Batman: Beware the Gray Ghost

[CharlesPhipps]

There's actually a fascinating story to this regarding the history of Adam West. Adam West was an incredible up and coming actor at the time of Batman: The Series, up to the point he was even considered for James Bond but the comedy kids show he was on destroyed his career and left him doing Batman appearances for a long time thereafter.

However, Adam said that a weird thing happened roughly around the time of Batman: The Movie by Keaton and company (i.e. 1989). The "Oh my god, Batman!" reactions stopped being mocking and derisive. It took him a while to realize what was going on but he finally put it together that the children who'd watched him in Batman: The Series had grown up enough to get jobs in Hollywood. It had taken 20 years but their reaction wasn't one of mockery but seeing a childhood idol.

As such, he started getting a steady stream of job offers again and his financial situation improved significantly as did his cachet.

So, literally, Batman's "Beware the Gray Ghost" actually reflected the reaction of not just Bruce Wayne but a lot of RL people who the nostalgia for the character/actor who played him was real.

[Fianna]

Fun fact: this episode came out just two weeks before another animated Adam West appearance, this one on The Simpsons.

[CharlesPhipps]

I do think this is up there with "Heart of Ice" for best Batman animated episodes period. It's heartfelt, it has an engaging story, and it isn't just a copy of another comic storyline. It relies on a very human story and benefits from it.

[Deledrius]

I do think this is up there with "Heart of Ice" for best Batman animated episodes period. It's heartfelt, it has an engaging story, and it isn't just a copy of another comic storyline. It relies on a very human story and benefits from it.

I agree. It's always in my top five "here, watch this episode to get a feel for the series" list.

[Thebestoftherest]

I do like how it gives Batman humanity that most writers hate to give him.

[Archanubis]

One story I've heard regarding the making of this episode is that if the creators hadn't been able to get Adam West for the titular character, they wouldn't have made the episode.

[Beastro]

I'd say this is a good example of people taking it upon themselves to add to a pre-existing character/story and make it more than it once was.

I'd say pretty much everything original that came from TAS did this and it's a rare show to pull that off.

I mean, even something like the one with HARDAC could have easily gone wrong but it produced not just a decent episode but the follow up was one of the best of the series.

[Deledrius]

I mean, even something like the one with HARDAC could have easily gone wrong but it produced not just a decent episode but the follow up was one of the best of the series.

Those episodes were riveting for me at the time. I had no idea how much of a ripoff they were! Still holds up.

[CharlesPhipps]

I mean, even something like the one with HARDAC could have easily gone wrong but it produced not just a decent episode but the follow up was one of the best of the series.

Those episodes were riveting for me at the time. I had no idea how much of a ripoff they were! Still holds up.

You say rip off, I say, "Somehow told a cyberpunk story in art deco visual style."

[Deledrius]

You say rip off, I say, "Somehow told a cyberpunk story in art deco visual style."

That's why I love it!

But when I say rip-off, I'm not being glib or generic. There are several shots in that episode, as well as the Clayface one, and a few others, where they literally re-created in animation the shots from things like Terminator and other blockbusters. It wasn't something I picked up on until rewatches as an adult who had seen those films, and I mean no denigration by it, just calling a spade a spade.

It's been long enough since my last watch that I can't be more specific off the top of my head, but it's there if you're familiar with those films and you can't miss it.

Anyway, "Heart of Steel" and "His Silicon Soul" are definitely in my all-time fave episodes. Art-Deco Cyberpunk is totally my jam.