A MORRISON MONDAYS birthday salute!
By BILL MORRISON
Remember the episode of the 1966 Batman TV series where Krusty the Clown was a guest villain? If not, it’s probably because it only happened in The Simpsons universe.
In the 14th season episode titled “Large Marge” — the one where Marge Simpson gets breast implants — there’s a scene where Bart Simpson is having a sleepover with his best friend Milhouse and, while watching TV and channel surfing, they come across an episode of Batman featuring Krusty as the “Painted Pagliacci of Perfidy,” ClownFace (not to be confused with the Batman villain that was created several years later, known as Clownface.)
Burt Ward and Adam West guest-star as the Caped Crusaders, who are caught in one of ClownFace’s nefarious but goofy death traps.
Though Adam West had previously appeared as himself in animated form on The Simpsons in the Season 4 episode, “Mr. Plow,” “Large Marge” marked the only time Burt Ward did a guest voice on the series. However, he did sort of appear visually in the Season 11 episode titled “Beyond Blunderdome.”
In a scene at the Hollywood Auto Museum, Bart approaches the George Barris Batmobile in which the TV versions of Batman and Robin are seated. Bart mistakenly thinks that the Dynamic Duo are dummies, but they actually turn out to be Adam West and Burt Ward who have been hired by the museum to sit in the Batmobile as part of the display. In this episode, Burt/Robin is voiced by Karl Wiedergott, and Hank Azaria provides a near-perfect impersonation of Adam’s Batman voice. An original production cel from this scene holds a hallowed spot in my collection of animation art.
But enough of Adam and Karl and Hank.
Today is Burt Ward’s 81st birthday, and I’m here to honor him! (He was born July 6, 1945.) In fact, in tribute to Burt on his special day, I created this drawing of him as he appeared on The Simpsons, incorrect boots and all, in battle with the Harlequined Hoodlum himself, ClownFace.
The color file…
… and the original line art:
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Want more MORRISON MONDAYS? Come back next week! Want a commission? See below!
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MORE
— Filling MARGE SIMPSON’s Head With Her Dream Men — Including Joaquin Phoenix’s JOKER?! Click here.
— What a Paper Doll! SUPERGIRL’s Swingin’ ’70s Fashion Show. Click here.
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Eisner winner BILL MORRISON has been working in comics and publishing since 1993 when he co-founded Bongo Entertainment with Matt Groening, Cindy Vance and Steve Vance. At Bongo, and later as Executive Editor of Mad Magazine, he parodied the comics images he loved as a kid every chance he got. Not much has changed.
Bill is on Instagram (@atomicbattery) and Facebook (Bill Morrison/Atomic Battery Studios), and regularly takes commissions and sells published art through 4C Comics.
July 6, 2026
I lost track of keeping up with The Simpsons years ago. Never saw that clip before. Absolutely BRILLIANT!!!
Thanks for sharing.