The cowl that Adam used after the show....

[Chuck Williams]

Hi All,

I suspect that there were fewer shells for the cowls than what we think a high budget show would have.

I think that we may have seen all or most of them during the Mister Freeze episode.

So with this in mind I wondered which cowl/cowl shell Adam walked away from the show with and used in later appearances and eventually became the Gila cowl.

After looking at most of the hero cowls it looks like this one jumps out for it's sharp, straight pointy nose, lack of much curve in the cheek line, sharp corners at the side burn and pushed out area above the ear cut outs.

And......it's probably my least favorite from the show! HAHA!

What do you think?

[Ben Bentley]

The shape of cheek line under the left eye particularly is what jumped out at me in both of these photos. I think you're on the money as per usual, old Chum.

[Batman65]

It's funny, the thing that jumped out at me first was the awful eyebrow placement.

[Batfanman]

I'll concur with your detective work, Chuck. I figured that we saw all of the cowls in the Mr. Freeze episode also.

It's amazing how much older Adam looks 12 years forward (I'm presuming the left pic is from the Legends TV special?) and how the one on the right looks like the Matty cowl eyebrow! Perhaps that's where they got their guidance from.

[Chuck Williams]

I think this was from well after the Legends show and closer to the end of his appearances in costume.

[Larry A.]

One would think that Adam would know the way the eyebrows were shaped, wouldn't one?

[Batman65]

I have to go find my pics. I met Adam in costume back around 89 or 90. I forgot what that cowl looked like, when I find the pic ill post it.

[Chuck Williams]

AWESOME!

[Aussie Batfan]

Great research as usual Chuck.
I have to concur with Stryker as to why Adam let something as obvious as the eyebrow shape fall below par...
Bit of a mystery to me.
Take care all,
Terry

[Larry A.]

Hi al,
I just noticed in the ads, that His cowl nose is not completely outlined as well. If there were better pictures, One could tell if the cowl was painted per the TV show, or completely one colour. Perhaps one of You folks might be able to explain why his cowl did not fit snug around the neck per the T.V. version?
Thanks

[Chuck Williams]

This is the shell that Adam had recovered by someone not familiar with the originals just prior to the Legends TV show.
I believe it was Wally Wingert by a chance meeting found out that she trashed the old cover without documenting it. So the entire thing, pattern and paint was a new thing with no good reference of what it was supposed to look like so the story goes.

The photo I'm posting here I THINK was what it was like just prior to the "Gila Cowl" recover. It is also a recover because the pattern is not show style and the paint is no great shakes either. So in any case it was looking pretty rough. Even if the new recover used this for a pattern, the neck was still quite short.

Chuck...

[Larry A.]

Thanks for that info, Chuck . I doubt that at this late date even Adam could tell us why the mask was redone the way it was. It might have been a case of the lowest bidder, maybe? I have no idea.

Peace to all!

[Lee Kirkham]

I still find it funny, the nickname we've given these items. Gila Cowl.

Bwaa haa haa hhaa

[Larry A.]

Please forgive my ignorance, Folks, but "Gila Cowl?""

[Ben Bentley]

Please forgive my ignorance, Folks, but "Gila Cowl?""

"Gila Cowl" is the nickname that I believe Wally coined for the cowl seen in Legend of the Superheros and subsequently the cow Adam wore at appearances with the skirt that was too short to lay properly under the cape as the coverings were made to do. "Gila" is a humorous reference to the lizard-like animals that puff out their necks baring a resemblance to the skirt of the badly covered cowl.