It's a Supermonth!

With Marvel's Captain America making magazine covers and Ryan Reynolds starring as Green Lantern, I've decided to dedicate this month's posts to superheroes. Well not just any superheroes, but heroes of the female gender.

I've always liked the female heroes in comics, but it was rare that I got to see them in action in movies or on TV. At least, that's what I thought. I started thinking about all of the women who have appeared as masked crimefighters, caped crusaders, or spandex starlets and realized that there have been a lot of wonder women that have appeared across my television or movie screens.

Granted, the men always got more exposure like Superman and Batman. Each appeared in early serials:


But they've also graced the small screen,

and the big screen.

Other heroes have had their own TV shows like the Flash,

or appeared with many other heroes in animated form like Hawkman.


Well, ladies, it's time to shine! Each post will feature either one heroine in her many formats, or it may be just one specific show or movie that will be spotlighted. I will tell you that Wonder Woman, Batgirl and Supergirl will each get posts, but other lesser known supergals will also be mentioned like Black Canary, ElectraWoman, and Isis.

Now, while I do like Marvel characters, most will be from the DC Comics roster.

The Terrific Trio

What's On? Wednesday: Batman

Or more specifically, what's not on. I don't have cable, in fact, I don't have satellite or even "rabbit-ear" antennaes. The only TV I watch is whatever DVD I pull out of our collection. It could be a movie or a TV show, but there are shows that I still need to get or that are on my wish list. Luckily, it's been recently announced that two shows that they thought would never be released on DVD are finally being released: The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. It seems legal issues and rights have prevented their release, but they have since been negotiated and cleared.

The one show that I am desperate for a DVD release is the 60's Batman.

Adam West starred as Batman.

Burt Ward starred as Robin.

In the third season, they were joined by Yvonne Craig as Batgirl.

With a host of villains played by a multitude of celebrities and cameos from everybody who wanted to be anybody, this show has some high hurdles to leap in legalities before it will be released. Here's hoping, keep your fingers crossed.

I'll feature some of the villains in an upcoming post, but if you can't wait, go back and look at my Catwoman post. Until then, stay tuned: "Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel".

PURR-fect Casting--twice!

What's On Wednesday:

Batman! Or more specifically, Catwoman. Growing up, I was always in front of the television (which is probably the reason I'm so pale *kidding*). Being a big comic book fan, I enjoyed watching The Adventures of Superman with George Reeves, Wonder Woman with Lynda Carter and of course Batman.

When I was watching Batman, I knew it was reruns, but what I didn't know was that it was on twice a week (Wednesdays and Thursdays)for its first two seasons. I thought they added the piece at the end that said "Tune in Tomorrow--Same Bat-time, Same Bat-channel" just for the reruns since they were shown every weekday.

My favorite episodes were written by Stanley Ralph Ross. Yes, the same Stanley Ralph Ross that wrote the pilot TV movie for Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman. Of course, he wrote for Batman before Wonder Woman. See I was catching on. The reason his name always stuck out to me were because his episodes were clever and smart and there always seemed to be more there. I would later find out that he wrote with two audiences in mind. He wrote for the little kids looking for the POW! ZAP! and BANG!, but he also knew adults were watching it, so he wrote to them at the same time. He was one of the few that did it well.

My favorite villains are the ones he primarily wrote for: King Tut, Egghead, Shane and the feline femme fatale-Catwoman!














Catwoman was played during the first two seasons of Batman by Julie Newmar. Even as a gay little boy, I knew she was something special. I fell in love with her. The way she moved, the way she talked, the way she filled out the costume. I was a very confused little boy. She was tall, leggy and to quote the film To Wong Foo,..., "just try to describe her and not use the word statuesque".








She was flirtatious with Batman and catty with Robin, she seemed innocent and evil all at the same time. Her delivery of lines fit the character so well, that no one could ever replace her.


Wrong. During the third season, Eartha Kitt took on the role. The reasons have been many, but which is true I don't know (and at this point I don't care). The fact is that as much as I loved Julie Newmar in the role, Eartha Kitt was just as good. She was perfect for different reasons. She was a living persona of a cat. She purred when she talked and moved like panther. Besides, just her name is feline.






She didn't do as many episodes as Julie did, but they were just as memorable, especially the team-up she did with Cesar Romero's Joker.




Like the Samantha vs. Jeannie and Ginger vs. Mary Ann debates that are out there, I'm sure there is a Newmar vs. Kitt.









I can't pick a winner for myself, because there are reasons I love them both.

I still watch every movie I can get my hands on that Julie was in, from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers to Streetwalkin'. I listen to every CD that Eartha put out to listen to her purr through "Santa Baby" to "I Need a Man".

I didn't talk about Lee Meriwether who played Catwoman in the theatrical version of the TV show and though she wasn't quite as memorable because she only had the one appearance, she did an admirable job. Let's face it, she had tough boots to fill.






DC Comics character