"Curses! Oiled Again!"

March 20, 1977

Catwoman teams up with Clayface to steal all the oil in the world.  

John and Joe Stuber of Comic Book Central welcome Dan Greenfield of 13th Dimension back into the Batcave where they discuss the first team-up of the 77 Filmation series.  They discuss the potential for toys based on the characters and the vehicles seen in the episode, they comment on the rotoscope used, and Joe tries to make a Batmite lover out of Dan.

Let us know what you're thinking as you listen to the episode by commenting here or by writing us at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

Direct download: Batman_77_-_Curses_Oiled_Again.mp3
Category:Filmation 77 -- posted at: 12:27pm EDT
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1943 - Episode Twelve 

"Embers of Evil"

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.

Direct download: Batman_1943_-_Episode_12.mp3
Category:1940s Serials -- posted at: 5:05am EDT
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"THE TICKLER"

September 25, 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.

For our look at the third episode of the series, we deal with the depressing villain with the misleading name - The Tickler.  He's the first "returning" villain in terms of the Squad has faced him before, but he's new to the viewer.  He wants revenge on Walter and the Squad for sending him away for a long stretch.

John and Joe Crowe of RevolutionSF and the Dragoncon American SciFi Classics Track discuss the darkness of The Tickler and his henchmen, the great humor that still works in the episode, and the potential for a Monster Squad/Batman 66 team-up facing The Tickler and The Joker.

Take a listen and let us know what you think here or by writing us at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

Direct download: Monster_Squad_-_The_Tickler.mp3
Category:Monster Squad -- posted at: 12:29pm EDT
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1943 - Episode Eleven 

"A Nipponese Trap"

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.

Direct download: Batman_43_Episode_11.mp3
Category:1940s Serials -- posted at: 7:28pm EDT
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"The Bermuda Rectangle"

March 13, 1977

Professor Bubbles is engaged in some real underwater deep sea piracy and it's up to Batman to stop him.  Where is Aquaman when you need him?

John and Joe Stuber of Comic Book Central are at odds with this fifth episodes of the 77 series and not in the way you would think.  Usually, Joe can find the joy in the goofiest of plots, but he struggled a little with this one while John enjoyed every 70s cliche the episode threw at us, from the CB lingo to the sharks to the underwater base.

Let us know what you're thinking as you listen to the episode by commenting here or by writing us at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

Direct download: Batman_77_-_Professor_Bubbls.mp3
Category:Filmation 77 -- posted at: 7:02am EDT
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"Mr. Mephisto"

September 18, 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.

And in our second episode review, the Squad take on Mr. Mephisto (Barry Dennen) and his dolls, Baby Doll and Arlene Doll as he tries to subvert the political system in Metro City by replacing many of the major figures with animatronic dolls.  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.

They discuss the guest cast that includes two actors who appeared in Batman 66, how Walter may have been inspired to fight crime from Batman, and wonder what kind of media outlets are in Metro City that no one reports on the mayor's proclamation commending the Monster Squad for their work.

Take a listen and let us know what you think here or by writing us at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

Direct download: Monster_Squad_-_Mr_Mephisto.mp3
Category:Monster Squad -- posted at: 3:08pm EDT
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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.

 

Direct download: Batman_1943_-_Episode_10.mp3
Category:1940s Serials -- posted at: 6:06pm EDT
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"The Scheme is Sound"

Batman and Robin must foil a new plot by the United Underworld to create and use the world's largest loudspeaker in order to rob a bank.

John and Robert Long sit down in the Batcave and discuss a film that is the complete polar opposite of the film they discussed in the last episode.  The Parkview Elementary School Music Club in Van Buren, Arkansas produced this 13 minute fan film complete with music and they clearly get the source material.  The two discuss the plot, the portrayals, and the Batmobile that was used in the production.

Take a listen and let us know what you think by commenting here or writing us at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

Direct download: Batcave_-_The_Scheme_is_Sound.mp3
Category:Some Days You Just Can't Get Rid of a Bomb! -- posted at: 3:04pm EDT
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"A Sweet Joke on Gotham City"

March 6, 1977

We take a look at another Filmation original village for the 77 Batman series in the form of Sweet Tooth.  Sounding like Paul Lynde and ready with a crime where he holds the city's water supply hostage (why does that sound familiar?), this is one of the crazier stories and yet our hosts are more than happy with how goofy it is.

John and Joe Stuber of Comic Book Central are giving this fourth episode of the Filmation 1977 Batman series embrace this episode wholeheartedly even though it's got a number of problems, which they bring up in their discussion. In this episode, they discuss how good a Paul Lynde Lenny Weintraub does for Sweet Tooth, how Batmite is more useful than Robin, how Batgirl is better used in this version of the series, and the dynamics of the Bat Family in this series.

Let us know what you're thinking as you listen to the episode by commenting here or by writing us at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

Direct download: Batman_77_-_Sweet_Tooth.mp3
Category:Filmation 77 -- posted at: 7:21am EDT
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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.

Direct download: Batman_1943_Episode_9.mp3
Category:1940s Serials -- posted at: 8:19am EDT
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