Perchance to Dream, The Cape and the Cowl Conspiracy, and Robin’s Reckoning Review

This is Batgirl, and this episode of Legends

of the Dark Knight features Stephen C. Phillips

and Mike Blanchard. Hello and welcome to Legends

of the Dark Knight. I'm your host, Steve Megatron

Phillips. Joining me in this bat -tastic episode

is the dynamic duo, TFT1 Mike. Hello. Hello.

And Tara. Hey. Howdy. What's up, guys? Ceiling.

What? The ceiling. Obviously, but besides that.

That's not my line. Anyways. So anyway, what's

up? What's up with you first Mike? Well What

the hell is up with me I don't even know anymore

Podcasting is always Helping out with a revamp

of a certain Canadian network So that's that's

going well the new ideas are pretty awesome,

and we're gonna be changing stuff up over it

this week in geek And, uh, podcasting as always.

We released NYR 86, all about Top Gun. We released

Power Rangers podcast from Command Center episode

10. Where, because I edited it on my birthday

and I just didn't give a shit, I forgot to edit

a piece out. Oh well. Typical. I feel like, shut

up. I feel like Cup, all the circuit blowin'

eye on dim wittery, you left a piece out! And

we've got a special announcement at the end of

this show for Legends of the Dark Knights very

first interview So be staying tuned to the rest

of this podcast for that announcement, but what's

been going on with you Tara? I'm not too much

basically just all Working away at CTV here in

Toronto and just working on the show Canada AM,

helping out with all the different stories. Last

week was really interesting because I got to

help out with a live performance of a singer

named Jan Arden. Not sure if many people know

her, but she's pretty popular here in Canada.

So that was really cool and I actually ended

up being on TV. I mean, you can see the back

of my head, but it was a really interesting experience.

Other than that, not too much, just working on

some voice acting stuff if I can ever record

the lines and find time to record the lines.

So that's pretty much what's going on and also

just getting excited for my birthday next month.

Awesome. How about you, Steve? Well, I'm currently

revamping my old Transformers site as a sub -site

of Geekcast Radio. I already have a partner site

in the form of someone who already works with

Geekcast Radio, and that would be Optobotamus.

Also, finally getting Star Joe's up on the site

this week. Oh, we are? Okay. Yes. It's taken

a while, but yes. So that will be up for comic

enthusiasts. And I've been auditioning for various,

well, mostly right now, the Transformers Energon

Lost episode. I'm trying to get the David K.

Megatron in there. I don't know if I'll get it

on the basis of there's other people there that

may trump me, not as far as vocals. are concerned

because, let's face it, I haven't heard anybody

that can actually do the voice of David Kay's

Megatrons next to me. Well, besides David Kay

himself. Well, I'm saying as far as a fan is

concerned. Right, yeah. But it depends on if

I hit the performance level that they decide

I have to hit, which is extreme crap. For certain

kinds of transformers anime which transformers

anime is different than your typical anime in

the sense that they Yell in a different pattern

if that makes any sense Right. Yeah, but yeah,

so I have to do that and redo my audition line

as Megatron Doing a yelling line, which should

be interesting But yeah, other than that not

much going on So, anything else, guys? I think

that's it. Let's get into the show. That's it.

Alrighty. What? A problem, sir? It's not here.

What's not here, sir? You know what I'm talking

about. The entrance to the Batcave. Why is it

sealed up? Batcave? I'm sorry, I don't... That's

right, Alfred. The Batcave. It's a big hole in

the ground with a big car in it that's all black.

Remember? Son, you sound upset. Is something

the matter? No. No, it's impossible. No. It can't

be you. It can't be. You okay, son? I'm... I'm

all right. Just partied too hard last night.

That's all. You will be able to get to the office

today, won't you? There's that stockholders'

meeting, you know. Sure. I'm fine. Really? Well

good. Glad you'll be there. Your mother and I

have an appointment too this morning. On the

golf course. First up is Perchance to Dream.

Batman is chasing some crooks into a warehouse

when suddenly he finds he has walked right into

a trap. Blinded by a sudden flash of light, he

sees something about to fall on his head and

is knocked out. It is then he wakes up in bed

and is greeted by Alfred. Alfred seems ignorant

of Bruce Wayne's life as Batman, not knowing

that he means by falling into a trap and mistaking

the name Robin for the name of a woman, Bruce

may be dating. So this was a really interesting

episode, in my opinion. I thought it was just

really cool. I mean, we get to see... Mad Hatter

has made an appearance back in this episode Just

pretty interesting and I love the Mad Hatter

as I said in the last Recording and what I found

really interesting about this episode was just

with the whole I guess you can say kind of Mind

trick that's being played on Batman slash Bruce

Wayne in this episode Because you've got his

parents. He's seeing his parents. We see his

parents for the first time in this episode and

You're like, wait a second his parents are dead.

What's going on? And he's in gay and he's either

married or engaged to Selena Kyle So it's engaged.

Yeah, he's engaged to her and it's it's kind

of like an alternate universe kind of deal That's

kind of going on in this episode and the whole

time you're watching it. You're just like what?

You're like not another episode where you're

gonna mess with my head That's what I thought

the whole time. I was watching this episode was

that and The whole time you're just like okay,

something's going on here. This isn't real. It's

obviously mad hatter or scarecrow behind this

For at first I thought it was scarecrow, but

then when you realize it's mad hatter. You're

just like okay Yeah, but I really liked the episode.

It was really interesting. It was really well

written and except for the fact that I'd like

to play with your head a lot It was really good.

So what did you think Mike? I Really like it.

It's one of the it's one of the ones I can watch

a lot not like I can't watch it like, you know

five hours a day or anything But it's one of

those ones that I can always go back to and and

and just really enjoy absolutely loved just Bruce

being out of his element and really them focusing

on what would happen if the Waynes hadn't died.

I mean Bruce really he's his whole life he's

had stuff handed to him and Batman through all

the deeds that he's done has basically earned

where he is so I really did like it I thought

it was great love all the you know the little

trippy things with there's no words in the book

so they're all jumbled up and whatever else.

I thought that was great. I love the fact that

they can basically reverse the Bruce and Batman

roles and have them out of character and not

really, you know, not be the normal Bruce Wayne

and Batman that you know. I thought that was

really interesting with what they did there.

What about you, Steve? Personally, I thought

that was kind of a cool episode. I have to agree

with Tara here. I thought, to begin with, that

this was a Scarecrow episode. I vaguely remembered

the episode, but I forgot enough of it. Then,

as I was going through, when the Mad Hatter did

eventually show up in it... And then he says,

things aren't as you think and whatnot. And I

was thinking, oh, maybe it's Professor Strange

having him under something. And then I was like,

oh, no, that's later. And so I was all jumbled

up for a second. But I thought that was a nice

touch showing his life, had he not had to become

Batman. Did anyone else think that when the Sorry

to interrupt you, Steve, but did anyone else

think when the words in the books were jumbled

up that Batman was having a seizure or something?

No. That's what I thought. I just want to point

that out. I literally thought he was having a

seizure or stroke or something, because that

kind of freaked me out, because usually you don't

see stuff like that, or he was dyslexic or something.

It was kind of interesting seeing that but I

mean it was a nice way that they explained it

at the end mm -hmm Because he's in this alternate

kind of universe sort of thing where nothing

really makes sense So that's why the the words

were jumbled up Yeah, but I just thought I'd

point that out cuz that's what I thought All

right um, but yeah a couple of production inconsistencies

that I found interesting. The Kirk's car and

the Batmobile drive through the buildings. Yep.

Because the background cells and the foreground

cells aren't edited together correctly. When

Bruce wakes up, the robe on the side of his bed

is transparent for a few seconds. I didn't notice

that. When Bruce sees Batman for the first time

in the dream world the Wayne enterprises logo

can clearly be seen as he rushes to get downstairs

again the WE logo on the building is also seen

however the store the crooks are robbing across

the street reads and gibberish rather than jewelry

right One trivia bit that I find really interesting

on here is in Batman Animated, Paul Dini wrote

that the producers rarely explored the idea of

Bruce being tempted to give up being Batman and

lead a quote -unquote normal life. Kevin Conroy

added, to the darkness. In that sense, Batman

seems to be able to tell that he is in a dream

world is a lie because the temptation it offers

is not truly the one he feels. Because as we

will point out over the lifespan of this podcast,

this guy is Batman. He sees himself as Batman.

He doesn't see himself as Bruce Wayne. And we'll

point this out way down the line, but I'm going

to point it out here. In the Shriek episode of

Batman Beyond, Shriek keeps calling him Bruce.

That's not what he calls himself. In his mind,

he calls himself Batman because that's who he

is. That is very true. I did find this part kind

of interesting. It explains that basically the

entire series is heavily indebted to film noir

Some of it some of the most prominent parts in

this episode mainly the climax resembling the

finale of Metropolis and Tim Burton's Batman

in which Michael Keaton's Batman and Jack Nicholson's

Joker face off in the spire of a cathedral So

it's very similar in that scene Yep Yeah, that

was very very interesting and it marks the first

time in the DCAU where Batman and Bruce Wayne

appear on screen together You know also this

this kind of storyline would be used again the

theme and conflict found in the episode are both

similar to those faced by Superman in the Alan

Moore story for the man who has everything in

that story Mongol uses an alien plant to play

Superman in a Fantasy world where Krypton never

exploded indeed this story was eventually adapted

to Justice League Unlimited for the episode of

the same name. I didn't even think of that. We've

already done the Justice League, Justice League

Unlimited show. When I watched for the man who

has everything and I watched this, when I watched

Per Chance to Dream, I didn't even think that

the two were that similar, but they really are.

It's just two different ways of doing, you know,

getting Bruce and Superman into dream sequences.

So I thought that was a nice little nod to each

other. Two more bits before I'm done in this

episode. I swear Kevin Conroy the voice of Batman

has stated on his Twitter account that this is

his favorite Batman animated series episode the

only problem is that Twitter account was Revealed

to be fake Yeah, it's a different Twitter account

they that was We originally thought it was Kevin

Conroy's, but if you look if you click the link

where it says Twitter account The last post was

September 23rd of last year. Yeah, he's posted

more recent. Yeah, it was outed that that account

was someone pretending to be Kevin Conroy. Those

darn fakers, eh? Yeah. Does he have another one

now? I think he has one. I don't know. I'll have

to look. And the final one, which extends to

a TV show I like. I know Mike knows where I'm

going with this. The Supernatural episode, What

Is and What Should Never Be, has a plot similar

to this one. Both episodes feature the villain

putting a character in a dreamlike state, Batman

and Dean, where their parents, Bruce's parents

and Dean's mom, were never killed. They don't

believe it at first, but start accepting it until

they see signs it's not real. Both leave their

dream by committing suicide. Which is kind of

dark for a children's cartoon. Yeah, I'm just

gonna jump off the bell tower and die See this

is when they didn't have to censor anything in

children's cartoons Okay, not like today where

you know, God forbid we see blood in a kid's

cartoon Some extent they still chop their heads

off true, but I'm saying like Considering like

what you just said about people jumping off and

committing suicide Don't know how well that would

hold today No, they let the murder thing happen,

the suicide thing. They're like, no, it's a big

no -no. No, we can't show suicide on TV. I think

it's extremely creepy that Kevin Conroy and Adrienne

Barbeau, even though they're uncredited, they

voice Thomas and Martha Wayne. That's kind of

creepy when you think about it. I remember reading

that and I was like, what? Yep. Yep. Very odd

strange Very very strange anyways, I guess we'll

be moving on where tracks and golf balls roll

and wind, brown -colored banners of all kind.

Hear new instructions you will find. You've come

to the right place, Mr. McWhorter. You won't

be able to find me. Just follow the sound of

my voice. Who the devil are you? Well, for a

diplomatic courier, you're not very diplomatic,

are you? If you're my contact, what's the counter

sign? Patience, patience. All your questions

will be answered, dear boy, if you'll simply

follow the running lights. Okay, I'm here. Now

what? About that collection of bearer bonds you're

supposed to transport? If you'll just tell me

where I can find them, you might get out of here

alive. Alright! Alright! I'll tell you! Good

call. Now hurry up. I hate it when people talk

with their mouth full. Next up is the Cape and

the Cowl conspiracy. A lone man, Mick Werter,

walks into a miniature golf course at night following

instructions printed in cut and pasted letters.

He hears a voice that instructs him to follow

it. Mick Werter grows impatient, demands to know

what's going on, but the voice tells him to follow

some lights into a sand pit. He goes, he does

so, and discovers that it's quicksand. He's told

he can either give up a collection of bearer

bonds he's supposed to transport, and be rescued,

or he can keep the information to himself and

die. Obviously, McWhorter gives in. And that's

only the start of the episode. Very cheery start

to an episode, eh? Yeah. I really liked this

episode. I thought it was really interesting.

Because Wormwood wants to know why. That Joseph

or yield sack or whatever his name is I don't

freaking know I don't freaking remember even

though I'm looking at the cast right now It's

interesting that he wants the The Batman's cape

and cowl and the whole point of this guy this

whole the whole point of wormwood is that he's

essentially a finder and he will get anyone anything

he will steal anything for anybody but it has

to be like you know really high -end value and

really honestly for someone who wants something

as unique as Batman's cape and cowl I thought

that was really interesting my only problem with

this episode is I know Batman pulled a switch

obviously and let's face it Ladies and gentlemen,

this show is 20 years old. If you need a spoiler

warning by now, there's something wrong with

you if you have not at least seen this episode

once. I just don't know when he pulled the switch

because it makes it look like the businessman

was never switched. I know they had the scene

where Batman was like, get out of town, leave,

don't ever come back. But they make it feel like...

The character of of Josick never left. I mean,

that's the point to trick Wormwood But it was

just it was just so weird and I felt out of place

with it Yeah, I did find that there was kind

of strange how that he he played the whole thing

off I was like what by the end of it Yeah, but

it was very very interesting to say the least.

Yep What about you Tara this episode for me was

it was okay i mean i didn't really enjoyed as

much as the other ones that will be discussing

in a little bit but i thought it was pretty interesting

i mean where he is like i want your cape and

cowl get it for me you know because he's pissed

at batman and um correct me if i'm wrong but

in this episode when he takes off his cape and

cowl he's still got a mask on correct like he

has a mask on underneath yeah on underneath and

and um i can't remember who says it but He's

like, oh, you're still concealing your identity,

huh? Yeah, well, Wormwood says it. He goes, well,

you can keep your identity. These are all I require.

So yeah, I mean, he's pretty smart. I mean, everyone

I assumed that when he took off his cape and

cowl that, you know, he had nothing on underneath.

Then I'm like, wait a second. This is Bruce Wayne

slash Batman. He's not Batman. He has a plan

for everything. Yeah, he's not going to give

up his identity though. that easily. I mean,

he wouldn't... Right. And plus by then, he had

already made the switch. Yeah. So he was already

portraying Josick because Josick had left, you

know, he told Josick to leave. So by the time

that final battle happened, he knew to have a

mask on underneath because essentially Josick

was having Wyrmwood bring him the stuff. You

have to put this in the episode Steve the Now

tell me what are you going to do with this cape

and cowl? I'm going to wear them Know what I

liked the end is when he's in when he's in prison.

Yeah He's like here, let's keep you warm in jail.

Yeah, and I'm like no everyone will beat you

up if you wear that in jail All the criminals

who Batman is put in jail will be like Well,

he'll just be an easy target for getting beat

up That was a hilarious twist. I mean we all

knew Batman has a sense of humor It's a it's

a dark sense of humor, but I like it. Oh It's

definitely an interesting sense of humor. Yeah,

it's hilarious. Oh, yeah Yeah, anyway, that's

all I had to say on this episode You got anything

else to you before we go into the trivia? I know

all right The episode contains the first use

of the bat signal in the DC animated universe.

That was pretty interesting. Bruce Timm mentioned

in an interview that he was originally going

to have Batman show his face to Wormwood as he

gives him the cape and cowl, but he changed his

mind and he does not like seeing Bruce without

his mask on. Strangely enough, Bruce pulls off

his mask in the next episode. Bud Court Later

voiced toy man and Superman the animated series

and John Rhys Davies Voiced voices Hades in Justice

League, so I thought that was that was interesting

of course the DCAU Even at this point even though

Batman the Batman the animated series doesn't

really Start continuity here because all of these

episodes are individual and they don't tie in

where the tie -ins start happening is in Superman

But I thought that this was really interesting

that obviously they would come back to actors

later for other roles And I thought that was

great. Yeah, it's I definitely like the portrayals

here although I do think that Wyrmwood in this

episode was kind of a two -bit hack that was

a Riddler in the sense of how he delivered his

messages He was a little bit I think for me I

found him more of a knockoff clock King if you

mix the two you kind of have them yeah But yeah,

I did there was a lot of irony in this episode

Overall, I really enjoyed it because I enjoy

the mystery aspect of it because I'm still so

confused about some of the stuff when I watched

it. I was like, what the hell? But I got it eventually.

Yeah. Maybe it was just because I just couldn't

understand the episode that I didn't really like

it that much. Maybe it was the way it was written.

But I mean, yeah, I just I didn't get it. I got

it. But. It definitely leaves you very confused.

This episode I found was just written differently

than some of the other episodes, just from what

I noticed. And that, to me, is what makes it

good, because if you can throw your audience

off and have them not understand it, that's not

your standard... Obviously you need to find a

hook for certain episodes, and that was this

episode's hook, was the bait and switch. Mean

you can't always have because let's face it Wormwood

is as Steve said it. He's essentially a Villain

of the week. Yeah, but the way that this story

was written and carried out made it a very interesting

Villain of the week story. Mm -hmm Yeah, definitely.

So yeah, it was it was a good episode. I mean,

it's just like personally. I just didn't care

for it Anyways, anything else? No, no Alrighty,

we'll be moving on. If I knew it was going to

take this long, I would have brought my homework.

You sure about this extortion ring? Uh -huh.

It's been four hours. Uh -huh. You still think

they'll show? Uh -huh. Lucky for me, you're such

a good conversationalist. There's the slime.

All right. These are contract saboteurs, Robin.

Let's take it by the numbers. Nice and easy.

Yeah, time to kick some butt. Good thing we had

that little chap. Okay, Dick, you ready? Ready,

Dad. Some kids are real boy wonder. Hey! Okay,

Sitka. Give it back. Come on, you. You heard

me. Get out! I run an honest business here. I

don't pay two -bit hoodlums protection money.

Insurance, Mr. Haley. You know, from accidents.

Can't run a business without insurance. Get off

my property while you can still walk. Hey, hey,

fine. I've tried to be reasonable. You don't

want my services? Okay. You're gonna wish you

listen old man. Oh, yeah, keep my number handy.

You're gonna be calling Tony Zuko and soon Out

of my way punk Stay right up this way to the

big time extravaganza All right, let's move it

you grubs secure the rigging show starts in one

hour Ladies and gentlemen and children of all

ages Welcome to the grandest show on earth Before

we begin let's have a hand for the benefactor

of tonight's action -packed pageant, Mr. Bruce

Wayne! And now, ladies and gentlemen, direct

your attention high above the center ring for

a dazzling display of aerial artistry. Hey, that's

the guy that... Come on, honey, we're on. Performing

death -defying stunts without... That's it! is

Robin's Reckoning. The episodes here depict the

origin of Robin aka Dick Grayson, a mobster named

Tony Zuko who killed Robin's parents returns.

Batman refuses to allow Dick Grayson to use the

persona of Robin to apprehend him. Batman launches

an investigation searching for Zuko which is

paralleled by Robin's own investigation unbeknownst

to the Dark Knight. As the search narrows to

an abandoned theme park, a series of flashbacks

tell Robin's origin story and how he came to

live with Bruce Wayne. Okay, I'm just gonna get

this out of the way right now. As much as I loved

seeing Chris O'Donnell as Robin in Batman Forever,

this was a much better story in telling the death

of his parents and family versus Two -Face killing

them in Batman Forever. Yeah, I have to agree.

I mean, I love Batman Forever. Even though it

is a cheesy, cheesy movie, I love it because

that's what I loved back then. But this version

of Robin's story, I enjoyed it so much more.

Yeah, I definitely enjoyed this particular version

of Robin's origin much better than any other

that has been in film or any other explanation

of it so far. Overall, I mean, it's a really

interesting story because Bruce sees himself

in Richard Grayson. You know, he sees himself

in that young boy because he was that young boy

when his parents got killed. I don't know how

long I can continue talking about this episode

because I know this is going to go down the freaking

toilet with the dick jokes. But overall, I really

loved it. I thought it was interesting. You really

see the strife between Batman and Robin, between

Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne, because, I mean,

we've had some Robin episodes up to this point,

but they're usually generally just one -offs.

But this is like, you know, he's like, I'm never

following his orders ever again, Alfred. It might

be the last time, blah, blah, blah. And you'll

see that as a trend later on because that's the

way Dick Grayson's storyline goes in this series.

And I think that's the way it goes in the comics

as well. I don't know. People can correct me

if I'm wrong about the comic stuff. But I just

really enjoyed this one. What about you, Tara?

I really like this one as well. I mean, getting

to see Robin's origin story, it was amazing.

And it was a lot better to see it. This form

then how they did it how they did it in the really

awful live -action movie Batman and Robin Forever

was the origin Batman and Robin we do not talk

about that movie. I'm in forever Yeah, I really

enjoyed it and just I mean I got kind of Guess

you can say kind of worried when he said I'm

not taking orders from Batman anymore. I'm done,

you know You thought you thought okay. This is

the end like he's gonna become Nightwing now

But I'm not doesn't happen till later. Yeah,

not just yet, but um, this was really interesting

I mean, I really like the storyline I like learning

how we actually got to live with Bruce because

for so long it didn't make any sense Cause you

see him in earlier episodes and it's not really

introduced until now about like his whole origin.

It makes you wonder why they waited till this

episode to kind of give you that because he just

kind of appears in the series. He doesn't really...

you know get introduced the way um the new the

new robin later on who gets introduced the way

he becomes robin and the way you find out how

he ends up living with uh bruce so i mean this

was really interesting but i like this episode

a lot and it was really well written great storyline

the characters just it was really great and uh

yeah i really loved it and i recommend uh re

-watching it if you haven't in a long time because

i certainly enjoy re -watching it It was just

one of those things where it was a really great

story. What about you Steve? I personally loved

the the undertaking that they did here not only

telling the story of how Robin came to be Robin

But the fact that you know Bruce saw him as more

of a brother Having undergone the same situation

albeit different, you know different way of death

It's still he lost both his parents in one shot

and the fact that Bruce kind of took him under

his wing but at the same time was trying to keep

him away from that Zucko guy. I did find it kind

of interesting though that the guy drove nuts

because he was having to look over his shoulder

for nine straight years from having Batman chasing

him. Yeah. So I liked how Batman and Robin both

kind of went off on their own wild goose chase

trying to get this one guy. And in the end, Robin

sees why Batman did not want him to go up against

him. And it wasn't because he would be seeing

his family's murder. It's because he didn't want

to risk losing him too. Right, yeah. Yeah, he

didn't want Robin to turn down the dark path

that he had because... Bruce Wayne at the time

the only thing he had was to become Batman because

he was so you know remorseful and And in mourning

over his parents, and I'm sure Dick Grayson was

the same way But you know Bruce wanted to stop

that from happening Yeah, and I thought that

was really sweet. I mean between how Bruce cares

so much about Robin that he a slash decrease

in that he just you know he keeps it from knowing

that he you know he's taking away something from

him but at the same time like you i said he's

protecting him and he's showing that brother

that brotherly uh... instinct the older brother

type where he he knows he doesn't want he doesn't

want robin to go on the revenge path because

revenge revenge is ugly and revenge is never

a good way to go about it and uh... It just,

you know, it's sweet. I mean, you get that sweet,

almost compassionate family feeling from seeing

that even though you know Robin is extremely

pissed because he's being denied something that

he's basically waited his whole life for. But,

um, yeah, that was that was just a really interesting,

really sweet aspect of this episode. Just thought

I'd point that out there. No, and I can agree

he, you know, it's just this. Don't know there's

not enough words that can be said about this

this episode how well it is It just adds something

to the entire continuity between Batman and Robin

and it kind of gives them some more character

depth than what they already had Yeah, it makes

you understand them a lot better and understand

their bond and the history between them It gives

you a better understanding so then when you go

on from this point forward you kind of you have

the origin story You understand the history and

it just just makes sense Yep, I absolutely agree.

And as far as some trivia bits, this episode

is based on the comic story from Detective Comics

number 38 that came out in April of 1940. The

opening scene on the construction building may

be a reference to Robin's face -off with Zuko

at the end of that original story. Let's see,

what else? Yeah, in a flashback, Jim Gordon appears

as a detective with red hair, a reference to

Gordon's appearance in Batman Year One. Harvey

Bullock also makes a minor cameo as a police

officer. Yeah, I thought that was kind of funny.

Bullock as a younger police officer. Yeah, that

was kind of funny to see him not in a detective

uniform. Yeah. Let's see, one of Zuko's thugs

is seen when they hear Batman on the roof, reassembles

Carlos from, oh, resembles Carlos from Two -Face.

Huh. Interesting. At the beginning of Batman

Mask of the Phantasm, there's a scene similar

to when Tony Zuko drives his car at Batman, stating,

now I got you, you lousy stinkin', and Batman

leaps onto the car. Yup. Yeah. Let's see. Overall,

I mean, this episode... It's pretty cool. Let's

see. Bruce Timm often said that the scene where

Dick says goodbye to his circus friends before

leaving for Wayne Manor has made him cry several

times. Which, I mean, yeah. I mean, that would

make anybody cry because you're leaving one family

to go be with a complete stranger. That and having

your parents just murdered. Well, that too, but

I'm just saying... I know. I know what you're

getting at. He knows all these people in the

circus and yet doesn't know this guy from Adam.

Right, and that's kind of what I'm ... because

really honestly at this point, to me, I know

... Technically the circus should have raised

him. Right, but obviously Bruce has the ... even

though in later episodes Dick Grayson has said

that the circus had a trust fund for him as an

insurance settlement for his parents' death,

but ... At this point now, that hasn't happened.

So what really hits home for me about this is

in 1993, or 1994, I was placed in state's custody.

I was taken out of my dad and my stepmom's home

because of shit that happened there. And I was

placed in state's custody. So I've been to numerous

group homes, foster homes, foster parents. So

I mean, really, Bruce is a foster parent to Dick

Grayson. And that's really what kind of hits

home for me on this episode is that whole, you

know, you have to leave this part of your family

to go with this person because that at this point

in your life, that's what is best for you as

a child. Because, you know, circus life, well,

granted, you know. Life in the Bat Universe really

isn't a way to grow up, but still it's one of

those things where what is the better, you know,

which way is better for him to grow up and be

influenced. And he's still, and as we will see

in future episodes with Robin, he still becomes

his own man. He still makes his own choices.

So he's essentially the rebellious teenager.

True. That's all I got. So, anything else anybody?

No, not for me. Alrighty, we'll be moving on.

Okay, let's see what we got. It's impossible.

I'm gonna be sick. All of them. With the Joker's

face. Looks just like him. Can't be. Call the

police. He's made his move. that mogul of Mountie

Banks, the one and only Joker! Great Scott. Actually,

I'm Irish. Good morning, Mr... Francis. Please

allow me to introduce my associates. Miss Quinn.

Enchanty. And Messers... Their names escape me

for the moment. No matter. We gentlemen of business

have arrangements to discuss. Ah, arrangements?

For my fish, of course. This has all been worked

out far in advance, Francis. You are merely the

last tiny cog in my grand design. So don't speak

to me again, okay? Now, what is everyone in town

talking about? Ah, your fish. I told you not

to speak! Ooh, fish stink -a -roody! All better!

As I was saying, since every fish in Gotham now

bears my famous and frankly fabulous face, I

should be getting a profit from every fish product

sold. Let's say a nickel per fish sandwich. 50

cents for sardines, millions of dollars a day

to finance my happily hedonistic lifestyle. So

which of your tedious copyright forms do I fill

out first? You may speak now. No one can copyright

fish. They're a natural resource. Last up today

is the laughing fish. Joker unleashes a toxin

into Gotham City's harbors, causing all the fish

affected to mutate into Jokerfish. With a deformed

smile clearly resembling his own, Batman analyzes

the fish and finds that the chemical is non -toxic

to humans, so Joker is not trying to poison people.

Instead, his plans are far more bizarre, in which

he attempts to copyright the fish, and thus gain

a percentage over all sold in the Gotham area.

Your thoughts? I love the Joker dumbest plan

ever This is so stupid What do you expect his

plans don't have to be like, you know He's crazy.

Of course this plan is right, but there's not

even a real joke here to me Well, there's money

when the fish are being eaten. They smile back

at you I know that! Okay, but what I'm saying,

like, his whole thing here is he wants to get

a copyright on selling fish. He wants to get,

you know, money back from percentage of fish

sales. And he can't. That's not funny to me!

Well, it's funny because he wants to copyright

smiling fish. Exactly! That's still not funny

to me! No, but it's funny in the commercial when

he feeds Harley Quinn and Harley Quinn, like,

hukes off it. She's like, I can't eat fish! He's

like, eat it! I'm sorry. I just been that hilarious

like this episode was hilarious Like I was laughing

like I'm laughing right now. I was laughing throughout

this entire episode because it was just silly

You'll be laughing again because I cut that clip

for the episode That was no that was awesome

and the other part where I'm he hardly sprays

the worker the city worker and then when batman

comes to investigate he's like get this man to

a hospital yep oh man i was just like what you

know because they get kill guys they could they

can only give them great big smiles joker talks

in i just as i said i love the joker i think

what's really spoiled me on joker episodes is

batman beyond huh batman beyond it it is the

darkness Return of the Joker as much as I love

Joker episodes and all this and all that I like

some of them I just It's villain of the week

thing, but it's the Joker villain of the week

episode It's not like some random villain of

the week. It is the Joker and that's awesome.

But just some of these is like, oh really? That's

your that's your your scheme there? The episode

with Captain Clown, I have to say, is by far

one of his best ones of the anime series, but

he doesn't actually get good until Justice League.

Yeah, well... In some regards, but... I will

say that... Which one is it? Old Wounds. I love

Old Wounds. So... But yeah, I mean... This one

to me just was like it's a great animated episode.

It's a great story driven episode It's it just

has a cheesy cheese you won't talk about cheesy

punchlines or punchlines not being there. That's

this episode to me Yeah, I still get it. I get

the joke. I know you still get it. I just, I

love it. It's hilarious. You know, what else

can I say? It was, it was, it was a joke episode,

okay? It wasn't meant to, it wasn't meant to

be his greatest plot ever to, you know, destroy

Gotham. It was just Joker just having a laugh,

like he likes to have a laugh. I mean, I think,

in my opinion, I mean, from what you're saying,

Mike, it sounds to me like this was kind of a

filler episode. For me it was For me it was and

and I'm not expecting like okay. I understand

the Joker is You know Batman's ultimate nemesis

and he doesn't get dark till later or whatever

else and but I mean there are still other there

are still other Joker Joker F like Joker episodes

that are individual episodes like this that I

absolutely love this just isn't one of them because

it just doesn't It just doesn't do anything doesn't

do anything for ya know I like it. It was interesting.

That's all I'm going to say. Yeah, I definitely

like this episode. I like the fact that I wouldn't

say it's my favorite by any means, but there's

a lot of funniness to it in the sense of the

Joker trying to sell them, trying to copyright

them. They look like him. He has the old fashioned

commercial on the TV with Harley and he's trying

to act like a pirate and his kids who have been

Well, actually his thugs that are supposed to

be kids that you know have taken Extreme amounts

of a particular kind of drug that gives them

muscles But yeah, I thought that some of it was

kind of cool I I don't know, and he has a fascination

with frickin' fish and stuff locked inside of

a big water tank. Yeah, he does. He uses the

water tank numerous times throughout BTAS, and

ultimately water is what is the end of him. Well,

depending on which version you watch, it's either

water or it's a gunshot. Well, I think the water

is more brutal. Yeah. But yes. The one redeeming

quality out of this entire episode for me, the

one thing that I absolutely laughed at was Alfred.

This could cause a stampede to pork. Oh yeah.

That was pretty good. Oh, I love that line. I

don't know. Any other thoughts on this, Tara?

Well, yeah, well, just my last thought. I mean,

it may not be the best, Joker episode, but it

definitely is one of the most for me memorable

and just hilarious ones You know Getting into

a few of the trivia and production inconsistencies

few tooth Few tooth fish have the large flat

teeth required to make the Joker smile The fish

that Joker mentioned such as smelt and tuna are

not amongst these fish and therefore the toxin

should not have worked on them. When the Gotham

Times spins into screen and zooms in on the Joker's

picture, his chin is straight, not following

the rest of the folded newspaper. When Alfred

reads the paper aloud, Joker's chin is exactly

the same. When Batman fires his grapple gun at

the ceiling of the aquarium, the clink of the

grapple catching is heard while the wire is still

wrapping around the pole. That happens numerous

times though. I've seen that happen numerous

times throughout this series. The episode is

based on the comic's stories, the Joker's five

-way revenge, and the laughing fish and sign

of the Joker. All in the either Batman or Detective

Comics line. It is also reminiscent of the Joker's

first ever caper in the comics after he announced

that he planned to kill a millionaire and steal

a priceless diamond from the man's house. It

is one of three episodes with no title card,

the other two being Heart of Ice and the Demon's

Quest. Bet you didn't notice that one. Yes, actually

I did. Oh, whatever. I love this next part. Joker's

mention of Colonel What's -his -name in a reference

to Colonel Sanders the founder of KFC Yes, and

I love the quote where that was hilarious Yeah,

I love the quote Francis is like no one can copyright

fish. They're a natural resource But they share

my unique face. Colonel What's -his -name has

chickens and they don't even have mustaches I

know I have that clip in there. So well, oh Kentucky

Fried Chicken. Oh Sorry, I just hate that shit.

I could go for that right now. Yeah, the other

quote that I thought was funny between Francis

and Joker. Great Scott! Actually, I'm Irish.

I know. That was pretty good. That was hilarious.

Here are a couple more trivia and then I'm done.

The Joker takes a wrench from a toolbox labeled

Binford Tools. A reference to the fictional tool

company on Home Improvement. This is also the

first ever episode in the DCAU where the Joker

is apparently killed but later returns alive

and unharmed without any explanation. Other examples

include Batman Mask of the Phantasm, World's

Finest, Mad Love, Wild Cards, and Batman Beyond

Return of the Joker. How does he like he falls

into like a fish tank with a hungry shark and

then he's fine Makes no sense. I mean plot twist

They just like to make the Joker invincible He

is invincible. I mean, look at this. Look how

much shit he survived. Look how much shit Batman

survived True The last quote that I absolutely

love. Since my side splitters don't tickle you,

how about a skull splitter? Thought that was

great. Yes. So, anything else on this episode?

Epic episode. Watch it. And also of note, it

is written by Paul Dini and directed by Bruce

Timm, so therefore it is good. Oh yes. But anyways,

with that - And don't eat any fish with a smiley

face on them. Yes, it could be bad for your health.

So with that, we will be back after this commercial

break. Grab your helmets because it's time to

assemble M .A .S .K. Coming April 10th, 2012,

the GeekCast Radio Network launches M .A .S .K.

Mayhem with your hosts Optimus Solo and TFU and

Mike. This podcast covering all 75 episodes of

M .A .S .K. will feature in -depth analysis of

every episode, talk on the toys, and more. M

.A .S .K. Mayhem will run 30 podcast episodes.

You can find us in iTunes and on www .geekcastradio

.com. Get your spectrums ready, as podcasting

is the ultimate weapon. Hey guys, it's Optimus

Solo from GeekCast Radio Network's The Telecast

coming to you with an important message about

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for the first time in Geetcast Radio Network

history, we are giving you, the listener, a chance

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and click on the telecast tab at the top of the

page. Once there, you can find our complete Season

1 schedule with all 35 episodes. Please look

this over because we would hate for you to cast

your vote for a show that is already on our schedule.

Once you've done this, just scroll to the section

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a vote for Nick Arcade to be the Listener's Choice

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your vote for your favorite show and stay tuned

for episode 34 to see which show becomes our

very first Listener's Choice. That does it for

now. This has been Optimus Solo from the Telecast.

Hey Chuck. Hey, what's up, right? You know how

we talked about doing a podcast? Well, I have

some ideas running past you. Yeah, what do you

got? I thought we should base it on comics. Well,

there's thousands of podcasts about comics. You

kind of want to narrow it down a bit. Well, what

about Star Wars? Still, there's a ton of those

out there. What else you got? We could always

do G .I. Joe comics. There's still a ton of those

out there. What about the 80s franchises? There's

already a few of those as well. Well, let's forget

about comics. Let's focus on toys and action

figures. Dude, then we're back to thousands of

podcasts. Well, is anyone covering all those

things I mentioned in one podcast? No one would

be crazy enough to do that. Then that's what

we'll do. Be serious. Yep. Come and listen to

Star Joe's podcast. You can find us at starjoes

.com or find us on iTunes. We cover comics, TV

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in. Congratulations are in order, I suppose.

And you're right. This is a dream, a very special

dream. Then you know everything about me. I do.

But I'm only part of your dream. The mind -controlled

apparatus reveals nothing to the real world.

Its purpose is to create an ideal world for you.

Then you're not the real Mad Hatter. No! Just

a figment of your imagination. But that doesn't

mean I'm not real in this dream world. Make it

stop. Bring me back! I'm crushed! You don't like

the fantasy world I've created for you? It's

not real! Are you the dreamer or merely part

of someone's dream? was just the question Tweedledee

put to Alice in Through the Looking. This isn't

some silly storybook! Ah, but it is! It's a beautiful

story! You have love, wealth, a family, all you

ever wanted! Your own private wonderland! No!

I won't live a lie! No matter how attractive

you make it! It's a moot point, my friend. There's

no way out of this. Tell me how to wake up or

I'll... You can't hurt a dream, my good fellow.

And you can't wake up. Stop fighting it! You

see? In a moment the police will be here. Do

you want to spend the rest of your dream life

in Arkham? You're wrong! There is a way out!

Now wait just a minute! You don't want to do

anything foolish! This isn't an ordinary dream!

What if you're wrong? Then I'll see you in your

nightmares! not bringing me along. He knew I'd

take it too personally. It wasn't that, Robin.

It wasn't that at all. Zuko's taken so much,

caused you so much pain. I couldn't stand the

thought that he might... take you too. Come on,

partner. It's been a long night. But they share

my unique face! Colonel Watts' name has chickens,

and they don't even have mustaches! I can't help

it, it's the law! Oh, trying to cheat the Joker,

are ya? Well, we'll see who has the last laugh.

You have until midnight to change your mind Francis

or you'll be the poorest fish of all He's crazy

and what to feed the family tonight. What'll

I feed the family tonight? Arr, try me famous

joker fish. They're smile and smelt, giggle and

grouper, and happy haddock. This could cause

a stampede to pork. Yummy, yummy, yum. Eat it.

Uh, Mr. J, I have this little problem with fish.

That's jokerfish. Tasty, tempting, and of course,

naturally low cholesterol. Coming to your local

store just as soon as that nasty old Mr. G. Carl

Francis decides to give me my legal cut of the

profits. Change the channel. It's on every station.

Get a trace on that signal, now. Fish are disgusting.

I think I'll start using my toxin on cattle.

Joker burgers! Ha! Talk about a happy meal! So

we are back here on Legends of the Dark Knight.

We hope you enjoyed this episode. We have something

very special coming up on the 20th of February.

We will be doing the very first ever BTAS voice

actor interview, as far as someone who has actually

voiced a character in the Batman the Animated

Series cartoon. Now, I have been trying and trying

and trying and trying and trying to get Mark

Hamill. I have not given up. 2012 is the 20th

anniversary of BTIS, so I'm going to hopefully

by September somehow get Mark Hamill on this

show. I would love to get Kevin Conroy on the

show. I have not yet gotten a response from that.

However, on the 20th of February, we here at

the GeekCaster doing our work in the Legends

of the Dark Knight podcast will be talking to

Lauren Lester, voice of Dick Grayson -Robin.

No way. Yep. oh my god exciting yep very exciting

looking forward to that the funny thing is as

i've gone back and done research on his career

i've seen him in so many things that i don't

even recognize him Most recently he was in episode

3 of Ringer as a lawyer and I didn't even recognize

him because I don't see him on camera a lot.

I've never really seen him on camera a lot. But

I didn't even recognize his voice because his

actual voice is pretty much the Robin voice for

the most part. There might be a little bit of

deeper inflections on when he actually does Robin

but I just never even... put two and two together

and it's going to be so freaking awesome to talk

to Lauren Lester. It's going to be great talking

to him. So our listeners definitely don't want

to miss that episode when it comes out. Oh yes.

You're going to want to stay around for that,

but very exciting news. I am, I'm totally blown

away. Mike, you had me guessing for so long and

anybody guessing for so long I don't usually

announce the things till after they're recorded

but I figure to build up hype for it we would

announce it here seeing as how we're recording

an interview next week mm -hmm yeah this is gonna

be amazing and I'm honored to be a part of this

yep all right Steve take it away what are you

what else you got um well final ratings of the

day might go first Sorry, I was distracted by

something there for a second. For me, honestly,

with this one, I like Robin's Reckoning the most.

Second to Perchance to Dream, Cape and Cowl,

and then Laughingfish. What about you, Tara?

For me, it's going to have to be Laughingfish

number one, Perchance to Dream, Robin's Reckoning,

and then last, really sorry, Cape and Cowl. Just

that's just just how I feel it tonight just Had

to put laughing fish first because it was just

hilarious in any episode in my opinion that makes

me laugh non -stop is worth it so laughing fish

Steve I would have to say my number one for the

night would be The laughing fish and that's because

I like the Joker so Anytime he shows up. That's

gonna be ladies and gentlemen. He is a joker

bias Person that's okay, though That's okay in

this context. I would Literally, I don't know

what I would do if I got the chance to talk to

Mark Hamill I'd be freaking awesome I'm working

on it. That's all I can say is you get Mark Hamill

Like wow you I would as You would fangasm just

everywhere Yeah, I I would definitely I'd be

like Nothing would come out. I just Well, I'd

have to eventually if you start fangasming you're

cleaning up the GCRN studios on your own No,

is that directed at Steve or me? No, it's directed

at Steve When do we have since when do you have

a studio? It's all over it's yeah We are worldwide.

Worldwide. Yes. Our studios are our rooms where

we record. Yes. One million dollars. Oh lord.

Alright Steve, take us out. My second episode.

Oh shit, you haven't even gotten through those

yet. Okay. My second episode I had to say is

Perchance to Dream and that's because I like

the nice bouncing back and forth between Batman

and Bruce Wayne and an alternate universe thing

going on with his brain. My third would be Robin's

Reckoning, and that would be a tie for the second,

because there's a lot of awesome backstory in

there. It just cements the relationship between

Bruce and Dick, so that would definitely be cool.

And then the cave and the cowl, I only give it

last because... The other episodes, in my opinion,

were better, but I would have to say that I liked

all of the episodes tonight. So they're all just

great, in my opinion. Yep. So, anything else?

That's it. That's it for me. Thank you for joining

us for Legends of the Dark Knight. If you'd like

to leave feedback on the show, there are many

ways to do so. First, you can visit the website

geekcastradio .com, where you can comment on

the episode and all of our different podcasts.

Second, you can rate our show on iTunes. Be sure

to leave us feedback. Call the voicemail line,

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name. Become a fan of us on Facebook by searching

Geekcast Radio Network. Follow us on Twitter

at lotdarknight. My Twitter name is at SCP -21.

What are your Twitter names? TFJ and Mike. At

Tara Blair. Join us next time when we discuss

Night of the Ninja, Cat Scratch Fever, The Strange

Secret of Bruce Wayne, Heart of Steel's Part

1 and 2. So for now, I'm Steve Megatron Phillips

with TFJ and Mike. Tara aka Batgirl. Saying any

murder words of Batgirl? I am Vengeance. I am

the Knight. I am Batman. I thought you were Batgirl.

Yeah, when did you have a sex change operation?

You said staying in the immortal worlds. There's

nothing written in the script for all girls size.

Damn it. This is so hard to be edited out right

now. We gotta redo this. Nope. Thank you for

listening. Until next time. technical difficulties

let's move on shall we