This blog post is inspired by a Tweet a friend of mine, Danny Lavery, sent out about a dream item he wished existed for Doctor Who, a favourite TV Show of his.

Here is Danny’s blog https://dannylavery9.wordpress.com

and here is that original tweet

ok @DidymusBrush @JDenchen I’ve had a play with a #DoctorWho Wilderness Years blu ray set idea – discs done in years, features would be dependent on rights and budget and indeed what you can fit on a disc; maybe a percentage could go to Children in Need and Comic Relief? pic.twitter.com/N16GzQlIc5

— Danny #WeAreStarfleet ?￯ﾸﾏ‍? #gallifreyone #gally1 (@dannylavery9) January 24, 2019

The items listed below do not currently exist. The content does exist, or is at least feasible to exist.

The intent of this blog post is not to simply make stuff up, but to put together items that I would like to see and purchase myself.

I will lay out the concept and content of the item and explain the content contained within and my logic and rationale behind my wanting its existence

Batmania II CD 

The first Batmania CD featured songs inspired by the Batman TV Series and was released in July 1997. My intention for the Batmania II CD is for it to include songs that have been inspired by the 60s Batman TV show that have been released since July 1997, showcasing the continued legacy of the TV show.

Track Listing

1. We Ridin’ (Batman) by V.I.C. featuring Hurricane Chris 03:35

2. Batman Theme (Remix) by J Flexx 02:30

3. Opening Narration by Blake Neely 02:15

4. Who’s the (Bat)man by Patrick Stump 03:04

5. Gotham City Guys by Will Arnett and Tiffany Haddish 02:17

6. Adam West is Batman by The Plaid Jackets 03:18

7. Batman Theme by Jerome Valeska and Henchmen 00:21

8. Watch Out by J Flexx 01:46

9. Batman Theme by The Hamburglars 01:57

10. The Thing by Adam West 02:31

11. Adam West Id by Adam West 00:10

12. The Simpsons: Large Marge Score Excerpts 00:23

13. Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy Theme 02:40

14. Adam West by Adam West 00:21

15. Classic Batman Main Title by Kristopher Carter, Lolita Ritmanis and Michael McCuistion 01:24

16. Batman vs Two-Face Main Title by Kristopher Carter, Lolita Ritmanis and Michael McCuistion 01:36

Explanation/Rationale

Track 1: We Ridin’ (Batman) by V.I.C. featuring Hurricane Chris

This track features on V.I.C.’s 2008 album “Beast”.

This rap song uses the Batman Theme as much of its basis and mentions Batman throughout. The song featured in some trailers and teasers for 2017’s The Lego Batman Movie.

Track 2: Batman Theme (Remix) by J Flexx

Another rap. This song, has not had an official release on CD thus far. The song talks about the dynamic duo and their villains and focuses on the story of the characters much more than the previously listed song. This song features in 2003’s Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt, during the scene where Adam West and Julie Newmar dance in the Highway to Arizona bar, and also during the end credits. The song also plays during the DVD Menu of Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt.

Track 3: Opening Narration by Blake Neely

Supergirl: Season 5 Episode 9: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part One (2019) kicked off an epic 5 part crossover that combined and featured many films and TV shows from DC Comics History. At the end of the opening narration we hear a version of the familiar Batman TV theme. Given the epic feel of the music from this opening narration and the fact that we hear snippets of other brilliant DC media, I think including this music in its entirety would feel grander than simply including the 12 second snippet of the Batman Theme that was featured. Crisis on Infinite Earths only recently (14^th January 2020) finished airing and so a soundtrack has not yet been announced or even confirmed, as such a proper title for this track is not yet evident.

Track 4: Who’s the (Bat) Man by Patrick Stump

This song features on the soundtrack for the 2017 film, The Lego Batman Movie. Much of the song is based around the 60s Batman Theme. There’s choruses of people shouting “Batman”, even the villainous Mutant Leader is seen singing along at one point! This song is boat loads of fun and epitomises the idea of Batman being the best at anything and everything he does. This Batman however is far less humble about it than Adam West’s Batman was!

Lego Batman is voiced by Will Arnett, however Patrick Stump the lead singer of Fall Out Boy provides the singing voice for Lego Batman here.

Side Note:

Patrick Stump is the lead singer of Fall Out Boy. Fall Out Boy is the name of Radioactive Man’s sidekick in the Simpsons. Radioactive Man and Fall Out Boy are a parody of Adam West and Burt Ward’s Batman and Robin.

Track 5: Gotham City Guys by Will Arnett and Tiffany Haddish

This song features in 2019’s The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. To my knowledge The Lego Movie 2 at present only has a digital soundtrack release and so having this song in a physical format would be good. Throughout the song Lego Batman tries to convince Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi (played by Tiffany Haddish) to go out on a date with him. To do so he explains why he’s great and she rebuts him throughout, each of them mentioning most of the live action actors who have portrayed Batman throughout the years, including Adam West, with a Lego version of Adam West’s Batman appearing at one point.

Track 6: Adam West is Batman by The Plaid Jackets

This track features on the 2010 album The New Adventures of the Plaid Jackets. To my knowledge this also, only has a digital release and so would be nice to have physically. This song features in the opening credits of the documentary release, Starring Adam West from 2013. The song is a fun celebration of why Adam West is the best Batman there ever was.

Track 7: Batman Theme by Cameron Monaghan

Jerome Valeska, played by Cameron Monaghan and his goons, in the 2018 episode “That’s Entertainment”, Season 4 Episode 18 Of Gotham, features a short, wordless rendition of the 60s Batman Theme. Though a short song, Gotham is arguably the closest thing there has been to a live action Batman series since 1968, and so it’s nod to the 60s and connection to the mythos I feel would deserve it a place on this imaginary CD release.

Track 8: Watch Out by J Flexx

Another rap. This song another one by J Flexx and another one from Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt. It features during the scene where Adam West and Burt Ward get ready and put on their superhero costumes for the first time. The song warns villains of messing with the dynamic duo and tells of transformation.

Tracks 9-11: Batman Theme by The Hamburglars/The Thing by Adam West/Adam West Id

All three of these tracks appear consecutively on the 2018 covers album “Dr. Demento Covered in Punk”, together they show both Adam West and Batman’s continued legacy and, although not in character as Batman, including “The Thing” mirrors the original Batmania CD’s inclusion of songs sung by Adam West.

Track 12: The Simpsons: Large Marge Score Excerpts

In The Simpsons Season 14 Episode 4: Large Marge from 2002, Bart and Milhouse are having a sleepover and come across an episode of “the old Batman show”. In this segment their idol Krusty the Clown is portraying a villain by the name of Clownface. In this parody the style of music used in Batman is brilliantly mimicked and would be a welcome addition to a Batman CD uninterrupted by Bart, Milhouse, Krusty the Clown and Adam and Burt’s dialogue. As the score is used within the episode the time of 00:23 is a best estimate.

Track 13: Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy Theme

From Spongebob Squarepants. Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy appeared from 1999-2017. An inclusion more for what it represents than what it sounds like. Elements of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy were parodies of previous superhero media, including 60s Batman. In fact Adam West and Burt Ward did voice the young versions of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy in a Season 7 episode of Spongebob Squarepants.

Track 14: Adam West by Adam West

In Family Guy Season 4 Episode 19: Brian Sings and Swings, Adam West deciding that “all this singing is contagious”, proceeds to sing his own name. A wonderfully ridiculous moment that only Adam West could make work.

Track 15: Classic Batman Main Title by Kristopher Carter, Lolita Ritmanis and Michael McCuistion

In 2016, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders a new animated movie set in the continuity of the 60s TV show was released, and although it already has a CD release the inclusion of this newer version of the Classic Theme, along with the next track listed, feels like a good way to round the CD out.

Track 16: Batman vs Two Face Main Title by Kristopher Carter, Lolita Ritmanis and Michael McCuistion

In 2017, Batman vs Two Face a 2nd animated movie set in the continuity of the 60s TV show was released. This soundtrack already has a digital release but a physical release is sadly lacking, and it feels fitting to close this imaginary CD out on a new version of the Batman theme made for the final Batman project featuring Adam West.

Batman 66 Omnibus II/Batman 66 Crossover Omnibus

Collects:

The Omnibus collecting the main run of Batman 66 comics, collects together all 30 regular issues, The Lost Episode One Shot and a story from Solo 7: Mike Allred called “Batman-A-Go-Go”.

My proposed omnibus, either Batman 66 Omnibus II or Batman 66: Crossover Omnibus would collect;

Batman 66 Meets Green Hornet (Issues 1-6)

Batman 66 Meets The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Issues 1-6)

Batman 66 Meets Steed and Mrs. Peel (Issues 1-6)

Batman 66 Meets Wonder Woman 77 (Issues 1-6)

Batman 66 Meets The Legion of Superheroes (Issue 1)

Archie Meets Batman 66 (Issues 1-6)

Bonus:

“Claymates” (from Wonder Woman 77 Special 3)

Just like the first Omnibus this would collect 31 comics and a story from a related comic.

“Claymates” is actually alluded to in Batman 66 Meets Wonder Woman 77 and so would be a welcome inclusion in this Omnibus. As it would allow for the whole story to be told, as Batman 66 Meets Wonder Woman 77, when collected, did not feature the “Claymates” Story

If this Omnibus were to exist, it would be the first reprint for Batman 66 Meets the Legion of Superheroes. Currently it is the only Batman 66 comic that hasn’t been reprinted in anyway;

There is no second printing. Something which was achieved by Batman 66 Meets Green Hornet Issue 1 and Archie Meets Batman 66 Issue 1.

There is no variant cover. Something which happened for various issues of the Batman 66 comics but notably the first issue of each crossover mini series, and for the one shot Batman 66: The Lost Episode, so as both a first issue of a crossover and a one shot, it is odd Batman 66 Meets the Legion of Superheroes didn’t get a variant cover.

It does not appear in a Trade Paperback or Hardcover collection, whereas every other Batman 66 comic has.

It has not even been included in a related collection. A Batman 66 comic Catwoman story appeared in the book “Catwoman: A Celebration of 75 Years”. There have been releases of Legion of Superheroes books since this One shot, but none have included it.

So it would be good for this to be made available again/made more available

These crossovers included co-productions with Dynamite Comics, Archie Comics and Boom Studios and so along with DC Comics 4 companies would need credit, perhaps stopping this release from existing?

Hi Diddle Riddle/Smack In The Middle: Expanded Edition

A Standalone Blu-Ray Release focusing on the Pilot episodes: Hi Diddle Riddle and Smack in the Middle

Version 1: Original

Version 2: Original – with commentary track

Version 3: Original – with commentary track [picture-in-picture]

Version 4: Inventing Batman: In the Words of Adam West

Version 5: Original – mixed with screen test

Version 6: Original – mixed with Lyle Waggoner and Peter Deyell’s screen test

Version 7: Original – mixed with ABC Presentation Reel footage

Special Features:

Adam West and Burt Ward’s Screen Tests

Lyle Waggoner and Peter Deyell’s Screen Tests

The Lego Batman Movie “Similar Phases” footage

ABC Presentation Reel footage

Explanation

Version 1

Hi Diddle Riddle and Smack in the Middle as they were originally presented

(featured on Batman: Season 1 DVD, Batman: The Complete Series Blu-Ray)

Version 2

Hi Diddle Riddle and Smack in the Middle with Adam West’s commentary from Adam West Naked DVD (audio). Prior to the Batman TV Series being released to home media in late 2014, Adam West recorded and released a DVD called Adam West Naked in 2009. In this release Adam West tells his memories and anecdotes for all 120 episodes of the Batman TV Series. I’m proposing that for this version the audio of that DVD where he is discussing the first two episodes be included as a commentary track. Various Blu-Rays and DVDs have used audio from interviews as a commentary track, so though this wasn’t recorded for the express purpose of being used as a commentary it would arguably be more appropriate than that.

Version 3

The same as version 2 but with the visuals from Adam West Naked as a picture-in-picture commentary track.

Version 4

Batman: The Complete Series includes a special feature called “Inventing Batman: In the Words of Adam West” in which Hi Diddle Riddle and Smack in the Middle play out as normal but with the occasional interruption by Adam West discussing the episode(s) utilising his original scripts.

Version 5

This version would be interspersing Adam and Burt’s screen tests with the actually aired episodes where appropriate within the scenes. It would be interesting to see the pacing and delivery differences and how they developed from screen test to filming the episodes.

Version 6

Similar to Version 5, but with Lyle Waggoner and Peter Deyell’s screen test footage as Batman and Robin interspersed. This would be a great way of comparing the differences in energy and delivery between the two sets of actors.

Version 7

In 1965 a Network Presentation reel was made for ABC, in this presentation reel there are alternate takes, different camera angles and different line readings which’d be another different way to experience the first two episodes if that footage were to be inserted. Sort of between screen test and finished product.

Though this may seem excessive it would be convenient to have all the footage in one place rather than spread across different releases and would be a bit more vibrant than simply including a number of commentary tracks.

Special Features Explanation

I have included the screen tests as special features so that all the footage would be together as there are some things in the screen tests that were more to see what they could do and how they would look and not actual scene work as such.

In the Lego Batman Movie from 2017, Alfred mentions that Batman has gone through similar phases in 2016, 2012, 2008, 2005, 1997, 1995, 1992, 1989 and “that weird one in 1966”, and then footage is shown from Hi Diddle Riddle and Season 1 Episode 28: The Pharoah’s in a Rut, in which Adam West’s Batman dances the Batusi. Thus showing the continued legacy of the show and indeed the first episode.

ABC Presentation Reel footage included so it can be seen uninterrupted and be seen how the Network first saw it.

Both screen tests and the Presentation Reel all appear in full on Batman: Holy Batmania (2000) DVD which is now out of print and expensive to purchase.

Batman 66 Comics on DVD/Blu-Ray

Batman 66 Comics first came out as digital comics that unfold as you click/scroll through them, with the speech bubbles appearing in order rather than simply showing the static panels as they are/would be on the printed page.

There are a few instances of digital comics/motion comics being released on DVD and Blu-Ray , such as Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 8 . Although these were more dynamic in terms of the animation than Batman 66, I still feel that the Batman 66 Comics would benefit from a DVD/Blu-Ray release of their original presentation. Perhaps it is me, but a physical release of these digital releases would make physical Batman 66 comic collections feel more complete and in a way, more true to its original release.

Hope you enjoyed my imaginary Bat-Wish List!