! good morning, back atcha, Pixie! and i second your merry christmas/hannukah/kwanza/boxing day to the readers!
and – wow. bacon chocolate truffles!? i think i just drooled on myself. yes, pics (and samples if possible) please!
if you find the time to make a TCB plushy, definitely send pics! next year i’m hoping to have some for sale on the site if there’s interest and i can find a manufacturer that’ll make ’em for a decent price.
and thanks for the kudos on the art and the eye concern!
Perhaps we may happen upon each other this coming year. I’ve got a Twitter account (Jasper Liechty) or you can reach me in here.
We should be worried you’re straining your eye doing these gorgeous panels, but Hooray for the Christmas Bat!
(and double extra points for using cyclopean)
not to worry, Sarah W – keeping things easy on my eye and trying not to stay up too late doing the strip over the next couple of weeks. if it starts acting up again, i’ll try and take a break or something. 🙂
and it makes me happy you liked “cyclopean.”
I love the Christmas Bat stories, glad to see the fifth one finally here!
And as for the celebration of 400, will the mysterious cel show up again?
glad you like The Christmas Bat stories, GG! hope you dig part two on tuesday.
and cel will definitely be showing up again in early 2012!
Yay, Christmas Bat! I had almost forgotten about that and it more than makes up for the missed post.
By the way, who hasn’t seen the new Sherlock Holmes movie yet? If you haven’t, shame on you for missing a great movie.
The only one who should be ashamed is the person who hasn’t seen the new 3D Tintin movie!
hopefully i’ll be seeing Tintin this week, DressesAreStupid! glad to hear you liked it.
Merry Christmas everyone! 😀
merry christmas, Fijiman! i’m happy this one made up for the lack of a tuesday post.
and, yep – saw Game of Shadows. was fun!
xmas bat returns….lolz…let the freaky commence….
it’ll get a bit freakier with the next installment, jf#300! (and end on a cliffhanger ’til friday.) 🙂
Day jobs blow!
tell me about it, pearl!
YES!!!! THIS is why I love this time of year. The Christmas Bat is BACK!!!!!!!!!!!
wooHOO! glad you’re a big fan of The Bat, Slave1!
*Dances around singing* It’s the Christmas Bat! the Christmas Bat! the Christmas Bat!
I love the Christmas Bat. And this year I finally decided to make one. However, instead of making up my own in crochet, I decided to knit one, which means using a pattern. It is taking me FOREVER. I hope to have him done today though and occupying his very special place on the tree. I”ll link to a pic when I finish him.
Thanks for posting a Christmas Bat strip, and yay! It’s a 3-parter! I’m glad you are recovering from your eye issues, and that rest and relaxation will soon be yours. Have a very happy Christmas!!
I just went back and read the previous 4 years of Christmas Bat, and you asked us last year to remind you about a contest for best evidence of a Christmas Bat visit. 🙂 Dang, I guess I have to go buy some tinsel now.
a couple readers sent some pics of their Bat nests, Shanna! i’ll be posting them on the site later this week. 🙂
*dances around with you* woOOOoooo!!! thanks for the song and dance, Shanna!
if you finish up your crocheted Christmas Bat send pics over! i’m sure it’ll be brilliant! just make sure to place him in his tinsel nest if you get him done, and make sure not to bother him (even though it’s a day after christmas, he’s still somewhat surly.)
crossing my fingers that i can get some “r&r” this week! if not, i’ll probably take a day or two off from work in january, just so i can get some stuff done for the site. hope you and T had a great christmas!!!
Congrats on the 400! Only 18 to catch up with us!
aw, man – 18 would take me over three months on the 2-a-week, schedule, Stan! can i count some of my guest strips? 😉
That is one impressive strip! Wow! Brilliant! Merry Christmas & happy New Year Jefbot!
merry christmas and a happy new year back atcha, Funnyshaffer! hope you have an awesome 2012!
I would like to request a Christmas Bat T-shirt in the BOTshop! 😮
I agree! A seasonal type thing.
i’d love to do a TCB shirt for the holidays, Pixie!
i’ll do a poll next year in october, MissB – if i can get some preorders together, maybe i’ll make a limited run of Christmas Bat tees! happy to know there’s interest. 🙂
Woo hoo! I would wear one proudly :3
😀 you’re awesome.
I think this makes 3 Christmas bats I have been around for. WOOT!
YAY! Glad you are here DJ!
i concur.
I take that back. I’ve been reading since TCB II but didn’t start commenting until 2009 started. Wow. I’ve been following the bot comic for almost the entire time I’ve been in college.
wow – that’s a looOOooong time, dj! i’m happy to be around with you during your college years! 😀
I think the Christmas Bat should have his own song. :3
agreed, Red! any musicians/songwriters in the JEFbot readership? i might just have to ask a friend to write one. especially if i do an animated short of TCB one day. 🙂
I COULD write the lyrics if you were to have some, but I am unable to read or make sheet music.
that’s my prob, too, Red. maybe i’ll mess around with the Garage Band app and see what comes of it.
Okay, have fun and good luck. ^_^
Yay, Christmas Bat!!!
thanks for the Yay, Insectoid!
ah shit this guy again… creepiest thing on your web comic is that bat lol.
i’ll take “creepy” as a compliment, steve! when TCB stops being creepy, i think it’ll be time for him to take a break. 🙂
Woo hoo! He’s back!
woo hoo! thanks, sis!
KONNICHIWA Bot-sensei! Seasons Greetings from Florida! Don’t worry about timing the strip too much. We understand RL getting in the way (cuts WAY TOO MUCH into my WoW-time :D). Those who don’t, well AREN’T THEY LUCKY (ooh, was that too much sarcasm?)? Anyhoo, sorry for the Scrooge moment. Just work as you need to, update when you can, and try to enjoy the Holidays as much as possible.
ALSO: Sarcasm, just one more free service we offer.
What part for FL? I’m in Tampa
I’m just across the bay in Pinellas Park. I can see Shoppes at Park Place Mall from my bedroom window.
thanks for the seasons greetings from florida, KB! hope you and yours had an awesome holiday, too. and thanks for the understanding about RL – really trying to not let it get in the way of the strip too much, but i can’t make any promises. heheh. definitely enjoying the holidays, although they’re going by way too fast.
I gots me a new Mr. Pointy! My parents got me an ornamental short sword that’s decorated with Freemason Symbols! My great-grandfather (whom I’m named after) was a Mason.
Oh I know exactly where you are! That’s pretty cool. I loves Mr. Pointies though the collection has dwindled down some since moving and all. DO you go to BARF ever?
Umm…is a frog’s butt watertight? That’s a huge YES! I get lots of things from there. I’ve gotten my violin, my lap harp, my pan flute, my mace, my flail, and my quarterstaff from the RenFest. I’m hoping to one day add some new weapons (I’d love a hand crossbow, just like the drow use) as well as bagpipes and uileann pipes to my collections.
Wow what a small world! I used to be a beer girl out there and I know almost everyone out there LOL.
The bat returns!!!!
hissSSsss! be careful out there, Jiro!
Oh Christmas bat we meet again.. Your parents need to get a little bat for the tree. (: Merry Christmas Jeff!! Tell everyone I said hi and merry Christmas!
Maybe someone should make little Christmas Bat ornaments and Jeff can sell them through this site.
ornaments would be pretty cool, KB! hoping to get some little TCB plushies ready for next year, too, possibly.
you’re right, Natalie – the Schuetze Christmas Bat seems to have gone missing this year. i might just bring my own over and plant him in the tree when Mombot’s not looking. 😉
merry christmas to you and your mom!
Its Back!
indeed, Maryz! hope you like his little adventure this year!
I absolutely love the Christmas Bat and I want you to know that when making Christmas cookies, I pulled out a bat-shaped cookie-cutter from the Halloween stuff and made Christmas Bat cookies.
Merry Christmas!!
i’m happy you love The Christmas Bat, Skullbunny! if you have any of those cookies left, send some pics over and i’ll post ’em on the site.
and merry christmas to you, too! hope you had a great one! 😀
1) love the name!
2) I want to see TCB cookies! Send pics!
The Bat Lives! Yes a preemptive strike is wise indeed.
The Bat does, indeed live, CheddarMan! but maybe not for long… just who’s doing the preemptive striking? hmmm…
Bat in action! Love it! Happy New Year!