A Riddling Controversy

A Riddling Controversy
Writer(s)	William P. D'Angelo
Director(s)	James B. Clark
Season	2
Episode No	46
Series Episode No	80
Air Date	February 9, 1967
Special Guest Star Villain(s)	The Riddler (John Astin)

Plot

As the lethal quicksand has almost claimed our heroes, Batman and Robin escape by reaching down ever so slowly, activate their experimental Heel-and-Toe Batrockets, and rocket themselves to safety. They investigate another cunning clue left by Riddler after his latest crime, and encounter Riddler, Across and Down at the penthouse of Anthony Aquila, an exiled South American dictator. They are unable to stop the thieving trio from cracking the dictator's safe because they must first rescue the dictator himself from one of Riddler's fiendish puzzle-traps. Fearing for the man's life, The Duo allow the villains to escape with their ill-gotten gains. The Boy Wonder succeeds in solving the puzzle of the cage and releasing Aquila, only to find that the box supposedly containing the explosives was a fake. The Riddler finally amasses enough capital to purchase Professor Charm's invention, which he plans to demonstrate on a park statue. Disguised as a street cleaner, Riddler aims the Demolecularizer at the statue and makes it vanish right before the very eyes of The Dynamic Duo and the police! The Conundrum King then promises to Demolecularize Police HQ unless Gotham's criminal codes are rescinded. The Caped Crusader and The Boy Wonder fly The Batcopter over Gotham and seed the clouds above with di-chloride, thus neutralizing Riddler's device with a well-timed lightning bolt from a passing storm cloud. The Dynamic Duo then trace Riddler to his hideout by Batcycle at The Norman Jigsaw Puzzle Factory, where they round him and his cronies Anna Gram, Across and Down up and send them on another long trek back to the pokey. Later, in Gordon's office @ Police HQ, a guilt-wracked Professor Charm returns the stolen cash. Batman remarks that after Charm pays his debt to society, the Professor will become a member of the Gotham Scientific Institute.

NEXT WEEK

Cesar Romero returns as The Joker!

Appearances

Individuals

• Batman / Bruce Wayne
• Robin / Dick Grayson
• Commissioner Gordon
• Chief O'Hara
• The Riddler
• Across and Down
• Anna Gram
• Professor Avery Evans Charm
• Anthony Aquila
• Bud Furillo of the Gotham City Herald

Weapons and Equipment

• Experimental Heel-and-Toe Batrockets
• De-Molecularizer
• Remote Bat Computer and its activation switch in the Batmobile
• Loot Sack
• Sodium Dichloride
• Riddler Alarm monitoring Secret Entrances

Locations

• Gotham City Bank
• The Soon to be Opened Noman Jigsaw Puzzle Factory

Behind the scenes

• This, and Batman's Anniversary, marked John Astin's only appearances as The Riddler. Ironically although the Riddler's trademark tool of crime is a Question mark cane, it was John Astin -not Frank Gorshin-version of Riddler-who appeared with this symbol of crime in the 1960's series! Likewise Astin appears with two of Gorshin separate wardrobe for Riddler-his green leotard Jump suit and his Riddler Bowler [Gorshin Riddler usually wore his Bowler with his Riddler suit!]
• Riddler's puzzle trap for Aquilla appeared on the cover of Riddler first comic Detective Comic # 140 with the dynamic duo trapped inside Detective Comics magazine cover! In fact it was used by Riddler to trap a victium pp.95-86
• A third unnamed Riddler henchman appears in the final fight scene

Batman Episodes

Season 1: Hi Diddle Riddle • Smack In The Middle • Fine Feathered Finks • The Penguin's a Jinx • The Joker Is Wild • Batman Is Riled • Instant Freeze • Rats Like Cheese • Zelda the Great • A Death Worse Than Fate • A Riddle a Day Keeps the Riddler Away • When the Rat's Away the Mice Will Play • The Thirteenth Hat • Batman Stands Pat • The Joker Goes to School • He Meets His Match, The Grisly Ghoul • True or False Face • Holy Rat Race • The Purr-Fect Crime • Better Luck Next Time • The Penguin Goes Straight • Not Yet, He Ain't • The Ring of Wax • Give 'Em the Axe • The Joker Trumps An Ace • Batman Sets the Pace • The Curse of Tut • The Pharaoh's in a Rut • The Bookworm Turns • While Gotham City Burns • Death In Slow Motion • The Riddler's False Notion • Fine Finny Fiends • Batman Makes the Scenes Season 2: Shoot A Crooked Arrow • Walk the Straight and Narrow • Hot Off the Griddle • The Cat and the Fiddle • The Minstrel's Shakedown • Barbecued Batman? • The Spell of Tut • Tut's Case is Shut • The Greatest Mother of Them All • Ma Parker • The Clock King's Crazy Crimes • The Clock King Gets Crowned • An Egg Grows In Gotham • The Yegg Foes In Gotham • The Devil's Fingers • The Dead Ringers • Hizzonner the Penguin • Dizzoner the Penguin • Green Ice • Deep Freeze • The Impractical Joker • The Joker's Provokers • Marsha, Queen Of Diamonds • Marsha's Scheme of Diamonds • Come Back, Shame • It's How You Play the Game • The Penguin's Nest • The Bird's Last Jest • The Cat's Meow • The Bat's Kow Tow • The Puzzles Are Coming • The Duo is Slumming • The Sandman Cometh • The Catwoman Goeth (A Stitch in Time) • The Contaminated Cowl • The Mad Hatter Runs Afoul • The Zodiac Crimes • The Joker's Hard Times • The Penguin Declines • That Darn Catwoman • Scat! Darn Catwoman • Penguin is a Girl's Best Friend • Penguin Sets A Trend • Penguin's Disastrous End • Batman's Anniversary • A Riddling Controversy • The Joker's Last Laugh • The Joker's Epitaph • Catwoman Goes to College • Batman Displays His Knowledge • A Piece of the Action • Batman's Satisfaction • King Tut's Coup • Batman's Waterloo • Black Widow Strikes Again • Caught In The Spider's Den • Pop Goes the Joker • Flop Goes the Joker • Ice Spy • The Duo Defy Season 3: Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin • Ring Around the Riddler • The Wail of the Siren • The Sport of Penguins • A Horse of Another Color • The Unkindest Tut Of All • Louie, the Lilac • The Ogg and I • How To Hatch A Dinosaur • Surf's Up! Joker's Under! • The Londinium Larcenies • The Foggiest Notion • The Bloody Tower • Catwoman's Dressed to Kill • The Ogg Couple • The Funny Feline Felonies • The Joke's on Catwoman • Louie's Lethal Lilac Time • Nora Clavicle And The Ladies' Crime Club • Penguin's Clean Sweep • The Great Escape • The Great Train Robbery • I'll Be a Mummy's Uncle • The Joker's Flying Saucer • The Entrancing Dr. Cassandra • Minerva, Mayhem And Millionaires Other/Tie-In Media: Batman: The Movie • Batman '66 • Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders • Batman vs. Two-Face