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 thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

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 thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

1943 - Episode Thirteen 

"Eight Steps Down"

Using some genuine detective skills, Batman and Robin are able to track the captured Linda to Daka's lair, but Batman falls into a deadly trap.  Can he escape?

​John and writer Jim Beard are back in the Batcave as we're coming to the end of our look at the 1943 serial.  In this episode, they discuss the well used stock footage, the missing Colton, and the similarities with the trap in this episode and in an episode of Batman 66.  

​It's all here and we want to hear what you think.  Comment here or write us at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

Having escaped another exploding building, Batman and Robin find themselves on the trail of the missing Linda.

​John and writer Jim Beard are back in the Batcave and the two are not at all impressed with this episode.  There really isn't a whole lot to say as it's the shortest episode of the serials and of this podcast.  We do continue to lament the loss and lack of sense of loss of Colton to this story.  

​It's all here and we want to hear what you think.  Comment here or write us at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

As Chuck White, Bruce learns of one of Daka's hideouts, but the Dynamic Duo find themselves under attack as soon as they arrive.

​John and writer Jim Beard are back in the Batcave where Jim has serious issues with a number of elements that go against the unspoken rules of the Batman comic.  John is simply tired of the simple resolution of the cliffhanger ending, a staple of the 40s serials.  

​It's all here and we want to hear what you think.  Comment here or write us at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

1943 - Episode Ten 
"Flying Spies"

After escaping from another death trap, Bruce dons the guise of Chuck White once again in order to learn about a dropped shipment of radium that they must recover before Daka's men.

John and writer Jim Beard are back in the Batcave and talking about the possibility of there being more than one Batman, the frustrating resolution of the cliffhanger and the equally frustrating new cliffhanger.

​It's all here and we want to hear what you think.  Comment here or write us at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

1943 - Episode Nine 

"The Sign of the Sphinx"

Colton is dead, but there isn't time to mourn his passing as the Dynamic Duo get a lead on one of Daca's men's hideouts.  John and writer Jim Beard discuss the odd title choice, the lack of concern for Colton's passing, and how bad guys never think to just shoot Batman.

1943 - Episode Eight 

"Lured by Radium"

The Colton movie serial guest starring Batman and Robin continues with a shocking cliffhanger ending for episode eight.  Well, that's the way John and Jim Beard are looking at this series as Colton continues to be much more interesting character than either of the Dynamic Duo.  Bruce and Dick track Colton, captured by Daka, to his radium mine where there is chaos in the cave system that leads to an explosive ending.  We talk this, the good and bad story elements in the episode, and the heavy New England accent of Bruce Wayne.

1943 - Episode Seven 

"The Phoney Doctor"

The Colton movie serial guest starring Batman and Robin continues with episode seven.  Well, that's the way John and Jim Beard are looking at this series as Colton continues to be much more interesting character than either of the Dynamic Duo.  Colton is captured by Daka while Bruce and Dick investigate a Chinese laundry at night. Bruce and Dick?  Not Batman and Robin?  What gives?  We talk this, the weak ending to last episode's cliffhanger, the detection skills of Batman and the payoff of the caveman guard outside Daka's hideout.

1943 - Episode Six 

"Poison Peril"

We take a look at chapter six of the 1943 Batman serial and it takes a turn with the introduction of a new character that Jim will find more interesting than Batman and Robin.  Plus, Alfred gets to go undercover once again and the Battrap/cliffhanger is so elaborate, surely Batman cannot possibly survive.  Or can he?

1943 - Episode Five 

"The Living Corpse"

Our look at the 43 Batman serial continues with a discussion of the actor who portrayed Alfred, plus confusion over why the Japanese would go to such lengths as they do in this episode to deliver a message.

1943 - Episode Three 

"The Mark of the Zombies"

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.

A native of Toledo, Ohio, Jim Beard was introduced to comic books at an early age by his father, who passed on to him a love for the medium and the pulp characters who preceded it. After decades of reading, collecting and dissecting comics, Jim became a published writer when he sold a story to DC Comics in 2002. Since that time he's written official Star Wars and Ghostbusters comic stories and contributed articles and essays to several volumes of comic book history.

His prose work includes GOTHAM CITY 14 MILES, a book of essays on the 1966 Batman TV series; SGT. JANUS, SPIRIT-BREAKER, a collection of pulp ghost stories featuring an Edwardian occult detective; MONSTER EARTH, a giant monster anthology; and CAPTAIN ACTION: RIDDLE OF THE GLOWING MEN, the first pulp prose novel based on the classic 1960s action figure.

Currently, Jim provides regular content for Marvel.com, the official Marvel Comics website, and is a regular columnist for Toledo Free Press.

Websites

http://www.facebook.com/thebeardjimbeard

http://www.sgtjanus.blogspot.com

1943 - Episode Two 

"The Bat's Cave"

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.

A native of Toledo, Ohio, Jim Beard was introduced to comic books at an early age by his father, who passed on to him a love for the medium and the pulp characters who preceded it. After decades of reading, collecting and dissecting comics, Jim became a published writer when he sold a story to DC Comics in 2002. Since that time he's written official Star Wars and Ghostbusters comic stories and contributed articles and essays to several volumes of comic book history.

His prose work includes GOTHAM CITY 14 MILES, a book of essays on the 1966 Batman TV series; SGT. JANUS, SPIRIT-BREAKER, a collection of pulp ghost stories featuring an Edwardian occult detective; MONSTER EARTH, a giant monster anthology; and CAPTAIN ACTION: RIDDLE OF THE GLOWING MEN, the first pulp prose novel based on the classic 1960s action figure.

Currently, Jim provides regular content for Marvel.com, the official Marvel Comics website, and is a regular columnist for Toledo Free Press.

 

Websites

http://www.facebook.com/thebeardjimbeard

http://www.sgtjanus.blogspot.com

1943 - Episode One 

"The Electrical Brain"

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.