Robin in Hi Diddle Riddle (1/12/1966) & Smack in the Middle (1/13/1966)

 

Robin the Boy Wonder is the eager, youthful sidekick of Batman, the Caped Crusader, the vigilante crime-fighting alias of millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne.  Introduced in 1940 as orphaned acrobat Dick Grayson in the DC comic book series Batman, Robin was played by Burt Ward in the 1966 television series on ABC.

As played by Burt Ward, Robin has a cute, boyish face, clean-cut, brown hair, and a compact, athletic physique which fits perfectly with his character's acrobatic background.  His colorful outfit, with his dark green mask, gloves, and booties, his bright, red shirt, his shiny, yellow cape, his tight, green panties, and his form-fitting, flesh-color leggings, certainly catches the audience's attention.

Due to his youth, inexperience, and smaller size, the Boy Wonder is clearly the weak link in the Dynamic Duo, which their opponents often seek to exploit.  Robin is also cocky, enthusiastic, and overly eager to prove his independent crime-fighting abilities, especially to Batman.  He is often in trouble and in need of rescue.

This week's villain is the Riddler.  

In the first episode, Batman enters a nightclub while Robin waits in the parking lot.  While Batman's drink is drugged, the Riddler shoots Robin with a sleeping dart and carries the boy to his underground lair.  

In the next episode, the Riddler uses a mold of Robin's face to turn his moll into a convincing Boy Wonder for Batman to rescue and return to the Batcave.  However, Batman detects the ruse, finds and rescues Robin and defeats the Riddler.

Favorite shots:  

For fans of Robin peril, this is a promising beginning to the series.  After confidently declaring that he can take care of himself, the Boy Wonder is shot by a sleeping dart and captured by the Riddler.  Robin spends much of the next episode strapped to a table.  In an isolated moment of consciousness, the Boy Wonder tells Batman that he will get himself free from the Riddler.  Of course, Robin does not, and the Caped Crusader must rescue him anyway.

This blog is intended to promote the appreciation of Burt Ward's portrayal of Robin in the 1966 television series "Batman".  You may purchase both episodes at the following link:

https://www.amazon.com/Hi-Diddle-Riddle/dp/B00OLZVMY8/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=batman+1966&qid=1620375265&sr=8-3

Next blog:  Robin in Fine Feathered Finks (1/19/1966) & Penguin's a Jinx (1/20/1966)