The Batcave Podcast

1943 - Episode Four  "Slaves of the Rising Sun" We continue our look at the 1943 Batman serial with the fourth episode, "Slaves of the Rising Sun".  In it, we discuss the history of Bruce Wayne's romantic relationships, the sadistic nature of Dr. Daka, and Batman's relationship with the government.  Plus, we look at the career of Shirley Patterson who plays Linda Page.

​John and Robert Long sit down in the Batcave to discuss this film that is much more an homage to Batman than some of the other films we've discussed in the past.  That doesn't make it a better film though.  Despite this, they do find some points of interest to talk about such as how the costuming seems to mimic those of the Mego action figures of the 70s, how the music in the film are all plays on other popular songs, and how meta this film really is.

We continue our look at the 1943 Batman serial with the third episode, "The Mark of the Zombies".  In it, we see the process by which Dr. Daka converts humans into his living zombies and we watch as Batman foils another attempt at stealing the badly needed uranium.  Plus, we wonder how Daka ever came to being the diabolical leader he's supposed to be; we discuss the colorful career of J. Carrol Naish (Daka); and we comment on how Alfred may be the most interesting character in this serial.

In our first episode review of this Stanley Ralph Ross-helmed series, the Squad take on Queen Bee (Alice Beasley) and her bee drones, Spelling Bee and Bumble Bee as she tries to take over the world.  John is joined in the Batcave by Revolution SF host and DragonCon American Sci-Fi Classics Track co-moderator Joe Crowe to discuss the parallels with this series and Batman 66.  And there are quite a few.

It's July 29, 1966. The Batman movie is set to premiere the next day in Austin. The Austin Statesman provided a 16 page supplement filled with fun articles and advertisements for Batman. In an age of instant Internet access, we kids back then would have treasured such an insert. 

Batman 66 #9 "Zelda's Great Escape" & "Showdown with Shame" Published: March 19, 2014 Zelda the Great is free and back to her scheme of coming up with inescapable traps that she needs the unwilling help of Batman and Robin to solve.  Plus, Shame and Batman have a showdown on top of a moving train.  ​John and Dan talk about John's disappoint with Zelda returning to crime, the "poor deluded girl" lured into a life of crime and adventure, and how the Shame story could easily be a third season ep

We conclude our look at the Filmation 68 Batman series. In it, we discuss the voice work, the animation, and our favorite stories. In addition, John and Dan Greenfield, creator and author of the 13th Dimension talk about the times the series aired on cable, how the show managed to take some of the better elements of the 66 series while also leaning on the comics, and how the series got better as it progressed.

We pick up our look at the 1943 Batman serial with the second episode, "The Bat's Cave".  In it, the Dynamic Duo bring a prisoner back to their secret base to interrogate and we see the grandfather clock entrance to the Bat's Cave.  Plus, we learn that Bruce can be a little sadistic as he fires an unknown energy weapon near his butler, Alfred; we discuss the career and wig of Douglas Croft (Robin); and we comment on the duplicate cliffhanger so early in the series.

How does one approach a Batman spoof that wasn't intended to be one? John and Robert are watching the infamous Ray Dennis Steckler film. In it, our hero's girlfriend is being menaced in the first 45 minutes. One would think that our hero would turn detective to try & stop it, but when she's kidnapped at the halfway point, he and the gardener in his girlfriend's building enter a closet and come out as the masked avengers.

It's the start of a new series of podcast reviews looking at the serials of the 1940s.  The serials are often cited as the inspiration for the 1966 TV series.  John and writer Jim Beard sit down in the "Bat's Cave" to discuss just how true this really is.  In the first episode, they discuss the racism of the time, the fighting style of the Dynamic Duo, the career of Lewis Wilson (Batman), and how Robin looks more like a Brady than a Greyson.  Take a listen and let us know what you think.

Our final look at the Filmation Batman 68 series is a celebration of all that your hosts love about the series. It has a multi-villain story, Batgirl, Alfred, many nods to the Batman comics of the 50s, current pop culture references and so much more. In the first story, Riddler, Penguin and Joker team up to break up the team of the Terrific Trio by playing mind games with Robin. In the second story, the Joker finds himself haunted by the Dynamic Duo's ghosts.

​Aired: September 25/October  2, 1976 Glitter Rock has a plan to take over the world with his hypnotizing music.  But how can his music reach our to the entire world?   John and Kevin Eldridge of The Flopcast are back in Electra-Base and talking about the "Electra-Chicks" and their latest adventure.

John and Robert Long take on a Batman inspired movie that clearly was trying to cash in on the Batman craze with a heroine that calls herself Batwoman, has an army of Batgirls who help her fight crime, and that's about it.  Producer Jerry Warren exploited not only Batman, but the women in this movie about a mad scientist who wants to create a better world by having beautiful women mate with monsters he's created.  (At least, that's what we got out of it.)

Aired: September 11/18, 1976 As part of the Krofft Supershow, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl ran for 16 weeks in two part installments.  The series clearly borrowed a great deal in terms of concepts from the Batman 66 television show.  John and co-host Kevin Eldridge of The Flopcast take on these episodes, discussing them scene and scene and exploring what the "Voltage Vixens" have in common with the "Caped Crusaders".

When is a Batman movie not a Batman movie?  When is a wrestling movie not a wrestling movie?  When it's the Batwoman.  This 1968 gem may not have the elements one expects in a Batman ripoff film, but it still has much more going for it than the previous outings.