The Not-So-Dark-Knight Returns: The Trailer For ‘Batman Vs. Two-Face’ Features Adam West’s Last Performance

One last Bat Time. Fandom was dealt a crushing blow last October when TV’s original ‘Batman’, the stoic Adam West passed away at the age of 88. But before his passing, West turned in one final performance as the Caped Crusader in the direct-to-video animated feature ‘Batman Vs. Two-Face.’

‘Batman Vs. Two-Face’ is a follow-up to ‘Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders,’ an animated tribute to the 1966 live action series in which West was joined by his one-time costars Burt Ward as Robin/Dick Grayson and Julie Newmar as Catwoman.

‘Return of the Caped Crusaders’ also featured The Joker, The Penguin and The Riddler, but one of Batman’s most famous comic book foes never made a live action appearance on the classic TV show– Two-Face, a.k.a. district attorney Harvey Dent, one of Bruce Wayne’s best friends who went mad after half his face was deformed after a villain splashed it with acid.

For decades, the classic Adam West ‘Batman’ series was considered a punchline, but in recent years, fans and creators have come to respect the show as helping push superheroes into the mainstream. In 2013, DC began publishing ‘Batman ’66‘ a series that carried on the continuity of the TV show, inconsistencies and all. (Both the Caucasian Julie Newmar and African American Eartha Kitt Catwomen appear.) Mattel also issued toys based on the show and for the first time ever, the TV show itself was made available for commercial purchase.

‘Batman Vs. Two-Face’ is the animated follow up and finally pits the ultra do-gooder Batman and his wide-eyed companion Robin (once again voiced by Burt Ward) against Two-Face… BRILLIANTLY voiced by William Shatner, Captain Kirk from the original ‘Star Trek’ which, when I was a kid, aired back-to-back with ‘Batman’ in syndication. (Newmar also returns as Catwoman.)

You can check out the trailer below:

As you can see, the clip not only features Two-Face– grappling between his altruistic Harvey Dent persona and that of his evil Two-Face flip side– but another classic comic villain Hugo Strange. The clip also includes cameos by TV-only foes like Egghead and Shame as well as an assistant to Strange that bears a resemblance to Harley Quinn, a character created several decades after the show left airwaves.

Jason Motes

Jason's earliest memory is of watching 'Batman,' followed shortly by a memory of playing Batman & Robin with a friend, which entailed running outside in just their underwear and towels as capes. When adults told them they couldn't run around outside in their underwear, both boys promptly whipped theirs off and ran around in just capes. Jason's father gamely agreed to read him comic books as bedtime stories instead of 'Snow White.' (Super Friends being his favorite.) Jason saw all of the original Star Wars movies (and Indiana Jones and Superman and Star Trek...) in the theaters. Yes, he is old. And grew up in the most GEEKTASTIC decade ever, the 80s, devouring a steady diet of GI Joe, Transformers, Masters of the Universe, Princess of Power and (best of all) Jem! (It totally counts as sci fi! They had a sentient computer that projected holograms!) Jason has studied literature, journalism, film history and has a degree in creative writing (and a minor in psychology) from the University of South Alabama. He has worked as a technical writer and proofreader. These days, most of his creative energy goes into his blog and writing for this site! He lives with the cutest puppies ever.