Ranking the Batman Movies: #8

8. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

(1993)

Directed by Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm

Batman…Kevin Conroy

James Gordon…Bob Hastings

Alfred…Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.

Andrea Beaumont…Dana Delaney

The Joker…Mark Hamill

The Phantasm…Stacey Keach

By now we realize that a generous portion of Gotham’s citizens have ties to organized crime. A mysterious masked and caped figure known as The Phantasm has started killing them off. Of course, Batman has to find out who this is and stop them if, for no other reason, he’s being blamed for the murders. We also get some flashbacks to our hero’s earliest days as a crime-fighter which also coincides with a very serious relationship with Andrea Beaumont. She’s just come back to town and stirs up all sorts of emotions in Bruce. This is probably the best handled love story among any of the features. You can see the twist coming a bit, but the rest of the movie is so enjoyable it doesn’t bother you. Many rank this as the best Batman animated feature and some would put it right at or near the top on this list. I’m not quite in that camp, but it’s quite good.

Ranking the Batman Movies: #10

10. Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero

(1998)

Directed by Boyd Kirkland

Batman…Kevin Conroy

Robin…Loren Lester

James Gordon…Bob Hastings

Batgirl…Mary Kay Bergman

Alfred…Efram Zimbalist Jr.

Mr. Freeze…Michael Ansara

Despite all the damage done by Joel Schumacher and Arnold Schwarzenegger making a mockery of Mr. Freeze just a year earlier, Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero was released direct to video in 1998. It proceeds to tell the story of Victor Fries a thousand times better than Batman & Robin. It treats the story as a serious narrative and ably conveys the desperation and sadness of our villain. In fact, this is more of a Mr. Freeze movie that just happens to include Batman. Still, it doesn’t skimp on the superhero stuff, either. Both Robin and Batgirl get ample opportunity to show their stuff. As viewers, we’re put in the difficult position of deciding whether or not we can sympathize with the bad guy. It’s not as simple as Batman beating up the bad guy then shoving him into Arkham. This is far from it.

Ranking the Batman Movies: #11

11. Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman

(2003)

Directed by Curt Geda and Tim Maltby

Batman…Kevin Conroy

Robin…Eli Marienthal

James Gordon…Bob Hastings

Barbara Gordon…Tara Strong

Alfred…Efram Zimbalist Jr.

Batwoman…Kyra Sedgwick

Carlton Duquesne…Kevin Michael Richardson

The Penguin…David Ogden Stiers

Dr. Roxanne Ballantine…Kelly Ripa

If you couldn’t already tell, the Batman franchise dabbles in a number of genres. Here, we get sort of a whodunit. The question isn’t who the bad guy is, but who is this other good guy? Actually, good girl in this case. Someone calling themselves Batwoman has also taken to the streets of Gotham to fight crime and is effective, but sloppy. Of course, our hero has to get to the bottom of this because Batwoman doesn’t live by the same moral code as he does. Her techniques are dangerous and ruthless. It’s a solid Bat-tale with a terrific twist that we can’t quite see coming. It’s also notable for being the only movie on the list to show Bruce in an interracial relationship. The best part about that is that I make a bigger deal out of it than the movie which never mentions it.