DISCLAIMER: BOF received a free reviewing copy of this Blu-ray for reviewing purposes.
OK, this isn’t new…it’s actually like 50+ years not new!
But what is new about THE ADVENTURES OF BATMAN — the very first Batman animated TV series — is that it has received an upgrade and is now available on Blu-ray. Before I tell y’all if this needs to be purchased, a little history…
Originally called THE BATMAN/SUPERMAN HOUR, it was an animated Batman series produced by Filmation and broadcast on the CBS Television Network from 1968 to 1969. Batman and Robin were voiced by Olan Soule and Casey Kasem, respectively. It premiered in September of 1968 and was split into two segments — one featuring Batman and Robin with Batgirl, and the other consisting of shorts from THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN animated series. In 1969, the Superman segment was dropped and renamed BATMAN WITH ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER with a runtime of 30 minutes. In 2014, the entire series of 34 episodes were released as a 2-disc DVD package titled THE ADVENTURES OF BATMAN.
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Since I have the DVD set, I compared it to the new Blu-ray release (which was sent to me for reviewing purposes by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, FYI), and here are the details…
The covers use different images of Batman and Robin on the front and back covers and the episodes are ordered differently, but it’s essentially the same thing with a video upgrade from DVD to Blu-ray. There hasn’t been anything else added to this new Blu-ray edition, so in case you’re wondering, no “bonus features” are included. I took some pics of each set for comparison…
Who should buy this? I recommend it for diehard Batman fans, collectors, and completists. Also, if you have young kids, you might want to pick this up for them to watch if you don’t already own the DVD version. Kids can always use a conduit into Batman fandom!
Speaking of kids, I was a very young child when this show was airing and it, along with the 1960s live-action BATMAN TV series, made me into a Batman fan. Speaking for myself, I would’ve bought it even if I had not received the free copy from WBHE because it’s important to me personally and in terms of Batman history. – Bill “Jett” Ramey
BUY NOW | THE ADVENTURES OF BATMAN Blu-ray Set
