Bat Lessons: Batman History

Phantasm FM

Covering characters, stories, writers, artists, movie directors, business, politics and more. Everything in and around Batman. We start at the very begining, and work our way chronoligcally through 80 years of Batman.

40 Episodes

38: Mr. Freeze
6/19/2026
57:00
We uncover the origins of the Batman Character Mr. Freeze Buy a sticker or leave a tip: http://batlessons.com/support Our Website! https://batlessons.com Threads (https://www.threads.net/@batlessons) TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@batlessons) The Batcave Companion by Michael Eury & Michael Kronenberg: https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=570 American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969 by John Wells: https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1135 Back Issue #158, "Bring on the Bad Guys: Mr. Freeze" by Bryan D. Stroud: https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1822 Dial B for Blog, "Secret Origins of Captain Pureheart, Part Two": https://web.archive.org/web/20190627231454/http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/226/ Tom Brevoort, "Brand Echh: Life With Archie #42": https://tombrevoort.com/2021/01/03/brand-echh-life-with-archie-42/ Stephen Wilk, "The First Ray Gun" (OUPblog): https://blog.oup.com/2013/10/first-ray-gun-washington-irving-science/ Bat Lessons Book Club (https://www.youtube.com/@BatLessonsBatmanBookClub) Bat Lessons Clips (https://www.youtube.com/@BatLessonsClips) Podcast Artwork by Sergio R. M. Duarte (https://www.instagram.com/sergiormduarte/) Podcast Music by Renzo Calma (https://www.instagram.com/renzocalm) Motion Graphics by r2ktalha (https://www.fiverr.com/share/AEpWpY) 00:00 First Freeze 02:08 Creators of Freeze 12:48 Inspiration for Freeze 29:20 Plagiarism Corner 31:40 First Appearance of Freeze 39:18 66 Freeze 50:00 Obscurity of Freeze
37: Batman 66
12/11/2025
1:03:34
Brian watches Batman '66 for the first time starring Adam West and Burt Ward. Alex reads us in on what William Dozier, Bob Kane, Lorenzo Semple Jr., and more said about the debut of the show. We also chat about Pop Art, Camp Humor, and the social moment that led to the show. Stickers!! https://batlessons.com/support Our Website: https://batlessons.com Threads (https://www.threads.net/@batlessons) TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons Clips on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@BatLessonsClips) Million Dollar Batman (https://a.co/d/gYJA7k3) Full Dozier Interview (https://youtu.be/rkvR4PGqBhA) Batman: The Complete Series (https://a.co/d/izk1QIB) Holy Batmania! (https://a.co/d/2ztJlCr) Harve Bennet (https://www.66batman.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9394) Podcast Artwork by Sergio R. M. Duarte (https://www.instagram.com/sergiormduarte/) Podcast Music by Renzo Calma (https://www.instagram.com/renzocalm) Motion Graphics by r2ktalha (https://www.fiverr.com/share/AEpWpY) 00:00 Batman on Ice 03:26 Serial Screenings 06:56 Batman Falls Off 08:00 Superman on TV 10:00 Failed CBS Show 12:25 Showrunning Batman 66 16:09 The 1960s 18:20 Pop Art 19:33 Camp Humor 27:37 After the Show 51:25 Ratings and Reception 53:31 Bat Fans 54:42 Bob Kane
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36: Bat-Mite
8/8/2025
51:46
Who is Bat-Mite, and how did he come to be? What impact will he have on the DCU? All that and more, on this episode of Bat Lessons! Stickers!! https://batlessons.com/support Our Website: https://batlessons.com Threads (https://www.threads.net/@batlessons) TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons Clips on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@BatLessonsClips) James Gunn (https://screenrant.com/james-gunn-dc-movie-character-green-light/) Superman 30 (https://www.dcuniverseinfinite.com/comics/book/superman-1939-1986-30/c37a790d-36c3-4cd7-b8c2-91b229ada2ef/c ) Three Stooges (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Stooges) Looney Tunes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looney_Tunes) Silly Symphony (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silly_Symphony) Felix the Cat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_the_Cat) Midsummer Night's Dream (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpLqTC2-HuA) Rumpelstiltskin (https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm055.html) Podcast Artwork by Sergio R. M. Duarte (https://www.instagram.com/sergiormduarte/) Podcast Music by Renzo Calma (https://www.instagram.com/renzocalm) Motion Graphics by r2ktalha (https://www.fiverr.com/share/AEpWpY)
35: Zur-En-Arrh
5/11/2025
49:20
This episode we're diving deep on the silver age iteration of the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh, as well as introducing Brian to some more modern-to-silver age connections. Stickers!! https://batlessons.com/support Our Website: https://batlessons.com Threads (https://www.threads.net/@batlessons) TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons Clips on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@BatLessonsClips) Batman of Zur-En-Arrh (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_of_Zur-En-Arrh) Francis Herron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_Herron) Dick Sprang (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Sprang) Grant Morrison (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Morrison) Space Age (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Age) Podcast Artwork by Sergio R. M. Duarte (https://www.instagram.com/sergiormduarte/) Podcast Music by Renzo Calma (https://www.instagram.com/renzocalm) Motion Graphics by r2ktalha (https://www.fiverr.com/share/AEpWpY) 00:00 The Batman Iceberg 05:24 Grant Morrison 10:28 Black Casebook 15:12 Batman 113 31:15 Modern Zur-En-Arrh 35:00 Space Age
34: Ace The Bat-Hound
3/22/2025
42:28
Ace The Bat Hound, Krypto, Rex The Wonder Dog, and more. When DC dove into dog sidekicks. Stickers!! https://batlessons.com/support Our Website: https://batlessons.com Threads (https://www.threads.net/@batlessons) TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons Clips on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@BatLessonsClips) Balto (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balto) Phantom's Devil (https://phantomwiki.org/index.php/Devil) Ace The Wonder Dog (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_the_Wonder_Dog) Rin Tin Tin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rin_Tin_Tin) American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s (https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1614) The Batcave Companion (https://www.amazon.com/Batcave-Companion-Michael-Eury/dp/1893905780) Rex The Wonder Dog (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_the_Wonder_Dog) Krypto (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krypto) Adventure Comics 210 (https://www.dcuniverseinfinite.com/comics/book/superboy-a-celebration-of-75-years/) Ace The Bathound (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_the_Bat-Hound) Batman #92 (https://www.amazon.com/Batman-10-Golden-Age-Omnibus/dp/1779523092) Podcast Artwork by Sergio R. M. Duarte (https://www.instagram.com/sergiormduarte/) Podcast Music by Renzo Calma (https://www.instagram.com/renzocalm) Motion Graphics by r2ktalha (https://www.fiverr.com/share/AEpWpY) 00:00 Super-Pets 01:04 Silver Age Followup 05:17 Pop Culture Dogs 13:38 Rex The Wonder Dog 19:07 Krypto 25:14 Ace The Bathound
33: Comics Code Authority
2/9/2025
1:35:10
This time we're talking about the Comics Code Authority, Crime Comics, Fredric Wertham, and what it all meant for Batman. Stickers!! https://batlessons.com/support Our Website: https://batlessons.com Threads (https://www.threads.net/@batlessons) TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons Clips on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@BatLessonsClips) Seducing The Innocent (Tiley) https://muse.jhu.edu/article/490073 The Ten-Cent Plague (Hajdu) https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780312428235/thetencentplague/ Seal Of Approval (Nyberg) https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/S/Seal-of-Approval Seduction Of The Innocent (Wertham) https://www.amazon.com/Seduction-Innocent-Frederic-Wertham/dp/159683000X Comics Code of 1954 https://cbldf.org/the-comics-code-of-1954/ CRIME Does Not Pay (Digital) https://digital.darkhorse.com/series/219/crime-does-not-pay Podcast Artwork by Sergio R. M. Duarte (https://www.instagram.com/sergiormduarte/) Podcast Music by Renzo Calma (https://www.instagram.com/renzocalm) Motion Graphics by r2ktalha (https://www.fiverr.com/share/AEpWpY) 00:00:00 Start 00:07:39 Parents & Mothers 00:13:06 Juvenile Delenquincy 00:17:20 Fredric Wertham 00:28:35 All Comics Are Crime Comics 00:33:37 Children's Quotes 00:37:21 Batman 00:48:43 It's All Made Up 00:55:09 The Comics Code 00:57:37 General Standards 01:03:38 No Horror! 01:05:43 No !@#$ 01:08:26 Costume 01:10:00 Marriage 01:11:48 Advertising Matter 01:16:39 Code Thoughts 01:18:12 What We Lost 01:25:55 Crime Does Not Pay 01:33:10 Closing Thoughts
32: Caped Crusader
12/10/2024
1:20:02
Diving deep on the recent Amazon Prime Cartoon! Like we said in the episode, check out @SerumLake for way more tons of thoughtful analysis on the show. Stickers!! https://batlessons.com/support Our Website! https://batlessons.com Threads (https://www.threads.net/@batlessons) TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons (https://www.youtube.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons Clips (https://www.youtube.com/@BatLessonsClips) Podcast Artwork by Sergio R. M. Duarte (https://www.instagram.com/sergiormduarte/) Podcast Music by Renzo Calma (https://www.instagram.com/renzocalm) Motion Graphics by r2ktalha (https://www.fiverr.com/share/AEpWpY) 00:00:00 Opening Thoughts 00:02:13 Amazon Prime 00:06:11 Creation of the Show 00:11:05 Recording 00:11:58 Time Setting 00:15:59 Tone 00:22:59 Gordon, Babs, Montoya 00:27:19 Bullock & Flass 00:29:47 Rupert Thorne 00:32:08 Penguin 00:34:47 Clayface 00:37:27 Catwoman 00:39:56 Alfred 00:43:01 Firebug 00:45:05 BAT-MAN 00:46:09 Harley Quinn 00:52:05 Gentleman Ghost 00:55:37 Onomatopoeia 01:03:19 Nocturna 01:10:05 Two-Face 01:17:07 Art, Animation, Closing Thoughts
31: Scarecrow
10/28/2024
41:25
Finally giving Scarecrow the justice he deserves! Stickers!! https://batlessons.com/support Our Website: https://batlessons.com Threads (https://www.threads.net/@batlessons) TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons Clips on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@BatLessonsClips) Awesome essay on Scarecrow As Toxin Delivery (https://youtu.be/5dLC8BkkyXA) Awesome essay on Scarecrow As Henchman (https://youtu.be/cz2Ck17KLQk) Japanese Scarecrows (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxiOdrVreSQ) Political Cartoons (https://theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Blog/Item/The%20Power%20Behind%20the%20Scarecrow) The Wizard of Oz Was A Disaster (https://youtu.be/k-U9h-hePtw) Buster Keaton's Scarecrow (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odITvgwssJA) The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Sleepy_Hollow) Podcast Artwork by Sergio R. M. Duarte (https://www.instagram.com/sergiormduarte/) Podcast Music by Renzo Calma (https://www.instagram.com/renzocalm) Motion Graphics by r2ktalha (https://www.fiverr.com/share/AEpWpY) 00:00 Haven't we done this? 02:02 Favorite Scarecrow 06:23 Inspirations 10:18 Political Cartoons 11:48 Wizard of Oz 18:28 Buster Keaton 22:50 Legend of Sleepy Hollow 27:13 Jonathan Crane 34:58 Golden Age Scarecrow
30: Solomon Grundy
9/22/2024
48:25
Idea on a Monday, Researched on Tuesday, Scheduled @capedjoel to guest on Wednesday, Recorded on Thursday, Edited on Friday, Uploaded on Saturday, Released on Sunday: This is our episode On Solomon Grundy Stickers!! https://batlessons.com/support Our Website! https://batlessons.com Threads (https://www.threads.net/@batlessons) TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons (https://www.youtube.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons Clips (https://www.youtube.com/@BatLessonsClips) CapedJoel! (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRp-mJRQBZyA_1w7D-UiqZg) Nursery Rhyme (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32415/32415-h/32415-h.htm) Blog On Inspirations (http://outofthequicksand.blogspot.com/2011/10/born-on-monday-exploring-solomon-grundy.html) Podcast Artwork by Sergio R. M. Duarte (https://www.instagram.com/sergiormduarte/) Podcast Music by Renzo Calma (https://www.instagram.com/renzocalm) Motion Graphics by r2ktalha (https://www.fiverr.com/share/AEpWpY) 00:00 Welcome Caped Joel! 01:29 Solomon Grundy 03:27 Nursery Rhyme 06:22 Batman Villain? 13:13 Green Lantern 18:18 First Appearance 31:07 Story Thoughts 32:35 Inspirations 37:50 Caped Joel! 40:55 Batman Memories 41:25 Batman Hot Takes
29: Corrections and Feedback Livestream
8/22/2024
1:11:59
This is the replay from a livestream we recently had covering all the mistakes we made and all the feedback we got in the second year of Bat Lessons Stickers!! https://batlessons.com/support Our Website! https://batlessons.com Threads (https://www.threads.net/@batlessons) TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons (https://www.youtube.com/@batlessons) Bat Lessons Clips (https://www.youtube.com/@BatLessonsClips)

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Bat Lessons: Batman History

Phantasm FM

40 Episodes

38: Mr. Freeze

37: Batman 66

36: Bat-Mite

35: Zur-En-Arrh

34: Ace The Bat-Hound

33: Comics Code Authority

32: Caped Crusader

31: Scarecrow

30: Solomon Grundy

29: Corrections and Feedback Livestream