Animated Movie Revives Adam West Batman Costume

Holy Cultural Relevance, Batman!

In light of Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders’ release, we look back on the Adam West iteration of Batman and ponder his cultural relevance today.

By Shrey Sankalp

When someone talks about how Batman is their favorite character, you’d do well to assume they formed that opinion having read one of the modern comics, or having watched Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy (or Ben Affleck in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, if that’s how you roll). Why am I making such an assumption? Because believe me, if their opinion was born out of the Adam West iteration of Batman, they’d be a bit of an oddity.

Warner Bros./DC

For the uninitiated, Adam West’s version of Batman is the goofy 1960s version of Batman that you see in countless memes, dancing or engaging in otherwise un-Batman-like activities. Anyone checking the West Batman out because it’s a Batman property will get the shock of their lives when they find out that instead of the grit, darkness and heavily armored costume, this version makes do with comedy, a Mad Men-esque vibe, and a costume that is more flattering to the beer belly than it is to a six-pack. If I am giving a somewhat negative impression of this version of Batman, then I do truly apologize, because let me say it: Adam West’s Batman is the greatest thing that ever happened to Batman.

Ever since Tim Burton’s 1989 film Batman, it seems like Batman has come to be defined by his darkness and torment, and while the results have been decidedly most impressive (save for the ill-advised foray into camp with Batman & Robin), more recent adaptations across the board seem to be doubling down on the same, to a point where it has become physically exhausting and utterly monotonous. When this cycle was briefly broken by 2014’s The LEGO Movie featuring a self-deprecating and wisecracky Batman, who ditched all the torment (while making fun of his costume, color choices and upbringing), it was a revelation, and led many to the doorstep of Adam West’s Batman with all its unflattering costumes, funky scene transitions, outlandishly ridiculous plots and a generally goofy sense of earnestness that provided a very welcome change from the ubiquitous version. As hard as it is to take seriously a Batman who faces off against villains while dancing, or enumerates the merits of homework and drinking milk to an equally goofily costumed Robin, it’s hard not to laugh at the absurdity of it all and have a good time.

“I understand that, Shrey, but you just said this show is the greatest thing to ever happen to Batman, but all you did was describe the show and not present us with a valid reason to support your argument!” is probably what you’re thinking right now. “Haha, relax, I’m getting to it, but I needed a little scene-setting as most people today haven’t watched the series” is what I’m gonna say to you as I move on to my argument.

Warner Bros./DC

I personally feel Adam West’s Batman is the best one, because its benefits are twofold: First, it stands really well on its own as a comedy show. You could not be a Batman fan and still enjoy the show’s decidedly over the top nature, amusingly gauche costumes, affinity for awkwardly awesome alliteration (much like this example right here) and its unparalleled theme music coupled with its lovely direction. But, if you’re a Batman fan, this is a wonderful opportunity to see one of the first and truest adaptations of your hero, while getting to revel in how far he’s come in terms of story, costume and tone (but not the Batmobile, because the 1966 Batmobile can never be matched). You’d be surprised at how truly entertaining a different take on a familiar property can prove to be. Secondly, I feel that when he show is viewed in conjunction with the modern Batman, not only does it act as the perfect palate cleanser, but it is also vastly improved in retrospect, while enhancing the take on modern Batman by creating a contrast that just helps you view the character less critically.

And as with the case of Return of the Caped Crusaders, help you understand that it was hardly the worst Batman feature. In a year of darkly disappointing DC duds like Batman v. Superman and Suicide Squad, the animated campfest is a delightful adventure harkening back to the stupidity of yore, all while lampooning this dark take on the Batman of today through the lens of the West Batman. That alone in my opinion makes this the best Batman film of the year, and you can be pretty sure the Batman costume I buy this year, is the campy flab-hugging Adam West costume, and not the gritty armored costume.