As classic animated villain the Phantasm makes a comic book debut in Batman/Catwoman, there will be a major twist from the character’s backstory in the cinematic Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. An official synopsis for Issue #2 has revealed that the vigilante’s alter ego Andrea Beaumont has come to Gotham in search for her lost child.
Batman/Catwoman is a limited 12-issue series written by Tom King with art by Clay Mann. It is being published through DC Black Label, which is DC’s recently launched brand intended for mature readers who are 17 years and older. DC Black Label only publishes stories set outside mainstream continuity, meaning that this limited series won't be canon in the mainstream DC Comics or the DC Animated Universe in which Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was originally set. However, Batman/Catwoman will continue to build on ideas hinted at in King’s earlier work throughout his run on Batman.
According to the official synopsis, Andrea comes to Gotham City under the guise of the Phantasm, with a hunch that the Joker is somehow connected to the disappearance of her child. Inevitably, she seeks the Caped Crusader for help, as she was once romantically involved with Bruce Wayne a lifetime ago. However, she must go to Catwoman in order to get through to her old flame. As the Phantasm pursues Catwoman with the hopes of getting in touch with Batman, secrets of the past start to come to light. Soon, it is revealed that the Joker had done something to Selina Kyle when she first became the cat vigilante which will now have grave consequences down the line. The official cover and synopsis are as follows:
BATMAN/CATWOMAN #2
written by TOM KING with art and cover by CLAY MANN
variant covers by JIM LEE & SCOTT WILLIAMS, and TRAVIS CHAREST
ON SALE 1/19/21
$4.99 US | 32 PAGES | 2 OF 12 | FC
DC BLACK LABEL
CARD STOCK COVERS
Phantasm has come to Gotham City! Andrea Beaumont, the one-time love of Bruce Wayne, is looking for her lost child, and she’s pretty sure The Joker is involved. So, who better to have as an ally than Batman? And what better way to get to Batman than through Catwoman? It’s a knotted history for this costumed quartet, spanning past, present, and future. What The Joker did to Selina Kyle at the beginning of her career will have deadly consequences at the end of their lives. Tom King’s ultimate tale of the Dark Knight kicks into high gear as the story roars down the avenues only hinted at in the pages of Batman.
The inclusion of the Phantasm has been the cause of much anticipation from readers, as the character has only been used sparingly and has never appeared outside the DCAU. Andrea Beaumont’s Phantasm has only appeared once in comics with a significant role in the 2015 digital series Batman Beyond 2.0. In the original film, Andrea comes to Gotham with a vengeance, taking down the mobsters who killed her father, consequently preventing her from rekindling a romantic life with Bruce Wayne. However, it is unclear if these same events are meant to serve as the definitive backstory within the context of King’s Batman/Catwoman. It also remains a mystery whether Andrea’s “lost child” will be revealed to be Bruce's - with the Black Label imprint, anything is on the table. Batman/Catwoman will begin on December 1 with a limited 12-issue run. Batman/Catwoman #2 will be released on January 19, 2021 with subsequent issues releasing throughout the rest of the year.