The Joker (Cesar Romero) is back, and he’s ready to cause more problems for Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) in this two-part episode. The first one, The Joker’s Last Laugh, first aired on 15 February, 1967 and was written by Lorenzo Semple Jr. from a story by Peter Rabe.

It seems the wealthy elite have been unknowingly passing counterfeit bills. They use them in transactions, giving them to the needy, and trying to make Gotham a better place. But once the counterfeiting is discovered Batman and Robin leap in to investigate.

And what they discover is that Joker has three life-like robots, one of them serving as a bank teller, and they are handing out the funny money during bank transactions. But how will they prove the Joker is the culprit behind the crime?

Why Batman’s alter-ego, Bruce Wayne, will claim to have lost millions, and turn to Joker, who is running a comic book printing press (as a cover for his counterfeiting) and ask the Clown Prince for help, with Robin timing an entrance to stop the villains without ruining Batman’s cover.

Unfortunately, things go badly, Robin is trounced by two of Joker’s robotic companions, and is strapped down to the printing press, where Joker is forcing Bruce Wayne to throw the switch that will kill his young companion!

Holy cliffhanger! How will Robin escape? How long can Bruce hold out against the unstoppable robots who are forcing his arm to throw the switch? How is Joker not making a mint off of these robots? Why is he worrying about counterfeiting when he could be world-renowned for robotics?

As a fun aside, Joker’s hideout is becoming very akin to the bat-cave filled with gadgets and abilities, and he even has his own Joker-mobile now!

The second episode, The Joker’s Epitaph, aired the following night on 16 February, 1967.

How does Robin get free? Through some help from Alfred (Alan Napier) who has accompanied Robin outfitted in a spare Batman costume!

Joker and his gang make their escape, leaving Bruce Wayne behind, and the reunited trio, knowing Joker is tied to the crime, are ready to make their move. And where will that move to be? Why at the Gotham National Bank where Joker now works as a vice-president thanks to a job offer from Bruce Wayne in return for counterfeiting money for him.

But the Dynamic Duo captured the robot from the previous episode, and they have found a way to take control of Joker’s robots, and turn them against him and bring this crime spree to an end (we all know he’ll be back).

It’s fun, it’s delightful, the first part is the stronger of the two episodes, and I love the fact that Joker has his own vehicle to stand up to the batmobile, and his own gadget-laden headquarters that would serve perfectly if he had hidden it better.

Honestly Joker, give the World’s Greatest Detective a bit of a challenge next time, please.