When
last we blogged, we commented on the fact that
Batman, not
Superman, would be the first DC character to interact with
Doc Savage.
But, then,
Batman was usually the
first to meet up with other publishers' characters..
Almost a decade before
Superman vs. Spider-Man,
Batman met up with another company's character...
The Green Hornet!
(Note: Most people disregard this as a legitimate cross-over since it was live-action and not a comic, but, AFAIC, characters are characters, and if it's not a pirate / illegal production, it's REAL and it counts!)
In the two-
parter "A Piece of the Action" / "Batman's Satisfaction",
The Hornet &
Kato visit Gotham City while tracking counterfeit stamps.
Since
The Hornet's M.O. is pretending to be a criminal,
Batman naturally assumes the
Vermilion Villain is there to cut himself in on...you guessed it, a piece of the action!
But, since
The Hornet is, in fact, a hero, he has to find a way to a) put the counterfeiters out of business and b) avoid a confrontation with the Caped Crusader!
To add to the problem, it turns out that the characters' millionare alter-egos, Bruce Wayne and Britt Reid, have known each other since childhood, and have been competitors at almost everything from then to now!
It ain't a classic by any stretch, but it is fun, and the Big Finale Fight is more Bat-fistcuffs than Hornet-martial arts, but it does have it's moments.
It also provides the answer to the trivia question:
Who's the ONLY actor to play a villain opposite
Batman,
Captain Kirk, and
The Green Hornet?*
(Most people say Frank Gorshin or Julie Newmar, who had memorable appearances on both
Star Trek and
Batman!)
If you haven't seen them, the episodes will pop up as both
Batman and
The Green Hornet are in syndication, and airing in a number of cities.
In one of the Great Crimes Against Art, neither show is available on DVD, but I suspect with the Seth Rogan
Green Hornet film coming next year, at least Van Williams & Bruce Lee will finally be made available!
*Roger C. Carmel, who played
Harcort Fenton "Harry" Mudd in three
Star Trek (2 Classic, 1 Animated) eps and
Colonel Gumm in the
Batman / Green Hornet crossover on
Batman!
, Blood Money, 
, and 
,
! PLUS: the text features and pin-ups from the Marvel comics and b/w magazines!
on a 
has lost touch with the average American and that he'll be able to "re-connect" with the people if he "walks among them".
and liberal 
tried to "reconnect" with the "common man" in 
#76-89.
