What is "bat boy"

n. (baseball) a boy who takes care of bats and other baseball equipment

Bat Boy is a creature who made several appearances in the defunct American supermarket tabloid Weekly World News. The Weekly World News published patently fabricated stories which were purported to be factual. Within the pages of the paper, Bat Boy is described as a creature who is 'half human and half bat'. His pursuers, according to Weekly World News, are scientists and United States government officials; he is frequently captured, then later makes a daring escape. The original scientist who found him was named Dr. Ron Dillon. Matthew Daemon, S.O.S. (Seeker of Obscure Supernaturals) crossed paths with him on several occasions.

Bat Boy was created by former Weekly World News Editor Dick Kulpa. He debuted as a cover story on June 23, 1992. The original front-page photo of Bat Boy, showing his grotesque screaming face, was the second-best selling issue in the tabloid's history, and he has since evolved into a pop-culture icon. He became the tabloid's de facto mascot of sorts. The story of Bat Boy was turned into an Off-Broadway musical, Bat Boy: The Musical.

Bat boy may refer to:

• Batboy, [battalion + boy] a nickname for a US Army airborne ranger assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment originating from the period prior to the organization of the Ranger regiment in 1984 when there were only two independent Ranger Battalions.
• boy serving as a batman (military), particularly in the British army in colonial period India
• Batboy, a person who carries bats for a baseball team
• The Batboy (2010), a novel about a batboy, by Mike Lupica
• Bat Boy (character), a fictional creature who made many appearances in the defunct supermarket tabloid Weekly World News
• Bat Boy: The Musical, a musical based on the Bat Boy character
• "Bat Boy and Rubin!" (Mad 8, Dec 1953-Jan 1954), Kurtzman/ Wallace Wood parody of Batman and Robin