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Blu-ray Review: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor

Thanks to popular demand, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is now available on Blu-ray! The Warner Archive team has crafted a new high-definition remastered version of the hit 1993 animated release, which will surely excite fans of all ages. 
 
 
Batman: The Animated Series moves to the big screen for this new adventure. When a mysterious cloaked vigilante starts taking out mob bosses, the city turns the blame to Batman. Can the Caped Crusader unmask his new foe and save Gotham’s underworld from an untimely demise? How does this new threat connect to a lost love from his own past, and what role does the Joker play in the secret history of Gotham City? Witness the birth of The Batman in this special big screen adventure!
 
 
Kevin Conroy (Batman), Mark Hamill (The Joker), and Dana Delany (Andrea Beaumont) are front and center for Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, along with Abe Vigoda (Salvatore Valestra), Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. (Alfred Pennyworth), Bob Hastings (Commissioner Gordon), and Robert Costanzo (Harvey Bullock). All of the vocal talent brought their A-Game for the cinematic release, and Conroy and Hamill set the bar high with one of their best performances of the Caped Crusader and the Crown Prince of Crime. 
 
The stellar film not only includes the voices of our favorite heroes and villains, but also included the creative team from Batman: The Animated Series as well. Mask of the Phantasm was directed by Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski, and was written by Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Martin Pasko, and Michael Reaves.
 
 
While the film does not include any “special features” other than the Theatrical Trailer, the Blu-ray itself is really is the special feature. The Warner Archive team has painstakingly restored the film to the highest possible quality for the 25th Anniversary, and the details are quite vivid. The release includes both the original theatrical 16×9 aspect ratio and the open matte 4×3 aspect ratio, so you can choose your overall viewing experience. With the exception of a couple blurry frames, the final product looks phenomenal. 
 
If you are a fan of Batman: The Animated Series, the animation style of Bruce Timm, and the DC Universe Animated Film Series, this should be a priority addition to your viewing list. 
 
Rating: ★★★★½
ComicsOnline gives Batman: Mask of the Phantasm on blu-ray 4.5 out of 5 Batman Adventures!
 
Suit up and head out on adventures with ComicsOnline.com, and be sure to check back for more reviews, exclusive interviews, and everything geek pop culture!
 

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(Managing Editor/Director of Media Relations) Matt interviewed MacGyver once (true story), and was invited on a submarine to the Arctic. It hasn't happened yet, but Matt hopes that some day he will get the call and he and Richard Dean Anderson will go off and have a wacky adventure.