VALENCIA have hit back with a hilarious response in their legal dispute with DC Comics over the bat used in their club badge.
The La Liga club have had an image of the creature in their crest for the past 100 years and is now one of the most recognised in world football.
But a re-design to launch their centenary celebrations has angered executives at the American comic book corporation.
DC Comics attempted to take legal action over the use of a bat five years ago, claiming it infringed their trademark on the Batman action hero logo.
An objection was filed, according to Valencia, although it appears since then that no lawsuit has actually been made against the club.
But now Valencia say DC Comics have submitted a new complaint to the European Union Intellectual Property Office over the side's 100-year anniversary celebration design.
It is believed the US corporation feel it is too similar to the Batman logo, which is so valuable globally in terms of films and merchandising.
But the club have vowed to contest any attempts from the American company, and hit back with a withering statement.
A spokesman said: "We are not going to stop using the bat because DC Comics says it, there is no commercial brand that has a worldwide exclusive on bats.
"When this club played with a bat in the chest, in the United States they were chasing bison."
Valencia's crest has included a bat since the club was formed in 1919 – with the mammal featured on the coat of arms of the city.
The current style of the bat wings drooping down to form part of the shield was first used in 1921 – 18 years before Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in 1939.
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