You walk down a set of stairs hidden behind a clock. You enter a large cavern. And there you see all manner of things. A large computer. A car like no other. Cases displaying costumes. And trophies. You have entered the Batcave, and this week we're reading three stories featuring the first appearances of those three most famous Batcave trophies: the robotic T-Rex, …

A wounded Bat-Man investigates the forces of crime in Gotham, trying to get closer to the villains who are wreaking havoc on the city. Investigating the chaos is Lois Lane, and where Lois goes, are Clark Kent and a certain red-cape wearing hero far behind? The Bat-Man: Second Knight #2 is written by Dan Jurgens, drawn by Mike Perkins, colored by Mike Spicer and lettered by Simon Bowland.

In this corner, we have Gotham’s new Dark Knight, the Batman! And in this corner, we have the man who wants to break him, Bane! Only one is coming out of this fight on two legs. Absolute Batman #14 is written by Scott Snyder, drawn by Nick Dragotta, colored by Frank Martin and lettered by Clayton Cowles. For 14 issues, we have seen glimpses of him.

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.

Barbara Gordon was introduced to add some flair to the final season of Batman, 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.

The Gotham of the 1940s and its new hero, The Bat-Man, are facing new threats. A killer is leaving a trail of mutilated bodies, and a scared city, behind him. And another new foe is there, one who revels in fear. The Bat-Man: Second Knight #1 is written by Dan Jurgens, drawn by Mike Perkins, colored by Mike Spicer and lettered by Simon Bowland.

The ComicsXF Interview Podcast · The CXF Interview Podcast Episode 376: David Derrick Jr. talks Ghost of the Gulag Animator and illustrator David Derrick Jr. joins the show to talk about his webcomic Ghost of the Gulag. You can listen to The ComicsXF Interview Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, Audible and at ComicsXF.com, where new episodes move Tuesday mornings.

The final issue draws everything together. Batman faces the Child of Fire, and stands prepared to save Gotham from the storm that he has brought. Batman: Dark Patterns #12 is written by Dan Watters, drawn by Hayden Sherman, colored by Triona Farrell and lettered by Frank Cvetkovic. Will Nevin: And now, the end is near, and so we face the final curtain: Dan Watters and Hayden Sherman … my goodness.

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.

Vandal Savage sets his anti-Batman crusade in motion, Bruce Wayne does his best as Bat-Dad, the Riddler strikes and a whole lot more happens.

This week, the BatChat podcast does another episode of stories featuring Thomas Blake, the villain known as Catman.

Kat Calamia and Phil Falco join the show to talk about Lifeline Comics and the business of that Kickstarter comics life.

For Halloween week, BatChat is dipping into a classic horror monster. Three stories of Batman under the full moon fighting werewolves.

Three new tales of the Batman of the Absolute Universe are featured in the first ever Absolute annual, by Daniel Warren Johnson et al.

This week's BatChat podcast features Batman and Robin Eternal, the 26 issue weekly series, and two one shots starring Cassandra Cain

Batman, still recovering from his wounds, deduces the identity of the Child of Fire and goes to track him down.