Just A Quintet of Wise Guys and their Doc Meet The Frankenstein Monster!

I love the X-Men! 

You might question that after this blog entry, and the previous one, too, but I truly do! 

Growing up as I did, in the era of Chris Claremont and John Byrne, "The Uncanny X-Men" was my favorite regular title from Marvel. At least, unless Byrne moved onto "The Fantastic Four," then both alternated for the top spot in my weekly comic book reading. I loved both the original team created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, as well as the "new" team created by Len Wein, Roy Thomas, and Dave Cockrum. I first "met" the original team in a reprints (which I believe I chronicled in my earlier blog entry. I started regularly reading the new guys with issue #122, just in time for the build up to the Dark Phoenix Saga.

When the X-Men title was good, it was GREAT! When it was bad, though, it was also the WORST! Mostly the worst stories of the run were during the Silver-Age of comics. It was the period of Roy Thomas's first run on the series, before joining with Neal Adams for some classic X-Men comics. But, boy... Thomas took some time to work uo the steam he let out during his time with Adams. 

In fairness, as I understand it, "X-Men" was Thomas's first professional comics assignment. He was learning the ropes, finding his voice. But truth is truth, and that first go round was a pretty horrid run. Not that Arnold Drake came up with masterpieces during his own brief tenure writing the adventures of Marvel's mutants, but Thomas's earlier stories were very wordy, and unnecessarily so.

It was stupid... and corny! I know it's harsh, and I do appreciate the great work Thomas put in with "Conan The Barbarian," "The Avengers," and "Squadron Supreme," and especially the aforementioned work with Neal Adams on X-Men, but there's no other way to put it with the early stuff.

Mechano, The Locust, The Warlock, all were the lame villains in cringe-worthy tales, but I think the very worst of the worst came in a stand alone story where Professor Xavier and his teenage students square off against what appeared to be the legendary Frankenstein monster! 

Xavier learns about  the discovery of the monster by a group of arctic explorers while he was, as he put it, "engaged in some, uh, mental experiments." Why he said "uh" about his experiments is something that never got addressed. Just what was that about? It was found frozen in a block of ice and brought back to America for study.

Anyway, the professor is certain this is the actual creature that Mary Shelley wrote about in the 19th century novel. He mentions to the team that he had suspected she was writing about a real monster, but that the monster was in reality an android and that its' creator was in all likelihood a mutant! Um... okay. Xavier is convinced that this monster is a vital threat and so he and the X-Men take off for the museum where it's being, so that they may prevent it from doing harm.

As feared, the monster awakens and during the X-Men's ensuing battle with it, we learn the monster is not only inhumanly strong, as described in the novel, but also can shoot eye beams, and has magnetic feet! Not long after the monster tosses a barrage of barrels at our heroes, it is stopped cold by Iceman's freezing power. Apparently, the cold is its' major weakness, and being frozen again causes it to explode this time.

Probing the android's artificial mind during its' final moment of existence, Xavier learns about its' true origin: It was created as an intergalactic ambassador by aliens from a tropical planet who wanted to use it to test the hospitality of humanity. Due to a malfunction, the creature went berserk and was pursued to the polar regions by its creators, where they left it frozen. It particularly was agitated by the X-Men's colorful costumes, as they reminded it of the flamboyant outfits worn by the aliens that created it.

Yeah... so... Brightly garbed aliens from a tropical planet created a monstrous android to make certain we Earthlings would treat it nicely as a condition for making contact with out planet's populace. And somehow Mary Shelley possibly caught wind of this situation and wrote her story loosely based in these "actual" events. Also, it was frozen in ice for years and years in the arctic, but for some reason it['s only when blasted by IceMan's powers that it becomes too cold and explodes.

Yep... stupid. I'm sorry, but what else would you call such a story?

I recently finished reading the entire Silver-Age run with the original X-Men, and so I think I am qualified enough to nominate this as the worst X-Men comic book tale ever! The story had some close competition, let me tell you, but it takes the cake, and the prize! However, like many a B-movie, I would say it is so bad, it's good! It's pure cornball, and silly beyond reason, but you almost can't believe what you're reading was written by a former teacher, an educated, adult man. I don't accept that comics are strictly for kids as a rule, but even that doesn't excuse how inane this story came out.

For a fun, little exercise, I decided to take a poke of rewriting the comic book, adding new text in the captions. I did so intending to make a spoof, but honestly one that probably has a better rationale behind the occurrences that took place in the original version. I write the team as a group of smart asses who have no respect for their leader, and whom in return grants them even less respect. For this reason, I decided to label them as the YZ-GUYS (pronounced "wise" guys, get it? um...).

The monster, in this parody, is written as a true misunderstood victim of circumstances. I won't claim it improves the tale, but I hope that it at least brings a new level of enjoyment from the comic.

So, here is my version, using the original artwork from "X-MEN" #40 (January, 1968):

NOTE: Click to enlarge pictures (on computer, right-click and select either "open in new tab" or "open in new window" to see at full resolution):

X-Men are Copyright 2020 Marvel. The usage of the characters and artwork here is strictly meant for the intent of parody, with ownership neither granted nor implied. The parody script is Copyright 2020 Matthew Hawes.

When The X-MEN Were A-HOLES!

X-Men #3 (Marvel Comics, January, 1964) was the first full story with the original X-Men I had ever read. In fact, it was only the second story featuring the team in any incarnation that I had read ever, the first being a reprint of Marvel Team-Up #4 (Marvel Comics, September, 1972) in the Marvel Treasury Edition #18 (January, 1978) featuring The Astonishing Spider-Man. The version of X-Men #3 I read was also actually a reprint, from the Son of Origins of Marvel Comics (Fireside, 1975) trade paperback collection. 

For a person of my age, it was somewhat unusual that my first exposure to Marvel's merry mutants would  have been the team in its original incarnation. It was more likely for a Gen-X'er to have first encountered the "new" X-Men. This I did with my third encounter with the team in Uncanny X-Men #122 (Marvel Comics, June, 1979). I became a fan from the first story with the team I read, and remain so to this day.

Recently, Marvel released a nine-volume boxed set titled X-Men: Children of The Atom that reprints the teams adventures from their first issue to the end of famed artist John Byrne's run in issue #143, including nearly all of the team's appearances outside their title in the Marvel Universe during the years those comics were originally published. I bought this set (which was an adventure in and of itself, which I may blog about some other time), and am currently rereading the earliest issues in the set during this time of the COVID-19 quarantine.

As mentioned, the third story featuring the original team of X-Men was the first story of the team's own adventures I had read. This story first introduced us to the evil mutant known as The Blob. 

The Blob makes his entrance in X-Men #3 (1964)

Also, by this third outing of the strangest teen-agers of all, the title characters personalities were starting to emerge. Cyclops was initially called "Slim" Summers in the very first appearance of the team, but in the third issue we learn that his given first name is Scott. It is also established that he can't control his optic blasts without the use of his ruby quartz glasses or his optic visor. 

The entire group was smitten with their female teammate Marvel Girl, AKA Jean Grey.  Ice Man (Bobby Drake) first seemed unimpressed with her charms in the first issue, but in this issue he's as excited to go on a mission with her as any of the other fellows. However, a glimpse into Cyclops' thoughts that reveal his feelings for her might go deeper than a simple schoolboy crush.

We first get an idea of Cyclops' lack of control over his power, and his deep feelings for Jean Grey.

Ice Man was portrayed more or less as the joker in the group form the start, as Angel (Warren Worthington III) was likewise established as being a privileged youth from the beginning, but the Beast (Hank McCoy) is established in this third adventure as being an intellectual despite his brutish appearance and code-name. 

There was only one reference before, in the second issue, where he claims to be the smartest among his teammates. However, that remark is played as if it was more of a joke, while this issue affirms that he is indeed the most academic among his mates. Before this issue, his speech was not only more casual, it was more akin to how the Thing spoke in Fantastic Four, with its use of contractions and the like.

X-Men #2 (1983) The Beast remarks he's smarter than the others, but isn't truly portrayed as such until the third issue.

By X-Men #3 (1964) Beast is now firmly established as the group's intellctual.

Now, I know that I have read the story at least a couple more times since the late 1970s, but even then it's probably been at least 30 years at the time of this writing since I last read it. So, going back and rereading these early stories all these years later, I am naturally viewing some details in a whole new light. Naturally, there are the expected change with societal issues, but even taking the context of the period in which the tales were originally written one thing still stands out in this third issue: 

THE X-MEN WERE A-HOLES!

After what I wrote above, it should be clear that I am a fan, so when I state this about the X-Men, it is not done lightly. However, when one reads this tale it is an inescapable fact. The attitude of the team and the actions they take in this story are atrocious and even criminal! As first presented to us in this comic, The Blob comes off crass, uncouth, arrogant, and rude... but initially he is not shown to be particularly evil or criminal. Yes, that does eventually happen to be the case, but only after events caused by the actions of the X-Men themselves. At the beginning of the tale, his worse offense is being a bit too touchy with Jean Grey. While this is definitely not proper, especially in the modern age of the "Me Too" movement, frankly, the X-Men were also a bit cringey in their own way as illustrated when Angel is practically salivating in Jean's presence about the prospect of another female joining the group. "Mmmm boy!," he exclaims! It may not enter the realm of sexual harassment, but it's certainly crass behavior.

The Blob gets too hands-on with Jean.

The Blob makes a move on Jean, as mentioned above. It's every bit as crass, yes, but is it really any worse that Blob refers to her as a "tomato" when her fellow teammate is smacking his lips in anticipation of another female member? Admittedly, he carries it a bit too far when he makes a grab for her. However, if the guys are going to get offended on her behalf at the Blob's objectifying her, shouldn't they also consider their own attitudes towards the fairer sex? Of course, in context of the story and the period within which it was written, Angel's remarks where meant to be indicative of  natural, innocent teen-boy lust, but I point this out to illustrate that at this point of the story the Blob has yet to give any impression he is criminally-minded. After all, despite his behavior they still insist on him coming with them.

More disturbing, though, is Professor Xavier's inner thoughts about his young female student. In a panel which has since become somewhat infamous among the comic book community, Xavier bemoans his situation where he refrains from expressing his romantic interest in Jean due to his being in a wheelchair, and being the leader (not to mention the teacher) of the X-Men. 

I point out these instances to demonstrate that other than Blob's unwelcome advance on Jean, something the team could stand to refrain from doing themselves, he has not done anything else that warrants the treatment he receives from the X-Men in their attempt to recruit him to their team.

When Cyclops first encounters The Blob in his tent at a circus, he is adamant that the Blob is going to go with him. "The X-Men don't take 'no' for an answer," he tells the Blob. Though Cyclops thinks to himself that he shouldn't have lost his temper after saying that, there really wasn't anything the Blob said to make such a demand. Yes, the Blob is arrogant and rude, but what makes Cyclops think that he can insist Blob go with him against his own will?

It would be bad enough if it were only Cyclops that displayed this attitude, but we eventually learn that even Professor Xavier believes its the X-Men's right to draft whomever they want into their team. The Blob consents to be tested at the School for Gifted Youngsters, headquarters to the X-Men, but declines their invitation to join them. Xavier balks with indignation, "This is unheard of! No one has ever refused us before!" He then refuses to let The Blob leave and threatens to wipe his memory of them and his visit there. Say what...??  Xavier and The X-Men insist he come and be tested, which he did, but then leave him no choice but to join them or have his mind messed with? These are the heroes of our story, folks!

You WILL join us... OR be mind-wiped! YEESH!!

The Blob makes a run for it, but Jean uses her telekinesis to shut off his exit, and the team assaults him afterwards.

You ain't goin' nowhere, tubby!

Eventually, The Blob is forced to go into the sewer system in order to escape this crazy crew! Xavier realizes too late that insisting someone go to his place for tests and be inducted into his school without having anticipated that the person may refuse to join them was probably not the wisest course of action. Worried that Blob is going to rat them out, and egged on by Jean, he makes plans to capture the Blob and bring him back to the school for a good ol' fashion violation of his rights... I mean, a mind wipe.

Yeah... about that: Not cool, Xavier... not cool.

So, having escaped and made his way back to the circus, The Blob now fears that the X-Men won't leave him be -- and he isn't wrong!! Figuring he has no other recourse, he reckons that he has to take the battle to them first. At this point in the story, honestly, he is the victim. The X-Men seems like some kooky cult that forces others to join them or have your mind messed with.

Is he wrong when we just saw the X-Men say they couldn't let him go? Who are the heroes again??

Now, here's where the story turns in a way... Up to this point, as already noted, yeah, The Blob's a jerk, and a bit skeevy, but we readers haven't been given any real reason to believe he is a threat to society. In fact, he already knew that he has these strange powers, and still chose to make an honest living as a performer. But, in order to give some justification story-wise for the X-Men's behavior, suddenly the Blob decides that having learned he is a mutant means he will now use his powers for evil. 

His only motive for turning bad is learning he is a mutant and being concerned that the X-Men will hound him, a fact which he is actually correct in assuming! If he had just discovered his abilities as a result of Xavier's test, I could accept that maybe he had a hidden desire to rule over others and this revelation could now facilitate that previously secret desire. However, he already knew he had powers, he just got an explanation for why he has them. Why is suddenly learning he's a mutant enough to make him turn evil?

"Yeah, I know I had these powers already and could have taken charge before, but ya see... I know I'm a mutant now!"

Frankly, this turn seems to have been done just to make Xavier and the X-Men less creeps in their actions. You see, that Blob guy was a bag egg all along, so they were right to coerce, threaten, and attempt to wipe his mind against his will! If The Blob wanted to take over the circus, he knew he had the power already to do that.

But it's not just The Blob! Now the whole circus is evil, or at the least very bad folk.Yes, The Blob confronted his boss and took charge of the circus, but the entire troupe never is really shown putting up any real resistance and seem to go along pretty willingly with the attack on Xavier's school.

The Blob and his circus pals storm the school!

So, things end after a battle when Xavier using an intensifier ray to amplify his mental abilities to mind wipe the entire group of circus performers along with The Blob. Yep, those innocent performers who were seemingly forced by Blob to attack the X-Men are included in the mind wiping. And Xavier commands that they all return to a state of mind that they were in before the X-Men came across them. Who's fault is all this mess, again??

"You're just dupes of The Blob? So what? You still know too much! Mind wipes for EVERYONE!"

In the end of the story, The Blob is indeed back where we first met him, working at the circus with no apparent desire for world domination, earning his living as a performer. "It's better than starvin'," he thinks, with no indication that he had any thoughts of using his powers for ill pursuits. What is it about learning he was a mutant that made him veer off into villainy?

Yep, revisiting this comic book story decades later, with a modern sensibility and an older outlook has me scratching my head at some aspects of the stories, but don't get me wrong; I still love these stories! They are pure, unbridled fun! I am excited to be going through them again after all this time. 

Part of the enjoyment is approaching the stories with a new perspective from what I had in my youth. And I realize that with early X-Men issues, as with pretty much all early Marvel stories, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko, and the rest of the Bullpen, were still developing and setting up the foundations for the Marvel Universe. As they went along, the stories became more complex, and fleshed out. The earliest stuff has a more "by the seat of their pants" approach which made for a wonky, but wild ride.

While the portrayal of the X-Men in this tale make their actions somewhat dubious, thankfully they relaxed the "join us or be assimilated" attitude from this issue. It's hard to root for them when they're acting like a-holes, after all.

BONUS FUNNY PIC!

Sometimes Jack Kirby was so into his work that some little details would often escape his notice. In this instance, it seems to have also escaped the notice of both the inker, and Stan Lee, as the editor. In the panel below, The Blob has apparently lost his wig! LOL!

#X-Men #Marvel #Marvelcomics #uncannyx-men #childrenoftheatom #review

The Day Adam West Snubbed Me Was The Lowest Point Of His Career!

Banner announcing Batman (Adam West) at the Shrine Circus in Evansville, Indiana, November 1977.

Adam West (1928 - 2017) was the beloved actor known best for his role as the title character on the 1966-1969 television series "Batman."  After acting for several years in various film and TV roles with limited success, "Batman" made him an international star and for a time the series was the hottest thing on TV.  After the series was cancelled, West fell on hard times, finding it difficult to escape his past fame as the Caped Crusader.  Eventually, his career would rebound, and he would again find some renewed success voicing the mayor on the popular cartoon "Family Guy."  West would remain in-demand on the comics and pop-culture convention circuit until his passing in 2017. 

Adam West as Batman visits a young patient at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana, 1977.

It seems that nearly everyone loved Adam West.  For many people, he was their first introduction to the Batman character.   Additionally, for a great number of those people, he is the embodiment of the comic book hero and all others who took on the role before and since are merely pretenders to the crown.   Even critics of the show that feel it diminished and ridiculed the source material, sullying the public's perception of the Dark Knight detective with its campy approach, still seem have a certain reverence for West.  And his later role as Mayor West would garner him a wider, younger fan base that appreciated his turn as the quirky character.

Yes, it seems that nearly everyone loved Adam West...  but me.  

Now, before I am barraged by a chorus of boos and jeers, I must explain myself: I grew up watching the syndicated reruns of the "Batman" series, having been born after its initial run on network TV.   I can't tell you with certainty if those reruns were my first exposure to the character since it's possible that was from reading the comic books, or even watching the "Super Friends" cartoon every Saturday morning.  But I was a regular viewer of those "Batman" reruns as a child, and enjoyed them very much.  In fact, I was excited when my family went to see Adam West at a live appearance as Batman at the annual Hadi Shrine circus in November of 1977. 

Newspaper advertisement, 1977.

Admittedly, being the relatively ripe old age of eight-years-old, I can't recall much about this appearance.  However, the one thing that still sticks with me is that Adam West snubbed me.   After the night's performance, my family and I went to the backstage along with a group of other families for a sort of meet and greet with West.  We youngsters excitedly waited to see our hero and speak with him, as West emerged from the stage.  But, instead of greeting us, West made a beeline straight for his bus.  He did nothing to acknowledge us pint-sized admirers who had been waiting as patiently as a kid could on the sidelines.  Not a simple greeting, nor a casual glance in our direction, though he was definitely aware of our presence. 

If you think us youngsters were unhappy at being snubbed by our favorite TV superhero, my father left feeling positively incensed at how his children were ignored.  Riding back home in the car with my family, I began drawing a picture of Batman on the program book from the circus.  When my father realized what I was doing, he snapped, "Why are you drawing that (expletive)?" "Because," I replied, "Adam West is not Batman."  

I would continue to watch the reruns.   I enjoyed the series to this day for what it was, even if I had soured on the lead actor.  Admittedly, whenever I thought of Adam West in the years that followed that night, it was always tainted with the memory of what happened at the circus.  I would later hear tales from other kids who saw Adam West and even Burt Ward at other appearances that the two would sometimes be in costume drinking beer, and such.  These alleged occurrences did nothing to help change my view of West.  In fact, it cemented for me that my own experience was apparently not an aberration of some sort.  

Newspaper advertisement, 1977.

In 1994, "Back To The Batcave" was published by Berkley Books.  The publication was an autobiography written by Adam West, with assist by author Jeff Rovin.  I didn't buy the book, but I did check it out from a local library not too long after it came out.  Despite my feelings toward the man, I was interested in what West had to write about his history with the "Batman" television series.   Imagine my surprise when I read in a chapter detailing his hard times after the series' cancellation that West considered the lowest point of his career was being shot out of a cannon during an appearance in Evansville, Indiana.  Was this a possible explanation for his rudeness towards a group of children all those years before?

Now, I recall him writing in that book that the cannon incident was at a circus.  In fact, his only appearance in Evansville during the era he described was at that Hadi Shrine circus performance.   I mention this because in the years to come, whenever this tale is recounted in interviews and articles, it is most often reported as having been at a carnival.  The closest thing to a carnival in Evansville, Indiana is the West Side Nut Club's Fall Festival, and he never publicly appeared at that festival.  I no longer have access to the book to check again on what West and Rovin actually wrote, as it is no longer available at the libraries in my city, and on eBay and other online resellers the price to buy a copy of the book is more than I am willing to spend to verify the matter.  

Over the years, the story about Adam West being fired out of a cannon was reported in a number of articles.  The gist of the story is that same, but the locale and actual year is often given incorrectly.  Let's take a look at some of these news stories:

Adam West: Behind The Mask

By Robert Chalmers (Independent UK), August 14, 2005

"…His lowest point came when he was in his Batman suit – this, remember, is a man who could have had a career as a Stanford academic – waiting to be fired out of a cannon, at a carnival in Evansville, Indiana."

TV's Original Batman Adam West Spills The Beans On His Superhero Life

By Peter Sheridan (Express UK), November 15, 2014

"...By the early 1970s he (West) had hit rock bottom, finding himself squeezed into a giant cannon, wearing his old Batman costume, waiting to be fired across a carnival in Evansville, Indiana... " 

"...'I was doing things I wasn't very comfortable doing. I was not the kind of guy that I respected very much. I'd do anything for money. There were definitely times when I regretted ever being Batman.'...." 

Holy Influential Actor, Batman: Adam West Continues to Shape Hollywood 

By Matt Zoller Seitz (Vulture), June 10, 2017 

"...By the early 1970s he had hit rock bottom, finding himself squeezed into a giant cannon, wearing his old Batman costume, waiting to be fired across a carnival in Evansville, Indiana....." 

Hmm... It appears that the Vulture article pretty much lifted a line from the Express UK website.  Huh.  No wonder the story of the appearance being at a "carnival" is so prevalent when articles are being written cut-n-paste style!

 Anyway... 

The Late Great Adam West 

By Terence Towles Canote (A Shroud of Thoughts), June 10, 2017 

"...To make ends meet he often appeared in the Batman costume at county fairs, rodeos, and store openings.  Perhaps the lowest point of his career came when he was shot out of a cannon in costume at the Hadi Shrine Circus in Evansville, Indiana in November 1977...." 

This one gets the locale correct! 

Here's a few more.... 

Adam West, Batman actor – obituary

The Telegraph (UK), June 11, 2017 

"...He found himself in costume – with no stunt double – being fired out of a cannon at a county fair in Evansville, Indiana, that he realised he would have to take whatever he could get...."

Remembering Adam West, TV’s Batman

By Servo Jefferson (Tattoodo), June 12, 2017

"...For many years he would work events in character as Batman, until he hit what he described as a personal low while waiting to be fired out of a cannon at a carnival in Evansville, Indiana while dressed as the caped crusader....." 

Gotham's Finest: Adam West

By Joseph McCabe (SFX magazine #290) , July 19, 2017

"...Forced to rely on personal appearances to earn a living, he at one point suffered the indignity of being shot out of a cannon in his Batman costume at a carnival in Evansville, Indiana...." 

West, Adam (1928-2017)

By Kathrine Beck (History Link), April 29, 2019 

"...After Batman, the typecast West had a tough time getting what work he could, including attending fan events. He later said he felt at his lowest ebb when being shot out of a cannon in his Batman costume in Evansville, Indiana...."

And here the tale is recounted on E! True Hollywood Story (1999) for the episode titled "Batman Unmasked: Adam West":

Narrator (starting around the 31:26 time mark): 

"...In 1976 (sic), the 48-year-old actor reached an all-time low, when he put on his Batman costume and proceeded to climb into a cannon to be shot across the sky during a personal appearance in Indiana...." 

The "True Hollywood" story gets the year wrong.  As noted, the appearance was in 1977, not 1976. 

And one last example, from the 2013 documentary "Starring Adam West" (Film Buff): 

West's agent Fred Westbrook recounts, "It's now the mid '70's... Adam's getting shot out of a cannon at a carnival. It was a low time in his life...." 

A carnival... A county fair... Regardless of the erroneous reporting, it was that appearance at the Shrine circus in 1977 that was being referenced by West in his book.  And having read that West considered that period, and particularly that specific appearance, to be the very lowest point of his career I almost began to feel differently about my own experience in trying to meet him when I was a child.  Almost... But, I still couldn't help but feel some degree of resentment. We were just kids he snubbed, after all.  Still, I tried to find some modicum of sympathy for the actor's plight.

Photo taken at the 1977 Shrine Circus in Evansville, Indiana.

Interestingly, when West spoke of this period, he always made it seem as if he had a great epiphany about making such appearances. Interestingly, he would continue to make such appearances for years to come in spite of his life reassessment.  In fact, he even returned to Evansville in 1986, along with his one-time co-star Burt Ward for the World of Wheels car show. Ironically, West in Batman gear tells local TV news reporter Derrick Wilkerson that "Evansville is one of my favorite cities." 

BATMAN AND ROBIN from Lewis Chaney on Vimeo.

In fairness, while being derisive about being in a circus in Evansville, I guess West never did compare being in Evansville to living in Prague as Madonna had done when she stayed in the city to film "A League of Their Own" in 1991.  She couldn't watch her MTV at the house where she stayed, you see...

Anyway, in 2010, a friend and I went to the Wizard World Chicago comic book convention where West along with Burt Ward and Julie Newmar were appearing as celebrity guests.   My past near-encounter with West still strong in my mind, if somewhat tempered by what I had learned of West's plight over the years, I was not exactly interested in paying the man for an autograph.  My friend, however, was really excited to get to meet West and Ward, and planned to pay extra to get a picture with both of them in front of a replica of the 1960s' Batmobile.  I accompanied my friend in the line as he approached the table where West sat with his agent. 

At the time we were in queue, there was hardly anyone else in line. My friend stood in front of West at the signing table, telling West about how much of a fan he was, and such. West said nothing, his head pointed downward while he doodled some odd shape on a scrap piece of paper.  He only looked up once, peering at my friend through the side of his eye as my friend made some mention of West's role on "Family Guy."  West remained silent and went back to his doodling as his agent explained the cost for my friend to get his photograph with West and Ward. 

My friend, a big, friendly, and silly sort, got his picture taken with then two "Batman" stars while he wore his own ill-fitting Batman outfit. By this point, neither West nor Ward were appearing is costumes at appearances, themselves.  After getting his photo taken with he two actors, my friend came up to me and told me of how friendly West was acting. 'Yeah," I noted, "he'd better be.  You paid them $200 for that photo!"  Yep, you read that right.  I'd smile if I got that every time I took a picture, too!

Adam West, my goofy pal, and Burt Ward pose in front of a replica of the 1966 Batmobile at Wizard World Chicago, 2010.

So... I honestly remain mixed on how to think about the man, Adam West.  I will still watch his "Batman" series, and in fact I own the Blu-Ray set.  I also get a kick out of his appearances as Mayor West on "Family Guy," and I'm not opposed to watching his other work in film or TV.  Still, the Wizard World appearance didn't do much to change my overall perception of the man.  For many fans Adam West is their "Batman," but for me he is an actor who played the role of a character I like. 

People, especially children, sometimes think too highly of celebrities.  Society tends to put them on a pedestal, and deify them.  I learned the lesson that day in 1977 as young fan at the circus that celebrities are all-too human.  

Now, this would normally be a good spot to end my blog entry, but there is something of a mystery about what really happened concerning Adam West and his story about being fired out of a cannon at that 1977 appearance. That mystery being: Did Adam West really get fired from a cannon?  This matter was raised on a message board dedicated to the 1966 Batman TV show.  In fact, the message board is called the 1966 Batman Message Board!

Now, my memory is somewhat foggy, being that I was still a youngster at the time, but I don't recall Adam West actually having been fired from a cannon.  I asked my mother if she remembered such a thing, and she didn't think so.  On that message board, one member wrote that he lived in Evansville at the time, and says he remembered the cannon-firing: 

Board member Clavier Ankh (June 26, 2017) : 

"...I have no way to prove it, no photo's etc.  However I was there when West was shot out of the cannon.  I was 11 years old at the time and remember how bizarre I thought it was.  He also did a short skit chasing a couple of bad guys...  and pulled a lucky kid out of the crowd to be his sidekick, and snapped a Robin cape on him...."

Note: Contemporary articles from the Evansville Courier and Press newspapers mention that West invited a child from the audience to play the role of Robin. One, in fact, reported, "Batman will have at least eight young area fans who'll never forget his Hadi Shrine Circus visit for, as part of his routine, he selects a substitute Robin each show." Poor girls in the audience were apparently out of luck to be picked as a female Robin, or Batgirl. 

Clavier Ankh (continued):

"...I have a friend that went to a different performance than did (i went to one of the first, if not the first) and he said West was not shot out of the cannon at the one he went to.  I can't imagine that SOMEONE in the Evansville audience didn't snap a photo...." 

According to my mother, my family did not attend the first night of the circus, which ran from November 24 - 27, 1977.  Is it possible that the act was not repeated after the opening night?  Could it have been stopped for safety reasons, or at the protest of West, who might have not wanted to go through the experience again? 

Another message board member wrote of his recollections: 

Board member EmergencyIan (September 20, 2017):

"...I'm from Evansville and was at the Friday evening show ...Adam West came out as the final act, of course.  I remember him explaining that Robin wasn't there because he was off fighting the Catwoman.  So he was chasing around some villains who eventually got into this rocket shaped flying ship that went around in circles.  I guess it took off (was supposed to have) and in order to catch them, Batman got into the canon and blasted off.  It may have ended with them being apprehended by Batman, but I just can't recall.   I seem to remember Adam wearing a helmet over his cowl....."

While both Clavier Ankh and Emergencylan both recall a cannon, there is some discrepancy between their stories.

Board member Clavier Ankh (October 25, 2017):

"...I don't remember Adam putting on (or taking off) a extra helmet, but a kid lighting the cannon fuse sounds familiar.  Maybe the boy who lit the fuse in the show that I was at was the kid Adam picked out of the crowd to be his 'Robin'?...."

In a Facebook group, a picture was posted of fourth grade student Anthony Sumner, dressed as a clown, with West.  He reportedly is the one who lit the fuse of the cannon.  Sumner had won his school's "Clown for a Day" contest, with the prize being to perform with West at the Circus.

Adam West with Anthony Sumner (dressed as a clown), Evansville, 1977

The Evansville Press Metro article by Roberta Helman made no mention of West being fired from the cannon.  Her overall review of the circus was positive, but she gave an unflattering assessment of West's performance, noting about it, "there is no act as such."   She remarks that what he did mainly consisted of repartee with the audience that she found to be over the heads of the children in the audience.   However, she does mention that the final act following West was " a takeoff on the popular Star Wars movie theme, with a man and woman performing an aerial act from a rocket." 

This aerial act was known as the Quassar Rocket Act, I learned in researching this entry for my blog, and was performed by the late Bill Strong and his wife Trudy.  Here is some information regarding that act: Circus Report #7 (Fifth Year):

February 16, 1976 "...Bill Strong asks me to announce that he and Trudy will POSITIVELY retire their "Pharaoh"cradle act the end of this season, and that he has personally 'retired' from all other circus activities except his new "Quassar" rocket act.  The act is really different.   They enter on a saucer, have a mechanical ro-bot in the ring, plus a spaceman.  Bill has discovered a new system for the use of "dry ice" to create "fog" and will use a ray gun gimmick and flash pots for their 'war of the worlds' entrance.  Most of the act, incidentally, is already built and being used...."

Bill and Trudy Strong  perform the 'Quassar Rocket Act' at Hamid Morton Circus in 1977

Could those that recalled the cannon stunt actually be thinking of this act? Yet, the rocket was like a space ship, and not a cannon, and Adam West was not involved in that performance.  

A photo posted years ago by Bill Strong on his online blog showed West standing beside his wife Trudy and their young son, Steven. The board members of the 1966 Batman questioned whether the soles on the boots of West's Batman costume in the picture were as thick as they appeared due to the supposed cannon act. Still, nothing I have turned up supports that having happened, so who knows what the deal is with those boots? 

Adam West with Trudy and Steven Strong, Evansville, 1977.

Memories from men recalling something that happened forty years prior during their youth can tend to be hazy.  Meanwhile the reporter writing a contemporary review of opening night did so directly following the show.  Surely, she would have mentioned West being fired out of a cannon? 

None of the articles or advertisements leading up to the event mentioned Batman being fired from a cannon. Not the article by writer Jeanne Suhrheinrich, which is quite detailed in its mention of the acts at the circus, nor another article in the same edition of the paper by Bob Holliday, who writes about West's arrival, appearance on WNIN-TV (channel 9)'s Prime Time Nine show, where West flirted with female co-host Camille Fife.  Interestingly, Holliday's article does contain an error which I am uncertain if it is the mistake of the reporter, or if he was told incorrect information: The article gives Adam West's age as 38.  In November of 1977, West was in fact 49-years-old. 

Article about Adam West coming to Evansville for the 1977 Shrine Circus.

The final day of the circus, the Evansville newspaper featured one last article, with many photos taken by Randy Dieter.  None of these photos contain West as Batman, and none show a cannon act with or without West, nor is there any mention of it in the accompanying text.  

A fellow comic book seller in my area chimed in with his own recollection in a Facebook group discussion on this matter: 

Tony Starks: "...I was at the circus for one of the shows and I interviewed Adam West back stage for the USI (then ISUE) school newspaper (The Shield)...  I don't recall Adam West being shot out of a cannon.  This was over 40 years ago so I can't swear he was NOT shot out of a cannon. but I don't recall that.  What I remember is some skit were villains tried to sneak up on him.  If Adam West said in his autobiography he was shot out of a cannon at the Shrine Circus in Evansville, Indiana it seems likely that it's true.  He would remember better than anyone else.  And maybe he wasn't shot out of a cannon for every performance...." 

There is no mention in several contemporary articles that covered the circus and West's appearance there, no published photographs from the period, and what few photos made public online that were taken by people who attended the circus also do not show any real evidence that West was actually fired from a cannon at this event.  No concrete proof seems to exist. Adam West was also not beyond 'enhancing' a tale for effect, as discussed in the "To The Batpoles" podcast that discussed some discrepancies West told in his autobiography.

After going through the microfiche files at the local library, and searching several sites online, I decided to ask my oldest brother about this matter. He was there at the circus as a youth with the rest of my family, and he told me that he doesn't remember the cannon act, either. Of some note is that my brother happens to Potentate at the Evansville Hadi Shrine Temple these days.  He actually knows some Shriners who were with the Shrine back in 1977, including the man who served as the circus director that year.  My brother asked him about this matter, and was told emphatically that there was "no way" that the Shrine would have allowed Adam West to have been fired from a cannon at the circus. 

That settles the matter for me, personally.  Maybe Adam West was adding the story of being fired from a cannonin order to make a good story about a bad time in his career?  But, the man who served as circus director for the 1977 Hadi Shrine Circus would unlikely have a reason to not be truthful about the event.  The insurance risk of shooting a celebrity with no circus skills from a cannon seems to outweigh any reason to do so simply for the entertainment value.  

So, unless some new evidence to the contrary pops up, it appears he did not fly high during his low point, after all. The whole thing about West being fired out of a cannon has apparently been shot down. 

01/15/2020