The Phantasm phases into the Comic book realm!

Hey guys, Frosty Phenix here! Y’all...I am hype!! One of my favorite villains of the Batman Mythos is finally gracing the comic book continuity universe! The Phantasm will be making her way to Tom King’s Twelve Issue Comic Spin-Off “Batman/Catwoman” series in the beginning of 2020! Writer Tom King and Artist Clay Mann promoted the new development via Twitter using the image below!

For those that are not familiar with this character, The Phantasm, whose real name is Andrea Beaumont, is a Vigilante and main antagonist of the 1993 animated movie “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” (Produced by Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm). Beaumont is exceptional in hand-to-hand and armed combatant, martial artist, and tactics, has a knack for disappearing, utilizes high-tech tactical equipment such as a bodysuit, mask with voice modifier, bladed gauntlet and an artificial fog manipulation system. In the film, Andrea was a serious love interest of Bruce Wayne just before his caped crusader days but life circumstances separated the two. Bruce moved further into his choices to become Batman whilst Andrea has gone into hiding with her father from the infamous mob that he was incredibly in debt to. After their location was revealed to those looking for her father and was slain as a result, Andrea swore revenge on those that wronged and killed him by becoming the mysterious Phantasm. After a couple of encounters and an ultimate encounter involving The Joker and an explosion involving the park where the former lovers met, Batman escaped with both villains believed to be deceased (of course we know better as viewers). The movie concludes with Batman answering the Batman Signal and Andrea on a yacht going to an unknown destination.

The Phantasm character has been mentioned in other spin-offs and made an appearance in the season 2 finale episode of Justice League Unlimited animated series titled “Epilogue” (which also subplots as an epilogue episode of the Warner Brothers “Batman Beyond” Animated series). In this episode, Andrea was tasked by Amanda Waller with aiding in Terry McGinnis’ path towards the cape and cowl while he was a youth by killing his parents in front of him as Bruce’s was. However she refused to commit the act as it would “defile the Batman legacy by breaking Bruce's paramount rule to never take a life” (go watch the episode if you haven’t ...it’s good!!)

I love the character to this day and “Mask of The Phantasm” remains one of my favorite Batman movies of all time. I am elated that she will be added to a main line continuity because her effect on Bruce’s life, to me, is as heavy as Selena Kyle’s or Talia Al-Gul's. What do you think about the Phantasm being added to the main stream? Comment below! Be sure to follow all of our content online @phucaname. You can also follow me personally across the web @frostyphenix. Until next time y’all, peace!

Sources:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Beaumont

https://nerdist.com/article/batman-mask-phantasm-dc-comics-official/

https://www.polygon.com/2019/6/12/18662657/tom-king-batman-catwoman-phantasm-comic