Karate's Day Off, No. 81, September 14, 1967. Produced And Directed by
Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Dave Tendlar, Bob
Taylor. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Dennis
Marks.
What
does a crimefighter do on his day off? In Karate's case, he moonlights on the
wrong side of the law. He helps jewel thieves Walter and Marvin rob a jewelry
store. Karate's motivation is a phony picture of Batfink tied to a rocket - the
rocket will go off if Karate gives Walter and Marvin any trouble. Batfink
arrives at their hideout and arrests Karate. When shooting at Batfink does no
good, the crooks shoot the ceiling beam. Karate shows Batfink the trick photo.
Soon thereafter, a rocket appears from under the floor goes off with Batfink
aboard. But the stupid criminals tied Batfink to the first stage of the rocket,
which falls to earth as it runs out of fuel.
Mike The Mimic, No. 82, September 28, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Dave Tendlar,
Frank Endres. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Nick
Meglin.
Whistler’s
Mother In Law is again stolen, this time by Mike The Mimic, posing as a museum
director. (I guess the guards didn’t beef up security after Myron
The Magician stole the painting some 65 episodes ago.) The Chief sends
Batfink to the hideout, but it’s not really the Chief - it’s Mike The Mimic.
Mike then imitates Batfink’s voice, luring Karate into a trap. Then Mike
imitates Karate, luring Batfink. He tries to shoot Batfink. But he shoots down a
door instead, trapping Batfink. Mike puts on a Batfink costume. Mike as Batfink
lights a fuse that will blow up Batfink. But he’s smart enough to escape.
Meanwhile Batfink (really Mike) tells the Chief that he’ll personally return
the painting. The real Batfink shows up, and the Chief shoots at them both to
find out which one really has the Wings of Steel.
Cinderobber, No. 83, August 3, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti.
Animation: Dave Tendlar, Morey Reden. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Heywood Kling.
At
the police station, the Chief is doing payroll, and the cleaning woman comes in
with her vacuum. She knocks out the Chief with her shoe (which she leaves
behind) and vacuums up the police payroll! Gotta be Cinderobber. Karate gets
clubbed with the other shoe. The shoe fits, so she kicks Karate down to the
basement. Prince Charming, a big dog, gets the better of our hero. Tied up with
a pumpkin set to blow up at midnight, Karate emerges from the basement, sending
the pumpkin/bomb rolling down the hill blowing up Cinderobber and Prince
Charming.
Bouncey Bouncey Batfink, No. 84, June 26, 1967. Produced And Directed by
Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Bill Ackerman. Scenics:
Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Dennis Marks.
The
Bouncer turns a bridge to rubber and offers $1 million to de-rubberize it.
Batfink tries out the bridge with the Batillac but bounces around on it. Once on
solid ground, he sends his radar out, arriving later at Bouncey's Rubber
Company. The Bouncer sends it back rubberized, but it still leads our heroes to
the rubber plant. The Bouncer throws a rubberized safe at Karate, but the second
time it's been de-rubberized. Batfink is sprayed with the rubberizer and is sent
to the rubber room, where he bounces around the walls until he spins out of it,
knocking out the Bouncer and de-rubberizes himself.
The Bomber Bird, No. 85, August 3, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Dave Tendlar,
James Tyer. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Heywood
Kling.
Hugo
has built a giant mechanical carrier pigeon which can carry Hugo around. The
pigeon drops egg-shaped bombs on armored cars. Karate finds the bird but winds
up in its clutches. Both are tied to the bird. Since Batfink can’t be found,
the chief orders the bomber bird shot on sight. So Hugo lets the bird out for
one last flight. The chief sees the bird and orders it shot. But the shell fell
short and its explosion frees Batfink and Karate. Lucky for them. The next shot
at the bird is a direct hit.
The Copycat Bat, No. 86, June 30, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Myron
Waldman. Scenics: Bill Focht. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Heywood Kling.
Here's
another episode that opens with Batfink suspected of a crime. He's alleged to
have broken into city hall using his steel wings and stolen the city payroll.
The real culprit (as usual) is Hugo A Go Go, who has donned a Batfink-like suit
featuring gasoline-powered wings of steel. While the Chief arrests Batfink and
leads him away in the paddy wagon, Hugo shows up and offers to help Karate find
out the identity of the other mad scientist who did it. Upon arrival at Hugo's,
he reveals himself as the perpetrator and knocks Karate out cold with a bust of
himself. As Karate hurtles down a ravine, he's saved by Batfink! The Chief and
Batfink faked the imprisoning to draw out Hugo. An airborne battle results in
Batfink's (real) steel wings deflecting Hugo's bullets back at him, piercing his
gasoline tank and causing him to plummet earthward.
Old King Cruel, No. 87, September 12, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Tom Golden,
Arnie Levy. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Heywood Kling.
What
a cruel crime: the take from a charity bazaar is stolen by Old King Cruel and
also steals a lollipop from a baby. He also ties a tin can to the Beep. At King
Cruel’s castle, Karate knocks down the door but the King captures him. The
King plays a cruel joke on Batfink and prepares to kill him in a cruel way:
he’ll tickle Karate, who has the cannon’s lever tied to his foot. But Karate
laughs so hard he knocks the cannon out of range.
Victor The Predictor, No. 88, September 14, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Dave Tendlar,
Morey Reden. Scenics: Bill Focht. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Dennis Marks.
On
the talk show "Shoot Your Mouth Off", Victor The Predictor says that
Batfink is finished. The Ruby Red Ruby will disappear, Batfink will run out of
gas, and the curtain will come down on him. Batfink, watching the show, is more
concerned about the predictions about the Ruby Red Ruby, which Victor has
already stolen and has replaced it with a duplicate. On the way to Victor’s,
the Batillac runs out of gas. Victor plans to use the real Ruby Red Ruby in a
laser gun he plans to shoot Batfink and Karate with. The laser gun doesn’t
work because Victor puts one of the duplicates in the gun instead. Victor tries
to escape by throwing a curtain on Batfink, but Karate gets him on the way out.
Goldyunlocks And The Three Baers, No. 89, July 26, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Bill
Ackerman. Scenics:
Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Heywood Kling.
What's
this? Goldyunlocks has cracked all the safe deposit boxes in the bank with her
three accomplices, Phil Baer, Bill Baer, and Sylvester Baer. Downstairs, Karate
cuffs Goldyunlocks and she sends him to a room where the three Baers are
allegedly. But there are three bears in the room, causing Karate to seek shelter
in the overhead light fixture. Upstairs, Batfink finds the three Baers hiding in
a trunk. As Batfink is about to apprehend them, Goldyunlocks pistol whips
Batfink and is ready to shoot the crimefighter. But the ceiling caves in thanks
to Karate’s bulk and the three Bears make things difficult for the three Baers.
Jerkules, No. 90, September 14, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Martin Taras,
James Tyer. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Heywood
Kling.
Hugo's
machine gives him superhuman strength. He changes his name to Jerkules (he's
afraid Hercules would sue him). He leaves his name on buildings he's literally
turned over. When Batfink's radar finds Hugo's lab, he thinks Jerkules is
working with Hugo. Eventually Batfink gets wise to Hugo's game. Jerkules breaks
handcuffs, bends Batfink's steel wings, and throws Karate at Batfink. Hugo has a
one-ton weight that he's going to drop onto the duo, but his strength has worn
off, crusing Hugo who surrenders. Fearing he'd have to give up the Jerkules
name, Karate breaks the sign in half because Hugo is still a Jerk.
Hugo Here, Hugo There, No. 91, August 15, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Martin Taras,
John Gentilella. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Dennis Marks.
Hugo
has a belt which can transport him from Here to There, or back again as events
warrant. Hugo has robbed a bank and suddenly shows up in the middle of the road
juggling moneybags. He continually disappears and reappears, but soon is
cornered at his laboratory. He uses the Here and There belt to take Batfink to
various locales around the world as Karate is tied to a giant dynamite stick.
But Batfink shows up in time to rescue Karate. The last place Batfink was sent
to was There, New Jersey, just fourteen miles from Here.
Bowl Brummel, No. 92, October 4, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Dave Tendlar,
Milton Stein. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Nick
Meglin.
Bowl
Brummel makes his strike down Diamond Alley by throwing a bomb ball and robbing
the jewels. B.B. hides out in an abandoned bowling alley. Karate gets bowled
over while Batfink is caught in the automatic pinsetter. Bowl Brummel throws his
best ball at Batfink and a rack of nitro-filled pins. To get out of this one
Batfink sends his radar out to reset the pins. He emerges via the ball return
and arrests Bowl Brummel.
The second of two Batfink cartoons credited to future MAD Magazine editor Nick
Meglin, then just a member of the Usual Gang of Idiots.
Fleiderfink, No. 93, August 15, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Tom Golden,
Arnie Levy. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Dennis
Marks.
Opera
star Frederico Finoots opens a fan letter that causes him to lose his voice. So
his egotistical understudy, Harold Hambone (pronounced ham-bon-AY), can take
over, he sent Finoots the letter - and sent a similar one to Batfink. The
voiceless Batfink still takes the case. Batfink can still send out his radar.
Eventually, Hambone plans to do Batfink and Karate in with a well-placed F# that
will break a large beaker of acid suspended above them. However, Hambone
doesn’t quite hit the note. Batfink, whose voice is restored, said that the
note shattered the brass they were tethered together with instead of the glass -
Hambone could never hit that F# because he always sings flat.
Blankenstein, No. 94, August 3, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti.
Animation: Myron Waldman. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Heywood Kling.
A
jeweler leaves his son in charge of the store. A holdup man comes along, but
Blankenstein says his gun shoots blanks. These are the kind of blanks that erase
people’s mind. Batfink says the effect wears off after a few days. At
Blankenstein’s mansion, Karate checks downstairs and runs into Blankenstein.
After being shot, Karate is led to believe that he’s Blankenstein’s
assistant. Batfink gets the blank treatment ("my thingamijigs are like a
shield of whatchamacallit"). Batfink reads his dogtags and remembers who he
is. But Karate’s still on Blankenstein’s side and he and Batfink get into a
major fight. They butt heads and both Batfink and Karate remember who they are
just in time to handcuff Blankenstein.
Whip Van Vinkle, No. 95, September 28, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Tom Golden,
Arnie Levy. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Heywood
Kling.
Whip
Van Winkle sleeps on a hammock in the woods. He wakes up and uses his whips to
steal a woman's purse, and a man's wallet. Batfink and Karate whip into action.
W.V.W. sleeps once again. Karate wakes him up but gets lashed by a whip and is
made to "dance". Batfink gets tripped up by a whip and is put into a
hammock over a cliff and is rocked out of the hammock as Whip sings a lullaby.
He falls unconscious but awakens and breaks his bonds, thanks to Whip's terrible
singing. Karate knocks out W.V.W. with one of his own whip handles.
Tough Macduff, No. 96, October 4, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Martin Taras,
Frank Endres. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Heywood Kling.
What’s
this? Tough Macduff is released from prison. He’s going to go straight, all
right... straight to Batfink to kill him. It’s a showdown at high noon at the
railroad yard - man against man. But Macduff brings his goon squad comprised of
past Batfink villains: Manhole Manny, Big
Ears Ernie, Gluey Louie, Stupidman,
Skinny Minnie, Whip Van Winkle,
Old King Cruel, Cinderobber, Swami
Salami, Party Marty, Beanstalk
Jack, Queenie Bee, Sporty
Morty, Roz The Schnozz, and, to add
insult to injury, Hugo A Go Go, the mad scientist. Batfink has to enter a
railroad freight car and get out of town, or face the wrath of the rogues’
gallery. He doesn’t get on the train. Instead, he grabs a fishing net from a
friendly passing fisherman - later revealed as Karate in disguise - and hauls
them all away.
Judy Jitsu, No. 97, September 28, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Bill
Ackerman. Scenics:
Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Heywood Kling.
Judy
Jitsu steals a countess’s jewels and beats up the Police chief. When the Chief
shows Batfink and Karate her picture, Karate falls hopelessly in love with her
and shows up at her door with flowers. But Judy just wants to throw Karate
around. Batfink tries to cuff her, but he gets flung against a wall. Judy ties
Batfink up and is about to dynamite him and Karate, who’s stuck inside a door.
Batfink escapes and hauls Judy off to jail. The Chief offers Karate and Batfink
some candy after the capture. Still-smitten Karate takes the candy, explaining
it’s visiting day at jail.
It appears that Judy Jitsu’s voice track, which was probably performed by
Beverly Arnold, was recorded separately from the regular voice actors, Frank
Buxton and Len Maxwell. The music includes some nice Winston Sharples oriental
cues, usually played to herald the appearance of Dr. Goo Fee in the Fearless
Fly cartoons produced by Seeger several years earlier.
Ego A-Go-Go, No 98, September 12, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti.
Animation: Myron Waldman. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Dennis Marks.
Hugo
has a new spray that makes whomever it’s sprayed on become egomaniacal. He
figures that Batfink will be too busy preening himself in the mirror to worry
about Hugo committing crimes. Which is what happens. Batfink is sprayed with the
stuff and becomes so vain. He asks Karate to get all his awards and trophies out
from storage, including The Bat Of The Year award... from Time. The Chief calls,
and Batfink tries out different names like Rodney Batfink, Sir Winston Batfink,
and Errol Batfink. Hugo sprays Batfink with Ego Remover. When the time comes to
shoot Batfink once and for all, he’s saved - not by his wings of steel, but by
the Bat Of The Year Award, which he placed close to his heart at the height of
his egomania.
Father Time Bomb, No. 99, October 4, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Myron
Waldman. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Heywood
Kling.
The
wizened old Father Time Bomb plants a time bomb in the Chief’s locker, then
calls the Chief informing him of his deed. Batfink’s trail leads to a
plutonium bomb shelter. He sneaks in through the chimney. F.T.B. uses his sycthe
to sandbag Batfink, then traps him in an hourglass which is rapidly filling with
sand provided by a conveyor belt outside the bomb shelter. Karate senses time is
running out. F.T.B. tells him that the bomb is at police headquarters and enters
the shelter through the conveyor belt. Karate winds up in the hour glass and
stops any more sand from coming in, which gives Batfink time to escape, arrest
Father Time Bomb, and defuse the bomb.
Batfink - This Is Your Life, No. 100, October 4, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti.
Animation: Myron Waldman. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Dennis Marks.
Hugo
A Go Go entraps Batfink in a plutonium dome with a bomb inside - a trap from
which Batfink once and for all fears he won’t be able to escape. Before
lighting the fuse, Hugo uses a mind projector so everyone can see Batfink’s
life flash before his eyes. We learn that Batfink lived with his mother in an
abandoned plutonium cave. The radiation gives him super powers. When two
criminals blow up the mine, Batfink saves his mother from the explosion,
destroying his natural wings in the process. New steel wings are made by his pal
Karate’s father, a blacksmith. Batfink promises his mother to devote his life
to fighting crime. Hugo detonates the bomb, which doesn’t destroy Batfink, due
to the exploded plutonium dome fusing with his own plutonium radiation, making
him indestructible.
The 100th and final episode of the saga of Batfink provided a clever way to
disclose his origin, at long last. In recent years, Hal Seeger has retold the
story of the origin in magazine interviews, and they hew exactly to the events
as described in this cartoon.
All Cartoons On This Page
© 1967 Hal Seeger.