Origin

Bats was a basset hound. His original owner of sixteen years had a heart attack, forcing him into a shelter. From there, he was adopted two more times until he was abandoned at a vet’s office run by Doctor Strange. Strange was working as a veterinarian during a stint when he wasn’t the Sorcerer Supreme. To make his job easier, Strange attempted a translation spell that allowed Bats to be understood in English. When Strange decided to confront Loki, the current Sorcerer Supreme, Loki accidentally overwhelmed Bats’ weak heart, killing him. So, when Loki returned the title to Strange, he conjured Bats as a ghost as an apology.

Creation

Bats first appeared in Doctor Strange (2018) #381 by Donny Cates and Gabriel Hernandez Walta

Major Story Arcs

Damnation

During Hydra’s Secret Empire, Las Vegas was destroyed. Strange decided to raise it from the dead, but he accidentally raised Mephisto and his netherrealm with it. Mephisto imprisoned Strange and enslaved the Avengers, forcing Bats to seek out Wong for help. Wong summoned a new roster of the Midnight Sons, with whom Bats accompanied into Vegas.

While the Midnight Sons confronted the possessed Avengers, Wong and Bats were attacked by Strange. Since he appeared as a Ghost Rider, Wong implied his soul already belonged to Mephisto, so Bats possessed Strange’s body, taking control of it. In addition to joining the Midnight Sons in battle with Stephen’s body, Bats found him on the astral plane, stuck in an illusion that he was fighting alongside other magic users for the fate of Vegas.

Bats was able to convince Strange that this was all an illusion. They left the simulation into the greater astral plane where, thankfully, the Avengers souls also were. Together, they re-possessed Strange’s body, channeling all of their powers and abilities to defeat Mephisto and imprison him in his own hotel. Without Mephisto’s influence, everyone’s souls were returned to their proper body.

Infinity Watch

When Wolverine and Loki are charged with protecting Hector Bautista, the current stone bearer of the Time Stone, they needed Bats help tracking him down. He had been kidnapped by the Fraternity of Raptors. Bats is able to lead them right to him, but both Warbringer and the Time Variance Authority have also arrived for the stone bearer. Bautista decides to stop time so he can practice using the stone's abilities. After defeating Warbringer, Talonar of the Raptors teleports everyone, including Bats, back to Earth.

Blood Hunt

When Varnae possessed Blade and filled the sky with darkforce in an attempt to take over the world for vampirekind, one of their first targets was Doctor Strange, who was turned into one of the bloodsuckers. Strange helped the Avengers in his astral form, leaving his vampiric body susceptible to being possessed by Victor Strange. Bats prayed to the Dog God for help.

He appeared and made Bats his avatar so that Bats may save his master's body from Victor. As Bats lives on the astral plane, with his new power, he was able to bite only Victor's astral form and rip it from Strange's body. This also took the vampire infection from Strange's body for when Strange returned to his corporeal form. Once Strange's body was safe, the Dog God left Bats, claiming that his power was too much for Bats to take. That Bats would burn out if he held the power any longer.

Powers & Abilities

Tracking: Like any dog, Bats has a superb sense of smell.

Speech: Bats has been enchanted with the ability to be understood in English

Ghost: As an undead ghost, Bats is capable of phasing through solid objects and possession.