Superman Statue Has Black Arm Band In Memory Of Adam West

In Metropolis, Illinois, home of the annual Superman Celebration, the larger-than-life Superman [...]

In Metropolis, Illinois, home of the annual Superman Celebration, the larger-than-life Superman statue at the center of the festivities is feeling a little more somber this week. The Man of Steel is honoring the memory of the late Adam West, TV's Batman, by wearing a black armband.

West passed away this weekend following a short battle with Leukemia, and remembrances have been pouring in from around the pop culture world.

A black armband signifies that the wearer is in mourning or wishes to identify with the commemoration of a family friend, comrade or team member who has died. This use is particularly common in the first meeting following the loss of a member.

When Superman died in the comics (in November 1992), one of the most pervasive visuals around the DC Universe at the time was superheroes depicted as wearing black armbands with the "S" shield emblazoned on them. One such armband was included in the bagged edition of Superman #75, in which Superman actually died fighting Doomsday.

West became an icon by playing the Caped Crusader on ABC's Batman television show, which became a surprise hit when it premiered in 1966. West's Batman is known for its campy humor and though the character has taken a darker and more serious tone over the decades, the television series remains a fan favorite.

West celebrated the 50th anniversary of Batman with a guest appearance on the 200th episode of The Big Bang Theory. West reprised his role as the Dark Knight by voicing Batman, alongside his co-star Burt Ward as Robin, the 2016 animated movie Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders.

The Batman television series has waxed and waned in its popularity with fans. It was beloved by children and adults when it first aired but was unloved by fans of Batman comics because they felt the series treated the material as kid stuff. However, the stylized, kitschy take on Batman has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years as Warner Bros. has begun releasing new merchandise based on West's Batman and a digital Batman '66 comic book featuring new adventures of television's Dynamic Duo, even crossing over with The Green Hornet and Lynda Carter-inspired Wonder Woman '77 comic book.

West's interpretation of Batman also heavily inspired the Batman animated series The Brave and the Bold, which featured a bright and humorous Batman. West had a guest role on the series as Batman's father, Thomas Wayne, in the episode titled "Chill of the Night!"

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