Before I post my next treatment I want to establish my vision of how (and why) to adapt Legends of the Superheroes to comics.
"Legends Of The Superheroes"
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As a fan of Legends of the Superheroes (LOTS), I've always considered it canon to the TV series but, with the publication of the Batman '66 comics I have felt that DC should
officially make the LOTS specials canon to the Batman '66 line. "Why?" you may be asking. For several reasons.
First is the chance to have Adam West's own version of the Justice League of America. LOTS is a more lighthearted version which fits better with the Adam West, Bright Knight rendition. Unlike the comic Batman, LOTS shows that Adam West's Batman has actually gotten happier as he gets older (as opposed to angrier and darker as in the comics) and enjoys his chosen life of crime fighting. So the Legends of the Superheroes comics should be more lighthearted than Batman '66. While we still don't want the comics to feel like the variety show of the specials, I would have it feel like the third season of the Batman TV series which would still allow plenty of room for laughs while also enable a hint of drama. Laughs first with action added.
Second is the potential for more pair ups. We have already seen several great pair ups of other 60s shows with the "Batman '66 Meets..." series. By including LOTS, we can expand that to include series and movies of the 70s and even stretch it into the early 80s as well.
Third is that the seeds for making it canon were already (if unintentionally) planted in "Batman '66 Meets Wonder Woman '77" during which Wonder Woman coaxed Bruce Wayne out of retirement in 1977 and closes with a comment about forming a league of some kind. Well, LOTS accurs right after that, Adam West does indeed come out of retirement to return as Batman and does form a superhero league. While Wonder Woman wasn't part of LOTS, she was in action at the time on her own show. It could easily be said that she was part of the group but, was simply on another mission at the time of the LOTS adventures. In fact, the same thing could be said for Christopher Reeve's Superman who was on the big screen at the time. So making LOTS canon also gives an opportunity to team Adam West and Christopher Reeve.
Fourth would be for licensing. While Warner Bros. currently has a deal worked out with 20th Century Fox, what's going to happen when Disney buys them out? Is the deal strong enough to withstand the buyout or is it a fragile deal that could be easily broken? By switching to LOTS, WB will own everything. The characters, the title, the sets, the variation of the looks of the costumes/Batmobile etc. There will be no fear of copywriter issues.
Fifth is the expansion of the Adam West universe. No longer will it be relegated to a two and a half year time frame. It can now be expanded to the early 80s and beyond. Yes, I even have plans for beyond LOTS. Stay tuned.
To ensure that Batman remains the focus of this series (should it ever happen) I would format it like this; instead of being a unified group constantly working together (as in JLA or even Super Friends), the Superheroes will work independently in their own territory only coming together during times of dire emergency... or if Ed McMahon offers to host a celebrity roast in their honor. lol This way not every superhero has to be part of every story (thus explaining Superman's and Wonder Woman's absence in the LOTS specials) but, every story should involve Batman and Robin. Even Dick Grayson will be out on his own as Nightwing but, when he is called to re-unite he willingly goes back to being Robin The Boy Wonder because Batman and Robin are a team. And because it will be funny watching him going from a man to portraying a boy just for the sake of public expectations. lol
It was established in "The Challenge" episode that the "Hall of Heroes" was located within a wing of the Batcave (perhaps added after the '66 series) as the superheroes were all seen exiting the same cave entrance used in the series. Plus the interior of the HoH was made to look like a cave. So, it only makes sense for Batman to be the unofficial leader and therefore be involved in every story.
There should be five kinds of basic plots. 1) A story involving multiple Superheroes stopping a major plot by the villains. 2) A story where Batman is the focus with another hero helping. 3) A story that focusses on another hero with Batman and Robin helping. 4)A story that begins in another hero's territory but, when the crime gets too big a call is made to the Batcave where Batman contacts another hero and sends them to help while staying in contact and offering access to the Batcomputer. 5) A crossover episode featuring a character from a 70s/early 80s show (such as the Six Million Dollar Man, Isis or The Greatest American Hero) and movies (like Swamp thing). As often as possible all characters should reflect the character how he/she was depicted on film at the time as if we the actual crossover took place between the shows at the time.
Like with the Batman '66 comics, DC should use the likenesses of as many of the LOTS cast as they can get the rights to. For characters not used in LOTS or Batman '66 they should "cast" the likeness of an actor from that period in the role.
Also, since Gary Owens was the narrator of LOTS and best known as the voice of Space Ghost, all of the comic narration should include an image of Space Ghost (a Superhero himself) in the corner by the text as if he was doing the narration. This would allow the inclusion of Owens as well in a unique way that also includes Hanna Barbara (the producers of the LOTS specials) while keeping it Superhero oriented.
I know that not everyone likes LOTS but, if done with more emphasis on Batman '66 and expanding the Adam West (not to mention ALL of the DC real world/media era) I feel that this could not only work on it's own But also help to increase he fan base of Batman '66 as it will expand the brand beyond the few years of footage that we have much like the Batman'66 digital comics have done.
Since it was already established in the Batman TV series that a character can be recast without explination it would be fun to switch Captain Marvel from adventure to adventure to feature the likeness of either Garrett Craig (from LOTS), Jackson Bostwick (Shazam! season 1) and John Davey (Shazam! seasons 2 & 3).
For the sake of real time continuity I would be sure to true to the costumes that were utilized in the LOTS specials. Yes, that even includes Batman's "gila" cowl although it would be drawn as a bit more form fitting (as in the attached picture by Alex Ross) while clearly being worn outside of the cape. Also, the face of the cowl will be drawn to resemble it as it appeared in the LOTS specials with the raised eyebrows, lines only on the side of the nose and no black on the face. Again, this would be done for the sake of real time continuity as Batman's costume should always resemble the one that Adam West actually wore during that period of time. Likewise the Batmobile should be drawn to resemble how it appeared at the time complete with flocking (as it appeared in the LOTS specials). If Batman can change his look in the comics over the years then so can Batman '66.
Since this is only fan fiction I also plan on doing Marvel crossovers with Spider-Man (Nicholas Hammond), Captain America (Reb Brown), Dr. Strange (Peter Hooten) and of course The Incredible Hulk (Bill Bixby/Lou Ferrigno). There is so much that can be done with Batman '66 beyond the 60s. I really want to tap into that all but unexplored area.