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
Cult of the Cat & Animal Act [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:05
We’re continuing our big block of animal episodes this week on the BATTASS Podcast, as Catwoman gets caught up with a crazy cat-based cult in, well, Cult of the Cat, and Nightwing heads back to the circus he once called…
Mean Seasons & Critters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:49
This week on the BATTASS Podcast, we get a brand new baddie with a lazy costume and a specific theme, as well as some gigantic, rampaging farm animals with a grudge in Mean Seasons and Critters! Not going to beat around…
The Ultimate Thrill & Over the Edge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:09
This week on the BATTASS Podcast, we get the introduction of a one-off villain who really deserves more screen time (in any medium, really), the enthusiastically bombastic Roxy Rocket! We also see what would happen if Ji…
Love is a Croc & Torch Song [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:11
This week on the BATTASS Podcast, we get some returning baddies with some questionable new designs, as well as one brand new villain to add to the rogue’s gallery who’s definitely a real HOT one. Baby Doll and Killer Cro…
Joker’s Millions & Growing Pains [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:55
This week on the BATTASS Podcast, Joker goes on a financial roller coaster, and Robin has his first doomed romance as Sean and Clay get down and dirty with Joker’s Millions and Growing Pains! In addition to a look at Jok…
Double Talk & You Scratch My Back [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:03
50 episodes! This week on the BATTASS Podcast we welcome back Batman’s tiniest, most block-headed adversary, Scarface, in Double Talk, as well as say “meow” to a new-look Catwoman putting the moves on the boy wonder (man…
Cold Comfort & Never Fear [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:08
This week on the BATTASS Podcast we welcome back two villains we’ve seen a few times before, Mr. Freeze and the Scarecrow. They’ve both got great new looks, but Clay and Sean are split over the quality of the episodes. N…
Holiday Knights & Sins of the Father [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:57
This week marks the triumphant return of The BATTASS Podcast, as we dive into season 4 of Batman: The Animated Series, otherwise known as The New Batman Adventures! After a three year hiatus, the TAS team has come back w…
Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero and Q&A [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:40:23
This week on The BATTASS Podcast, we head back to the theater, or in this case, the home theater, as we bridge our season coverage by taking a look at the second film to emerge from the Batman the Animated Series univers…