Updated: January 21, 2025

The concept art from the 1966 "Batman" series was absolutely beautiful. There's a darker vibe to these preproduction paintings. The bold style of Batman is part of its enduring appeal. Splashes of bright colors and surreal, dollhouse-like sets amped up the campiness. The pioneering 1966 superhero series is pure eye candy, if not outright museum-worthy pop art. It's no wonder Andy Warhol was a major fan, who even made his own homage film.

So it should come as no surprise that some serious artistic talent was at work on the show. That being said, the preproduction artwork for Batman is surprisingly gorgeous. Illustrator A. Leslie Thomas dreamt up wonderous designs in his works. The results, painted in acrylics with ink, are a little moodier than the lighthearted final product, giving Batman a more, well, traditional Batman feel.