http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/biff_bam_pow_4h9NqcjvU3dmFPGYhU1wWL
TV's original Batman & Robin are coming to a computer screen near you Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed … TV’s original Batman and Robin are roaring in their Batmobile back to a screen near you. A computer screen. Or a tablet screen. DC Comics on Wednesday will release the first-ever comic based on the iconic Adam West-Burt Ward series that debuted in 1966. Fans can reconnect with the Caped Crusaders in a way they never have before. The comic, “Batman ’66,” will first be released in digital form. Meaning you can download it in a variety of ways. And unlike printed comics, the images will feature limited movement and animation. Swipe your tablet and the characters move a certain way, as do those neato-keen sound effects like Biff! Bam! and Pow! EXCLUSIVE ART: Pages by Jonathan Case from the first issue of “Batman ’66.” Above is the first cover, with art by Mike Allred. Sure, Batman has been published by DC for almost 75 years, and he’s arguably the most popular character in the industry. But today’s version is the Dark Knight. This Batman is, as West has said, “the Bright Knight.” And this Robin still spouts those corny “Holy ---!” exclamations. DC tapped writer Jeff Parker to channel the vision of William Dozier, the show’s producer. He’s focusing on the tone of the first season — the wittiest of the program’s three seasons. “There’s a lot of humor in this, but I prefer it to come out of the execution,” Parker said. “That’s when the show was really firing on all cylinders.” The key to making this Batman work is those Batvoices in his head. “I listen to the actors speaking when I’m writing their dialogue,” he said. “That, combined with the artists getting the body language right, like the way Jonathan Case does with Riddler and Catwoman, makes it all come together.” Artist Case is busting out all that go-go DayGlo to capture that swinging ’60s look. “I wanted it to scream ‘retro,’” he said. “Studying the actors … is part of getting it right,” he said. “Gorshining is an acquired skill,” he noted, referring to Frank Gorshin’s manic performances as the Riddler. The TV show itself has never been available legally on video, although the 1966 movie that was released theatrically after the first season is out in a variety of forms. The show is tied up in a tangle of rights between two studios — 20th Century Fox, which owns the show, and Warner Bros., which owns the characters. Add to that the royalties issues involving not just the stars but the dozens of guest stars and you have a trap thornier than Louie the Lilac’s man-eating plants. Nevertheless, the powers that be last year announced a raft of merchandising deals that promises to bring the show back into the public consciousness beyond occasional reruns and YouTube clips. Action figures, clothing, prints, calendars, props — you’ll be seeing it, really for the first time. The wave of Batmania merchandise produced during the show’s original run was based on the look of the comic character, as opposed to the actors. But now everything old is new again — especially where the comic is concerned. Readers can download and read new installments of the comic every week, starting Wednesday, through any of the following ways: the DC Comics smartphone app; online at www.readdcentertainment.com; and via three online bookstores: iBookstore, Kindle Store and Nook Store. Or you can still get it the old-fashioned way, if you want to wait a few weeks. The first print issue will be at your local comic book shop on July 17. One print issue collects three digital chapters. --- The New York Post has a comics, video games and sci-fi blog – Parallel Worlds! Check more “Batman ’66” art at nypost.com/parallelworlds. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Unique Geek" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/theuniquegeek. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
