BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM "I Am The Knight" Featurette Pays Tribute To The Late Kevin Conroy

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is now available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray for the first time, and the accompanying "I Am The Knight" featurette pays tribute to the late Kevin Conroy...

By MarkCassidy - Sep 13, 2023 04:09 PM EST

Filed Under: Batman (Animated)

For many Bat-fans, the '90s Batman: The Animated Series remains the quintessential depiction of the Dark Knight, and spin-off feature Mask of the Phantasm is widely considered the best Batman movie - live-action or otherwise.

This is at least partially due to Kevin Conroy's superb work as the voice of Batman.

Mask of the Phantasm was re-released on 4K Blu-ray for the first time ever on September 12 to mark its 30th anniversary, and the disc includes a touching tribute to the legendary actor, whose take on the iconic DC Comics hero will go down as one of, if not the best of all time.

I Am The Knight features interviews with Conroy, who sadly passed away last year after a private cancel battle, along with several people who worked with him during his tenure as the Caped Crusader, including Batman: The Animated Series co-creator Bruce Timm, producers Eric Radomski and Paul Dini, and voice director Andrea Romano, along with DC Comics creators such as Geoff Johns and Paul Levitz.

In the video, Timm admits that casting the other roles was relatively simple, but finding the right actor for Batman/Bruce Wayne was a very different story. Luckily, after auditioning thousands of potential candidates, Andrea Romano suggested a Juilliard-trained actor she felt would be perfect for this animated incarnation of the Batman.

Conroy, who had never done any animation voice-acting before and wasn't even very familiar with the character, says he tried a gruffer, darker voice that prompted an immediate reaction to those who were listening outside the recording booth.

Check out the featurette in the player below, and let us know if you plan on picking up Batman: Mask of the Phantasm on 4K Blu-ray in the comments section.

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"In this animated feature set in the 1940s, the troubled yet heroic Batman (Kevin Conroy) is pitted against a mysterious figure who is rubbing out Gotham City's most dangerous criminals, and who many believe is the caped crusader himself. Batman's alter ego, millionaire Bruce Wayne, is about to get married to the lovely Andrea Beaumont (Dana Delany), who helps him recover from his need to avenge his parents' murder -- meaning that his crime-fighting days may be numbered."

The voice cast also features Mark Hamill as The Joker, Dana Delany as Andrea Beaumont / Phantasm, Hart Bochner as City Councilman Arthur Reeves, Stacy Keach as Carl Beaumont and voice of Phantasm, Abe Vigoda as Salvatore "The Wheezer" Valestra, Dick Miller as Chuckie Sol, John P. Ryan as Buzz Bronski, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred Pennyworth, Bob Hastings as Commissioner James Gordon, Robert Costanzo as Detective Harvey Bullock, and Arleen Sorkin as Mrs. Bambi.

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22 Comments

PC04 - 9/13/2023, 4:46 PM

A true legend who gave us the greatest interpretation of the character.

Th3Batman - 9/13/2023, 4:51 PM

Batman The Animated Series, as well as it's two sequels, is THE version of Batman to me. Everything else comes second, including the comics.

TheVandalore - 9/13/2023, 11:49 PM

@Th3Batman - basically, if Kevin voiced him, that was how I imagine Batman. Be it the Arkham games or the various Bruce Timm animated productions... if Kevin agreed to voice him you pretty much knew it was going to be the definitive Batman.

Th3Batman - 9/14/2023, 3:41 AM

@TheVandalore - There are so many projects out there that wouldn't change if they lost their main voice actor, but the animated series and Arkham trilogy are different. I cannot imagine these 2 existing without Kevin Conroy's voice. No matter how many people voice him, in animation or live action, something feels off compared to Conroy.

LukeCage2155 - 9/13/2023, 4:56 PM

I was ten years old when Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was released in 1993. Also, this film was released after my birthday.

marvel72 - 9/13/2023, 5:03 PM

My favourite take on Batman, he will be missed.

dracula - 9/13/2023, 5:11 PM

he and arleen are missed

still the best in any medium

DocSpock - 9/13/2023, 5:13 PM

Dude is missed.

SonOfAGif - 9/13/2023, 5:31 PM

Finally an article from someone other than Josh Wilding. I blocked him but his articles still show up. It's awful.

DarthAlgar - 9/13/2023, 5:32 PM

@SonOfAGif - I wish I could block his god-awful articles as well.

SonOfAGif - 9/13/2023, 5:46 PM

@DarthAlgar - That's one option I wish they would bring. The ability to hide editor articles or block them entirely. Sick of his antics and the way he baits people and spoils things for people knowing 95% of the site hasn't seen an episode or movie yet. Or how he puts a spoiler picture as the main thumbnail to get people to click his articles to argue about spoilers so he can generate his revenue. It's Narcissistic.

TheVandalore - 9/13/2023, 11:52 PM

@SonOfAGif - the site knows too. But without him CBM would basically be dead. I'd love to be proven wrong.

dancingmonkey08 - 9/13/2023, 5:58 PM

Great movie...and this damn scene:

?si=uMBiF7eatiRRigtm

ObserverIO - 9/13/2023, 6:38 PM

@dancingmonkey08 - Dat music though.

You know this score was by Shirley Walker, who was Danny Elfman's conductor and Orchestrator on many projects including Batman 1989 and it also featured additional programming by Hans Zimmer who would later go on to score both the Dark Knight Trilogy and the Snyder Trilogy!

Ha1frican - 9/13/2023, 6:54 PM

Forever my Batman

Feralwookiee - 9/13/2023, 7:21 PM

Off topic: Kang breaks up a fight between some girls in a move totally not staged by his p.r. team.
http://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/crisis-team-clock-fans-believe-203226758.html

bobevanz - 9/13/2023, 7:53 PM

@Feralwookiee - haha

bobevanz - 9/13/2023, 7:54 PM

He died the day after my birthday last year, stan lee died on my birthday.. I'll never forget him. And I hate my birthday lol

Skestra - 9/13/2023, 9:30 PM

*reads every comment on this thread. Agrees with every comment on this thread. Likes every comment on this thread (sorry about your birthday though, Bobevanz)*

DudeGuy - 9/13/2023, 10:23 PM

Rest well my Batman

Deadinside - 9/15/2023, 10:14 AM

😑 I thought for sure that this was going to be one of those rare articles where there was not going to be any negativity thrown about, but, I was sadly mistaken!
What an absolute shame that we can't put stupid, petty BS personal feelings aside for a single article!

I sincerely wish peace on all of you!☮

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BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM "I Am The Knight" Featurette Pays Tribute To The Late Kevin Conroy

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is now available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray for the first time, and the accompanying "I Am The Knight" featurette pays tribute to the late Kevin Conroy...

MERRY LITTLE BATMAN Poster Introduces Us To Damian Wayne As Robin The DC Universe's "Little Batman"

BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM's Upcoming 4K Blu-ray Remaster Gets Trailer And Kevin Conroy Tribute

MERRY LITTLE BATMAN Poster Introduces Us To Damian Wayne As Robin The DC Universe's "Little Batman"