Batman: 80 Greatest Ever Moments
42. Shirley Walker's Incredible Score - Mask Of The Phantasm
Goosebumps. Pure, goosebumps.
The opening titles of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm conjure everything the character and his world embodies, but while audiences were already familiar with Bruce Timm's art-deco/retro-futurist image of Gotham City, less focus was perhaps given to composer Shirley Walker, the woman behind Batman: The Animated Series' signature score.
Walker passed away in 2006 at 61, but her work on BTAS and Mask of the Phantasm in particular is legendary. The first on the film's album, simply titled 'Main Title', serves as an ominous, operatic reintroduction to the world the TV show created, and one that deserves greater recognition.
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41. Zur-En-Arrh Returns - Batman R.I.P.
Batman R.I.P. is a mind-bending tale that brought back some of the most bonkers elements from the Silver Age back into mainstream continuity. Grant Morrison is at his best here, and if the image of a purple, red and yellow Batman doesn't sell you on it, what will?
Reimagined as a failsafe personality for Bruce to fall back on, Zur-En-Arrh enters the scene after the Caped Crusader is nearly destroyed by the Back Glove. It's one of the best Bat-images of all, and one artist Tony Daniel should be especially proud of.
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