That’s right, DC is going there.
It’s the natural progression of things when you think about it: Batman ’66 Meets Wonder Woman ’77 would have to place Batman, Robin (and Batgirl) in 1977 at some point.
So what would happen to Burt Ward’s Robin in the late ’70s after he’s been thrust into manhood? Well, according to Mike Allred’s cover to print Issue #5 (due in May), the suggestion is he takes on the mantle of Nightwing (a few years earlier than his comic-book counterpart would in 1984):
Holy Disco Nightwing! (And we do mean disco.) And is it just me or does he also have a bit of an Evel Knievel vibe, especially with his own Nightwing Cycle?
Here’s the issue’s official description, from DC:
The action heats up in 1970s Gotham City as the Amazon Princess arrives in Man’s World in search of her old ally, Batman! Instead, she finds a new hero: a motorcycle-riding daredevil with a familiar face and a new crime-fighting costume!
No matter what, we better get a scene like this inside:
Christopher Jones. Check out his website here.
I also notice that Batgirl’s wearing her original mask and riding her original Batgirl Cycle from the ABC presentation film. Hmmm.
I suppose we’ll get answers in a few weeks when the chapters start hitting digitally, but I prefer to wait for print.
Regardless, it’s definitely better than what really happened with Adam West and Burt Ward’s Batman and Robin in the late ’70s:
Writers Jeff Parker and Marc Andreyko, and artists David Hahn, Karl Kesel and Allred, are indulging in a big game of “What If?” in this series, which is only appropriate. Hell, Allred already gave us our dream casting of Christopher Lee as Ra’s al Ghul (click here), so everything else is gravy.
February 28, 2017
Whoa! And Batgirl has her “pilot” outfit and motorcycle too? Are they going to make Dick and Babs a couple? Very interested in seeing where this goes!
March 1, 2017
Robin became Nightwing just as I had finished making my own Robin costume in 1984 – someone told me at a convention when I was wearing it. I was intrigued, and checked out my local comic book store. “The Judas Contract”, in which we see Robin peel off his costume and walk away as Dick Grayson was part of a wonderful story arc for the “New Teen Titans” and I was hooked on the comic for several years.
March 1, 2017
I like this idea of exploring where the Batman ’66 characters are 10 years later. This could lead to some very interesting stories to be told later on.