The inaugural episode of our new podcast, BatChat with Matt & Will, a podcast where we take every Batman story ever, read them, and rank them on a big list from best to worst. This week, we look at three different first Batman stories.

Batman: Year One (Batman V.1 # 404-407)
Zero Year (Batman V.2 # 21-27, 29-33)
The Case of the Chemical Syndicate (Detective Comics V.1 # 27)

Episode 1: Beginnings

While in comics circles the most well known alternate future for Batman is The Dark Knight Returns, in the public consciousness, that title has to be held by Batman Beyond. Three seasons of young Terry McGinnis and crotchety old Bruce Wayne in the DCAU, plus appearances on Justice League Unlimited, left a mark for this particular iteration of Batman. This week, with Terry returning to comics in Batman/Static: Beyond, we do our first episode focused on stories featuring Terry McGinnis; two are animated series tie-ins, and one is an arc from the series that followed that continuity in a more traditional DC style.

Commissioner of Fear (Batman Beyond V.2 # 13)
Terry's Mom Dates a Splicer (Batman Beyond V.2 # 24)
10,000 Clowns (Batman Beyond Unlimited # 1-13)

Check out our current ranking list at www.comicsxf.com/batchat-rankings/

Thanks to Geri Nonnewitz for our podcast logo

Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/batchatwithmattandwill

Episode 212: Beyond Batman

Animator and illustrator David Derrick Jr. joins the show to talk about his webcomic Ghost of the Gulag.

The CXF Interview Podcast Episode 376: David Derrick Jr. talks Ghost of the Gulag

For a brief, shining moment just before the New 52 rewrote the DC Universe, Batman was everywhere. You might say to me, "Hey, podcast guy, Batman is everywhere now. And he has been since at least 1989, probably since 1966." But I'm talking in universe here. Grant Morrison had created Batman Incorporated, where Batman travelled the world, making an international team of heroes. And while it came back after, the continuity mess of the New 52 definitely interfered. But this week, friend of the show and Patreon Backer Josh Weil is here to talk about that glorious 8 issue and one shot run, along with one of the stories that inspired it, and one that followed up on it.

The Club of Heroes (World's Finest Comics # 89)
Leviathan Strikes (Batman Incorporated V.1 # 1-8, Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes One-Shot)
No More Teachers (Batman Annual 2022, Batman Incorporated V.3 # 1-5)

Check out our current ranking list at www.comicsxf.com/batchat-rankings/

Thanks to Geri Nonnewitz for our podcast logo

Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/batchatwithmattandwill

Episode 213: Batman is Everywhere (w/ Josh Weil)

Writer Danny Lore joins the show to talk about their new book The Grimoire of Agatha Harkness: A Magical History and Spellbook from Insight Editions.

The CXF Interview Podcast Episode 377: Danny Lore talks The Grimoire of Agatha Harkness

It's time for our annual tradition here at BatChat, up there with cranberry sauce from a can, stuffing that's a little too dry and avoiding conversations about politics with your red baseball cap wearing relatives: it's all ages Thanksgiving. Three stories of Batman for the whole family come in some very different flavors this year: the next volume of the Webtoons Wayne Family Adventures Strips, a younger readers OGN that retells classic children's stories with a Batman twist and the second volume of the strangest concept we've ever talked about, the manga where Joker raises a de-aged baby Batman. Happy holidays to those who celebrate here in the states, and know we are thankful to all of you who listen.

Wayne Family Adventures V.3 (Wayne Family Adventures # 52-71)
Batman Tales: Once Upon a Crime OGN
One Operation Joker V.2 (One Operation Joker Chapters 8-14)

Check out our current ranking list at www.comicsxf.com/batchat-rankings/

Thanks to Geri Nonnewitz for our podcast logo

Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/batchatwithmattandwill

Episode 214: All Ages Thanksgiving 2025

Joey Esposito and Gavin Smith join the show to talk about Zord Quest, a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers one-shot from BOOM Studios.

The CXF Interview Podcast Episode 378: Joey Esposito & Gavin Smith talk MMPR: Zord Quest

Barbara Gordon was introduced to add some flair to the final season of Batman '66, to try to buoy the sagging ratings on the show. And while she didn't save that series, she has become the iconic Batgirl of the comics, a character who has had a long career in various identities. This week, friend of the show and Patreon backer John Wickham returns to talk about three different phases of Barbara's time as Batgirl. We get a retelling of her origin with a modern slant, one of the early stories from her return to the identity in the New 52 and the culmination of the "Batgirl of Burnside" era.

Batgirl: Year One #1-9
Knightfall Rising (Batgirl V.4 # 10-13)
Mindfield (Batgirl V.4 # 47-50)

Check out our current ranking list at www.comicsxf.com/batchat-rankings/

Thanks to Geri Nonnewitz for our podcast logo

Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/batchatwithmattandwill

Episode 215: The Three Faces of Batgirl (w/ John Wickham)

Writer J.M. Brandt joins the show to talk about his upcoming Kickstarter for Horror Not Hate, an anti-fascist, anti-hate anthology of horror comics and art supporting LGBTQIA+ and Immigrant rights.

The CXF Interview Podcast Episode 379: J.M. Brandt talks Horror Not Hate

You can start out as a Robin, but eventually you have to grow up, right? Well, maybe not Tim Drake, who's Robin again, but there was a period where he wasn't. And Dick Grayson and Jason Todd have left the Robin identity behind long ago. This week, Sam Hopper joins us again to talk about stories featuring those three former Robins in their later identities. We read the first arcs of Tim's time as Red Robin, Dick's as a super spy and Jason's Red Hood adventures on Webtoon.

The Grail (Red Robin # 1-4)
Agent of Spyral (Grayson # 1-4)
Red Hood: Outlaws V.1 (Red Hood: Outlaws Webtoon Strips # 1-11)

Check out our current ranking list at www.comicsxf.com/batchat-rankings/

Thanks to Geri Nonnewitz for our podcast logo

Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/batchatwithmattandwill

Episode 216: When a Robin's Not a Robin? (w/ Sam Hopper)

Kenny Porter and Mike Becker join the show to talk about their new Mad Cave Studios series The New Space Age.

The CXF Interview Podcast Episode 380: Kenny Porter and Mike Becker talk The New Space Age

Each week, hosts Matt Lazorwitz and Will Nevin look at three Batman stories, discuss them and put them on a list that will encompass all Batman stories. Some are great, some are not, but we hope you enjoy them all!

Episode 1: Beginnings

BatChat With Matt & Will: A Batman Ranking Podcast

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