"Beware the Gray Ghost" is the eighteenth episode of the first season of Batman: The Animated Series. It originally aired on Fox Kids in the United States on November 4, 1992. The episode marks the first and only appearance of the Gray Ghost, who was voiced by 1966 Batman actor Adam West.
Synopsis
In flashback, a young Bruce Wayne is watching an episode of his favorite show, The Gray Ghost, the scene depicts a strange whirring sound followed by a large building being destroyed by a huge explosion, then the police receive a ransom note signed by "The Mad Bomber" informing of the next target. Cutting between the past and the present, the same thing is seen happening in the present as in the episode: a whirring sound is heard, followed by a massive explosion that destroys a building, the police receive a ransom note, also signed by the "Mad Bomber". In the show, the Gray Ghost is shown jumping off a neighboring building to investigate, while in the present Batman does exactly the same thing.
Batman sees the connection, but does not remember the end of the episode, since he fell asleep before it was over. Bruce Wayne tries to find a tape of the show, but is told that it is impossible to find, as the prints were lost in a studio fire. Looking up the show at the library, Bruce finds Simon Trent, the actor who played the Gray Ghost, is still alive, and is living in Gotham.
An elderly Trent lives in a seedy apartment, with his landlord demanding the unpaid rent. Trent gets a call from his agent and finds he has been rejected for another part. He has been unable to get work since his glory days as the Gray Ghost, due to being typecast. In despair, Trent trashes his apartment in a rage. Fed up with his Gray Ghost memorabilia, he takes it all to a toy store, selling it for as much as the owner, Ted Dymer, is willing to pay.
Trent returns home and falls asleep. When he wakes up all his stuff has been returned, and a note from "a friend" is attached to his Gray Ghost costume, summoning Trent to a meeting near Gotham Art School.
Trent shows up at the aforementioned place and Batman reveals himself, asking for his help regarding the show's "Mad Bomber" episode. Trent, having made so many episodes that aired a long time ago, doesn't remember any of the details. He angrily tells Batman to leave him alone, but then the same whirring noise is heard (which Trent promptly recognizes) and the Gotham Art School explodes. Batman goes to investigate, while Trent runs back to his home.
Trent arrives at his apartment, only to find Batman already there waiting for him. Trent tries to phone the police, but Batman shows him the ransom note informing that the next bomb will demolish Gotham Library. Having remembered the episode, Trent opens his closet and reveals old film reels, a complete collection of "The Gray Ghost". He gives Batman the episode and asks to be left in peace. Batman expresses his admiration for what the Gray Ghost stood for, then goes away.
Bruce watches the episode at home and remembers the source of the whirring noise: radio-controlled toy cars, carrying explosives. Forewarned, he and the police lie in wait at the Gotham Library. As a set of three cars speed toward the library, one is destroyed by a police sniper, another by Batman with a flamethrower. The last car breaks off and Batman pursues it into an alley. At the end of the alley, he finds the car is a decoy, and turns to see another trio of cars racing toward him.
Batman is trapped, but then a rope falls from above, and Batman climbs it just as the cars crash and explode. Reaching the top, Batman finds Simon Trent himself, dressed in full costume as the Gray Ghost. Batman gives him the toy car, which Trent identifies as an authentic piece of Gray Ghost merchandise. Batman invites the Gray Ghost to help him. Trent reluctantly agrees, but then another set of toy cars appear. Both heroes jump into the Batmobile and speed away, managing to evade the trap and detonate the cars harmlessly.
Batman takes the Gray Ghost to the Batcave. The Gray Ghost notices its similarity to the "Gray Ghost Lair" from the TV show. Batman also reveals a special corner where he still keeps some Gray Ghost merchandise from his childhood as a shrine to the hero. Batman tells Trent he watched the show as a child, and that the Gray Ghost was an inspiration to him. Trent realizes just how big a difference the show made to someone, remarking that "it wasn't all for nothing".
Batman scans the car for fingerprints and finds Trent's on it. Batman turns and confronts him. Trent swears he's innocent, as in order to pay his rent he sold his toy cars months ago... meaning the Mad Bomber is Ted Dymer, the toy collector.
Batman confronts Ted, who is obsessed with toys, and needs the money to buy more. Ted traps Batman with a ring of toy cars, but then Trent appears in costume and takes him down. A fire starts, and they escape the building before an explosion destroys the entire toy shop. Defeated by his own bombs, Ted cries for the loss of his toys and is taken into police custody.
Trent is hailed as a hero, and his career is restarted by the release of "The Gray Ghost" on video and broadcast television. Trent has been offered a part in a film, and his merchandise is now highly valuable. While signing autographs at a convention, he is approached by Bruce Wayne, who says that he used to watch "The Gray Ghost" with his father, and the Gray Ghost was his hero...and he still is. Having heard these same words from Batman, Trent seems to suspect who Bruce Wayne really is, which he acknowledges with a smile.
Cast
- Kevin Conroy as Batman
- Bob Hastings as Commissioner Gordon
- Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred
- Mari Devon as Summer Gleeson
- Joe Leahy as Narrator
- Bruce Timm as Ted Dymer
- Adam West as Gray Ghost
Gallery
External links
- "Beware the Gray Ghost" at Batman: The Animated Series Wiki
- "Beware the Gray Ghost" at DC Animated Universe Wiki
- "Beware the Gray Ghost" at IMDb