Host Anthony Desiato and guest Shawn Hendricks (Fat Moose Comics) shine a light on Frank Miller's seminal Batman story THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS in its 40th anniversary year. They consider the book's legacy, impact on their personal fandoms, sociopolitical commentary, Rocky parallels, place within the wider Dark Knight Saga, and more.

Anthony & Shawn also discuss the two-part animated film adaptation (released in 2012 and 2013) directed by Jay Oliva & starring Peter Weller as Bruce Wayne.

Keep tuning in throughout the month of September as the podcast's coverage of The Dark Knight Saga continues!

Support the show and receive exclusive podcast content at Patreon.com/AnthonyDesiato!

Visit BCW Supplies and use promo code FSP to save 10% on your next order of comics supplies.

Join the conversation on the social media channels for parent podcast Digging for Kryptonite:

FACEBOOK GROUP: Digging for Kryptonite: A Superman Fan Group

FACEBOOK PAGE: @diggingforkryptonitepod

INSTAGRAM: @diggingforkryptonitepod

TWITTER: @diggingforkrpod

BLUESKY: @diggingforkrpod.bsky.social

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: FlatSquirrelProductions.com

Lighting the Bat-Signal is a Flat Squirrel Production. Key art by Isaiah Simmons. Theme music by Kill Me Kate.

Mentioned in this episode:

Rick Reason

Aw Yeah Comics

Pop Break

Always Hold On To Smallville

Host Anthony Desiato and guest Zach Moore (Always Hold On To Smallville) shine a light on the seminal BATMAN: YEAR ONE from Frank Miller & Dave Mazzucchelli — along with its follow-up, BATMAN: YEAR TWO by Mike W. Barr, Alan Davis, & Todd McFarlane.

Anthony & Zach also compare notes on the 2011 animated adaptation of Year One and the classic 1993 film BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM, which seemingly borrowed key story elements from Year Two.

Support the show and receive exclusive podcast content at Patreon.com/AnthonyDesiato!

Visit BCW Supplies and use promo code FSP to save 10% on your next order of comics supplies.

Join the conversation on the social media channels for parent podcast Digging for Kryptonite:

FACEBOOK GROUP: Digging for Kryptonite: A Superman Fan Group

FACEBOOK PAGE: @diggingforkryptonitepod

INSTAGRAM: @diggingforkryptonitepod

TWITTER: @diggingforkrpod

BLUESKY: @diggingforkrpod.bsky.social

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: FlatSquirrelProductions.com

Lighting the Bat-Signal is a Flat Squirrel Production. Key art by Isaiah Simmons. Theme music by Kill Me Kate.

Mentioned in this episode:

Aw Yeah Comics

Fat Moose Comics

Pop Break

Rick Reason

Host Anthony Desiato and guest Ralph Puma (Kill Me Kate) shine a light H2SH Part One from BATMAN #158-163 by Jeph Loeb & Jim Lee. They discuss Hush's scheme to pit Bruce against his allies — by engineering a situation whereby Batman chooses to save the Joker's life — along with the book's delays, debatable character choices, and promised conclusion in the future.

PLUS! Anthony & Ralph examine the extended "Hush Saga," including the villain's earlier return appearances in BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS by A.J. Lieberman & Al Barrionuevo and in DETECTIVE COMICS & BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM by Paul Dini & Dustin Nguyen.

Features additional audio clips by JJ Hodges (For Comic Junkies)!

Support the show and receive exclusive podcast content at Patreon.com/AnthonyDesiato!

Visit BCW Supplies and use promo code FSP to save 10% on your next order of comics supplies.

Join the conversation on the social media channels for parent podcast Digging for Kryptonite:

FACEBOOK GROUP: Digging for Kryptonite: A Superman Fan Group

FACEBOOK PAGE: @diggingforkryptonitepod

INSTAGRAM: @diggingforkryptonitepod

TWITTER: @diggingforkrpod

BLUESKY: @diggingforkrpod.bsky.social

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: FlatSquirrelProductions.com

Lighting the Bat-Signal is a Flat Squirrel Production. Key art by Isaiah Simmons. Theme music by Kill Me Kate.

Mentioned in this episode:

Fat Moose Comics

Rick Reason

Aw Yeah Comics

Always Hold On To Smallville

Pop Break

Host Anthony Desiato and guest Ralph Puma (Kill Me Kate) shine a light on the original HUSH storyline — from BATMAN #608-619 by Jeph Loeb & Jim Lee — which introduced Bruce Wayne's childhood friend Tommy Elliot as the titular villain clad in bandages & a trench coat.

They relive the excitement of the story's release, examine its legacy and value almost 25 years later, question whether the ultimate reveals truly pay off the yearlong mystery, and compare notes on the 2019 animated film adaptation.

NEXT MONTH: The podcast's two-part Hush event concludes with coverage of H2SH and other sequels from GOTHAM KNIGHTS and Paul Dini's DETECTIVE COMICS & STREETS OF GOTHAM!

Support the show and receive exclusive podcast content at Patreon.com/AnthonyDesiato!

Visit BCW Supplies and use promo code FSP to save 10% on your next order of comics supplies.

Join the conversation on the social media channels for parent podcast Digging for Kryptonite:

FACEBOOK GROUP: Digging for Kryptonite: A Superman Fan Group

FACEBOOK PAGE: @diggingforkryptonitepod

INSTAGRAM: @diggingforkryptonitepod

TWITTER: @diggingforkrpod

BLUESKY: @diggingforkrpod.bsky.social

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: FlatSquirrelProductions.com

Lighting the Bat-Signal is a Flat Squirrel Production. Key art by Isaiah Simmons. Theme music by Kill Me Kate.

Mentioned in this episode:

Fat Moose Comics

Aw Yeah Comics

Drunken Avenger

Always Hold On To Smallville

Host Anthony Desiato and guest Rob O'Connor (All Star Superfan Podcast) shine a light on the 2005 film BATMAN BEGINS, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale, which made an outsized impact on the character and superhero movie genre. 

They discuss how the film shaped them as younger Batman fans; the scope of the origin story told — well beyond the typical moment of Bruce with his slain parents in the alley; key themes of fear & falling; direct comic book influences on Nolan, including the relatively obscure short story "The Man Who Falls" from 1989; and the choice & utilization of Ra's al Ghul & Scarecrow as the primary antagonists.

Support the show and receive exclusive podcast content at Patreon.com/AnthonyDesiato!

Visit BCW Supplies and use promo code FSP to save 10% on your next order of comics supplies.

Join the conversation on the social media channels for parent podcast Digging for Kryptonite:

FACEBOOK GROUP: Digging for Kryptonite: A Superman Fan Group

FACEBOOK PAGE: @diggingforkryptonitepod

INSTAGRAM: @diggingforkryptonitepod

TWITTER: @diggingforkrpod

BLUESKY: @diggingforkrpod.bsky.social

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: FlatSquirrelProductions.com

Lighting the Bat-Signal is a Flat Squirrel Production. Key art by Isaiah Simmons. Theme music by Kill Me Kate.

Mentioned in this episode:

Aw Yeah Comics

Fat Moose Comics

Drunken Avenger

Always Hold On To Smallville

Host Anthony Desiato and guest Lance Laster (Always Hold On To Arrow) shine a light on the 1999 storyline "No Man's Land," in which an earthquake-ravaged Gotham City is cut off from the rest of the nation.

They discuss the event's innovative approach to assigning creative teams; emphasis on character — rather than plot — in what is ultimately a morality play; rich development of the Batman & Gordon partnership; and moral complexity of Gotham's heroes & villains as they vie for territory in the NML.

Support the show and receive exclusive podcast content at Patreon.com/AnthonyDesiato!

Visit BCW Supplies and use promo code FSP to save 10% on your next order of comics supplies.

Join the conversation on the social media channels for parent podcast Digging for Kryptonite:

FACEBOOK GROUP: Digging for Kryptonite: A Superman Fan Group

FACEBOOK PAGE: @diggingforkryptonitepod

INSTAGRAM: @diggingforkryptonitepod

TWITTER: @diggingforkrpod

BLUESKY: @diggingforkrpod.bsky.social

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: FlatSquirrelProductions.com

Lighting the Bat-Signal is a Flat Squirrel Production. Key art by Isaiah Simmons. Theme music by Kill Me Kate.

Mentioned in this episode:

Drunken Avenger

Always Hold On To Smallville

Fat Moose Comics

Aw Yeah Comics

Host Anthony Desiato begins a new fan journey in the series premiere of Lighting the Bat-Signal! In a wide-ranging conversation with comic book artist V Ken Marion (Battle Chronicle Sol-Stryker, Nightwing, & more), the duo shine a light on their respective Batman fan origins.

Anthony & Ken share their first experiences with Batman, highlight the stories across media that most shaped their view of the character, and reveal what resonates most about the world of Gotham City.

Get in on the ground floor of this all-new monthly podcast series!

Support the show and receive exclusive podcast content at Patreon.com/AnthonyDesiato!

Visit BCW Supplies and use promo code FSP to save 10% on your next order of comics supplies.

Join the conversation on the social media channels for parent podcast Digging for Kryptonite:

FACEBOOK GROUP: Digging for Kryptonite: A Superman Fan Group

FACEBOOK PAGE: @diggingforkryptonitepod

INSTAGRAM: @diggingforkryptonitepod

TWITTER: @diggingforkrpod

BLUESKY: @diggingforkrpod.bsky.social

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: FlatSquirrelProductions.com

Lighting the Bat-Signal is a Flat Squirrel Production. Key art by Isaiah Simmons. Theme music by Kill Me Kate.

Host Anthony Desiato proudly introduces his forthcoming podcast series LIGHTING THE BAT-SIGNAL: A BATMAN FAN JOURNEY, which will examine Gotham City's Dark Knight across time and media — with analysis of the creative visions, character elements, eras, and individual stories that have shaped Batman since 1939.

Lighting the Bat-Signal premieres on March 19, 2026! Subscribe now to automatically receive new episodes when they become available.

Support the show and receive exclusive podcast content at Patreon.com/AnthonyDesiato!

Visit BCW Supplies and use promo code FSP to save 10% on your next order of comics supplies.

Join the conversation on the social media channels for parent podcast Digging for Kryptonite:

FACEBOOK GROUP: Digging for Kryptonite: A Superman Fan Group

FACEBOOK PAGE: @diggingforkryptonitepod

INSTAGRAM: @diggingforkryptonitepod

TWITTER: @diggingforkrpod

BLUESKY: @diggingforkrpod.bsky.social

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: FlatSquirrelProductions.com

Lighting the Bat-Signal is a Flat Squirrel Production. Key art by Isaiah Simmons. Theme music by Kill Me Kate.