Blue Batman?

Some fans believe the colors of Batman's costume in the TV series are incorrectly interpreted, believing that Batman wasn't blue in the comics, but black instead. There's a belief that blue only meant to highlight the black. But was it really? It's safe to say it was both. It is possible that Batman truly did start  in black, but certainly in latter years he was officially wearing a blue suit.

The idea of Batman really being black in the comic books is supported by following quotes:

Bob Kane: The wings, trunks, and mask were black (Batman & Me 1989)

The cowl and cloak remained black, but since comics conventions demand that black objects be highlighted in blue, Batman’s uniform in effect became blue and gray.Batman: (The Complete History ~ Les Daniel 1999)

In Batman’s debut story, the key elements in his mythos were established; his eerie [black and gray] costume… Batman’s debut in Detective #27 has the estimable value of revealing Bat-Man (as he was called at first) exactly as envisioned by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. (Batman in the Forties ~ intro Bill Schell 2004)

However, some may point out that Kane's quote and first claim of Batman being originally black originated in 1989, coincidentally when the movie presented him as black for the first time. It's possible that it was just a retconning statement to support the movie. However, there are certainly elements in early comics which are undoubtedly black but colored in blue, such as Superman's hair. The early art also tends to support this thesis since Batman really was primarily black with small blue highlights

It wasn't later on when the colors were reversed and he was blue with black highlights. And then there comes a point in the artistic history of Batman where cops are shown wearing black uniforms highlighted with blue, and Batman is shown wearing a blue uniform highlighted with black. At that point, Batman is clearly supposed to be wearing blue

In this picture, for instance. If Batman is suppose to be wearing black, then what is Alfred wearing?

In the story The Super-Key to Fort Superman, Batman melted an identical wax-statue of himself to take it's place. And Superman clearly thinks to himself about the BLUE and gray blob of melted wax. He even tells it to Batman himself how the Batman figure is BLUE and gray.

 In The Strange Costumes of Batman! Detective Comics No. 165, Nov '50.  the suit is also described as blue: "Yes, it is the flashing figure of Batman, clad in the shadowy colors of blue and gray."

Verdict: It's very possible that Batman at first was black, but there is no doubt his costume was changed into blue down the road. therefore, Adam West's costume is spot on accurate with his comic book counterpart of the time

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Catwoman Onscreen Part I: Newmar, Meriwether & Kitt

JULIE NEWMAR

The first live action Catwoman appeared in 1966's Batman episode called "The Purr-fect Crime". The first shot that we see her in reveals her nature as a professional thief. As in the comics, she is shown as a quiet, swift and graceful cat burglar, both intelligent and highly physical, as she can sneak and run in high heels better than most people can in more comfortable outfit.

She is not only a seasoned and very good professional thief, but also commands her crooks and comes up with very clever and inventive plans to get to her treasure and confuse and defeat Batman

That matches her depiction in the comic books as well, where she also had her own gang and took care of all the creative thinking

Panel from Batman #10

Catwoman is also evidently bipolar, as she instantly switches moods from anger or fury to melowness and satisfaction. She can be extremely agressive and blood thirsty, but calm and flirty the next moment.

Panel from Batman #3

The confrontations with Batman bring this side of Catwoman more upfront, when Batman often witnesses her ever surprising mood swings

Julie Newmar: It's just the right amount of aggression and seduction and sassiness." (insidesocal.com int)

Her fascination and crush on Batman has also been present since the character's first appearance in the comic books, and is carried over to the TV series

Panels from Batman #1 and #3

But in the series, her love to Batman came a little later. At first she wanted to kill Batman and toyed with him first, like a cat with his prey, but then when Batman saved her life in "The Cat and the Fiddle", she developed an affection for him and started fantasizing about the hooded avenger. On the other end, Batman also could barely resist his strange affection to Catwoman's charms either, sometimes even giving up to them.

However, Julie doesn't think it was a true love
Julie Newmar:  I don't think Catwoman loved Batman. She just wanted to play around with him.(USAToday int 2004)

Robin always stood between Batman and the Catwoman and she hated him for it. She said she couldn't bring herself to kill Batman, but she couldn't wait to get rid of the "Boy Blunder"

Q: Did Catwoman wonder about Robin's relationship with Batman?
Newmar: Hell, no. Who cares? Let's kill him. He's annoying. (USA Today int)

Since the very first issue, Catwoman was a master of disguise, and that trace was not lost in Julie's version of the character

Catwoman's real name has never been revealed in the series, same goes for her origins and backstory.

The very first time we see Selina Kyle/The Cat in the comic books in her real appearance, she is described as 'beautiful young woman' and she turns heads in almost every issue, so does the TV series' version.

What's very interesting is the fact that it was Newmar who developed and popularized Catwoman's nature and behavior as we know it today. It was Newmar who made Catwoman extremely seductive in both her speech, mannerism and moves, a very important and now signature trait of the character adapted to the comic books and subsequent incarnations ever since. It was an original addition from the actress, since she was not very familiar with the character prior to the series and brought her own spin and personality to the character. The Catwoman had been using her great looks and sex for distraction from the get go, however it was Julie who popularized her seductivness in a physical way, moving, moaning or stretching

Julie Newmar: Never heard of [Catwoman's character prior to being cast]. My mother wouldn't let me read comic books (Reality Check TV)

This wasn't the only addition to the character. Julie also created rolling the r sound in certain words to make it sound like she's purring, and the use of feline double entendres (e.g. "You may stroke my pussy willow"). Also, she was the first Catwoman to make a good use of campy sense of humor, which the comic book version imitated

Doziers' Catwoman also touches upon the supernaturality and the 7 lives myth that the Golden Age comic books introduced early on. Catwoman seems to die and mysteriously reappears in several issues and her powers are attributed to the feline 7 lives (although in one issue she's faking it by wearing a bulletproof vest). In her very first appearance, Catwoman fells of a cliff into a deep abyss. Her body is nowhere to be found at the bottom of the pit, and Batman and Robin find a single black cat instead

Newmar's costume was an original creation, not based on any of the previous Catwoman outfits

The idea of a skin tight suit was adopted to the comics and remained even to this day, while the mask and overall look was imitated almost instantly by comic books in the late 60's, starting with Batman #197

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LEE MERIWETHER

Lee Meriwether continued the sexiness and teasing aspect of Newmar's performance, but also added her own twist to the character. No two actors would play the same characters exactly the same, even if they have the same guidelines and script. It's the little touches and nuances in actor's unique personality that make the difference.

Lee meowed even more than her predecessor, and it was her own idea to do so: "As a matter of fact they didn't even suggest in the script that she meows, they had other ideas and all but I said 'couldn't I just try and meow here or purr here', or do this and that and they were willing to go along with it" (Jean Boone '66 TV interview)

Meriwether was even more catlike with her poses and behavior. In the movie, she is even seen licking herself as cats do, taking Catwoman a bit more to the cat side

Lee also recognized the double nature of Catwoman, something very essential to the character :"People love villains especially when they have some saving grace somewhere along the line" (Studio Kaiju int)

However, while Newmar said her Catwoman didn’t really love Batman, Lee's version did

"I did fall in love a little bit with Batman, I mean it was a love/hate relationship, and always has been" (studio kaiju int) 

"Q: Was Catwoman more attracted to Batman or vice versa

Meriwether: Catwoman more to Batman, I think." (USA Today int)

Lee's Catwoman was a master of disguise as well, another essential characteristic of the feline thief. Meriwether was also a Miss America in 1855, continuing Catwoman's portrayal as a stunning pinup girl

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EARTHA KITT

Eartha Kitt is often described as the most evil Catwoman of the series. She isn't as playful as Newmar, or as seductive as Meriwether, but she is more vicious and more demonical. 

Charles FitzSimons (producer): "She was a cat woman before we ever cast her as Catwoman. She had a cat-like style. Her eyes were cat-like and her singing was like a meow. This came as a wonderful off-beat idea to do it with a black woman."

What was lost when Eartha came in was that the "romance" between Batman and Catwoman was no more. What followed that was the fact that the character also lost a lot of its seductiveness and sexy behavior was cut down. The reason behind it all were that since Batman and Catwoman were of a different race, it would have been too controversial at the time. Eartha's Catwoman only loved Batman "like a cat does its toy" (USA Today)
Naturally, her disguising abilities have been toned down as well

Media References Part I: The 1960's Show

The 1960's Batman TV series was so popular, and entrenched itself so much in American pop culture that even to this day TV shows, Animated series' and movies still make spoofs or references to this memorable show. The following list is by no means a full one of all the references and spoofs of the show as the list goes insanely long, but collects the most interesting and memorable ones from the late 1960's to date. 

* The Monkees show of the late 60's made several references and nods to the show, even guest starring Burgess Meredith as the Penguin in one of the episodes. One of the very first references in the show featured the Bat phone in the episode called "Dance, Monkee, Dance"

*The Simpsons series made several references to the show throughout the years. From the opening...

to the actual appearance of Adam West's and Burt Ward's Batman and Robin

In the episode called "I'm going to Praiseland", the Comic Book dreams of Julie Newmar's Catwoman

Dancing Adam West could be seen in the episode "My Mother the Carjacker"

The Simpsons featured plenty more quotes, nods and cameos

*Tiny Toons spoofed the series in "Inside Plucky Duck"

* In Friends episode "The One with the Halloween Party", Monica dresses up as Newmar's Catwoman

* That 70s Show also made several references. One of them can be seen in the episode "Halloween" in which Fez dresses up as Batman

*Naturally there were also several references made in Family Guy

* Robot Chicken also had its share of spoofs and parodies. "That Hurts Me" shows a Monkey version of the show

In "Christmas Special" Batman and Robin punish a bunch of kids who were singing "Batman smells" 

*Howard Stern's 52nd Birthday Special premiered a BatStern cartoon

*Cartoon Network's MAD cartoon made several references, most notable the inclusion of Romero's Joker visiting Superman's remodeled fortress

Spongebob Squarepants features two superhero characters, MermaidMan and the BarnacleBoy which are an obvious spoof of Batman and Robin from the series

* Adam West is the mayor of Quahog in Family Guy, voiced by the actor himself

Adam West appeared as himself before in Johnny Bravo cartoon, acting the same way as Batman. The entire episode was constructed like a Batman episode

*Burt Ward guest starred on WCW

 * The Kim Possible cartoon also featured a 60s Batman parody, The Fearless Ferret, in an episode of the same name. The character, who was voiced by Adam West, was the alias of "Timothy North", a cranky superhero from the 60s

The iconic phrases like "Holy..." and ""To the Batmobile" made it into many, many TV shows and movies

Any interesting and worthy additions welcomed