Batman XXX

Is it possible that an adult film manages to create a Batman 66 homage that is more aware of the source material than other films that are just a cheap money grab?  It is and John and Robert Long discuss on an all new episode.

​John and Robert Long sit down in the Batcave to discuss a film that doesn't have the deepest plot and yet is still is deeper than Nora Clavicle.  While they acknowledge this is an adult film, the focus is on the story and visual elements that any Batfan would appreciate and director Axel Braun manages to hit the right notes.

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

Batman 66 #10
"The Summer of Freeze" &

"Cleo-Bat-Ra"

Published: April 30, 2014

Mr. Freeze returns to Gotham with a scheme to freeze the city based on the needs of the people.  Plus, Batgirl searches for an antidote for a poisoned Bruce Wayne and faces Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile.

​John and Dan talk about both stories work nicely in the Batman 66 universe, but John is disappointed that both stories weren't more drawn out.  Plus, they get into the licensing situation with Lee Meriwether and the three Freezes and how one managed to get through even though there was no deal.

​Aired: October  9/16, 1976

In what has to be the oddest adventure for the Voltage Vixens, we take on a villain with no real plan and isn't what she seems.  John and Kevin Eldridge of The Flopcast are back in Electra-Base keeping Frank company.

​This time around, discuss how creepy it is that Frank just stays in the basement, the dodgy effects that mark this episode, and the lost opportunities in what is one of the more interesting and darker stories.  Take a listen and let us know what you think by writing us here or at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

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.

Holy Triple Feature! Burt Ward Returns to the Batcave!

Alyas Batman en Robin

In 1989 Regal Entertainment, based in the Philippines, produced a musical comedy spoof of the Batman 66 series.  At that time, Michael Keaton's Batman was about to hit the screens.  DC Comics and Warner Bros. halted the release of the film for two years over copyright infringement.  It should have been held back for the crime of being an awful film.

​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.

​Warning:  Just before posting the episode, John found a copy of the film with subtitles.  He and Robert were fairly accurate with their interpretation.

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

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

"Queen Bee"

September 11, 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 our on a mission to stop evil wherever they found it.

​And 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.

​They discuss the henchmen, the merchandise for this series, and attempts at layering the humor as was done in the 60s Batman series.

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