Robin in Zelda the Great (2/9/1966) & Death Worse Than Fate (2/10/1966)

 

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 Zelda the Great.  

In the first episode, Zelda detects a Bat trap and outmaneuvers the Dynamic Duo by kidnapping Aunt Harriet and suspending her over a burning vat of oil. 

In the next episode, Bruce Wayne and Robin beg Zelda to release Aunt Harriet.

Favorite shots:  

Because Bruce Wayne's help is needed to secure Aunt Harriet's release, Robin must proceed without Batman.  After getting into an argument over the legitimacy of a deceptive crime-fighting tactic, the Boy Wonder confesses to another deception and then, while trying to appeal to the villain's sense of compassion, calls her a "crook".  After that, the villain mercifully, and inexplicably, releases Aunt Harriet.  

Zelda should have lured the Boy Wonder into a trap, using Aunt Harriet as bait, and then string up the mouthy sidekick instead over a burning vat of oil.

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

Previous blog:  Robin in Instant Freeze (2/2/1966) & Rats Like Cheese (2/3/1966)

Next blog:  Robin in Riddle a Day Keeps the Riddler Away (2/16/1966) & When the Rat's Away, the Mice Will Play (2/17/1966)