Bat-Mite

{{short description|Comic book character}} {{Infobox comics character | image = Bat-Mite.png | caption = Bat-Mite as depicted in ''World's Finest Comics'' #113 (November 1960). Art by Curt Swan. | publisher = DC Comics | debut = ''Detective Comics'' #267 (May 1959) | creators = Bill Finger (writer)<br>Sheldon Moldoff (artist) | species = Fifth Dimensional Imp (Zrfffian) | homeworld = Fifth Dimension | alliances = Justice League of Mites | aliases =  | supports = Batman | powers = * Nigh-omnipotence * Reality warping * Immortality * Invulnerability * Fifth dimensional physiology * Advanced technology }} '''Bat-Mite''' is a character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Bat-Mite is an imp similar to Mister Mxyzptlk. Depicted as a small, childlike man in an ill-fitting copy of Batman's costume, Bat-Mite possesses what appear to be near-infinite magical powers which could be considered nigh-omnipotence, but he actually uses highly advanced technology from the fifth dimension that cannot be understood by humans' limited three-dimensional views. Unlike Mxyzptlk, Bat-Mite idolizes his superhero target and thus he has visited Batman on various occasions, often setting up strange and ridiculous events so that he could see his hero in action. Bat-Mite is more of a nuisance than a supervillain, and often departs of his own accord upon realizing that he has angered his idol.<ref name="dc-ency">{{Cite book | last = Beatty | first = Scott | author-link = Scott Beatty | contribution = Bat-Mite | editor-last = Dougall | editor-first = Alastair | title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia | page = 39 | publisher = Dorling Kindersley | place = London | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-0-7566-4119-1}}</ref>

Bat-Mite has appeared in various media outside comics, primarily in association with Batman. Paul Reubens and Lou Scheimer voice the character in ''Batman: The Brave and the Bold'' and ''The New Adventures of Batman'' respectively.

==Publication history== Bat-Mite made his first appearance in ''Detective Comics'' #267 (May 1959) in a story titled "Batman Meets Bat-Mite", and was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Sheldon Moldoff.<ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/15035/ ''Detective Comics'' #267 (DC, 1937 Series)] at the Grand Comics Database</ref>

Bat-Mite was retired from the comic in 1964, when editor Julius Schwartz instituted a "New Look" Batman that shed some of the sillier elements in the series.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wells |first=John |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1960-64 |date=2015 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490458 |pages=167–169}}</ref>

Bat-Mite appeared in a self-titled six-issue miniseries which lasted from June to November 2015.<ref>{{cite press release |title=DC Entertainment Announces New Books, New Creators, Broader Focus for the DC Universe |date=February 6, 2015 |url=http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2015/02/06/dc-entertainment-announces-new-books-new-creators-broader-focus-for-the-dc-universe |access-date=November 5, 2020 |website=dccomics.com}}</ref>

== Fictional character history == [[File:Bat Mite Cover.jpg|thumb|left|Cover to ''Detective Comics'' #267 (May 1959), the first appearance of Bat-Mite, art by Curt Swan.]] ===Pre-Crisis=== Bat-Mite regularly appeared in ''Batman'', ''Detective Comics'', and ''World's Finest Comics'' for five years. Bat-Mite and Mr. Mxyzptlk teamed up four times in the pages of ''World's Finest Comics'' to antagonize Superman and Batman.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Fleisher |first1=Michael L. |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco01flei/page/134/mode/2up |title=The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume 1: Batman |date=1976 |publisher=Macmillan Publishing Co |isbn=0-02-538700-6 |pages=134–140 |access-date=29 March 2020}}</ref> In 1964, however, when the Batman titles were revamped under new editor Julius Schwartz, Bat-Mite vanished along with other members of the Batman extended family, such as Batwoman, Bat-Girl, and Ace the Bat-Hound.

After this, only three more Bat-Mite stories were published in the pre-''Crisis'' DC Universe: two more Bat-Mite/Mxyzptlk team ups in ''World's Finest Comics'' #152 (August 1965) and #169 (September 1967) (which were not edited by Schwartz, but by Mort Weisinger),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |author-link=Robert Greenberger |title=The Essential Superman Encyclopedia |last2=Pasko |first2=Martin |author-link2=Martin Pasko |date=2010 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=978-0-345-50108-0 |page=25}}</ref> and "Bat-Mite's New York Adventure" from ''Detective Comics'' #482 (February–March 1979), in which the imp visits the DC Comics offices and insists that he be given his own feature in a Batman comic. This story featured protestors with picket signs shouting "We want Bat-Mite!" outside the Tishman Building (where DC's editorial offices were located at the time), and was accompanied by an editorial comment that this story was published to acknowledge the real-life requests of fans for this character's revival. ===Post-Crisis=== After the continuity-changing 1985 limited series ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' was published, Bat-Mite was mostly removed from the Batman comics canon.<ref name="Guide2">{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |page=25 |display-authors=3}}</ref> Bat-Mite made an appearance in ''Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight'' #38, although he may have been the hallucination of a drug-addled criminal named Bob Overdog. This comic states that Bat-Mite is one of the many admirers of superheroes from another dimension. This version of Bat-Mite later returned in ''Batman: Mitefall — A Legends of the Dark Mite Special'', a one-shot book which was both part of, and a parody of, the Batman storyline ''Knightfall'' (with Overdog briefly in the Jean-Paul Valley role). In #6 of the 1999 ''Batman and Superman: World's Finest'' miniseries, Mr. Mxyzptlk encounters Bat-Mite, shortly after being mistaken for him by Overdog. While in this story, the post-''Crisis'' Bat-Mite encounters Batman for the first time, Superman and Batman subsequently concluded that Mxyzptlk had created him, inspired by Overdog's ravings.

Bat-Mite also appeared in the 2000 one-shot ''Elseworlds'' comic special ''World's Funnest'', in which he battles Mr. Mxyzptlk, destroying the Pre-''Crisis'' multiverse and the post-''Crisis'' DC Universe, as well as the Elseworlds of ''Kingdom Come'', ''Batman: The Dark Knight Returns'', and the DC Animated Universe.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ross |first=Alex |author-link=Alex Ross |title=The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross |publisher=Pantheon Books |year=2003 |isbn=978-0375422409}}</ref>

The first post-''Infinite Crisis'' appearance of Bat-Mite was in ''Batman'' #672, written by Grant Morrison.<ref>''Batman'' #672 (February 2008)</ref> Batman is confronted with Bat-Mite (or "Might") after being shot in the chest and suffering a heart attack. Might, who bears a green insectoid creature on his back, claims to have come from "Space B at the Fivefold Expansion of Zrfff".<ref>''Batman'' #674 (April 2008)</ref>

After Batman transforms himself into "the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh", Might counsels Zur-En-Arrh, a 'back-up' personality manufactured by Bruce himself to keep Batman able to fight in case he was mindwiped, or driven to insanity. ''Batman'' #680 reveals that Might is a product of Batman's imagination, representing the last vestiges of his rational mind.<ref>''Batman'' #680 (October 2008)</ref>

Bat-Mite appears in the four-part story "Impossible" in ''World's Finest'' #26 through #29, June through September 2024. The story also features Superman, Batman, Robin, Jimmy Olsen and Mr. Mxyzptlk.

==Powers and abilities== Bat-Mite, as a fifth-dimensional Imp, has nigh-omnipotence, which is shown as near-infinite magical power. Bat-Mite has powers and skills identical to that of Mister Mxyzptlk (but not his weaknesses), such as the ability to manipulate spacetime. He has access to various bat-weapons like his hero, Batman.<ref>''Bat-Mite'' #1-6 (August 2015 - January 2016)</ref>

==Publications== ===2015 series=== * '''Bat-Mite''' (2016-02-17): Includes ''Bat-Mite'' #1-6 and a sneak peek story from ''Convergence: Supergirl: Matrix'' #2.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/bat-mite |title=BAT-MITE |access-date=2020-11-17 |archive-date=2017-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409024225/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/bat-mite |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==In other media== ===Television=== thumb|right|Bat-Mite (left) as depicted in ''The New Adventures of Batman''.  * Bat-Mite appears in ''The New Adventures of Batman'', voiced by Lou Scheimer.<ref>{{cite news |last=Collura |first=Scott |last2=Fickett |first2=Travis |last3=Goldman |first3=Eric |last4=Zoromski |first4=Brian |title=A History of Batman on TV |url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/891/891807p5.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327081925/http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/891/891807p5.html |archive-date=March 27, 2012 |access-date=August 16, 2010 |work=IGN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cornelius |first=David |date=July 5, 2007 |title=The New Adventures of Batman |url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/28992/new-adventures-of-batman-the/ |access-date=August 16, 2010 |work=DVD Talk}}</ref><ref name="btva" /> * An animatronic of Bat-Mite appears in the ''Batman: The Animated Series'' episode "Deep Freeze", voiced by Pat Fraley.<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Bat-Mite Voices (Batman) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Batman/Bat-Mite/ |access-date=May 11, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref> * Bat-Mite appears in ''Batman: The Brave and the Bold'', voiced by Paul Reubens.<ref name="btva" /> * Bat-Mite appears in ''Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered'', voiced again by Paul Reubens.<ref name="btva" /> * A stuffed Bat-Mite toy appears in ''DC Super Hero Girls''.

===Video games=== * Bat-Mite appears as an assist character in the Wii version of ''Batman: The Brave and the Bold - The Videogame''.<ref name="btva" /> Additionally, he can be summoned and controlled using a running copy of the game's Nintendo DS counterpart.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mcelroy |first=Griffin |date=August 14, 2010 |title=''Batman: Brave and the Bold'' features Wii/DS connectivity |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010-08-14-batman-brave-and-the-bold-features-wii-ds-connectivity.html |access-date=April 3, 2021 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}}</ref> * Bat-Mite appears as a character summon in ''Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 4, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - ''Scribblenauts Unmasked'' Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=May 11, 2024 |website=IGN}}</ref> * Bat-Mite appears as a playable character and game navigator in ''Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham'', voiced by Roger Craig Smith.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |title=Characters - ''LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham'' Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/lego-batman-3-beyond-gotham/Characters |access-date=May 11, 2024 |website=IGN}}</ref><ref name="btva" /> * Bat-Mite appears in ''Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight'', voiced by Adam Diggle.

==Reception== In ''Handbook of Comics and Graphic Narratives'', Matt Yockey writes, "Bat-Mite pointedly represents the intersection of utopia and trauma in the superhero genre and he signals that the mastery over trauma is an essential step toward realizing a utopian ideal. His home in the 'fifth dimension' and his magical powers locate Bat-Mite in the utopian realm, yet he turns to Batman as his ideal, suggesting that contact with trauma is in fact indispensable to the expression of a utopian desire."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yockey |first1=Matt |title=Handbook of Comics and Graphic Narratives |date=2021 |publisher=De Gruyter |isbn=9783110446968 |page=326 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=epc9EAAAQBAJ&dq=%22bat-mite%22&pg=PA326 |access-date=15 January 2024 |chapter=The Golden Age: Batman}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://comicvine.gamespot.com/bat-mite/4005-23170/ Bat-Mite] at Comic Vine

{{Batman characters}} Category:Batman characters Category:Characters created by Bob Kane Category:Characters created by Bill Finger Category:Characters created by Sheldon Moldoff Category:Comics characters introduced in 1959 Category:DC Comics extraterrestrial characters Category:DC Comics characters who can teleport Category:DC Comics characters who use magic Category:DC Comics deities Category:DC Comics male superheroes Category:DC Comics male supervillains Category:DC Comics superheroes Category:DC Comics supervillains Category:Fictional higher-dimensional characters Category:Fictional tricksters Category:Imps