Fabulously kitsch and colourful, this rare Japanese B2 poster advertised the first full length feature film of the DC Comics character Batman. Released by 20th century Fox in 1966 as a big screen version of the popular 1960s TV series, the film starred Adam West as the titular superhero and Burt Ward as Robin in a tongue-in-cheek parody of the old 1940s movie serials. The dynamic poster design focuses on the caped crusader in action, flanked by sidekick Robin, above four of Gotham city's most notorious villains - the Joker, the Penguin (in disguise as Commodore Schmidlapp), the Riddler, and the Catwoman. Notably the poster also pictures the fan favourite fist fight aboard the Penguin's submarine, as well as the Batcopter rescue mission during which Batman is attacked by a shark while descending the bat-ladder.

Provenance

Excellent (A-)

Conservation backed on linen. Backing has smoothed and diminished one horizontal and one vertical fold, with tiny edge splits to vertical fold. Image and colours excellent.