JACK PARKS: A different hero for a different time

Greetings, Jackolytes! I come to you as a man in mourning, for these are sad times indeed. Once again, a childhood icon has passed from this world.

Adam West is more popularly known these days as Adam West, Mayor of Quahog from the inexplicably popular animated “comedy” Family Guy. That is how kids today know him, with only a vague mental connection to “that corny Batman from back in the day.”

But that corny Batman show from back in the day is how I and people from my parents’ generation know him. I hadn’t seen too many of the original episodes of the ‘66 Batman series, but we had a copy of “Batman: The Movie” and watched it so many times we almost wore out the VHS.

VHS, kids, is what we used to watch movies on before DVD.

DVD, kids, is what we used to watch movies on before Blu-Ray and streaming.

Adam West’s Batman is vastly different from the moody, gritty dark knight my generation is most familiar with. The puns, wacky premises, balloon-text sound effects and overall light-hearted tone are far removed from the brooding superhero who in many ways is just as psychotic as the villains he faces.

Many people dismiss West’s Batman as cheesy, corny, campy and probably other words that start with “c.” But they don’t understand that it was a different hero for a different time.

We like our superheroes to be responsive to the times. In 2002, we all were enamored with Peter Parker’s cheerful demeanor and optimistic determination in “Spider-Man.” It was what we needed after 9/11. The optimism faded quickly though as the wars in Afghanistan and then Iraq dragged on.

With the Nolan trilogy, we were introduced to a Batman of necessity. Just as jaded as we were, he didn’t enjoy what he did, and it clearly took a toll on him. But he did it anyway, simply because it needed to be done and he was in a position to be able to do it. He was gritty, down to earth and real. His lack of actual powers made him more relatable, and so it is easy to imagine yourself in the cowl. Batman could become almost a self-portrait for the viewer.

Contrarily, Adam West’s Batman was a response to the turmoil in the nation. The Cold War was in its heyday, the Vietnam War was beginning, the Civil Rights Movement was in full swing, and there were organized protests against everything from bras to flags to the draft. Twice a week viewers could tune in to find Batman providing a perfect escape from the stress of everyday life. He may not have been the hero they deserved, but he was the hero they needed.

The best part about the ’66 series is that I can share it with my 3-year-old boy without worrying about inappropriate elements. When I heard of West’s death I pulled out my season 1 DVD set and looked through it. I left it out, and when my son got up from his nap he found it.

“I watch Batman!” he announced, and held it out to his mother and me to put on. We popped in the first disc, and he was enamored from the moment it began. He started to learn the names of the other characters and called out their names whenever they appeared on screen.

Adam West once asked, “How many actors have a shot at being a part of something that became a part of pop culture?” More than 50 years after he first donned the cowl and cape, his work can still be appreciated by new audiences. While we have to say goodbye to the man, his legacy lives on.

Just like his grandfathers, my son will grow up hearing those immortal words of the original Dynamic Duo: “Atomic batteries to power; turbines to speed. Ready to move out.”

Jack Parks writes about pop and nerd culture in his column. Follow

@tn2me on Twitter.