Ascension & Season 1 Wrap Up

Ascension & Season 1 Wrap Up

Author: The Pensky File July 16, 2022 Duration: 1:34:13

This week on BATTASS: Beyond we’re rounding out the final episode of season one, as well as taking questions from the crowd with Ascension, and a big ol’ mess of listener questions to answer!



Per DCAU WIki:“Ascension” is the thirteenth episode and first season finale of Batman Beyond. It depicts Derek Powers’ final moments as head of Wayne-Powers and the rise of his son Paxton Powers. Tired of having to hide behind the skin and running from his clients every time the skin starts to crack, Derek Powers decides to make his son, Paxton, acting chairman of the board. However, during the introductory meeting, Derek is angered to the point of shedding his skin, therefore revealing his condition to the world. Paxton calls in Batman to help him find his father, but Batman eventually learns that Derek’s exposure was not an accident.



Also, since this is the final episode of the first season of Batman Beyond, Sean and Clay get into their thoughts about the season as a whole, the ups, the downs, the ehs, the mehs, and answer the big question: Does this show work? They also dive into some listener questions as provided by you, our faithful ASS-fans! Talk of upcoming projects, potential appearances of certain characters in the White Knight universe, and much more abound!



Does Ascension work as a season finale? It definitely moves story elements forward, but is it earned? Is it enough? The first season of Batman Beyond was definitely good, but it never quite got great, and its season finale falls squarely into this bucket as well. What will season 2 hold for Terry, Bruce and Ace? What new adventures will Sean and Clay be privy to in the world of Neo Gotham? Only time will tell!



So, put on your best face, melt some handcuffs, betray your father, and join us on BATTASS: Beyond!

Ever wonder what happens when two working comic book artists sit down to talk about the definitive cartoon version of the Dark Knight? That’s the simple, compelling premise behind BATTASS: The Batman The Animated Series Show Podcast. Hosts Clay McCormack and Sean Murphy bring their insider’s perspective from the drawing board to every discussion, breaking down each installment of the legendary series. Their conversations are less like formal reviews and more like you’re overhearing a deep, passionate, and often very funny debate between two experts who genuinely love the material. You’ll hear them trace the artistic influences in the show’s iconic style, analyze the sharp writing that appealed to both kids and adults, and share personal insights into why certain characters or storylines resonate so powerfully within the broader world of comics. This isn’t a rushed recap; it’s a thoughtful, episode-by-episode excavation of what made Batman: The Animated Series a cultural touchstone. The result is a consistently engaging podcast that feels both educational and entertaining, offering a unique lens on a show many of us thought we already knew everything about. New episodes from The Pensky File dive into a single chapter of the animated saga, making it a perfect companion whether you’re revisiting the series or discovering it for the first time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 98

BATTASS: The Batman The Animated Series Show Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Mask of the Phantasm | Q&A [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:41
In this animated feature set in the 1940s, the troubled yet heroic Batman (Kevin Conroy) is pitted against a mysterious figure who is rubbing out Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals, and who many believe is the caped…
Mad as a Hatter | Dreams in Darkness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:55
In Mad as a Hatter, miserable Wayne Industries scientist Jervis Tetch is unable to pursue the girl he loves, Alice the secretary. When she splits up from her boyfriend, he makes an advance and develops a fast friendship…
The Clock King | Appointment in Crime Alley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:37
In The Clock King, after his company goes bankrupt, Temple Fugate becomes the Clock King. Fugate sets out to seek his revenge against the man whom he blames for his misfortunes: Mayor Hamilton Hill. Fugate kidnaps Hill,…
Vendetta | Fear of Victory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:01
In Vendetta, Detective Bullock is arrested for kidnapping. Batman, who dislikes Bullock but nevertheless believes him to be a good man, investigates, and discovers the identity of the real criminal: Killer Croc, who harb…
Prophecy of Doom | Joker’s Favor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:38
In Prophecy of Doom, Batman investigates a cult, called the Brotherhood, founded by the “mystic” Nostromos, after hearing about a number of stories from his colleagues about his ability to predict the future. Batman find…
Feat of Clay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:40
In Feat of Clay, Bruce Wayne is framed for the attempted murder of Lucius Fox. The real perpetrator is an actor and master of disguise named Matt Hagen, who was disfigured in a car accident years ago. In order to keep hi…
See No Evil | Beware the Gray Ghost [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:24
In See No Evil, Lloyd “Eddie” Ventrix is on the verge of losing his daughter, Kimberly, to his ex-wife, Helen, due to his past as a con artist. Determined not to lose Kimberly, Ventrix dons a suit, stolen from where he u…
The Cat and the Claw (Part 1 and 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:58
In The Cat and The Claw, Batman encounters a new cat burglar calling herself Catwoman, and around the same time, meets a woman named Selina Kyle (as Bruce Wayne), to whom he is visibly attracted. When Selina runs into tr…
I’ve Got Batman in My Basement | Heart of Ice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:25
This week, Clay and Sean discuss “I’ve Got Batman in My Basement” and “Heart of Ice”! During a fight with Batman over a stolen Fabergé egg, the Penguin incapacitates Batman with poison gas. The Dark Knight is rescued by…
Two Face (Parts 1 and 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:47
In Two Face, Mobster Rupert Thorne attempts to use Harvey Dent’s secret split personality to blackmail him. But when Dent meets with Thorne at a chemical plant, “Big Bad Harv” takes over, and the resulting confrontation…