The Best Batman Film is Now Available on Netflix…and No, it Isn’t ‘The Dark Knight’

The best Batman movies and the best Batman actor have always been the sources of much debate among fans. One thing that most fans can agree on is that Kevin Conroy will always have a special place in our hearts with almost 30 years of Batman voice acting under his belt. Fortunately, Netflix has added an underrated film that isn’t just the quintessential Conroy Batman story, but is probably the best Bat-story committed to film. Originally intended to be a straight-to-video movie Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was rushed into a theatrical release, resulting in poor box office performance. However, it gained a much wider response once it got to home video and ended up justifying another standalone film getting made. The film is equal parts murder mystery and origin story, juxtaposing between Bruce Wayne at a pivotal point in his life and the present day when a vigilante known as the Phantasm is murdering mob bosses left and right with Batman taking the fall. There is a retro aesthetic that, to this day, doesn’t quite feel dated but also doesn’t necessarily take you out of the story. Aside from the Batplane, there isn’t a huge focus on gadgets and theatricality. The tough talking, ass kicking detective work has always been a centerpiece of the Conroy incarnation of Batman, and Mask of the Phantasm doesn’t run short on that, adding to its noir-ish quality. And even though the Joker (voiced by the incomparable Mark Hamill) eventually takes center stage as he often does in the TAS da…