History Main / BatOutOfHell

** Subverted with the Samoan bat goddess Leutogi, who was a benevolent protector and fertility goddess.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

Bats are creepy for many people. They often seem like [[YouDirtyRat rats]] with wings to us, they are thought to spread rabies, and apparently like to hang out in all sorts of dark, foreboding places (caves, bell towers, abandoned houses, castles, crypts, etc). Three species (out of over 1,000!) are infamous for [[BloodsuckingBats drinking blood]], and have led to a strong association between bats and vampires. As such, bats frequently show up as antagonists in horror themed media. Can be roughly divided into a few types that can sometimes overlap:

** The Keese are common enemies resembling regular bats in most regards, except for their common habit of being shrouded in fire, electricity or icy energy, which [[GoddamnedBats really helps these Goddamned Bats be a nuisance]] (alongside their generally small size and constant movement making them relatively difficult to hit in many appearances). Some in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' are undead, and the ones in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' are flying {{Oculothorax}}es more than anything else.

* ''Fanfic/GettingBackOnYourHooves'': When the CMC get lost in the Everfree, they are attacked by a Ropen, a giant, blind batlike monster that hunts by sound. Since it's blind, [[spoiler:Fluttershy's Stare has no effect on it, but Trixie temporarily crippled its echolocation using a fireworks spell]].

* In ''Literature/AfterManAZoologyOfTheFuture'', an island-chain that emerged after humans' extinction happened to be reached by bats before birds, and they came to dominate its ecosystems. Bat-descended animals found there include seal-like surfbats, flightless bug-eaters that [[ChestMonster imitate flowers]], and bizarre shrieking predators called "nightstalkers" that walk on their front limbs and claw with their back ones.

* In ''Literature/ElfstonesOfShannara'', [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils The Dagda Mor]] mounts one of these for his final confrontation with the Roc-mounted [[BigGood Allanon]].
* Played with in ''Literature/ANightInTheLonesomeOctober''. The evil vampiric Count can transform into a large bat, and also has a real bat as a {{familiar}}. Needle the bat, despite his employment status, is actually an amiable fellow and no danger to anybody except small insects and the occasional defenseless grape. [[spoiler:The Count himself never does anything to harm the heroes, and [[EvilVersusOblivion sides with them against the villains]].]]

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': [[MixAndMatchCritters Wolf-bats]]. They're vampire bats with the legs, paws, and tail of wolves. In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', one of the Pro-Bending team's names is the White Falls Wolf-bats. They even pull off a Wrestling/{{WWE}}-like entrance before their match.

* In ''Manga/{{Yaiba}}'', the strongest of the Hakki is the Batman (or Bat-Guy in the anime). See also OurVampiresAreDifferent.

* {{Defied}} in ''Fanfic/{{Daemorphing}}''. Cassie is horrified at first when Quincy settles as a vampire bat shortly after the Animorphs kill David, but her dad tells her that vampire bats are altruistic despite having to do harsh things to survive.
* In ''Fanfic/GettingBackOnYourHooves'', when the CMC get lost in the Everfree, they are attacked by a Ropen, a giant, blind batlike monster that hunts by sound. Since it's blind, [[spoiler:Fluttershy's Stare has no effect on it, but Trixie temporarily crippled its echolocation using a fireworks spell]].

* In ''Fanfic/TheNewAdventuresOfInvaderZim'', one of [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Norlock's]] most frequently seen powers is the ability to transform into a giant demonic bat.

** ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatMouseDetective'': Fidget the bat isn't very intimidating or terribly evil, but he's still the BigBad's primary henchman.

** ''Series/KamenRiderGeats'': Kazuo Numabukuro/Kamen Rider Brali is a ''huge'' trend breaker for bat-themed Riders. Not only is he a complete one-off character, but he's also the first of the bat Riders to be a complete villain, being an unrepented SerialKiller who [[WouldHurtAChild murders children]] for money and ''[[ForTheEvulz kicks]]''. Needless to say, most fans aren't to unhappy to see him gone.

** ''Series/KamenRiderKamenRiderGeats'': Kazuo Numabukuro/Kamen Rider Brali is a ''huge'' trend breaker for bat-themed Riders. Not only is he a complete one-off character, but he's also the first of the bat Riders to be a complete villain, being an unrepented SerialKiller who [[WouldHurtAChild murders children]] for money and ''[[ForTheEvulz kicks]]''. Needless to say, most fans aren't to unhappy to see him gone.

* ''Franchise/KamenRider'': Bats are one of the most popular stock motifs for monsters in Kamen Riders, where like the vast majority of monsters, they serve a primarily villainous role. Bats are a fairly popular motif for Riders too. Surprisingly, no bat-themed Rider thus far has ever been purely villainous.

This trope also applies when one or more bats accidentally get into a house or similar place that is not their usual habitat and causes havoc. If someone spooks one or more bats in their lair, that would be BatScare.

* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'': Ratbat, one of [[FadSuper Soundwave's]] cassettes, turns into a bat (as his name belies). In the comics, as a fuel auditor (who later spent some time [[KlingonPromotion leading the original Earthbound Decepticons]]) he was obsessed with using Energon efficiently. Decepticon hypnotist Mindwipe falls into this well complete with Hungarian Accent.

* In ''Film/{{Lifeforce}}'' the vampiric aliens' (they steal our energy rather than blood) true form is giant bats. Oddly, in the source book ''Space Vampires'' (subtle) their form is more like octopi, which makes no sense whatsoever.