batmanmask

The best spin-off from the original Batman comic book is without a doubt the animated series of the
early 1990s. Funny that a cartoon, handled by passionate writers, could attain a narrative maturity
and dramatic sophistication ultimately lost on the live action film franchise. It only stands to reason
that the cartoon would capture most accurately the essence of Batman, for a cartoon is literally a
comic in motion.

“Batman: The Animated Series” was so successful that Warner Bros. green lit production of a
feature film that came out in the Christmas of 1993 titled, “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.” To
date, it is the best Batman film of all time.

“Mask of the Phantasm” involves a series of killings committed by a mysterious apparition known
simply as The Phantasm. The killings are being attributed falsely to Batman and the Gotham police
are looking for the Dark Knight. Meanwhile, Batman is hunting the Phantasm. On the flipside of life,
Batman’s alter ego Bruce Wayne reunites with a lost lover, Andrea Beaumont, voiced by Dana
Delany. She’s casually seeing this smarmy Gotham Councilman who is supporting the accusations
against Batman.

Batman follows the murder trail of various crime lords and as the pieces begin to fit together, he
realizes there is some sort of dark connection between The Phantasm and The Joker. But what?

This movie has all of the cerebral stimulation of the comic book plots and the action of a well-crafted
animated feature. The detective story is frighteningly compelling as mob bosses are horrifically
murdered and The Joker goes on his own personal killing spree with psychotic efficiency. Mark
Hamill voices The Joker here as he does in the animated series and does a fantastic job.

Hamill is simply the best Joker there has ever been, and the writers do an exemplary job of depicting
his character’s twisted psychology that makes him so entertaining in the comic book. In one scene,
forced to choose between a knife and a huge salami, The Joker opts to smack his pursuer in the
face with the salami simply because it’s funnier. Classic.

As with the animated series, the characters are handled extremely well. The movie explores Wayne’
s romantic dysfunction in his relationship with Andrea, which even though being a cartoon, hints
heavily at a sexual connection. The character of Commissioner Gordon is given a compelling
subplot as the only guy in Gotham P.D. who still believes in Batman’s innocence. “The Batman does
not kill!”

Rarely do cartoons achieve a level of quality like “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.” Not only is this
the best Batman film, but it is also one of the most mature and tightly written animated films in recent
years as well. Great action, superb characters and compelling atmosphere. Who is The Phantasm?