Adam West's Batman was a relic of a different time, one when superhero stories were fun, camp and not something meant to be taken too seriously.
As for Mr West himself? A fine actor who was able to deliver the most ridiculous line with a totally straight face. When WB started making Batman movies again in the late '80s, early '90s, he was treated pretty shabbily by studio executives who wanted the old TV show forgotten. However, he was always there for the fans and the fans were always there for him.