NECA 1/4 Scale Burt Ward Robin Action Figure

NECA 1/4 Scale Burt Ward Robin Action Figure

A few years ago, I reviewed NECA's giant 18 inch 1/4 scale Adam West Batman action figure.  Well, it's been a while, but I finally got around to picking up his partner in crimefighting, NECA's 1/4 scale Robin action figure.

Burt Ward Hero Pose

Like NECA's Adam West figure, this giant-sized action figure of Burt Ward as Robin is almost perfect, and I really love it.  A few of his joints are kind of stiff, just like the Adam West figure's were, but that can probably be fixed with by heating it up with some boiling water or hot air from a hair dryer.  Most of the details of the packaging, accessories, and the figure itself are pretty much the same as the Adam West figure, so I'll urge you to read that review for the details.  The main difference is that this figure is about an inch shorter, since of course Burt Ward was not as tall as Adam West.

On Display at Misfit Robot Daydream Headquarters (aka My Living Room)

 Aside from that, I'm just going to let my photos do the talking, so let's check them out:

Under the Batsignal

More photos after the break...

Batman, Episodes 25 and 26 - "The Joker Trumps an Ace" and "Batman Sets the Pace"

Batman, Episodes 25 and 26 - "The Joker Trumps an Ace" and "Batman Sets the Pace"

50 years ago...
The 25th and 26th episodes of the Batman TV series aired on ABC TV.   Episode 25, "The Joker Trumps an Ace," aired on April 6, 1966.  Episode 26, "Batman Sets the Pace," aired on April 7, 1966.   These were the third pair of episodes to feature Cesar Romero as The Joker.

Batman and Robin Are on the Lookout for Criminal Activities at the Golf Course

The Joker goes on a seemingly nonsensical crime spree, stealing things like a woman's hairpin, and a hole from a golf course. However, the random seeming crimes are really part of a diabolical scheme to defeat Batman once and for all... by forcing him to sign a bogus check.

The Joker and Jill (His Latest Moll)

Robin's catchphrases in these episodes included "holy Taj Mahal" and "holy Golden Gate."

The Joker tells riddles and leaves clues in these episodes, making it seem like they were originally intended for Frank Gorshin as The Riddler.  But the comic book story these episodes were based on *("A Hairpin, a Hoe, a Hacksaw, a Hole In the Ground!" from  Batman #53) was in fact a Joker story.

"A Hairpin, a Hoe, a Hacksaw, a Hole In the Ground!" from  Batman #53

More screencaps after the break...

Bat-Music #24 - Rocky and the Riddlers - Batman

Bat-Music #24 - Rocky and the Riddlers - Batman

Rocky and the Riddlers released their single "Flash & Crash" in 1966, with "Batman" on the b-side.  "Batman" is a irreverent garage rock novelty song, sort of like a low-budget version of "The Monster Mash." 

Sample lyrics: "He wears purple bun-huggers and rides a Batmobile, around Gotham City he's a real big wheel.  When he's not out fighting crime he can always be seen down in the Batcave reading wrestling magazines."

Beyond the Batman novelty track, however, Rocky and the Riddlers were a brutish group of garage rock proto-punks that hit you int the head like a velvet covered brick.

Rocky and the Riddlers - Batman


Rocky and the Riddlers - You Weren't Using Your Head


Rocky and the Riddlers - Flash & Crash

Bat-Music #23 - Nelson Riddle - Batman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Bat-Music #23 - Nelson Riddle - Batman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

In July of 1966, in between seasons 1 and 2 of the Batman television series, 20th Century Fox released the full length Batman motion picture to movie theaters.  The movie featured most of the main cast from the TV series, except for Julie Newmar as Catwoman, who was unavailable during filming and was replaced with Lee Meriwether.

The motion picture soundtrack was composed and conducted by Nelson Riddle, who also did the music for the TV series (except for the memorable main Batman TV theme, which was written by Neal Hefti).  Many of the same musical cues from the TV show are repeated here, but expanded upon and drawn out.  It's not really as fun to listen to as the TV soundtrack, though.  The TV soundtrack album's music is shorter and punchier, and has fun dialogue clips from the show worked in to the tracks.  But this is still a must-have album for Bat-Music collectors, and it's excellent for playing in the background as you read through a stack of Batman comic books.

Nelson Riddle - Batman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Main Title 


Nelson Riddle - Batman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Torpedoes