The Phantasm will make her long-awaited debut in the mainstream DC Comics Universe in Batman/Catwoman #1, from the team of writer Tom King (Batman, Mister Miracle), artist Clay Mann (Batman, Ninjak) and colorist Tomeu Morey (Gotham City Sirens, Azrael). Announced over a year ago, the issue is the first in a twelve issue maxi-series and will be in stores December 1. It is part of DC’s mature-reader oriented Black Label line.
Batman and Catwoman have had a long, on-again, off-again romance. The two almost married, but the wedding plans were foiled and the two split up. In the first issue of this new series, Bruce and Selina have rekindled their relationship, and now fight crime as a duo. Things are going great, until the arrival of an ex-lover of Bruce’s: Andrea Beaumont. Long-time Batman fans know Andrea as The Phantasm, a costumed vigilante who made life miserable for the Gotham City Mafia in the 1993 animated feature Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, a spin-off of the iconic Batman: The Animated Series. Her appearances were limited to DC Animated Universe-related shows and comics, but that changes this December.
Phantasm will make a grand entrance into the proper DC Universe and King says her first mainstream appearance will “set the bar high” for her future appearances, of which King said there will be many more. Her comic appearance closely matches her animated look, which King calls “cool and frightening.” King also hints Phantasm’s arrival could have dire consequences for Bruce and Selina’s relationship. And lurking in the background of all this is the Joker, who also has ties to Beaumont.
For both King and Mann, honoring the spirit and nature of Phantasm was important. In the DC Connect interview, the two emphasize their love for the movie, and how crucial it was to make sure Phantasm’s DC Universe debut lives up to her animated appearances. The project has an extra special connection for Mann; in the interview he recounts his grandmother buying Mask of the Phantasm on VHS for Mann and his brother, and then watching it with his family. He also revealed Phantasm was a “dream” character and that it was an “honor” to help bring her to the mainstream DC Universe.
King has stated there are big plans for Phantasm. She could potentially derail Bruce and Selina’s relationship; how else will she impact the Bat-family? Fans have been clamoring for Phantasm to make the jump from screen to page, much in the way Harley Quinn and Renee Montoya did. Both of those characters went on to have a huge impact on Batman and the DC Universe as a whole, and there is no doubt Phantasm will as well. Fans will have to wait for Batman/Catwoman #1 to find out.
