The Once and Future Thing (JLU)

The Once and Future Thing (JLU)

Author: The Pensky File July 17, 2026 Duration: 1:35:45

Well, congratulations to everyone except me.

I had what I thought was the safest bet on Polymarket: The BATTASS Podcast is never coming back. Easy money, right? Sean Murphy and Clay McCormack disappeared into the wilderness, got busy making comics, and left the podcast to gather dust like a forgotten longbox full of '90s Image books. I practically started spending my winnings before the market even closed.

Then these two jerks decide to un-retire.

So now I'm broke, my prediction record is in shambles, and somehow you're the one who gets rewarded with a brand-new episode of the BATTASS Podcast.

This long-overdue reunion finds Sean and Clay diving headfirst into one of the strangest and most entertaining stories in the DC Animated Universe: the Justice League Unlimited two-parter, "The Once and Future Thing." Time travel? Jonah Hex? Batman Beyond? A future ruled by Chronos? This episode has everything, and the guys break down what makes this gloriously weird adventure such a standout in the series.

As if resurrecting the podcast wasn't enough to ruin my financial future, they've also got new comics to talk about. Sean discusses his latest graphic novel, The Last Driver, a gritty, high-octane story that's already turning heads. Meanwhile, Clay pulls back the curtain on Hard Style Juice, his long-awaited creator-owned series packed with crime, action, and enough attitude to make me wish I'd invested in literally anything else.

It's the kind of conversation BATTASS fans have been hoping for ever since the show went silent: comics, animation, behind-the-scenes stories, and the effortless back-and-forth that made the podcast worth listening to in the first place.

I'm still furious. My wallet may never recover. But if the BATTASS Podcast had to come back and completely destroy my carefully planned betting strategy...I guess this is exactly the episode you'd want it to return with


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: 50

BATTASS: The Batman The Animated Series Show Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Once Burned & Hooked Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:41
This week on The BATTASS Podcast, the game is on, the deck is stacked and reality is virtual as we get jacked into Once Burned and Hooked up! We’ve got the return of the Royal Flush gang, and boy is there family drama, a…
Hidden Agenda & Bloodsport [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:11
KUMITE, KUMITE, KUMI–awww, wrong one… This week on The BATTASS Podcast, we’re getting closer to the truth about Batman’s true identity (who IS he???) with Hidden Agenda, and we’re NOT headed to a Kumite, but we ARE runni…
Joyride & Lost Soul [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:35
Get in the car (or in this case the stolen military aircraft), nerds, we’re going Jokering! Then we’re all gonna get blitzed and upload our consciousnesses to the hard drives and hijack some bat suits! That’s right, this…
Splicers & Earth Mover [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:52
The time has come, the boys of BATTASS have returned to officially kick off our coverage of season 2 of Batman Beyond! We take flight back to Neo Gotham with two monstrous tales of mutation, the season premier Splicers,…
A Tribute to Kevin Conroy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:23
After a long hiatus, BATTASS is back, but we begin our new season on a somber note, as Sean and Clay discuss the legacy of, and pay tribute to, arguably the greatest actor to take on the role of Batman, the late Kevin Co…
Ascension & Season 1 Wrap Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
Disappearing Inque & A Touch of Curaré [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:16
This week on BATTASS: Beyond we’re back in black, and welcoming a new colorful killer to the universe as we see the return of Inque and the debut of Curare in Disappearing Inque and A Touch of Curare! Per DCAU WIki: “Dis…
The Winning Edge & Spellbound [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:01
Time to juice up, nerds! Gotta get out there and pump some iron so you can rob some banks or something! This week on BATTASS: BEYOND, we’re hanging out with “Bane’s Friend” and summoning the undead of your mind with The…
Shriek & Dead Man’s Hand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:02
What’s that? Speak up, we can’t hear you! You’re gonna have to be a lot louder than that, as this week on BATTASS Beyond we’ve been introduced to the dastardly devil of dangerous decibles, Shriek! Don’t worry though, it’…
Meltdown & Heroes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:45
This week on BATTASS Beyond, the frigid face of a familiar foe makes its way to our screens, and Batman Beyond heads across the street for some inspiration from the “distinguished competition,” and riffs on the golden ag…