With Batman ’66’s launch this past wednesday DC comics took a look back at what was happening in the DC Comics world durning 1966.
If you’ve read it, you know that Batman ’66 is like a fun trip directly into DC Comics’ past. So to celebrate its launch, we thought we’d invite you on a different sort of trip into DC’s past. Return with us again to the year 1966. We now know what Batman was doing, but what about DC Comics?
Well, the comic’s called Batman ’66 for a reason! The classic Batman television series debuts in 1966 on ABC to massive ratings.
Riding on the success of the show, Frank Gorshin records “The Riddler,” a song about the Batman villain. It’s composer? Acclaimed singer and songwriter Mel Tormé.
If Batman can have a TV show, why shouldn’t Superman have a musical? “It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s Superman!,” a musical about the Man of Steel opens on Broadway. Unfortunately, it will fail to connect with audiences and will close later this year.
Jim Shooter is hired to write Legion of Super-Heroes in the first professional comics assignment of his career. His age at the time? 13 years old.
The longstanding Superman newspaper comic strip ends in April, but will be replaced by a Batman and Robin one in May.
Inspired by the British invasion, DC Comics publishes Swing with Scooter, a series about a singer taking refuge in a small U.S. town.
Swing with Scooter co-writer Barbara Friedlander becomes the first woman on the DC Comics editorial staff to work on comics outside the romance line since World War II.Proving that summer’s long been the time for super hero movies, the Batman theatrical film—featuring most of TV show cast—debuts on August 3.
The New Adventures of Superman debuts on Saturday morning, September 10 on CBS.
Dickie Goodman records the novelty song “Batman & His Grandmother,” which will ultimately peak at #70 on the charts.
Plastic Man returns to the limelight, first with a cameo in House of Mystery #160, then with his own DC Comics issue.
Adventure Comics #353 features the first lasting super hero death in DC Comics history when Ferro Lad dies saving Earth from the villainous Sun-Eater.
Holy historical journey, Batman! So were you around in 1966? How many of these events from DC Comics’ past do you remember? And have you read Batman ’66 yet?
Source : DC Comics
