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Submitted: October 28, 2009
Image Size: 104 KB
Resolution: 406×565

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Bookworm sketch cardby *PaulHanley

Fan Art / Cartoons & Comics / Traditional / Other

Batman's Rogues' Gallery sketch card #04
2.5" x 3.5" ink on Bristol.

One of my favorite Batman TV villains, The Bookworm (Roddy McDowall). Ya gotta love a guy who wears a suit cut from Easton Press-style brown leather and a hat with a reading lamp attached to it.

Like all the good Bat-villains, the Bookworm was a bit nuts. Almost superhumanly intelligent, and able to speed-read massive tomes in seconds, the Bookworm's fatal flaw was a lack of originality. Frustrated by his inability to succeed as an author, he turned to a series of literary-themed crimes to avenge himself on Gotham City.

Like the Penguin's umbrellas, Bookworm used weapons disguised as books. The best had to be his arsenal of boring, oversized volumes that fired sleeping gas.

~SpindleWinter Oct 30, 2011 Hobbyist Digital Artist

I love how he's taking himself so seriously, yet... He looks like a numpty.

Lovely art, as always.

~geekspace Sep 28, 2011

OK, I needed this guy's hat years ago. Furthermore, he was played by Mr. Planet of the Apes, Fright Night, etc.? Youtube, don't fail me now.

*PaulHanley Sep 30, 2011 Professional

Last time I checked, Bookworm's one apperance on the 60s BATMAN sho was up on YouTube in its entirety. I actually had to go there to do the ref for the pic, since stupid contentions over rights have kept that show off of DVD (where it would make a ton of money, I'm sure).

~geekspace Oct 4, 2011

So DC's avarice continues to deny the public its high-def fix of Adam West, Cesar Romero, et al. Wish I could say this surprised me.

*PaulHanley Oct 6, 2011 Professional

Actually, from what I've read, DC is the least of the problems. A big part is that Warner Bros (which bought them after the show ended), would be at odds with 20th Century Fox (which owns the show). Fox is an infamously lunkheaded studio that's tied up other properties before (their stake in the 90s Doctor Who TV movie left that unreleased for years). Plus there were two other production companies involved in developing the show, and a huge number of clearances needed for many of the cameos the show had, which were usually thrown-together without contracts (just imagine clearing the bit where Col. Klink from HOGAN'S HEROES showed up). It's a mess. Guess we'll all just have to torrent it and watch it on YouTube for free, eh?

~geekspace Oct 7, 2011

Pardon my flying leap to a shaky conclusion, then. Having just taken in one of the episodes in question...gotta say, that Easton leather actually doesn't look half-bad in suit form. I'm further impressed that this guy rated his own hench-crew, catsuited Gal Friday(C) and all...not to mention a multi-parter episode arc.

~Draconicat Apr 4, 2010

Bookworm was a delightful villain, and you've done a good job with him here.

~tera9 Mar 28, 2010

it's pretty cool that McDowall also provided the voice for the mad hatter in the animated series

*PaulHanley Mar 28, 2010 Professional

Whoa- didn't know that! That is pretty cool.

~wonderlandmanga Feb 28, 2010 Hobbyist General Artist

Yay love Bookworm! Definitely my favourite 1960s only villain

If I ever get a chance to write for DC I'll have to work him in somewhere!

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