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Batman (1966 TV Series) Episode: The Bookworm Turns

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A new bridge to Gotham City, the Amerigo Columbus Bridge, is being opened to the public for the first time. Among the attendees is Commissioner Gordon, and a new criminal (to us), the Bookworm. He is spotted on TV by Bruce and Dick, who are watching the ceremony. He secretly radios his henchman PrinThe Bookworm Turns is an episode of season 1 of Batman. It premiered on April 20, 1966.

Synopsis for "The Bookworm Turns"

A new bridge to Gotham City, the Amerigo Columbus Bridge, is being opened to the public for the first time. Among the attendees is Commissioner Gordon, and a new criminal (to us), the Bookworm. He is spotted on TV by Bruce and Dick, who are watching the ceremony. He secretly radios his henchman Printer's Devil to shoot Commissioner Gordon as he stands over the edge and is shown falling into the river. Aunt Harrit shows up in distress, telling the two that she saw everything on the music room television and hopes that the same is said for Batman and Robin.

As Batman and Robin, Bruce and Dick head to police headquarters where they mourn along with Chief O'Hara and a few other policemen. After a minute Commissioner Gordon shows up alive and well ("Holy reincarnation!" says Robin). Batman surmises that the shooting victim was an impostor to distract the public while the real Gordon got a ticket for overtime parking. The ticket comes from a "Badge 1887" by "A. S. Scarlet", a reference to the Sherlock Holmes novel A Study in Scarlet. Batman also detects a bomb in the Batmobile, planted by the Bookworm's attractive henchwoman Miss Lydia Limpet, and ejects just as it explodes.

The book-bomb is revealed to be an asbestos covered copy of For Whom the Bell Tolls and this gives Batman a clue. They take it back to the Batcave to examine the item. While explaining Bookworm's MO, Batman realizes that in For Whom the Bell Tolls, the hero's mission is to blow up a bridge and it might having something to do with the Amerigo-Columbus Bridge. Meanwhile in his secret headquarters, Miss Limpet inquires Bookworm if he should write his own bestseller, given his ingenuity and this almost turns out to be a big mistake, for he goes on a rant and calms himself down by smoothing the pages of a book entitled The Secret to Success: Self Control. This saves Lydia from being hit with said book.

Later that night, Batman and Robin, tipped off by Gordon, head over to a warehouse to find that the bridge is indeed blown up, or rather a picture of the bridge during the ceremony has been enlarged. After a bat-climb, they spot the Bookworm's Bookmobile and draw him and his henchmen out using an ultrasonic ray. After a fight, Bookworm orders his henchmen to retreat and Batman and Robin decided to investigate the Bookmobile, finding Miss Limpet bound and gagged. Agreeing that she may be a member of Bookworm's entourage, they take her back to the Batcave and hook her up to a lie detector while she's passed out. After hearing her name and some details of Bookworm's plan, they bring Miss Limpet back to the Bookmobile where she reveals the plot: At midnight, Bookworm will steal a replica of Independance Hall and the original Declaration of Independance. Batman goes to investigate while leaving Robin to guard over Miss Limpet. She suggests reading a book to him to pass the time while they await an ambulance, specifically a copy of Complete English History that puts Robin to sleep...literally. The book is filled with knockout gas.

After Miss Limpet informs Bookworm of Batman's actions, they take Robin to the Wayne Memorial Clock Tower where he is tied to the gong and will have his head beaten to death when the clock strikes midnight.

Appearing in "The Bookworm Turns"

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Vehicles:

  • Batmobile
  • Batmobile Parachute Pickup Service (First appearance)
  • Bookmobile (First appearance)



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