Blu-ray review: ‘Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders’

Holy animated nostalgia trip Batman, the guardians of Gotham City celebrate their 1960s live-action television roots in Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Rated PG, aspect ratio, 1.78:1, 78 minutes, $24.98).

With a large tip of the cowl to the Dynamic Duo’s glorious days on ABC Network back in 1966, this cartoon homage finds the Joker, Penguin, Riddler and Catwoman looking to steal a replicator ray gun, conquer space and end the meddling of Batman and Robin.

The key trio of original actors provides the tongue-in-cheek voice-over work — including Adam West as Batman, Burt Ward as Robin and Julie Newmar as Catwoman — making it a dream scenario for fans.

Tapping into the original series throughout, the toon resurfaces such fun details as that Shakespeare bust in the Wayne Manor study (cracked open to expose a button to get to the Bat Poles), the pair of heroes casually chatting as they climb vertically up walls (no guests pop out of the window) and the appearance of the George Barris’ awesome Batmobile.

Better yet, an abundance of dialogue alliteration (“this is patently preposterous, you pretentious poser”), combined with those pop-up onomatopoeia visuals for every punch and kick (Whomp! Boff! Umph!), and the Nelson Riddle-inspired jazzy musical themes cement the homage to the original.

Now, if simply creating a new episode of the old show was the goal, it succeeded, but writers Michael Jelenic and James Tucker then concoct a devilish second act that finds an army of Bizarro-style Batmen taking over Gotham while Catwoman and Robin team up to try and stop them. The epic finale not only features the principals in battle but appearances by villains such as Shane, Mr. Freeze, King Tut, Egghead, Bookworm and the Mad Hatter.

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SEE ALSO: Blu-ray review: ‘Batman: The Killing Joke’

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I was even delighted with the animation style that looked like an early “Scooby Doo” cartoon.

However, I have a few minor beefs.

First the voice-over work of the three older legends is strong and playful, but the vocal impersonations of the original actors Cesar Romero (Joker), Frank Gorshin (Riddler) and Burgess Meredith (Penguin) are not consistent.

Wally Wingert offers the best homage to Mr. Gorshin’s frenetic inflections including that insane laugh. Jeff Bergman as Mr. Romero’s Joker has the laugh but not the vocal style, while William Salyers is least effective with Mr. Meredith’s aural creation of Penguin.

Also, part of the absurdity of Mr. Romero playing Joker was he refused to shave his mustache so bristles were visible under his pasty white facial make-up. The bristles are missing from the Joker’s animated counterpart.

Despite those minor gripes, “Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders” delivers a retro-celebration of a 1960s classic.

Best of all, it inspired me want to dig out Blu-ray discs of the live television show and even the 1966 “Batman” movie to relive the campiest moments of a bygone pop art era.

Best extras: A pair of featurettes (about 20 minutes combined) offers interviews with the cast and crew as they gush about adapting the old series to a cartoon form and the great voice-over work. I appreciated words from Mr. West, Mr. Ward and Miss Newmar, but I could have used much more content for this appreciated trip back in time.

Specifically, DC Comics has plenty of issues of the recently concluded digital comic book series “Batman 66.” A few could have been offered via download codes for the hard-core fans.