Holy comeback, Batman! Adam West talks 50 years as the Caped Crusader

BOFF! ZOWIE! KAPOW! It’s been 50 years since Adam West first slipped on the Bruce Wayne's cowl and cape for the legendarily wacky Batman TV show and exponentially wackier movie. For the latest issue of Empire (on sale now{ =nofollow}), we spoke to the sonorously-voiced West about his experiences as the legendarily cartoonish superhero, and his return to the character – aged 88 – in the animated movie Batman: Return Of The Caped Crusaders.

“I thought, ‘My God, it’s about time you guys called me up!’” says West about being approached for the project. He admits, jokingly, that it “took a little time” to get back into character. "About 20 seconds!”

The interview also delves into the explosion of fame that West and his sidekick co-star, Burt Ward, enjoyed during their ‘60s peak. “In a sense, I took advantage of it,” West says, adding conspiratorially, “with all of the human pleasures that one could accrue”. Ward has said that he and his co-star were “sexual vampires” – especially during the personal appearances they made in costume at weekends, where he claims women were banging on their windows while they were in bed with other women.

Be sure to pick up a copy of the latest issue of Empire, where the full interview covers such golden anecdotes as Adam West and Frank Gorshin (aka The Riddler) being asked to leave a Los Angeles orgy for talking in character.

The Fantastic Beasts issue of Empire is on sale in all good and evil newsagents now. You can also buy the issue online here