Batman: The Animated Series is arguably the best Batman adaptation, and it’s so good that The Mask of Phantasm, the movie that capped off the series, even got a theatrical run. The movie is beloved for being a gothic ode to classic Hollywood movies and having a mature narrative that not even Pixar would dare tackle, and it’s the gold standard of animated Batman movies.

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However, one movie that arguably reaches the heights Mask of Phantasm’s quality is Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. Similar to Phantasm, Return of the Joker caps off the Batman Beyond series, and with Mark Hamill reprising his role as the Joker, many fans even think it's better.

Mask Of Phantasm: A New Villain

Batman Mask of the Phantasm Hallway

Paul Dini, the creator of Batman: The Animated Series, created a few key characters in Batman’s gallery of rogues that weren’t previously in the comics, including Harley Quinn. But the best of them all is the titular villain in Mask of Phantasm.

As new Batman movies rely so heavily on well-known villains that have been used tirelessly, it was refreshing to see a brand new villain and having it land so well, even if the Joker does show up at the end of the movie. Though the reveal of who was behind the mask of the Phantasm was spoiled by a toy before the release of the film, which is one of the interesting facts about the movie, it’s still one of the most iconic Batman villains ever.

Return Of The Joker: Higher Stakes

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Being set decades in the future, in Return of the Joker, everybody in Gotham City who remembers the Joker fears him. And as people worry that Terry is so young and not up to the challenge of going up against Batman’s biggest rival, it leaves the safety of Gotham up in the air. On top of that, Joker plots his biggest scheme yet, as he seizes control of a military satellite and uses it to destroy the whole of the city. It’s a much broader narrative than that of Phantasm, which was always more of a reflective look on Bruce Wayne’s personal life.

Mask Of Phantasm: Deeper Than Any Live-Action Batman Movie

Bruce proposes to Andrea in Batman: Mask of Phantasm

Mask of Phantasm is set both before and after The Animated Series takes place, as it shows what made Bruce Wayne decide to become Batman in the first place. And though this has been done to death, whether it’s in the comics or movies, it has never been done so tastefully than in the animated movie.

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It’s full of heartbreak, mystery, and most of the movie is set in a graveyard. The writers of the movie were clearly inspired by classic Hollywood movies like Citizen Kane, and it shows not just in the way the story is told, but in how it looks too.

Return Of The Joker: The Flashback To The Animated Series

Robin Becoming Joker Junior - Batman Beyond Return Of The Joker

Mark Hamill’s sadistic laugh is one of the reasons why Hamill is the best Joker, but it has never been more sinister than in the flashback scene in Return of the Joker. The flashback scene sees Joker torturing Robin, and for what is essentially a children’s movie, it’s extremely hard to watch.

Though Phantasm is a well-told work of art, it doesn’t ever reach the inhumane heights of this scene. It’s also great to see all of the character designs from The Animated Series years later too, as Bruce Wayne is in his original Batman outfit, and Joker is in his original purple suit.

Mask Of Phantasm: The Music

Mask of the Phantasm Batman Brooding

Many of the world’s greatest composers have created the musical accompaniment to the theatrically-released Batman movies. Whether it’s Danny Elfman’s jangly foxtrot-sounding score in 1989’s Batman or Hans Zimmer’s creative use of orchestras in the Dark Knight trilogy, but not enough attention is drawn to Shirley Walker’s score for Mask of Phantasm, and it’s one of the reasons the movie is underrated.

The score for the animated movie is operatic, epic, and completely haunting, and it might even be better than any score to the live-action Batman movies, not to mention Return of the Joker, which is completely lacking when it comes to the music.

Return Of The Joker: The Old Joker Meeting The New Batman

Batman and Joker face off in Batman Beyond Return of the Joker

Obviously, being set dozens of years in the future, Batman Beyond isn’t Bruce Wayne, but Terry McGinnis. However, it isn’t a new version of the Joker, but the original from The Animated Series. As surprising as it is, Terry is the one who finally defeats the Joker once and for all, and by giving him a taste of his own medicine no less. Terry torments the clown prince of crime until his anger clouds his judgment, just as the Joker had always done to Bruce Wayne, and it’s an incredible stand-off.

Mask Of Phantasm: The Voice Acting

Abe Vigoda in Batman: Mask of Phantasm

The voice acting in both of the animated movies is great, as they feature Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprising their roles as Bruce Wayne and The Joker, respectively.

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Their voice acting is one of the reasons why the TV show is so beloved, and many have argued that Hamill’s interpretation of the clown prince of crime is the very best. But Mask of Phantasm takes the edge over Return of the Joker thanks to another voice actor, Abe Vigoda. Voicing Salvator Valestra, the Godfather alum gave Phantasm even more prestige than it already had.

Return Of The Joker: The Atmosphere

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The atmosphere is one of the best things about Phantasm, as the movie captures the look of the animated series beautifully, and along with its musical score and non-linear narrative, the tone is amazing. However, Return of the Joker’s futuristic landscapes with hovercrafts and the sci-fi theme is so refreshing, especially as it’s the same old dirty Gotham that’s drenched in neon lights and Blade-Runner-like hologram commercials.

Mask Of Phantasm: The World’s Fair Scene

Batman and Joker in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

A decade after Bruce and Andrea had gone on a date there, the World’s Fair has been abandoned and turned into the Joker’s evil lair. And given all of its futuristic gadgets, it’s a whole playground for Joker to have fun in. From rollercoasters to robot wives, Joker is completely in his element at The World’s Fair, and it gets even better when the Phantasm and Batman show up. When the whole place gets blown to smithereens with the operatic music and Joker’s excitable laugh, it’s one of the most thrilling moments in Batman’s history.

Return Of The Joker: The Joker Has Never Been So Evil

Joker with a playing card in Batman Beyond Return of the Joker.

In Return of the Joker, the titular villain is unstoppable in his sadistic ways, whether it’s paralyzing Jim Gordon or turning Robin crazy. Even for the Joker, the character has flown off the handle. The character even has a new look to go with it, which was aptly modeled after Hannibal Lector, with his slicked back hair and jumpsuit, which is one of the interesting facts about Return of the Joker. The Joker in Return of the Joker makes the same character in Mask of Phantasm look like a party clown.

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