New “Caped Crusaders” Reminds Fans Batman Can Be Both Funny and Dark

[divider type=”space_thin”] [quote_simple]”I’m the happy Batman. I’m the funny Batman.”[/quote_simple] So said the original caped crusader himself, Adam West, after the world premiere of his new animated movie, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, at New York Comic Con on Thursday, October 6. In a time of Christian Bales and Ben Afflecks, of Batmen who generally come across less darkly heroic as they do as rich assholes badly in need of cough drops, West and the team behind Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders appear as a welcome breath of fresh air. What happened to all the funny? It’s a valid question to ask of superhero shows and movies, especially in recent years, beginning with the popularity of a markedly darker Batman in Batman Begins. Fortunately, shows and movies like Guardians of the Galaxy, Deadpool, The Flash, and even the Avengers movies have proven that humor in the kick-punch world of comic book heroes is still welcome, even celebrated, if done right. But what about Batman? Is the Dark Knight still too inherently—well, dark—to be touched with any degree of humor outside of an occasional wisecrack and cooly sarcastic remark? After all, Bruce Wayne has always been one of the cool guys, the kid on the playground with the coolest toys who knew just how popular he was. But there was a time when Bruce Wayne was lovably ridiculous and ridiculously campy in a way that only West could pull off with such ease, affection and flair. Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and…