The EXCLUSIVE debut installment of ZOWIE WEDNESDAYS!
Welcome to the first of 13 ZOWIE WEDNESDAYS! And if we’re going to start a new weekly feature excerpting Mark Voger’s upcoming TwoMorrows book Zowie! then we have to pick a piece on one of the Zowiest actors from the 1960s superhero scene: the late Yvonne Craig, whose birthday was this month and who joined the Batman TV show for Season 3, which began in September 1967.
Voger dedicated a two-page spread in the book to Craig, who spoke to him years ago about her time in purple, high-kicking her way through fight scenes — and why she ended up doing her own stunts in the first place. (Adam West and Burt Ward had their fair share of close-up action but most distance shots featured doubles.)
So dig this Zowie! excerpt, which also includes Craig’s pick for favorite guest villain and her admiration for her TV father, Neil Hamilton.
(Oh, and ordering info for Zowie! — which comes out this summer — can be found below.)
Right on!
—
Zowie! by Mark Voger, is a 192-page, full-color hardcover that lists for $43.95. It is scheduled to be released July 31 and will be available through booksellers and comics shops. You can also pre-order it directly from TwoMorrows. Click here.
—
MORE
— The Complete ZOWIE WEDNESDAYS! Index. Click here.
— ZOWIE! New History of the 1960s TV SUPERHERO CRAZE Coming in 2024. Click here.
May 22, 2024
I’ve not ordered my copy yet but I do plan to get one. I buy pretty much everything from Twomorrows’ publishing house.
In fairness to Ward not doing his own stunts or as many as others on the show, could it have anything to do with how horribly the executives took advantage of his raw nature in the business? He was so under paid compared to others. I can see how by season #3 once Craig was on set his attitude was shot. They all pretty much knew by then the efforts to save the show going forward were not forth coming. Either way, I do look forward to getting this. Thanks for sharing, Mark!
May 22, 2024
Actually, Burt did some of his own stunts early on — and kept getting hurt. Using stunt doubles is standard. With Yvonne Craig it was unique to her skill set. Who else could do those moves?
May 22, 2024
By Sept, I had enough of Batman, but stayed on to watch Batgirl. FDid she also do Girl from UNCLE?
May 22, 2024
I wish Batgirl had the fighting skills used by her comic book counterpart. That would have been exciting. TV’s Batgirl was captured too much. Kathy (Batwoman) Kane did better.