The Batcave Podcast

The Adventures of Superman Batman's Great Mystery

Batman is not acting like himself. He's showing up at anti-American meetings and encouraging people to support the Germans in World War II. Robin and Superman team up to find out what is going on. Sounds like the makings of a great story, but is it?

​John and writer Jim Beard are back in the Batcave as we're wrapping up our look at the 1943 serial as and taking a break between the movie serials of the 1940s by looking at one of the multiple appearances of Batman and Robin on the Superman radio show. The thing is, who is this man they call Batman? Jim has a lot of issues with this rendition he feels makes the 43 Batman look legit. It's so bad, we spend as much time talking about Superman as we do Batman. Plus, we briefly discuss the Batman Mystery Club pilot radio show.

​It's all here and we want to hear what you think. Comment here or write us at [email protected].

"The Chameleon" April 9, 1977

The Chameleon is in Gotham City, looking for revenge against Batman.

John and Joe Stuber of Comic Book Central are back in the Batcave talking about this episode that they both clearly enjoyed. In it, they wonder why Marvel never sued Filmation for taking the names Electro and Chameleon. They also discuss the joys of introducing new villains to the Batman universe through vehicles such as this.​

​Let us know what you're thinking as you listen to the episode by commenting here or by writing us at [email protected].

"Ali Baba" Aired: October 23/30, 1976

This might just be the episode that could be considered the best overall. It certainly looks and feels like a Batman 66 episode from the villain to the guest stars to the situation that Dyna Girl gets herself into. John and Kevin Eldridge of The Flopcast are back in Electra-Base keeping Frank company.

​This time around, they discuss how Malachi Throne is the King of the Two-Part TV Stories, the career of Sid Haig, and the great turn Judy Strangis does as an evil Dyna Girl. Take a listen and let us know what you think by writing us here or at [email protected].

"Star Trek Vs. Batman" The Dynamic Duo are given a taste of the future when the starship Enterprise is catapulted to the past. But the Joker and Catwoman are also aware of Kirk and Spock and the power at their command if they can take the ship.

​John and Robert Long sit down in the Batcave and discuss a fan film that clearly has a love for the material being presented. The question is, "Is this really a Batman fan film?" John and Robert argue that this film, while showing love for the Batman series, is primarily a Star Trek fan film with Batman playing a supporting role.

​Take a listen and let us know what you think by commenting here or writing us at [email protected].

"THE RINGMASTER" October 2, 1976

Monster Squad was a one season NBC Saturday morning live action show for kids in 1976. In it, Walt, who worked in his uncle's wax museum, discovered that he could bring the figures of Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, and the Wolfman to life. Wanting to atone for the sins of their past, the trio, with Walt's crime computer set out on a mission to stop evil wherever they found it.

​We dive into the fourth episode with the villain - The Ringmaster. This one is proving to be a dark episode as the Ringmaster holds 20,000 orphans hostage.

​John and Joe Crowe of RevolutionSF and the Dragoncon American SciFi Classics Track discuss the unfortunate imagery of Bonnie Bon, the use of "Chekov's Gun" in this story, and a missed plot point that could have been developed into something more.

​Take a listen and let us know what you think here or by writing us at [email protected].

WRITER JIM BEARD TALKS ANOTHER CHALLENGE FOR THE GREEN HORNET

You thought it was the end of the podcast, but then writer Jim Beard presents another challenge for the Green Hornet, his aide Kato and their rolling arsenal the Black Beauty. John and Jim sit down to discuss Jim's Green Hornet novella from Moonstone Press, "How Sweet the Sting". They discuss the challenges and fun moments in writing the book, the unique vision Moonstone Publishing has for the character and Jim's preoccupation with the military in his writing.

Get your copy by ordering from Moonstone Press.

​Take a listen and then let us know what you think of the episode by writing us here or at [email protected].

1943 - Episode Fifteen "The Doom of the Rising Sun"

The final confrontation between Batman and Daka is actually their first confrontation as we discuss in the final episode of our look at the 1943 movie serial.

​John and writer Jim Beard are back in the Batcave as we're wrapping up our look at the 1943 serial as we discuss the missed opportunities of the story, the unintended campiness, and the similarities with the 1966 TV series.

​It's all here and we want to hear what you think. Comment here or write us at [email protected].

"Reading, Writing & Wronging" April 2, 1977

Penguin has started a school for criminals and in order to pass, you have to defeat Batman and Robin!

John and Joe Stuber of Comic Book Central are back in the Batcave talking about this episode that is an odd duck. It has potential and it has some fun moments, but in the end it just doesn't hold up. The two discuss how this episode may be where some of the hate for Batmite comes from, John's dislike of the Penguin as a character in general, and the heavy use of "Holy" exclamations in this episode.​

​Let us know what you're thinking as you listen to the episode by commenting here or by writing us at [email protected].

1943 - Episode Thirteen "The Executioner Strikes"

The Batman is closing in on Daka, but will his search lead him to a crocodile grave?

​John and writer Jim Beard are back in the Batcave as we're up to the penultimate episode of this serial. The two discuss the missing Colton, the far from normal cliffhanger, and Daka's preoccupation with his crocodiles.

​It's all here and we want to hear what you think. Comment here or write us at [email protected].

"Bite-Sized" March 27, 1977

The alien Electro comes to Gotham City to shrink the Dynamic Duo and use them to discover America's defense systems prior to his invasion of the planet.

John and Joe Stuber of Comic Book Central are back in the Batcave talking about this episode with a new villain with a familiar name. They discuss Nom Prescott possibly subbing for Adam West, Marvel's lack of attention to a villain named Electro, and the attitude of the Batcomputer.

​Let us know what you're thinking as you listen to the episode by commenting here or by writing us at [email protected].