SPOILERS: Just Read Batman 66 Comic #1-Discussion Thread

[clavierankh]

Unlike Edward Nigma , I preferred the second issue. It was much more Batman 666. I don't thin the aerobatic action sequences in one could have appeared in the series, even with season 1 budgets. It reminded me more of the Filmation cartoons.

Regarding the window cameo, that was weird. I would almost as soon they didn't do one. I recognize the problem they have. To do the kind of cameos they did in the series they would have to get rights to people and characters images. They might be able to use characters in the Warner library , but would they be able to use actors images? Another way would be to use DC characters as they appeared in the '60s.

Don't expect immediate changes based on suggestions here. They are are probably already 3 or 4 issues out.

[High C]

Unlike Edward Nigma , I preferred the second issue. It was much more Batman 666.

Wow, that would be pretty dark, wouldn't it?

Don't give DC any ideas! I can see the pitch meeting now:

'So Barbara Gordon comes back from college, and she's a zombie!! And anyone who checks out a book she touches, they become zombies too!'
'But how do Batman and Robin fight the zombies?'
'With Bat Zombie-repellent, of course!'

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist, clavierankh. Seriously, I appreciate you starting this thread and offering your opinions, and I also appreciate the opinions of those who also have chimed in.

[clavierankh]

High C I probably wouldn't have been able to resist either.

[Robin's Girl]

Although, the artist should have made Bruce's batpole bigger than Dick's batpole.

Aw, man. They didn't? It's little details like this that are important enough that I wish they'd include. I haven't read it yet since I'm waiting for the print version, but I don't think I'd mind too much about Alfred taking the batpole, but Batman's cowl is a detail which I might be nit picky about. I am disappointed about the batpoles, enough though that is such a minor detail, and though there have likely been several jokes made on that point. It would've have cool to see that in the comics.

[High C]

High C I probably wouldn't have been able to resist either.

Thanks.

[Gernot]

Batman's Bat-pole was bigger than Robin's? I thought they got in trouble because the OPPOSITE was true back in '66!

(Sorry, I couldn't resist!)

[60sLover]

***ADMIN EDIT: BOARD RULE VIOLATION - Just because it's on YouTube does not make it okay to post protected copyrighted material***

[elmrgraham]

Excellent.

[bat lugosi]

Just a few thoughts,

I have mixed feelings about Alfred going down the poles, I'm not crazy about it but it seems to fit the tone they are going for.

Bruce and Dick not wearing masks in the Batcave didn't bother me. It could be because I'm a fan of Batman in almost all his incarnations but I look at it as an improvement though I realize it's a departure from the show.

At some point I would love to see Alex Ross work on these to give us a super realistic look but I think the art here is awesome, I love it!

Overall I really enjoyed it!

[High C]

Here's my take on issues 1 and 2:

Overall, I liked it. I felt that it captured the tone of the show for the most part, and the asides by Batman were spot-on, such as mentioning Robin’s daytime driver’s license and how Riddler, with his brilliant mind, could help society if he weren’t a criminal. I have no problem with Batman being a bit of a square, as long as he's not a doofus as he increasingly became in S2 and full-on in S3.

I have no problem with extending the boundaries of the action given the milieu, because we don’t have to worry about Greenway and ABC pinching pennies. However, I do agree with clavierankh that issue 2 felt more like the show, whereas the first issue was really non-stop action with no time to catch your breath.

I liked CW’s dialogue from writer Jeff Parker, and artist Jonathan Case certainly captured Julie Newmar’s body, and body language, in his drawings of her. But I agree with what some have said, her minions were WAY off the mark. I wouldn’t mind updating the leopard costumes for her male kittens, maybe like modern-day muscle shirts in leopard print. So a big thumbs down from me there because part of the charm of the show, as opposed to the comic, was the color-coordinated henchpeople, IMO.

I had a mixed reaction to the lack of cowls/masks in the Batcave. Even without masks, if they are in costume, I believe they should refer to one another as Batman and Robin, so they stay in practice and thus never slip up in public.

I liked Alfred’s dialogue with Aunt Harriet, but didn’t like the silliness of him using the Bat-pole for no good reason. Thought it was funny how O’Hara had his arm in a sling, just as he did in the Minerva ep. Thought that was a fun nod to the show, as was CW using a club as a front, and the Batusi reference. The window cameo was silly but fun. As clavierankh noted, I guess they can’t use real people from the 1960s but must use characters and/or archetypes.

I was impressed with the way the villains’ faces were drawn, especially Gorshin’s. Again, maybe it’s a Greenway contract thing that they can’t use images of Hamilton, Napier, Repp and Blake, but I’m quite encouraged that Siren, when she appears, will look like Joan Collins. Here’s hoping.

[Robin Holyisms]

I was impressed with the way the villains’ faces were drawn, especially Gorshin’s. Again, maybe it’s a Greenway contract thing that they can’t use images of Hamilton, Napier, Repp and Blake, but I’m quite encouraged that Siren, when she appears, will look like Joan Collins. Here’s hoping.

Actually in a review that was posted on the nypost.com, it said that this was done because DC dosen't have the rights to use their likenesses.

Artist Jonathan Case gets the Riddler’s manic energy right and his Batman and Robin are on the money. Since DC doesn’t have the rights to use the images of Neil Hamilton and Stafford Repp, Commissioner Gordon and Chief O’Hara are given vaguely familiar, but generic, looks.

I’ve had the chance to glimpse the installments included in the print edition. There’s a lot there to love – the batpoles, a stupendously accurate rendering of the Batcave, Julie Newmar’s Catwoman, and Aunt Harriet as she looked in the ‘60s comics, since DC also doesn’t have a deal with actress Madge Blake’s estate.

http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/gamerepor ... z2ZA1kPdsH

[AndyFish]

All right now that I've read the conclusion I have a different take on the whole thing. I rated the whole series 3 out of 5 stars on comixology, and I think it's got potential, still I wish the writer had given us something more than what felt like a skit remembering the spirit of the old BATMAN tv show.

I realize the source material was pretty one dimensional at times, but there was real depth and character in some of this early episodes that's lacking here.

The conclusion felt a bit rushed and Catwoman was really a weak addition here, I absolutely hate the idea of two villains in each installment, it didn't work in the series, the movies of the 90s or even in the recent dark knight films, it just jams too many characters into a story and leaves little room for development.

While I liked the art for the most part, some of this third installment seemed rushed, figures look awkward and some of the poses seem unnatural.

I don't want it to sound like I didn't enjoy the series, I did. I just WANT to like it more than I actually do like it. Hopefully the creative team gives a bit more respect to the material and gets away from this homage heavy style. I'd love to see a return to the heroic Batman who stood for something. Hopefully after this week the writer can watch the pilot for some inspiration.

We need wit and style, not camp and parody. Real camp is not written, it's born of the material.

[High C]

I absolutely hate the idea of two villains in each installment, it didn't work in the series, the movies of the 90s or even in the recent dark knight films, it just jams too many characters into a story and leaves little room for development.

I agree totally. Feels rushed and invariably at least one of the villains gets short shrift this way.

[clavierankh]

Just read it too.

I agree on not liking multiple villains. There has to be a real need for more than one or it's a stunt.

Leave out Catwoman, who was extraneous, flesh out the Riddler part of the story and you would have had a good Riddler solo story.

I did like the idea of Riddler stealing artwork that was a puzzle.

[Gothamite]

I've read issues 1 and 2.
Like you, I agree on the fact that Catwoman didn't have her place in this story.
As for the comic itself, I think that the characters really look like the actors who portrayed them back in 1966 which is good but still, I'm a little disappointed with some of the illustrations. And for the action, there's a way too much. But still, I can't wait 'til issue no.3