Batman : Return of the Caped Crusaders - In Review Guest Writer

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016)Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016)

The Dynamic Duo, Batman and Robin must spring into action when the fiendish foes The Penguin, The Joker, The Riddler and Catwoman unite again and begin terrorising Gotham City. The mischievous foursome have stolen a replica ray gun and they have also turned The Batman evil, leaving Gotham helpless. It is up to Robin to get the antidote for Batman so they can save Gotham together.

Adam West (Bruce Wayne/Batman), Burt Ward (Dick Grayson/ Robin) and Julie Newmar (Catwoman) reprise their roles. Newmar still brings out the sexy allure of Catwoman, sounding sweet and innocent, yet still with a villainess wit. She walks the line between right and wrong, tempting Batman along the way.

This is not your dark and brooding Batman, this is the colourful, fun Batman from the 60’s. The movie plays a respectful homage to the TV show, while updating some things, from the great Batmobile exiting the cave to Batman going into outer space! It does not ignore the new incarnations of the Bat either, with spoof and great quotes from Burton’s “you want to get nuts” line to Frank Miller’s “It's an Operating Table. And I'm the Surgeon”.

The animation looks fantastic and it gives the freedom for some great visual gags as well as allowing the plot to go to new places and some fun action scenes. The 60’s TV show, although live action, was always closer to being a cartoon with its bright colours and outlandish plots. So the switch from a live action to an animation is pretty much seamless.

Renturn of the Caped Crusaders was released on the 50th anniversary of the 1966 Batman TV show & Batman: The Movie and it is a great celebration of all that is loved of the 60’s Batman. The story is fast paced, fun, with terrific action. The comedy is on point for any fans of Batman from any decade. It feels like a true Bat- adventure of that time.

Ward has some of the funniest one liners with “Holy trench warfare!” and “Holy Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” He brings the boy wonder to life with some great voice acting. West is still full of his charm and deadpan one liners. The rest of the cast who fill the shoes of other characters from The Joker to Alfred Pennywise do a great job too. All are able to bring them to life and are faithful to the source material.

Return of The Cape Crusaders is a welcome adventure for the dynamic duo, with the over saturation of dark and gritty adaptations of comic book characters, it was refreshing to see an adaptation with humour. It recreates the look and feel of the 60’s TV show and yet updates. The animation is well done and is fitting to the show. It is an excellent comedy, especially for fans of Batman as there are many sight gags and quotes from the old and new material. The Cape Crusaders certainly returned with a Pow and a Boom! Retire to the Bat cave and give it a watch.

Adam West (1928–2017) We miss you, old chum.

By Peter Aldred