Holy sleight of hand, Batman! Customising Dr Cassandra and Cabala

One of my favourite episodes of the 60s "Batman" TV show was its penultimate adventure: "The Entrancing Dr Cassandra", featuring Ida Lupino and her husband, Howard Duff. A guilty childhood pleasure, and for a long time seemingly elusive in repeat, in the days of no episode guides or IMBd.

The Terrific Trio go 2D. "Flat as flounders."

Dr Cassandra Spellcraft came from a line line of failed alchemists, but she did have some trippy, if shortlived, successes: camouflage pills that enabled invisibility, stealing the Mope diamond, and inventing an Alvino raygun that could rob people of their third dimension. She also succeeded in masterminding a jail break of all six of Gotham City's arch criminals: Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, Riddler, Egghead and King Tut. (The stunt doubles playing the arch villains in this episode were supposedly the regular ones matched to the actors from the series: Fred Carson as Joker, Eddie Hice as Riddler, Guy Way as King Tut, Al Cavens as Penguin, *unknown* as Egghead (not listed on callsheets, but Al Wyatt Sr. had double for Vincent Price in earlier episodes), and Marilyn Watson - who used to double for Julie Newmar before Eartha Kitt took over the role - returning as Catwoman. This penultimate episode was probably seen as a farewell opportunity to these performers from the producers. A reunion, as such.)

With all the great "Batman '66" tie-ins in recent years, and action figures in both a 5" and 8" format, I became resolved to create customs of Dr Cassandra and Cabala. Cassandra uses a 7" Juliet Burke (Elizabeth Mitchell) figure from "Lost" as the base. (I anticipated that "Big Bang Theory" Penny would arrive last night, as she did, and she was forfeiting her pink dress and boots. I tried to dye some spare Supergirl tights orange, but the nylon wouldn't hold the colour, so Aquaman lent her his shirt sleeves instead.) Cassandra's bowler hat and cane fish purse are made of orange Fimo. Meanwhile, Cabala had started life as an 8" bald "Anchorman" Battle-ready Champ (David Koechner) figure. I gave him quick-set putty hair, thicker eyebrows, an earring, an Andorian's boots and a "Wizard of Oz" figure's pants and vest, with the vest material covered in pieces of red discarded underpants (from my own drawer).

Source materials: Juliet from "Lost" and Champ from "Anchorman".

Cassandra's dress was seen before: on Josie (Joker episode), in a Catwoman episode, and on Octavia (Minstrel episode).

Note Cassandra's recycled fish handbag, originally owned by Undine in "Surf's Up, Joker's Under".

Above: My customised Dr Cassandra Spellcraft and partner Cabala action figures, from the 60s "Batman" episode, "The Entrancing Dr Cassandra". They stand with the commercially available Egghead and King Tut 8" figures. In the 70s, I attempted crude customs of Egghead and King Tut, now both long gone, but definitely a project that has stuck with me over the decades.

UPDATE:

Okay, so I knew that Joker's moll, Josie, was wearing the pink and orange mini dress eventually used by Dr Cassandra, but recently I noticed that, in Part 2, Josie turns up in a new orange number (below) - but the orange tights and dangly plastic earrings worn with that outfit end up being teamed with the dress from Part 1 to complete Dr Cassandra's ensemble!

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 8

Week 8: Horizon

"The art of planking". Freehand sketch in black Sharpie on a folded horizon on grey Ingres paper. Highlights in watercolour and white Signo. Inspired by several photos found in a Google Image search. The radiating effect is a lucky accident of the scanning process.

Update:

Week 8: Horizon II

Cartridge paper collage. There seems to be a slight shadow in the centre. That would be me. The iPhone pic works better than the scan, I think.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 7

Week 7: Kindergarten

"Kinder kid and glove puppet". Watercolour pencils on cream Ingres paper, based on a photograph from my own collection.

Update:

Week 7: Kindergarten II

Oil pastels and watercolour collage on black card.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 6

Week 6: Printing

Collage of newsprint cuttings and assorted cards, plus actual fingerprints. Image adjusted with the "Noir" filter in Photo.

Update:

Week 6: Printing II

Quick thumbprint cartoons with stamp pad ink onto Ingres paper. The bee was pressed over strands of rubbery string. Details in various markers.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 5

Week 5: 1920s

"Dolores del Río and Friend". Charcoal portrait sketch on cream Ingres paper, with a touch of orange watercolour pencil. Based on a Hollywood publicity photograph found in a Google Image search.

Update:

Week 5: 1920s II

"Archibald Fountain, after dark." Theseus and the Minotaur are off-duty on the night of a full moon. Sketched in black finepoint Sharpie and white opaque Signo on grey Ingres, with watercolour collaged elements in white Ingres paper. (I wanted to try drawing this iconic Sydney fountain this week, even though it didn't fit the theme and, while researching pics and Wikipedia, I realised the statues were designed in France... in the 1920s!) Theseus and the Minotaur are off-duty on the night of a full moon. Sketched in black finepoint Sharpie and white opaque Signo on grey Ingres, with watercolour collaged elements in white Ingres paper. (I wanted to try drawing this iconic Sydney fountain this week, even though it didn't fit the theme and, while researching pics and Wikipedia, I realised the statues were designed in France... in the 1920s!)

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 4

Week 4: Swimming

Collaged watercolour and cartridge papers, with Puffy Paint and watercolour highlights and shadows on a background of scrapbooking glitter paper. Based on several images found in a Google Image search.

Update:

Week 4: Swimming II

Black Sharpie cartoons on pearlescent sculptured paper, with salted watercolour highlights, collaged onto cartridge card.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 3

Week 3: Theme Park

"The Rotor, Luna Park Sydney." Red and gold Quill Metallique and black card, cut freehand, and collaged onto Ingres paper. Human characters detailed in black and white Sharpie and watercolours.

Update:

Week 3: Theme Park II

In memory of the late S John Ross, silhouette artist at Luna Park and theme parks and agricultural shows all over Australia. Collage and silhouettes using natural shadows.

Week 3: Theme Park III

"Mr Minotaur's A-mazing Theme Park". Black Sharpies, white opaque Signo and watercolour on Quill "marbletone" cream paper. Details in watercolour pencils and some yellow Puffy paint.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 2

Week 2: Outdoors

Collage and silhouette using Ingres papers, flocked cardboard, oil pastels and nylon cord on grey Ingres background.

Update:

Week 2: Outdoors II

"N-n-n-n-next!" Cartoon in finepoint black Sharpie, oil pastels and watercolour wash, collaged onto Ingres paper.

Week 2: Outdoors III

"Corellas' annual visit." Watercolour miniature. Masking fluid and black and white Sharpie highlights on watercolour paper. Based on my own photograph. This piece utilised an old offcut; it's only 85mm x 95mm.

Week 2: Outdoors IV

"Vasquez Rocks, Los Angeles." Watercolours with black and white Sharpie highlights on remnants of watercolour paper, mounted onto Ingres paper. Based on a photograph from my 2013 vacation album.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 1

Week 1: Fancy Dress

"Before and after." Watercolour clown sketch over black finepoint Sharpie and masking fluid on watercolour paper, with a collaged silhouette.

Update:

Week 1: Fancy Dress II

"Betelgeusian Chief Ambassador." This is the most expensive Hollywood costume ever worn in a movie by a screen extra - valued at $US10,000 in 1979 - but is barely glimpsed in the movie, Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The bolt of fabric used in the garment dates back to Cecil B. DeMille and contains real gold and silver thread. Very fancy dress! Oil pastels and Kindy Glitter Glitz on Quill "marbletone" cream paper, and based on a publicity still.

Return of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 52

Week 52: World

"He's got the whole world in his hand". Collage using numerous disparate elements: acrylic wash and sponging over a circle of Quill "marbletone" cream card; giant hand in charcoal pencil on primed canvas sheet; gold glitter on black card.

Update:

Week 52: World II

"Alexander was sure that the world used to be much bigger." Cartoon drawn in white Signo pigment ink on black card. Highlights added with copper Kindy Glitz glitter glue and metallic gold Sharpie.

And that's a wrap... until next year, and the 2016 Challenge. Which is in a few days' time.

52-Week Illustration Challenge, bonus round

Bonus: Advent (Days #1-24 compile)

Flickr Slideshow:

Click HERE!

Return of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 51

Week 51: Family

"Family tree". Collage of wrapping paper, light card and coloured cartridge papers, on corrugated cardboard. Characters (only partially glued to cause natural shadows when photographed) sketched in finepoint black Sharpie - no pencil lines - with highlights in watercolour and white Signo ink.

Update:

Week 51: Family II

"Nativity family". Freehand cut silhouettes in red and gold Quill Metallique cards, with some deliberate shading from the directed lighting. Collaged onto Quill glitter-finish Galaxy card.

Week 51: Family III

"Mr Minotaur & son". Black Biro and watercolour "family tree" portrait miniatures in plaster frames.

Return of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 50

Week 50: Party

"Surprise!" Sketch in finepoint and metallic Sharpies on watercolour paper, with highlights in watercolour and dayglo yellow marker.

Update:

Week 50: Party II

Party balloons in coloured cartridge papers, collaged onto Quill glitter-finish Galaxy card.

Return of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 49

Week 49: History

I checked Google for some Australian history quotes and one of the first items to appear was Kevin Rudd's "Sorry Speech" to the Aboriginal Stolen Generations. Created on black "scratch paper" (which comes in a pack of five sheets plus tool for $4.00 from a toy shop) with collaged pale yellow cartridge paper.

Update:

Week 49: History II

A very early historical event; collage of freecut snake and apple, with some deliberate shading from the directed lighting, mounted on Quill glitter-finish Galaxy card.

Return of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 48

Week 48: Warm

Cartoon in finepoint black Sharpie on watercolour paper. Highlights in watercolours and dayglo yellow marker.

Update:

Week 48: Warm II

"The art of toasting marshmallows." Sketch in finepoint black Sharpie on watercolour paper. Flames are collaged.

Week 48: Warm III

Freehand cut symmetrical silhouettes using various folded cartridge papers, collaged onto black card. No guidelines!

Return of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 47

Week 47: Play

Collage with characters drawn in black finepoint Sharpie on white linenbond card, collaged onto grey paper, with pleated paper curtains decorated in bronze Sharpie.

Update:

Week 47: Play II

"No rabbits up my sleeve, just a few hares." Drawing in finepoint black Sharpie. Highlights in watercolour and white Puffy paint on white Quill linenbond card. Rabbit add-ons are dayglo orange stickers that scan pale.

Return of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 46

Week 46: Endangered

Freehand composite sketch in waterproof black laundry marker on watercolour paper, with painted watercolour highlights. References were photographs found in Google Image searches.

Update:

Week 46: Endangered II

"New Zealand Kakapo." Sketch from a photo, found in a Google Image search. Drawn freehand (no pencil lines!) with a black laundry marker on green card. Background is watercolour spatters (around a temporary paper mask). Highlights in watercolours.

Week 46: Endangered III

"Count them while you can." Lions in gold Quill Metallique card, cut "paper doll" style, initially with two tails each, then elements removed and added to break up the symmetry. Details in black Sharpie and white Puffy paint. Count them while you can, 'cos they are disappearing!

Week 46: Endangered IV

"Mr Minotaur thinks about organising a snack." Drawing in finepoint black Sharpie. Highlights in watercolour on white Quill linenbond, collaged onto cream "marbletone" card.

Return of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 45

Week 45: Peace

Freehand dove in watercolour on white Quill Linenbond card. Olive branch cut from green paper and collaged into place.

Update:

Week 45: Peace II

"Peace of pie." Collaged watercolour paper and textured card on mauve Quill Metallique paper, extending a concept I tried out during last year's Abstract Week.

Return of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 44

Week 44: Scandinavian

"Moominpapa." Collage in white Quill Linenbond and black card onto a text quote in "Word" on mounted card, and based on my own stuffed toy, bought in London, UK. The Moomins are the central characters in a series of books (and a comic strip) by Swedish-speaking Finnish illustrator and writer, Tove Jansson, Her beloved stories were originally published in Finland, in the Swedish language, by Schildts (from 1945).

Update:

Week 44: Scandinavian II

"Viking." Freehand-cut symmetrical collage, using coloured papers and black card on white Quill Linenbond, with watercolour and black Sharpie details. Inspiration from several Viking designs found in a Google Image search.

Return of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 43

Week 43: Monster

"Can't sleep." Cartoon in black Sharpie, coloured with watercolours and highlighter marker.

Update:

Week 43: Monster II

Sketch of oblivious Granny, in black Sharpie on white Quill linenbond card, and freehand-cut black silhouette collaged onto green card.

Week 43: Monster III

Charcoal and watercolour wash sketch of actor Reggie Nalder as Mr Barlow the Vampire in "Salem's Lot". Highlights in white fabric paint, black ballpoint and collaged yellow paper eyes. Based on a publicity photo from the TV mini-series.