#139 "Batman Meets Godzilla" #2 and the Battle Over the Batmobile

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966

Batman Meets Godzilla issue 2 is out! You may recall we previously reviewed issue 1 of Eric Elliot’s labor-of-love project, with contributions from numerous artists (including Ian Miller, who drew the above panel), to bring life to a movie pitch from the ‘60s. Issue 2 manages to noticeably top issue 1 in numerous ways. In this episode, our review.

As 20th Century Fox and Greenway Productions were putting together the pilot two-parter of Batman, some problems arose with George Barris and his car customizing shop, Barris Kustom City. Barris seemed intent on keeping possession of the car when it wasn’t in front of the cameras; Fox’s Charles Fitzsimons suspected that Barris wanted to hold the car for ransom. Some documents, from the American Heritage Center in Laramie via Ben Bentley, tell the story … or, at least, some of it. We examine these documents.

Also, a Holy Deja Vu! (or two) from the Dick Van Dyke Show, a French-language record that’s both about and credited to Batman, and your mail about episode 136, “Freeze/Penguin teamup and Dozier’s ten rules”!

The Batmobile Documents:

Barris' proposal for the Batmobile deal

Features the Batmobile needed for the pilot

The Batmobile falls apart on the set

Two years later, the saga continues

Who are the Red Bamboo?

Burt Ward announcing an appearance in Georgia in 1977

Batman - L'Invicible Batman + Un mauvais farceur