Adam West (1928-2017)

"To The Batcave!"

-Batman-

It's just the saddest thing to watch those we love around us pass as we age including endlessly wonderful pop icons like the original Batman/ Bruce Wayne, Adam West (1928-2017).

Of course the older we get, the more connections we've made, and thus, naturally, the more we lose.

This writer cannot express in words the sheer joy of watching West in the colorfully original, wonderful, TV series Batman (1966-1968) for three seasons (120 episodes) in its syndication heyday.



More than any other superhero series that I can recall adapted for television or film, for me, captured the wild, wonderful spirit of the comic books than the approach adopted and adapted for the DC Comics character for TV in the 1960s.

BAM! WHACK! POW!



The series had a wonderful energy, a great cast, terrific villains and charming characters made possible by a litany of guest performers alongside the principals of Adam West, Burt Ward and often Yvonne Craig and others.



This writer's school bus was typically scheduled for about 7:15 AM arrival on my street and every weekday, with my books in one hand and a Pop Tart (brown sugar) in the other I relished watching as much of that show as possible before exploding out the front door to catch that bus driven by kindly Mr. Standeven (sounds like a Batman villain but he was the nicest man).

West was a big part of that series' allure.

In science fiction he also starred in Robinson Crusoe On Mars (1964). The Blu-Ray Criterion edition of that film is well worth your time. Make no mistakes. He also appeared on The Outer Limits (1963-1965) for The Invisible Enemy.



West was in endless Westerns and a whole roster of films and television serials. And you know you're big and beloved when you land on both Fantasy Island (1980-1984) and The Love Boat (1977-1986).

Not known to me was that West was a bit of a lady slayer as much as he was a caped crusader.

Alongside The Incredible Hulk (1977-1982) starring Bill Bixby, Batman was among this fan's top two comic book TV series ever made.

Mr. West will be missed. He was 88.