DC Introduces The Phantasm In New Batman & Catwoman Comic

One of Batman: The Animated Series' most famous creations is headed for DC continuity...

Batman Catwoman Mask Of The Phantasm
DC Comics/Clay Mann

Tom King and Clay Mann's Batman and Catwoman comic may not release until 2020, but DC have wasted no time at all in publicising it. It was announced last month that King would leave the main Batman comic with Batman #85, fifteen issues earlier than expected, and to call it a controversial decision would be putting things lightly. That's probably why DC are keen to emphasise the writer will still get to finish his Batman story, only much later than was initially planned.

We've known since the end of May that Mann would join King for the series, but the artist teased a new detail regarding it overnight. In what appears to be the updated cover for the first issue, none other than the Phantasm - the eponymous character from 1993's Mask of the Phantasm film - can be seen staring down Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. This is her first appearance in mainstream DC continuity.

Advertisement

Those familiar with Mask of the Phantasm and the DC Animated Universe in particular won't need reminding of who the Phantasm is. Her real name is Andrea Beaumont, and she was Bruce's close lover during his formative years in Gotham. Eventually it transpires that she has ties to the mob, and that - years after leaving Bruce - she's back in Gotham as the Phantasm herself, a murderous vigilante who targets key elements of the Gotham mafia.

It remains to be seen whether or not this version of the Phantasm is still Andrea (the tagline of "She awaits you" should confirm as much), but the character's inclusion at least reiterates that King's stint on Batman is going out with a bang.

Advertisement

--

What do you think of the Phantasm appearing Batman & Catwoman? Let us know in the comments.

Advertisement
Content Producer/Presenter

WhatCulture's very own resident movie guy, Ewan has been working in the content creation biz for over 10 years now, having started as a freelance contributor to WhatCulture Gaming all the way back in 2015. After graduating with a First-Class Honours in History from Northumbria University in 2017 (where he won a prize for a totally killer dissertation on the Watergate years), Ewan took on the role of Comics Editor at WhatCulture and quickly developed WhatCulture Comics into one of the biggest superhero-focused channels on YouTube. He followed this with a brief hiatus at Screen Rant in 2021, where he worked across the Gaming and Film sections as a writer and editor, before returning to WhatCulture as a Senior Content Producer / Presenter in 2023. He started his own podcast, We Love Dad Movies, in 2022, and has contributed several written pieces to the Eisner-nominated comics website Shelfdust as well. In his current role, Ewan incorporates his love of cinema, comic books, and history into written pieces and video essays for WhatCulture's Film & TV channel, as well as WhatCulture Gaming and WhatCulture Horror, with a particular focus on nineties-era Dad Movies, old school Westerns, and Golden Age Hollywood Noir. John Carpenter is his fave, and he thinks Batman Beyond should never have been cancelled. If that's your vibe, you'll probably like his stuff.