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Gray Ghost (fictional character)
Encyclopedia
The Gray Ghost is a character voiced by Adam West
from Batman: The Animated Series
.
would often watch The Gray Ghost with his father
, and the dynamic costumed vigilante
would be part of the inspiration for Bruce to become one himself later in life, donning the cape and cowl of Batman
.
Years later, Trent is a washed-up and typecast
actor unable to pay his rent, reduced to selling his memorabilia to cover the bills. He later meets Batman and finds out that all of Batman's belongings and the Batcave
have been inspired by the Gray Ghost. Trent redeems his fame by helping Batman solve a case that is identical to an episode of his own show: The villain turned out to be an obsessive toy collector (voiced by series producer Bruce Timm
) who used Trent's memorabilia to blackmail
the city with bomb threats. The story ends with a major home video
release of the long lost TV series using Trent's personal film collection, which makes him a wealthy man and possibly revitalizes his acting career. When Bruce Wayne arrives at one of the conventions where Trent is signing autographs, Wayne gives a hint of his secret identity as Batman to the actor. Trent seemingly understands, as he smiles delightedly in response.
episode "Epilogue", Terry McGinnis
and his family are shown leaving a theatre playing "The Grey Ghost Strikes" while the Phantasm
is waiting to murder his parents. This indicates that the Grey Ghost franchise continued to thrive well after the release of the television series. Although the Phantasm does not follow through, this scene parallels the traditional origin of Batman, where Bruce Wayne's parents are murdered as he and they leave The Mark of Zorro
. This is actually the intention of characters within the show; Amanda Waller
hired the Phantasm to recreate Batman in Terry. (These events occurred between the end of Justice League Unlimited and the beginning of Batman Beyond
.)
. In the Batman Beyond episode "Black Out", Bruce Wayne dons the hat and goggles of the Gray Ghost to hide his identity from Inque
, who had infiltrated the Batcave.
The Justice League Unlimited comic series also referenced the Gray Ghost in the Christmas-themed issue #28. Superman
mentions that he had also watched the show as a child, and he was terrified by it but still loved it. The Gray Ghost toys play a key role during the issue.
The Gray Ghost also appears twice in Joe the Barbarian
, once in the first issue and again in the seventh as one of his toy figures.
The 'Grey Ghost' (Grey, not Gray) appears in Batgirl vol. 2, #15 in 2011. He attempts to become the sidekick of Batgirl. His attire is similar to Dr. Mid-Nite, but in shades in gray. He also wields a shotgun. His real identity is Clancy Johnson.
Adam West
William West Anderson , better known by the stage name Adam West, is an American actor best known for his lead role in the Batman TV series and the film of the same name...
from Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series is an American animated series based on the DC Comics character Batman. The series featured an ensemble cast of many voice-actors including Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Arleen Sorkin, and Loren Lester. The series won four Emmy Awards and was nominated...
.
Batman: The Animated Series
Within the series, the Gray Ghost is a fictional character who appears in a television show and in movies, played by actor Simon Trent. As a child, Bruce WayneBatman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
would often watch The Gray Ghost with his father
Thomas Wayne
Thomas Wayne is a fictional character in the Batman series of comic books. Dr. Thomas Wayne was the father of Bruce Wayne, and husband of Martha Wayne, as well as a gifted surgeon and philanthropist...
, and the dynamic costumed vigilante
Vigilante
A vigilante is a private individual who legally or illegally punishes an alleged lawbreaker, or participates in a group which metes out extralegal punishment to an alleged lawbreaker....
would be part of the inspiration for Bruce to become one himself later in life, donning the cape and cowl of Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
.
Years later, Trent is a washed-up and typecast
Typecasting (acting)
In TV, film, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups...
actor unable to pay his rent, reduced to selling his memorabilia to cover the bills. He later meets Batman and finds out that all of Batman's belongings and the Batcave
Batcave
The Batcave is the secret headquarters of fictional DC Comics superhero Batman, the alternate identity of playboy Bruce Wayne, consisting of a series of subterranean caves beneath his residence, Wayne Manor.-Publication history:...
have been inspired by the Gray Ghost. Trent redeems his fame by helping Batman solve a case that is identical to an episode of his own show: The villain turned out to be an obsessive toy collector (voiced by series producer Bruce Timm
Bruce Timm
Bruce Walter Timm is an American character designer, animator and producer. He is also a writer and artist working in comics, and is known for his contributions building the modern DC Comics animated franchise, the DC animated universe.-Animation:Timm's early career in animation was varied; he...
) who used Trent's memorabilia to blackmail
Blackmail
In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met. It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats...
the city with bomb threats. The story ends with a major home video
Home video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
release of the long lost TV series using Trent's personal film collection, which makes him a wealthy man and possibly revitalizes his acting career. When Bruce Wayne arrives at one of the conventions where Trent is signing autographs, Wayne gives a hint of his secret identity as Batman to the actor. Trent seemingly understands, as he smiles delightedly in response.
Justice League Unlimited
In the Justice League UnlimitedJustice League Unlimited
Justice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
episode "Epilogue", Terry McGinnis
Terry McGinnis
Batman is a fictional superhero in comics published by DC Comics as well as the main protagonist of the animated television series Batman Beyond , in which he has succeeded Bruce Wayne as the protector of Gotham City. He was voiced by Will Friedle...
and his family are shown leaving a theatre playing "The Grey Ghost Strikes" while the Phantasm
Andrea Beaumont
Andrea Beaumont, also known as The Phantasm, is a fictional character in the DC animated universe. Conceived by Alan Burnett and Paul Dini, she first appeared in the 1993 animated film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm as the ex-fiancé of Bruce Wayne/Batman and one of the film's primary antagonists...
is waiting to murder his parents. This indicates that the Grey Ghost franchise continued to thrive well after the release of the television series. Although the Phantasm does not follow through, this scene parallels the traditional origin of Batman, where Bruce Wayne's parents are murdered as he and they leave The Mark of Zorro
The Mark of Zorro (1920 film)
The Mark of Zorro is a 1920 silent film starring Douglas Fairbanks and Noah Beery. This genre-defining swashbuckler adventure was the first movie version of The Mark of Zorro...
. This is actually the intention of characters within the show; Amanda Waller
Amanda Waller
Dr. Amanda Blake Waller is a character published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Legends #1 in 1986, and was created by John Ostrander, Len Wein, and John Byrne...
hired the Phantasm to recreate Batman in Terry. (These events occurred between the end of Justice League Unlimited and the beginning of Batman Beyond
Batman Beyond
Batman Beyond is an American animated television series created by Warner Bros. Animation in collaboration with DC Comics as a continuation of the Batman legacy...
.)
Batman Beyond
One of the original costumes for the Gray Ghost hangs in the BatcaveBatcave
The Batcave is the secret headquarters of fictional DC Comics superhero Batman, the alternate identity of playboy Bruce Wayne, consisting of a series of subterranean caves beneath his residence, Wayne Manor.-Publication history:...
. In the Batman Beyond episode "Black Out", Bruce Wayne dons the hat and goggles of the Gray Ghost to hide his identity from Inque
Inque
Inque is a fictional character from the DCAU series Batman Beyond. She is a shapeshifting femme fatale with an aversion to water and electricity. Inque can turn into a dark liquid and slide through the smallest cracks, or apply herself to the surface of an object in order to avoid detection...
, who had infiltrated the Batcave.
Episode list
The following are the titles of The Gray Ghost episodes as written on the film reels owned by Simon Trent. The reels are also numbered, which shows where one or two episodes are still missing from the collection. This list also includes "The Mad Bomber", the episode which inspired the toy collector's crime spree. "Terror in the Sky" is also the title of an actual Batman: TAS episode (airdate November 12, 1992)- "Have a Heart"
- "Red Ghost Run"
- "The Claw"
- "Take a Hike"
- "One on One"
- "The Mad Bomber"
- "Dr. Death"
- "Jimmy's Homecoming"
- "The Doll Maker"
- "Gray Ghost Returns"
- "Missing Link"
- "The Card Shark"
- "Spy Smashers"
- "The Secret Chamber"
- "The Road Trip"
- "Terror in the Sky"
- "Earthquake"
- "Sweet Revenge"
- "Electronic Man"
- "Sweating Bullets"
Comic Books
The Gray Ghost made a return appearance in an early issue of Batman: The Gotham Adventures in the late 1990s, and turned up again years later in the most recent Batman Adventures series in 2004, in a story about the making of a Gray Ghost film.The Justice League Unlimited comic series also referenced the Gray Ghost in the Christmas-themed issue #28. Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
mentions that he had also watched the show as a child, and he was terrified by it but still loved it. The Gray Ghost toys play a key role during the issue.
The Gray Ghost also appears twice in Joe the Barbarian
Joe the Barbarian
Joe the Barbarian is an eight-issue comic book limited series written by Grant Morrison and drawn by Sean Murphy.-Publication history:Morrison has discussed the inspiration behind the series:...
, once in the first issue and again in the seventh as one of his toy figures.
The 'Grey Ghost' (Grey, not Gray) appears in Batgirl vol. 2, #15 in 2011. He attempts to become the sidekick of Batgirl. His attire is similar to Dr. Mid-Nite, but in shades in gray. He also wields a shotgun. His real identity is Clancy Johnson.