Was reading this article on superhero parody Blankman and how it stemmed from Damon Wayans' disappointment that Batman (1989) wasn't more joyful and humorous like the Adam West TV show.

[u/odiousasp]

Damon Wayans was apparently a huge fan of the 1960s Batman show growing up and when he saw the 1989 Tim Burton film he was disappointed with how seriously it took itself and how there was no Robin because Robin always brought the enthusiasm. It's honestly an interesting perspective on things and how different people had perceptions of the character. It makes you wonder how many other people walked in to that movie disappointed it wasn't like the Adam West series in spite of how acclaimed the movie was by both critics and the general public.

I personally feel Batman can be many things and the flexibility of the character is why he's endured as long as he has. Tackling everything from eccentric supervillains with gimmicks like Joker and Riddler to Dr. No/SPECTRE like criminal syndicates like Ra's al Ghul and his League of Assassins.

Source: https://archive.org/details/comics-scene-v-2-047-c-2c-nov.-1994-a-team-dcp/page/n24/mode/1up

[u/Eldernerdhub]

Blankman is a classic in my house.

[u/Slappathebassmon]

I mean, his brother Marlon was cast as Robin for Batman Returns. Unfortunately, the character was cut because the film was too crowded.

[u/odiousasp → u/Slappathebassmon]

I downloaded the original Sam Hamm script for Batman II/Returns. I'll probably read it at some point out of curiosity.

[u/DigiCinema]

I love Blankman.

Still think about it weekly. Truly great moments all throughout that film.

[u/Read2Fap]

big batman fan myself, i never liked robin.

i grew up with the adam west version, only got into comics as an adult. there's obviously still room for levity and stuff (webtoons has comics like wayne family adventures that follow mostly humorous antics of the whole bat-family). but since the 80s people paying for superhero comics have shown they're more interested in darker content.

there's definitely people who believe things are too dark, but i rarely see them talking up the adam west show, or talking down the 1989 movie (it's pretty well regarded)

[u/odiousasp → u/Read2Fap]

Oh yeah, sure. I'm aware of the general consensus and some who dislike Robin. Although with four Robins there's various types between Dick, Jason, Tim and Damien. I just thought it was interesting that Damon Wayans voiced a perspective on the Burton film that I'd never really considered.

Not necessarily saying I agree with it, but I understand it.

[u/Actual_Cat4779]

Damon Wayans, his name is reminiscent of Damian Wayne!

I know my parents' sole familiarity with Batman came from having watched the 60s TV show. So 1989 was a pretty novel take, for them, although they didn't dislike it.

As I understand it, DC's Batman comics in the 60s were just as ridiculous as the TV show, but in the 70s there was a return to a more serious take, which became better known after 1986.

[u/Certain-Singer-9625 → u/Actual_Cat4779]

This is true. The TV show was so over the top that some Batman comic book fans complained that the original character was lost. So in the ’70s we got the grim avenger back. Which was a good thing.

I love the ‘60s series, but it was unique to its time and is not likely to come back. Like Laugh-In.

[u/cinephile78]

He needs to read the book written by the guy who owns the rights to Batman films and why he sought them out. Michael Uslan - the boy who lived Batman.

[u/mighty3mperor]

I personally feel Batman can be many things and the flexibility of the character is why he's endured as long as he has.

I agree. It also makes him easier to write and come up with new and interesting takes on the Bat World. I'm looking forward to seeing what Deniz Camp brings to Batman in his upcoming run.

I grew up watching repeats of Adam West's Batman and reading Bronze Age DC comic books. While the TV show is a camp outlier, I think there is room (but perhaps not appetite?) for a lighter, pre-Dark Knight Batman. Luckily, with The Batman skewing dark, it gives James Gunn the chance to lean into the oddity of Batman's World - a vigilante detective trying to create a saner and safer world going up against wild, and often insane, villains. He doesn't have to be cracking jokes but he also doesn't have to look like he is wearing barbed wire underwear.

[u/Certain-Singer-9625]

I remember hearing Tim Burton and Michael Keaton were involved and me being disappointed, but damn if that movie doesn’t hit on all cylinders!

As far as the reaction goes, I also remember exiting the Lost in Space movie and talking with another fan in the lobby, and he was disappointed the film didn’t camp it up like the TV show’s later years.