Leaping Lemming (Batman!)

An excited lemming heads toward the brink of disaster in his Batman costume (and with flowers) to make an impression at the Leaping Lemming event.

Leaping Lemming Batman!

A few years ago, I drew the Tenth Day of Christmas cartoon (AKA Ten Lords a Leaping). I recently thought once more about lemmings and their magnificent cliff diving exploits. I wondered what might give their jump more meaning. If they’re going to crescendo like that, they might as well make a statement in the process.
I decided that cosplay might be the go. Each lemming could don his / her favourite superhero costume and jump for life in a frenzy of fantasy.

As an example of this, I give you lemming Batman. This is one on his way to the big jump, done up as the Caped Crusader, complete with some pretty flowers and a delusional attitude, which I think is important to have when jumping from perilous heights in to unknown depths of water below.

If I were a lemming and was destined to jump off a cliff, I’d want to wear an outfit that gave at least some chance of flight. Perhaps a wingsuit would be a good idea or maybe an accessory like a little hang glider. Then a more gentle and acute angle could be made with the water upon landing, increasing the probability of survival (until the sharks discover the sudden influx of air-delivered food).

Every year Melbourne has the Birdman Rally on the Yarra River as a part of the Moomba long weekend. It’s a competition where people create outfits and (non-)aerodynamic accessories and compete to see how far they can travel through the air along the river. I don’t recall ever seeing anyone dressed as a lemming.