BATMAN: “THE PENGUIN GOES STRAIGHT” (1966)

PHENOMENALITY: *marvelous*
MYTHICITY: *fair*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: *adventure*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTIONS: *psychological, sociological*

Here’s another all-original tale, though writer Leslie H. Martinson—who would direct the BATMAN feature later than same year-- probably took some influence from various comics-stories about Penguin appearing to reform.

It’s not clear whether the Birdman Bandit is out on parole or he’s served a full prison sentence, but now he’s mixing with the elite of society. He also short-circuits any consideration of his criminal past by publicly foiling several supposedly unrelated robberies. The heroes and their cop-confidants are reasonably sure that Penguin set up the crimes to make himself look good, particularly in the eyes of one beautiful lady of high society, Sophia Starr. But the lawmen can’t make Penguin’s stooges talk, not even when Batman himself tries to spook the crook by flapping his cape around in the darkness. I’m not sure if the show’s makers knew that this flummery would look absurd, or if they were just trying to duplicate similar scenes in the comics.

Penguiin not only gains the confidence of the wealthy, he starts his own detective agency, staffed with his usual plug-uglies. Batman and Robin initially try to learn his plans by having Alfred bug the villain’s cigarette-holder, but this gambit fails, just as did a similar attempt in “Fine Feathered Finks,” and Alfred is lucky to escape capture and interrogation. The heroes make an ill-advised attempt to lay a trap for Penguin, but he turns the tables on them, accusing them of attempted robbery. The heroes’ staunch cop allies are forced to put out a warrant for the crusaders’ arrest.

After making another sally against Penguin, apparently just for a chance to slug him again, the heroes follow him to another charity event. Penguin mousetraps them and sets them up in a doom-trap probably swiped from an old “Sherlock Holmes” movie, but the heroes manage to foil the trap with their bulletproof shoe-soles. (This gains a little more credibility, given that an early scene has the heroes discussing the bulletproofing on the Batmobile.) At some point, Batman evidently sets up a sting with Commissioner Gordon, for the heroes appear to be shot dead in the streets by police. It’s a ruse, of course, so that the crusaders can more ably monitor the Penguin’s actions—one of which includes swiping the Batmobile from its supposedly dead owners.

Though Penguin has become engaged to Sophia Starr, his only motive is to get all of her rich friends to donate expensive wedding-presents, which he will then steal, while leaving Sophia at the altar. He pulls off the crime and uses the Batmobile as a getaway car. Batman and Robin take control of the super-car remotely and torment their adversary a bit before taking him in. A coda shows the foolish society-woman still wanting to marry Penguin, who prefers prison to married bliss.