100 Greatest Superhero Stories Ever
By Steve Lam
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation
#32. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Medium
Animated Feature Film
Release Date
December 25, 1993
Credits
Directors: Eric Radomski, Bruce Timm
Writers: Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Martin Pasko, Michael Reaves
Cast: Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Mark Hamill as The Joker, Dana Delany as Andrea Beaumont, Hart Bochner as City Councilman Arthur Reeves, Stacy Keach as Carl Beaumont, Abe Vigoda as Salvatore Valestra, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred Pennyworth, Robert Costanzo as Detective Harvey Bullock, Bob Hastings as Commissioner James Gordon, Dick Miller as Charles “Chuckie” Sol, John P. Ryan as Buzz Bronski, Arleen Sorkin as Mrs. Bambi
The Reason It’s Great
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is the first movie coming out of the Batman: The Animated Series franchise—which would later become the DC animated universe, or Timm-verse (named after series creator Bruce Timm).
Batman is blamed for a murder committed by another masked vigilante. Meanwhile, Andrea Beaumont, a woman Bruce had planned to marry, reappears in Gotham City. The mob, growing fearful of the new vigilante, asks for the Joker’s assistance.
In the end, Batman learns that Andrea is the masked vigilante. She vowed revenge on the Joker because he was the original hitman responsible for killing her father.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was released to rave reviews. At the time, critics noted it as having a better storyline than most live-action films. The overall design and art was also praised. To this day, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is regarded as one of the best superhero films.