Warner Archive Goes Bat-Crazy

28 Jul, 2014 By: Stephanie Prange

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SAN DIEGO — Scooby-Doo had his Scrappy, and Batman his Bat Mite.

That was just one of the iterations of the iconic comic book hero Batman explored in the Warner Archive Collection’s July 27 panel at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con International.

Warner Archive’s Matthew Patterson said the Warner Archive Instant streaming service was “like Netflix but with weird stuff” and pitched a one-month-free offer as various creative executives discussed the numerous incarnations of the superhero, many available on disc from Warner Home Video and on the Warner Archive service. The iconic Adam West Batman TV show is due on Blu-ray Nov. 11, they noted.

And Adam West’s campy portrayal was a fulcrum of sorts around which all of the panel participants placed the caped crusaders in the Tim Burton movies, the “Dark Knight” films and various TV shows.

Michael Uslan, producer of Batman properties starting with Tim Burton’s version of the superhero, said the West portrayal left the comic book fan “simultaneously thrilled and horrified.”

“The entire world was laughing at my Batman,” he said. He vowed, “Somehow, someday, I have to show people what the real Batman looks like.”

As for Bat Mite in TV’s “The New Adventures of Batman,” there was a simple explanation.

“The kids liked it,” producer James Tucker said.

The panel also previewed an upcoming Blu-ray of season two of “Batman: The Brave and the Bold.”

Producers of “Young Justice” discussed their exploration of the fatherly side of Batman. Young Justice: Season 1 is coming to Blu-ray as well.
 

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