Batman (1966) – The Bookworm Turns, and While Gotham City Burns

The Bookworm Turns delivers two great things in this episode. The first is the famous head-out-the-window cameos that would become a highlight of the series. As Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) scale walls, Gotham City residents would stick their heads out to see what was going on, this first one features Jerry Lewis….

Batman (1966) – The Curse of Tut, and Pharaoh’s in a Rut

Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) tangle with the villainous King Tut (Victor Buono) in The Curse of Tut. Written by Robert C. Dennis and Earl Barret, this episode first aired on 13 April, 1966. This villain was the first created for the series, and he’s a fun addition to the Rogues’ Gallery. Tut…

Batman (1966) – The Ring of Wax, and Give ‘Em the Axe

The Riddler (Frank Gorshin delightfully chewing scenery) is back in The Ring of Wax. Written by Jack Paritz and Bob Rodgers, this episode first debuted on 30 March, 1966. The Riddler and his gang steal a Batman statue from a wax museum leaving behind a recording for Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) to…

Batman (1966) – The Penguin Goes Straight, and Not Yet, He Ain’t

John Cardwell and Lorenzo Semple Jr. join forces to tell The Penguin Goes Straight, which first aired on 23 March, 1966. And as the title suggests it seems that the Penguin (Burgess Meredith) has gone on the straight and narrow, something he demonstrates when he foils a hold-up after a theatre performance. That gets him…

Batman (1966) – True or False Face, and Holy Rat Race

False Face (Malachi Thorne) – who the hell is False Face? – shows up to menace Batman (Adam West) and Robin the Boy Wonder (Burt Ward) in True or False Face. Written by Stephen Kandel it first aired on 9 March, 1966. Constantly in masks and disguises False Face sends false messages to taunt the…

Batman (1966) – The Thirteenth Hat, and Batman Stands Pat

Writer Charles Hoffman brought the Jervis Tetch aka The Mad Hatter (David Wayne) into the Batman television series with his episode, The Thirteenth Hat. It first aired on 23 February, 1966 and sees Tetch using his mesmerizer (stowed in the top of his hat) to abduct hats, and the people wearing them. Commissioner Gordon (Neil…

Batman (1966) – Instant Freeze, and Rats Like Cheese

Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) have their work cut out for them when Dr. Shivel (George Sanders) aka Mr. Freeze returns to Gotham in Instant Freeze. Written by Max Hodge, this episode first debuted on 2 February, 1966. Batman is a little bothered by Freeze’s return to Gotham, not only because of the…

Batman (1966) – Hi Diddle Riddle, and Smack in the Middle

I have never seen the original Batman television series. I did see the movie that was released between seasons at a Saturday matinee when I was a kid and it inspired hours of play, but I’d never dug into the 120 episodes that comprised the series. I’m determined to fix that, so here we go…

Batman: Hush (2019) – Justin Copeland

The DC Animation adaptation of Hush by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee is a solid piece of work and attempts to walk a balancing act between the established canon of the animated films, and the comics. There are also a lot of layers at work throughout the course of the film, something that doesn’t happen…