Archie Meets Batman '66

The combined forces of the Joker, Riddler, Penguin and Catwoman descend on Riverdale in their bid to take over the world. Figuring that Batman is the reason they can't conquer Gotham City, the villains of the United Underworld embark in their most devious caper yet in Archie Andrews' backyard! Aided by the enchanting songs of the Siren, the fiends manage to enslave the adults of Riverdale. But for some reason, the lyrics just don't affect the teenage population. 

With the Bookworm on the loose in Gotham, Batman can't afford to leave the big city. So the Caped Crusader sends Robin and Batgirl in his place. Meet Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon, the newest students of Riverdale High School. Along with Archie and his gang, these young heroes may be the last line of defense between 4 of Batman's most deadliest enemies and the fate of the free world!

Regular Batman '66 writer Jeff Parker pens this swinging 60s era crossover. There's a lot of the magic of that monthly series in this book. But of the Batman '66 crossovers, this is probably my least favorite. The other team-ups made by the Dynamic Duo involved other live action characters like the Green Hornet and the Man from UNCLE. Those stories felt like natural progressions of the TV show. Having Batman, Robin and the rest interact with the Archie gang felt more like those Scooby-Doo cartoon crossovers from the 70s. 

The artwork by Dan Parent was superior as ever. The definitive modern era Archie artist proves that he's got the chops to tackle the Batman '66 universe. And then there's the covers! A half-dozen regular cover masterpieces from Michael Allred (Madman). Plus, there are literally dozens of variant covers by many amazing artists such as Joe Giella, Jerry Ordway and Art Baltazar. 

I must make one giant complaint. There's a great Batman '66/Archie connection that would have made a great capper to this story. Unfortunately, Jeff Parker ruined the moment by having Bruce Wayne flippantly ruin things with an off-the-cuff but it all makes sense sort of observation a couple of issues prior to the ending.

Plus- isn't Barbara Gordon an adult on the Batman '66 series? So why isn't she susceptible to the Siren's call like the other adults? Okay- so I had 2 complaints!

I had read issue #1 a long time ago when it first came out in 2018. And then I had forgotten all about it until just recently. Worth the wait. Just not as perfect as I had built things up to be in my head.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Batman Vs. Two-Face

This direct-to-DVD movie from 2017 is in essence an extended episode of the 1966 Batman series. The villain Two-Face was originally supposed to be featured in the fourth season of the show. But the program had run it's course and was cancelled after 3 years on TV. 

Rumor had it that Clint Eastwood was to have played Two-Face and Harvey Dent had that fourth season been green lit. However, after seeing this, I really think William Shatner would have been the right way to go!

The movie starts with Batman, Robin and Harvey Dent witnessing Dr. Hugo Strange perform an experiment to extract evil from the like of The Joker, Penguin and Riddler. The device overloads and as a result, half of Dent's body is horribly burned by the technology.

Over the course of the opening credits, we see Two-Face's reign of terror on Gotham. Right before the music ends, Batman and Robin catch the fiend. Gee- quick movie, right? 

The meat of the movie has Harvey Dent undergoing surgery to restore his body. But what about his psyche? Demoted to assistant of the assistant District attorney, Dent's ego is clearly bruised. But he seems to be doing beautifully, bringing some of Gotham's worst to justice. However, there's something strange about the crimes being committed. They all seem to have a dual purpose to them. Is Harvey Dent still secretly the villain Two-Face? Or is the straight man being framed?

Even though Harvey Dent's origin wasn't exactly like it was from the comic books, I was pleased with this animated extension on the TV classic. It was seamlessly fun with voices by some of the remaining actors and actresses of the show. Plus, there's quite a few modern additions that while they weren't a part of the 1960s show, DC had added them in the recent run of Batman '66 comics. I've enjoyed those additions and the fun doesn't stop here!

One of my favorite parts of this movie involves Catwoman. The Batman '66 comic book by Jeff Parker established how there was both the Julie Newmar and the Eartha Kitt Catwoman. But what about Lee Meriwether's turn in the Batman live action movie? Well, question no more as that's finally explained in satisfying detail here!

Batman Vs. Two-Face was quite campy, like it was back in the 1960s. But this being rated PG, it was a little on the bawdy side. Though it wasn't too much that the whole family still couldn't enjoy this. 

The artwork was amazing. Great renderings of all the stars back in their heyday, especially William Shatner! 

Sadly, this would be Adam West's last time as the Caped Crusader, succumbing to leukemia sometime last year. That also probably means the end of the Batman '66 franchise. Though I would love a third and final one in which Dick Grayson becomes Nightwing. But who could replace Adam West? 

The answer is nobody and this animated adventure is proof of that!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Batman '66 Meets Wonder Woman '77

A decades spanning epic starring the cast of Batman '66, Wonder Woman '77 and Ra's al Ghul!

Jeff Parker does a masterful job starting the story in the 1940s in which the first season of the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman series was set. Then we jump to the 1966 era Batman and finally we end up in 1977 where we meet an aged and retired Batman, a grown-up Robin now Nightwing and a new Commissioner Gordon.

To me, there was one BIG continuity error as the first act had the Eartha Kitt Catwoman. But in the second two-thirds of the story, she's white. Jeff Parker claimed that he did this in order to honor all three actresses who played Catwoman during the run of the Batman TV show. However, in previous issues of Batman '66, it was established that both the Eartha Kitt and Lee Meriwether  Catwomen were 'copy-cat' thieves taking advantage of the Julie Newmar's Catwoman being incarcerated in Arkham. So while the tribute is great and all that, it contradicts canon that Jeff Parker himself had established in this franchise of Batman '66 titles.

Regardless of the mistake, this was a really good story. I only hope that this isn't the end of the Batman '66 tales. I really would like to see Batman '66 meet Superman '78 and Flash '90. That last one might be a little too far in the future to really happen. Though the Flash does have the ability to time travel. But maybe we'll see those Legends of Superheroes characters one day. 

Hey, a comic book collector can dream...

Featuring some great covers by two of my personal favorites Alex Ross and Michael Allred!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Batman '66 Meets Steed and Mrs. Peel

60's camp meets 60's mod in this amazing crossover from DC Comics and Boom! Studios. 

The Dynamic Duo joins forces with the Original Avengers in this story that spans two countries. Filled with villains from both franchises, this was one of the best crossovers I've read in a while AND I read a bunch of crossovers and team-ups. It's one of my favorite categories of comics and this one does not disappoint!

Victorian Undead's Ian Edington did a whiz-bang job of capturing the quirks and mannerisms of all of the characters of both properties. Mrs. Peel, played by the alluring Diana Rigg, was always a little cheeky. But the way she plays Mrs. Robinson to Robin's Dustin Hoffman was a little uncomfortable. So, maybe Edington goes a bit too far there. But his idea to have Batman and Robin meet Steed and Peel almost immediately instead of waiting for a couple of issues was a smart move!

I was also digging the artwork. Doctor Who's Matthew Dow Smith took his form to the 60s in a brilliant way. His illustrations of Adam West, Julie Newmar, Patrick Macnee were so very spot on. 

As both TV shows this crossover was based on were set in the 60s, Pop Art was a rising art movement. During this time, Andy Warhol was famous for making silk-screened images of famous people. While I know that's not what Matthew Dow Smith did here, his realistic looking images look silk-screened. Very appropriate for a tale set in the 1960s!

Full of swinging 60s humor, action, and sex appeal- Batman '66 Meets Steed and Mrs. Peel was a great read that I didn't want to end!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

A Sad Day in Gotham City...

Adam West
1928-2017.

Batman '66 Meets The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

  

When a new operative of the criminal organization THRUSH frees all of the inmates from Arkham, Batman and Robin must join forces with the Man from U.N.C.L.E.!

Jeff Parker returns to the Batman '66 universe in this 2016 crossover! All of your classic television favorites are here including Batgirl, Egghead, Napoleon Solo, and Soviet agent Illya Kuryakin. (Man, did my mom have a crush on him!) There's even a few 'modern' villains such as Poison Ivy and a mystery player involved. Sorry- I can't spoil it! (But I can tell you- I saw the plot twist from a mile away!)

Other than what my mother has told me about the Man From U.N.C.L.E., I have never seen the show. But my mom was what you would call a super-fan of the show. So, I think I have a decent idea of what sort of flow to expect from the U.N.C.L.E. characters. Considering that the Batman '66 segments fit very well with that show's personality, I would say that Jeff Parker did an admirable job combining the two franchises.
 
 My favorite part of this book was the art. David Hahn (Suicide Girls) does a fine job at capturing the Batman '66 look of both the show and comic book series. But of course, more than anything, I dug Madman's Mike Allred's groovy covers. I really want to see him take on a 4-issue crossover between Batman '66 and Star Trek '66- and not just the covers. I think it would be wild!

Great fun for those nostalgic fans of classic TV and classic comic books!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Batman '66, Volume 4

   Writer Jeff Parker, cover artist Michael Allred, and a slew of other great artists, colorists, and inkers present another thrilling chapter of Batman adventures based on the 1966 TV series. But this volume comes with an added bonus. Along with a King Tut caper, the Joker becoming a superhero, and the Penguin pulling a slew of crimes based on bats instead of birds for a change; Batman and Batgirl visit Japan to take on the Batmanga villain, Lord Death Man! 

   But that's not all that is included in this thrilling volume. Along for the ride is the one-shot Batman '66: The Lost Episode. That story is based on a treatment by acclaimed sci-fi writer Harlan Ellison (City on the Edge of Forever, Star Trek: TOS) that for some reason or another never made it on TV. Lucky for you, the entire original proposal is reprinted along with stunning color photos from the hit series.

    In the lost episode, Two-Face would have been introduced to the Batman '66 universe. Rumor had it that producers were seriously looking at Clint Eastwood to play the role of Gotham DA Harvey Dent, who becomes the deranged villain after half of his body is doused with acid, in season 4. But, alas Batman was canceled after just 3 seasons. Oh, and did I mention, it's written by the great Len Wein (Swamp Thing) with art by the equally great Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (Super Powers)?

   I really loved this volume. It continues to build on the Batman '66 mythos and pits both classic Batman TV series and new Batman comics villains in that funky little corner of the DC Universe. I'm starting to see this book in the light of other comic books based on unused plans for shows that got canceled much too soon (IE Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 9.) 

Lord Death Man by
Sandy Jarrell.

   But this edition holds a place very dear to my heart for another reason. Earlier, I mentioned the Lord Death Man story. Well, it just so happens late last year, I got to meet the artist for that issue, Sandy Jarrell, at a convention in Raleigh. He was doing blank sketches and I commission him to make me a piece with the caveat that he could draw it of any Batman villain, except for the usual suspects of Joker, Catwoman, Riddler, and Penguin. Well, an hour later and Jarrell presented me with my very own sketch of the Japanese Batman adversary. It was so awesome looking, people kept asking to buy my book! (Get in line, folks...)

   Batman '66 is a fun little series that despite getting cancelled recently, doesn't look like it's going to go away anytime soon and I am glad. Right now, Batman and the Man from UNCLE are teaming up in a miniseries and I hope DC has that smarts to either return Batman '66 to store shelves or kept pairing the Dynamic Duo up with more legends from the swinging 60s.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Merry Christmas, 2015!

And a happy new year!!!

Batman '66, Volume 3

The Joker and Catwoman embark in a dastardly scheme during the Arkham Talent Show.

  A mysterious TV producer creates a series based on a gritty no-nonsense version of the Dark Knight.

  A bat-robot replaces the Dynamic Duo during a crime spree of Gotham's most notorious villains.

  And Marsha, Queen of Diamonds, infiltrates the Bat Cave to steal the Bat-diamond that powers the Caped Crusader's laboratory and data banks...

   All this action and more awaits in the third volume of DC's fantastic Batman '66 webcomic devoted to the 1960s Batman television series. Once again author Jeff Parker, regular series art Jonathan Case, along with guest stints by Art Baltazar and Franco, Dean Haspiel, and others capture the spirit of the campy cult classic that aired on ABC. Also, Michael Allred and wife, Laura continue to thrill with their pop-culture themed covers.

    One thing that I have really liked about this series is that it includes a personal favorite who wasn't around in the 60s, Harley Quinn. Up till now, she's been a minor character as the Joker's therapist, Dr Harleen Quinzel, who sees great promise in trying to reform the Clown Prince of Crime. But in the opening story, we start to see her go down that dark path that will turn Quinzel into the Joker's girlfriend.

   Now, one thing I didn't like about this book. The back cover (and Amazon) promises that Batman: The Lost Episode is in this volume and it ain't. The Lost Episode is taken from a script originally meant to be used in season 4- but never happened as ABC cancelled the series after season 3. This lost episode was to have starred Clint Eastwood as Two-Face. But the rumor and script were lost to time and the bottom of the original screenwriter's desk. Sadly, it's still lost to me until, hopefully, volume 4 hits stores sometime later this year.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.