Love it or hate it, the 1966 Batman TV series is an iconic piece of the Dark Knight's history. Its popularity has lasted nearly six decades, far longer than anyone expected. Even the grim and gritty Arkham games include Adam West's colorful costume as an alternate suit. His portrayal presented a lighter, idealistic Batman that dwelled not in the tragedies of his past, but in his optimistic hope for the future. This might lead modern audiences to dismiss the show as corny and outdated.
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Cheesy though it may be, this series actually got many things right about the mythos. This particularly applies to the villains. In some cases, this show's rogues remain some of the most faithful renditions of the comic book baddies. Other times, however, the writers played fast-and-loose with established characters. Perhaps they were ignorant of the comic origins; maybe they thought people wouldn't notice. With several different versions of each character having emerged since then, it becomes all the more interesting to compare these early efforts.
10 Right: The Riddler
Setting the stage for all villains who came after, Frank Gorshin's Riddler hits the ground running. He's often so zany that others struggle to keep up with him. For all his manic energy and giggles, however, his delivery remains precise and methodical. He clearly views himself as an intellectual, and his bulging eyes (and forehead) definitely sell the audience on his intense passion for the puzzles he leaves.
That passion informs the Riddler in all his iterations. The self-professed genius delights in proving his intellectual superiority through his endless riddles and quizzes. Confounding the lowly Neanderthals of Gotham is his calling. Heightened though it may be, Gorshin's portrayal is the solution to this comic casting conundrum.
9 Wrong: The Puzzler
Constantly quoting Shakespeare and leaving a plethora of puzzle balloons for Batman to solve, the Puzzler of the show is clearly a stand-in for the Riddler. Frank Gorshin didn't want to come back, so Maurice Evans performs the admirable yet thankless task of crafting another intellectual villain for Batman.
In actuality, the Puzzler started as a Superman villain. He deviously cheats at various games, tricking and extorting anyone stupid enough to challenge him. "The Gambler" is a more appropriate name. Ironically, the version from Batman is closer to what one would imagine from a crook called "The Puzzler."
8 Right: The Joker
It goes without saying that the Joker would have a penchant for pranks. Oftentimes, the Clown Prince of Crime spends just as long playing practical jokes as he does committing criminal capers. In that sense, Cesar Romero's take is pitch-perfect.
Fans can whine about the mustache all they want. Aside from that, his look and attitude are straight out of the comics, and he's got the energy to back it up. The sheer mischievous glee is infectious. He makes himself the center of every scene, going so big with his body movements and high-pitched laughter that it's a wonder how he keeps it up. In short, he's the Joker in all his pride and glory.
7 Wrong: The Mad Hatter
Even by this show's standards, David Wayne is a blast to watch as the Mad Hatter. His comically thick eyebrows and mustache, exaggerated accent, and shivers of satisfaction are theatrical yet distinctive from the other villains. This makes him uniquely entertaining on a show full of colorful characters.
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That said, despite having the mind-controlling tech, the baddie's backstory is entirely absent. Just look at his name. The Mad Hatter is obsessed with Lewis Carroll's work, often kidnapping young women and fashioning them as Alice to fuel his delusion. This never comes up in the show. He just wants to steal hats: a truly sick scheme of a diseased maniac.
6 Right: False Face
This masked fiend is a master of disguise. Seamlessly swapping faces at the drop of a hat, he often impersonates rich folks and makes off with their money. His powers of misdirection have even fooled Batman on occasion.
Though his counterfeiting scheme in the show is a slight departure, False Face is still every bit the man of mystery. The dastardly devil switches between aliases on the fly, infiltrating the police station several times to learn Batman's plans of action. It's a deadly game of cat and mouse as they try to outwit each other. For the icing on the cake, Malachi Throne isn't even credited by name. The Special Guest Villain spot is taken by a question mark. Now, that's maintaining the illusion.
5 Wrong: The Clock King
Walter Slezak's Clock King more or less maintains his comic appearance and smugness. It's his evil schemes that deviate from the source and contemporary adaptations. Both of his guest spots revolve around stealing famous clocks. Given those plans, it's not surprising that he's the Mad Hatter's brother.
Suffice it to say, that's not the case in the comics. While his methods usually involve clock-based gadgets, much of his power comes from the deadly precision with which he executes crimes. He plans everything to the second. Although many people have taken the Clock King mantle, these abilities of anticipation are usually part of the baddie's modus operandi.
4 Right: Catwoman
This flirtatious feline has always been a wild card. She's not a megalomaniac like most other supervillains, and her playful relationship with Batman sometimes makes her an antihero or reluctant ally. Whomever she works with, though, she always looks for a profit, stealing whatever priceless items catch her eye.
That tracks with the Catwoman (or Catwomen) of the show. Whether it's Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, or Eartha Kitt, all three versions of this slick thief make crime look good. They slink around with a sultry smile and irresistible charm, carrying themselves with a confidence unparalleled. This craftiness makes them more than capable of robbing Gotham blind and outwitting criminals and crime-fighters alike.
3 Wrong: Mr. Freeze
A criminal scientist exposed to a freezing substance during a battle with Batman, this sad soul can't survive outside subzero temperatures. Now, the villain seeks vengeance on the Caped Crusader, freezing all in his way. Though he's another rogue with a revolving door of actors, Mr. Freeze proves a chilling threat whenever she shows up. The cold calculation of George Sanders, the unhinged rage of Eli Wallach, and the measured theatricality of Otto Preminger each capture a different side of the villain.
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What ultimately goes against him is hindsight. This was long before Batman: The Animated Series amended the villain's origin. As such, Freeze doesn't have a terminally ill wife to motivate his dark deeds. Docking points from this older rendition may not seem fair. However, his tragic backstory is so popular and heartbreaking that most fans have accepted it as a permanent part of the character. Those same fans might feel disillusioned with the '60s version as a result.
2 Right: The Penguin
The Penguin is one of those characters who's changed several times over the years, ranging from a classy businessman to a grotesque, fish-eating birdman. A few things remain constant, though. He always sports fancy clothes, a monocle, a cigar/cigarette, an aristocratic attitude, and his collection of trick umbrellas.
All of those are present here. On top of looking the part, Burgess Meredith effectively embodies the upper-class crook. That's not easy to do with the hunched back and grumbling noises, but he makes it seem natural. The way he juggles the props and costume, weaving them into his sneering performance, he infuses this aviary antagonist with a crooked classiness that's yet to be matched.
1 Wrong: Killer Moth
Assuming fans can look past his colorful outfit, Killer Moth could make a formidable foe since fashions himself as the antithesis of Batman. Not only does he commit crimes in costume, but he also regularly rubs shoulders with Gotham's elite. He takes this one step further when he represents the supposed downtrodden, acting as a criminal lawyer for crooks.
Audiences get none of that in the show. He's just a one-off thug meant to introduce Batgirl to the crime-fighting team. Despite this shortchange, the episode wasn't originally aired. It's hard to discount a portrayal if it wasn't meant to see the light of day.