The second-ever (and possibly last) Batboy Caption Contest!!!

It’s that time again, folks! We’re out of ideas down here at Batboy HQ, and we need your help. It’s the Second, Ever (and possibly last) Batboy Caption Contest!!! Now with 2x the winning! 

Just comment below with your funniest captions for Comic A and/or B and reblog this post. It’s so simple! This contest is also running on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky, follow me there!

The contest will run until December 18th after which a panel of expert funny judges will choose the two laugh-inducingest captions and winners will be revealed.

The champions will receive a signed Batboy book of their choice in the actual mail!  See books below or check out my books page for more details!

In the unlikely event a winner has collected all the Batboy books already, a special Batboy prize will be concocted at the last minute.

NOW, GET WRITING!!!

Pumpkinspice is Back Again!

pumpkin-headed demon sprinkling spice on a moonlit night

It’s late August and there’s a slight chill to the air, one of a few signs that my favorite season is near.

Merle the squirrel sniffs the air in autumn as leaves fall

I’m speaking about Fall of course, it’s the best, most spooky season and a time when I really come alive.

comic drawing of a bat boy lying in a pile of orange and red leaves in the woods
This is how I roll

One of the other indications of Autumn’s approach is the return of Pumpkinspice Everything!

a pumpkin headed demon returns to sprinkle pumpkinspice on food products in late august
Pumpkinspice is back! Again. And again and again.

I made this funny illustration five years ago poking fun at this phenomenon. I call it “The Return of Pumpkinspice.” I posted about it here on my blog.

It was both a critique of our consumer culture and an homage to Pumpkinhead, one of my favorite horror films of the 1980s. My illustration had a brief, nearly viral couple of weeks, which was exciting. Seeing something that I thought was funny also being liked and shared by hundreds of other strangers on the internet! Wowzers.

So why am I going on again about this Pumpkinspice thing? Word on the street is that Starbucks has released their Pumpkinspice creations earlier than usual this year. And I am here to continue to ridicule it while also enjoying the trendy flavor of the season.

What are your thoughts? Are you a fan of the spice?


In the years since, I’ve revived Pumpkinspice from time to time, most recently in this Batboy comic from last Fall.

batboy and merle love the smell of pumpkin spice in the fall
Pumpkinspice bringin’ back those spicy pants!

You’ll find this and many other hilarious comics in my latest Batboy Collection, Shvitzin’ to the Small Stuff which is available on Amazon.

Thumbnail of Book cover with Batboy dressed in 1980s gym shorts, leg warmers and headband doing aerobic exercise and sweating puddles. Title of the book is "Shvitzin' to the Small Stuff: Yet another Batboy Comic Collection by M. R. Kessell

Additionally, I have one signed and numbered, limited edition “Return of Pumpkinspice” 11×14 Print available in my Etsy Shop. Grab it now before it’s gone FOREVER!

a pumpkin headed demon sprinkles pumpkin spice on an assortment of coffee and food products
The last 11X14 Print available on Etsy

You can also grab Pumpkinspice as a T-shirt in my Amazon shop, or as a mug or a print here in my Redbubble Shop.

So will we see yet another incarnation of that evil Spice Demon in years to come? Probably, maybe, most definitely, yes!

Until next time, my friends, MAY THE SPICE BE WITH YOU!


M. R. Kessell is a dark artist and a writer/illustrator of silly comics. Check out his portfolio here. You can follow him on Instagram. Stop by and say HEY!

My Problem with Instant Gratification

Give it to me now. I need it yesterday. I just can’t wait.

Batboy presses the streaming device remote anxiously, as the "Loading" symbols reflect and revolve in his eyes. The caption reads: Sometimes instant gratification just ain't fast enough.

I’m not the first person to identify a problem with instant gratification. Maybe there isn’t really a problem. Maybe it’s good to have your wants and needs met immediately and constantly. Life should be pretty perfect then. But maybe you begin to feel entitled to it. You lose patience. You get anxious or angry if something stands between you and your pleasures. You need to eliminate the obstacles. Cut out the middleman. 

But, maybe we’re cutting out more than just the man in the middle. Maybe now that you can order a new book without leaving your couch or your bedroom, and have it delivered, without even dealing with a delivery person for that matter, you’re missing out on some actual, real life experiences. 

Even walking to the bookstore could expose you to some idea, an image, a scene, or a weird snippet of conversation from passersby. At the store you might flip through a bin of used books and discover some unknown classic that has never been and never will be digitized. The clerk might have some recommendations that the Algorithm couldn’t possibly deliver. They might be wearing a cool T-shirt with one of your favorite bands or an obscure 1980s cult horror film. This could be your new best friend. Or maybe they’re rude and awkward and it’ll result in a good anecdote someday.

But now with instant, next-day, prime delivery, you’d never know.


Speaking of bookstores

Three Batboy books on display

If you want to grab some Batboy books and get out of the house, you can head on over to East Side Mags in Montclair, NJ or Desert Island Comics in Brooklyn, NY. Both stores are extremely cool and worth the trek.

Tell ’em Batboy sen ya!

FREE BATBOY MINI COMIC WHEN YOU SIGN UP TO MY MAILING LIST

One last thing before you go, have you gotten your FREE BATBOY MINI COMIC yet?

Just click here to sign up for my incredible mailing list and you’ll get it, in addition to some other BONUS MATERIALS and FREEBIES sent out periodically throughout the year!

Meet Batboy This Weekend!

Just two days to go!

Come by and say hi to Batboy (and me) at East Side Mags in Montclair on Saturday May 13th!

CLICK HERE FOR FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

Bask in the glow of Batboy’s awkwardness and chat with us about your favorite comics, monsters, and junk foods.

All Batboy books will be available, plus an assortment of other goodies, like prints, pins, and stickers.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON THE EVENT FROM EAST SIDE MAGS’ WEBSITE

Batboy and the Art of Self-Sabotage book by M. R. Kessell used comically to chop a carrot

You must provide your own vegetables though.

FREE BATBOY COMIC ALERT!

Cover image for the free Batboy comic "Neverything Nowhere All at the Same Time" written by Peter Hammarberg and illustrated by M. R. Kessell. Showing Batboy hitchiking on the roadside with a sign that reads "Existential Clarity or Bust...Probably bust."

FREE COMIC ALERT! 

WOOP! WOOP! WOOP!

I’ve been collaborating with my friend, the impressive wordsmith, Peter Hammarberg for a few weeks now on an all new Batboy mini comic.

Neverything Nowhere All at the Same Time

He wrote the words, I squiggled the doodles. 

As usual there are some bonus materials jammed in there, I think you’re gonna enjoy it.

To get the free comic, one must face three arduous trials by the glow of the waxing gibbous Moon adjacent to the Cave of the Crepuscular Hermit Wizard known to some as “Larry.”

Or just go to this link and SUBSCRIBE TO MY MAILING LIST! 

I will periodically announce events, send updates, and give you more exclusive bonus stuff.

I’ve set up the mailing list just in case any of these social media platforms go down, we can still keep in touch.

Just a heads up, this mailing list is separate from my blog, in case you’re subscribed to my blog via email.

Please let us know what you think of our little experiment! Leave a comment!

Thanks you guys, talk to you soon!

Dirt Behind the Day Dream

I’ve been in the studio painting up a storm for the past few months. Experimenting with acrylic paint and exploring some weird, dark areas.

The painting above “Dirt Behind the Day Dream # 1” is one result of these explorations.

I’ve opened up a new online store if you would like to purchase any of my original paintings, click the link below to check it out.

https://www.saatchiart.com/mrkessell


In other news, Batboy is still putting himself out there.

You can catch up on his adventures by purchasing any of these three books below! And/or follow along on my various social media accounts to see new comics as they are released.

CHECK OUT MY BOOKS PAGE FOR MORE INFO

#BatboyComplains

Batboy Is Going Places?

Despite the fact that his latest book is titled: Getting Nowhere Fast, Batboy is still trying to flap those wings, move those little yellow shoes, and actually get somewhere.

Getting Nowhere Fast: Another Batboy Comic Collection by M. R. Kessell Book Cover showing Batboy sweating as he pedals a stationary bike with a dill pickle hanging in front of him as motivation

I just wanted to do a quick roundup of some Batboy-related news.

Firstly, I’m excited to announce that Batboy is listed over on Indie Comics Zone, a great resource for those who are interested in independent comics. Head over and peruse the many creators featured there.

If you find yourself in the North Jersey area and are in need of comics and collectibles, please stop in at East Side Mags in Montclair. You’ll be able to find the first two Batboy books there.

In addition to Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, I am now on Reddit where I hope to share new Batboy comics in the near future.

And as the first copies of Getting Nowhere Fast: Another Batboy Comic Collection start landing in the hands of friends, family and fans, I want to say thank you all!