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

There are periods where certain characters have more of a spotlight than others. Sure, there are always a lot of Batman stories, Joker stories. But then there are pockets of time when we get lots of stories focused on Jim Gordon or the Riddler. Between 2003 and 2006, Mr. Freeze had his day. He appeared in major stories like "Under the Hood" and "City of Crime" in supporting roles, and was central to other stories. This week, John Wickham joins us again to talk about three of these stories: the final arc of the first Batgirl series where Freeze is a small player, a one off fill-in issue and a Legends of the Dark Knight arc with a different vision of Freeze's origin.

Destruction's Daughter (Batgirl V.1 #66-73)
Fire & Ice (Batman: Gotham Knights #59)
Snow (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #192-196)

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 202: Welcome to the Ice Age (w/ John Wickham)

In a special two-part event, Matt Lazorwitz went to Flame Con and recorded interviews with:

IN PART I (dropping on the main feed Tuesday): West Hollywood Monster Squad co-creators Sina Grace and Bradley Clayton, Avengers Academy writer Anthony Oliveira, and Geeks Out President Nic Gitau and Vice President Kevin Gilligan.

IN PART II (dropping exclusively on Patreon this week): How Could You creator Ren Strapp, Lifetime Passes writer Terry Blas, and Voyeur and Gotham City Sirens writer Leah Williams.

The CXF Interview Podcast Episode 366: Matt Goes to Flame Con 2025, Part I

We're joined by first time guest and long time Patreon backer Sam Hopper to read some Damian Wayne stories from earlier in the character's life. Back when Damian was a truly insufferable brat. I know, for many of his haters he still is, but man, in these stories he is really something else. We read his first encounter with a member of the Superman family, his first adventure as Robin with his father and his first team-up with his best friend, Jon Kent.

Fright Night (Superman/Batman V.1 # 77)
Born to Kill (Batman and Robin V.2 # 1-8)
In the Name of the Father (Superman V.4 # 10-11)

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 203: Damian Wayne Was Horrible (w/ Sam Hopper)

In the second half of Matt Lazorwitz's Flame Con interviews, he chats with How Could You creator Ren Strapp, Lifetime Passes writer Terry Blas, and Voyeur and Gotham City Sirens writer Leah Williams.

The CXF Interview Podcast Episode 367: Matt Goes to Flame Con 2025, Part II

TCXFIP all-star Zack Quaintance returns to the show to talk about his new Kickstarter for Macabre Valley #1, a Texas-sized horror tale. Also, we chat about some of the best comics and movies of the year.

The CXF Interview Podcast Episode 368: Zack Quaintance talks Macabre Valley #1

This week, Deadpool/Batman will be released, the first Marvel/DC crossover in well over a decade. And as anyone who knows how comics work, the biggest characters are the ones who get crossed over, and no one at DC is bigger than Batman. So to tie in, we're reading three Batman/Marvel team-ups. These are some fun books, and we have a good time. Plus, Will finally gets us to reverse the way the show works, and it confuses us both. Glad that's over...

Batman Vs. The Incredible Hulk: The Monster and the Madman (DC Specials Series # 27)
Batman/Captain America
New Age Dawning (Batman/Spider-Man)

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 204: The Marvel-ous Adventures of Batman

Writer Meghan Fitzmartin joins the show to talk about her new BOOM Studios series Mary Sue. PLUS: Tim Drake, 2000s CW shows, the power of fan fiction and "Africa" by Toto.

The CXF Interview Podcast Episode 369: Meghan Fitzmartin talks BOOM Studios' Mary Sue

Time moves ever forward. I can't believe that Batman Begins is 20 years old this year. As I question my mortality and life choices, this week we read three stories from the Batman Begins trade, including the movie adaptation, a retelling of Batman's origin by Denny O'Neil and a one off by Greg Rucka.

Batman Begins: The Official Movie Adaptation
The Man Who Falls (Secret Origins of the World's Greatest Super Heroes TPB)
Air Time (Detective Comics V.1 #757)

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 205: Batman Begins At 20

Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill join the show to talk about their new Image series Death to Pachuco, their daily comic strip Gil Thorp, and much more.

The CXF Interview Podcast Episode 370: Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill talk Death to Pachuco

Gotham Academy returns to comic shops this week with a new prequel series, so we're reading three stories about teens in Gotham. Tim Drake faces a major challenge with his first confrontation with the man who killed the previous Robin, the Joker. Duke Thomas is recruited into the We Are Robin movement in a Gotham with a very different Batman. And the mystery of Gotham Academy deepens.

Robin II: The Joker's Wild # 1-4
We Are Robin (We Are Robin # 1-6)
Calamity (Gotham Academy # 8-12)

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 206: Youth of Gotham Unite

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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