Characters I'd Like To See In Batman '66
With Batman '66 introducing great characters like Two-Face {Batman '66: The Lost Episode #1 - The Two-Way Crimes of Two-Face!}, Solomon Grundy and Clayface (Karlo) {Batman '66 23}, Harley Quinn {Batman '66 25}, Lord Death Man {Batman '66 21} and set to introduce characters like Poison Ivy and Killer Croc, maybe it's time to revise my list of characters I would like to see in the series. There are a few that have not made an appearance yet, that I would be excited to see that are still on my list. Here are a few new ones:
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Jeff Parker introduced Lord Death Man in Batman '66 #21. It was a very thrilling and suspenseful story. Parker also smoothly and deftly introduced Solomon Grundy - with comic relief! - and Clayface. It's time to introduce the Scare-meister himself: Professor Jonathan Crane, The Scarecrow. I would see mild-mannered Wally Cox, the voice of Underdog as Crane. A Scarecrow would be a great break from the Batman '66 episode formula. I could see Crane as a Chemistry teacher at Dick Grayson's high school, revisiting the basketball team, or maybe introducing the football team. The Scarecrow would be a great classic addition to the comic book series.
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Remember that Mister Freeze episode with the diamonds and the baseball pitcher? Yeah, Sportsmaster would be a great character to introduce to the Batman '66 comic book universe. The Sportsmaster is just such a fun character, in the vein of The Minstrel, Archer and Shame. I picture Family Affair's Brian Keith in a guest villain appearance.
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Once again, Lord Death Man, Two-Face, Solomon Grundy and Clayface prove that a somewhat Gothic and scary character can work in the Batman '66 universe. Remember Dick Van Dyke in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? He played a kind of Raggedy Andy clown. Yeah, imagine Dick Van Dyke as a triple-jointed Rag Doll. It's not too hard to imagine, the actor has done a couple of rogue roles.
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Most of the villains and storylines have been fun and games. Ra's would be more of a Moriarty to Batman's Holmes. Ra's would be a challenging villain for the simpler times of the '60's
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Kim Basinger's performance as Vicki Vale was inadequate in the 1989 Batman film opposite Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson. There was no "there" there. A far cry from her original - wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say-no-more, say-no-more - appearance on the 1966 Batman series. The television show needed two things: 1) more strong female roles; and B) more strong female roles from actual females from the classic comics. Yeah, kudos to Jeff Parker and the writers for making characters like Marsha, Queen of Diamonds interesting, but how about Vicki?
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I would love to see a Season Four open with Bruce Wayne engaged. Of course, it would only last half the season before it broke up because of Julie's career, or irreconcilable differences, but it would be pretty cool to see Julie. And maybe she would discover what's behind the bookcase in the study...and maybe become the original Nightwing.
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Nothing against Aunt Harriet, I just have a hard time believing that John and Mary Grayson are related to her. Or her late husband whoever Mr. Cooper was. Yes, Leslie is a modern day retcon. She should be introduced into the series.
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Bring on Jason Blood! Repeating: Lord Death Man, Two-Face, Solomon Grundy, Clayface and coming soon I would imagine, Killer Croc. Jason Blood and the myth of Camelot. The Kennedy presidency was compared to the hit musical starring Richard Burton and Julie Andrews. The Bookworm, Roddy McDowell played Modred. 'Nuff said.
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Here it is: Jefferson Pierce is a teacher at Woodrow Roosevelt High School. Yeah, Blaxploitation didn't really take hold until the '70's, but the '60's had Bill Cosby and Phil Morris.
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If there is no other character that should be introduced, it's Lucius Fox. I'll buy Lucas Fox. This is a character, like Leslie Thompkins, that needs to be part of The Dynamic Duo's '66 universe!
