New Batman fan art reimagines the iconic movie posters from Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher's Batman films with the cast of the original 1960s Batman television show. The 1960s Batman show was controversial for many years as it was seen as a poorly realized and overly childish take on the iconic Caped Crusader. The Batman show's campy tone motivated Burton to course-correct, with Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992) among the bleakest cinematic interpretations of the character to date. Following what Warner Bros. saw as a disappointing box office run for Batman Returns, Schumacher stepped in and revived the campy tone with his much-maligned Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997).
Although each generation of Batman films has faced their share of criticisms upon release, they have all since accumulated their own cult followings. Reception toward the classic television show (colloquially referred to as Batman '66 in reference to the show's tie-in film released in 1966) has softened the most over the ensuing years. Even decades after its conclusion, Batman '66 continues to inspire those who love the character to this day.
Instagram user yeoldeking_creativespero recently shared new fan art that shows the posters of Burton and Schumacher's films reimagined with the cast of Batman '66. The intricate posters recast the Batman and Robins of the era with the cowls made iconic by Adam West and Burt Ward. They recast the villains as well, with Caesar Romero's Joker and Lee Meriwether's Catwoman making appearances. Check out the images in full below:
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The juxtaposition of Batman '66's characters onto the 1990s era posters underscores the stark contrast in tone between the two decades. In many ways, Burton's films laid the foundation for future cinematic interpretations of Batman. After Schumacher's movies deviated from Burton's style, the poor popular and critical reception toward his films ensured that all future versions of Batman would be gritty and dark, a legacy that continues on to this day with Matt Reeves' upcoming 2022 film, The Batman. The whimsical tone of Batman '66 is rarely, if ever, seen in contemporary portrayals of the character, both in film and in comics.
From the 1960s to the present day, Batman has evolved immensely as a character. The cycle between campy and gritty has ensured that no adjacent eras of the character ever look quite the same. Fan-made artwork such as this helps pay homage to all the distinct eras of Batman's expansive history.
Source: yeoldeking_creativespero/Instagram
