Gray Ghost (fictional character)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Gray Ghost | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
||||||
The Gray Ghost is a character voiced by Adam West from Batman: The Animated Series.
[edit] Character history
Within the series, the Gray Ghost is a fictional hero who appears in a television show and in movies. The Gray Ghost is played by actor Simon Trent. When Bruce Wayne was younger, he would often watch The Gray Ghost on television, 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.
At the time that Simon Trent made his appearance, he was a washed up and typecast actor who was unable to pay his rent and so sells 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 show. The villain turned out to be the Gray Ghost's most passionate fan and collector who used Trent's memorabilia. The story ends with a major home video release of the long lost TV series using Trent's personal film collection which likely has made him a wealthy man. During a public appearance in costume, Bruce Wayne comes for his autograph and subtly reveals to his hero that he is Batman.
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. This crept into an episode of Justice League Unlimited, entitled "Epilogue", where a Gray Ghost film was the intended setting of Terry McGuiness's parent's murder at the hands of the Phantasm from Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. (This is likely a thematic reference to the comic book concept that the film the Waynes were leaving when they were murdered was The Mark of Zorro, another caped crimefighter who influenced Bruce.)
The Justice League Unlimited comic series also recently 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.
[edit] Inspirations and references
The Gray Ghost bears a striking resemblance to the classic Will Eisner character, The Spirit, and to The Shadow, in pulps by the infamous Walter B. Gibson. In fact, it was The Shadow who Batman represents as his "biggest inspiration" in the comic book Batman #263. This, plus the striking similarities in their costumes, and a Shadow pulp issue entitled "The Gray Ghost", published in April 1936, all add to the foundation of this opinion.
The character's name might have come from the comic strip hero The Phantom, who was originally planned to be named the Gray Ghost. In addition, the voice-casting of West is clearly a nod to his starring role in the 1960s Batman TV series.
The character may also have been inspired by a character in The Flash TV show, Nightshade, played by the late Jason Bernard.
There is also a distinct possibility that the Gray Ghost (in design) was a nod to the Crimson Avenger. The character made his first appearance in Detective Comics #20, well over a year before the debut of Batman himself in Detective Comics #27. The design of the Crimson Avenger's first costume was strikingly similar to the designs of The Shadow and to a lesser extent, The Green Hornet (whom the Crimson Avenger himself may have been inspired from).
However, the plight of the character Simon Trent in the episode of Batman: The Animated Series bears a striking similarity to the plight of actor Al Hodge, who played the title character of the DuMont TV show Captain Video and His Video Rangers. Like Trent, Hodge was much admired and venerated in his prime, and years later would live in obscurity, residing in a small apartment that was crammed with memorabilia from his once-famous TV show. Unlike the fictional character, sadly, Hodge lived most of his later years in poverty and died a forgotten man. To a lesser degree, Adam West had similar difficulties finding work for years after his Batman role, although his career and cult star status has improved recently.
The character received a nod in the Batman Beyond episode "Black Out". During the episode's climax, the shapeshifting Inque battles both Batman (Terry McGinnis) and the aged Bruce Wayne, in the Batcave. To conceal his identity, Bruce, ever the quick thinker, dons the hat and goggles of his old hero the Grey Ghost, which was on display amidst other costumes and paraphernalia from Batman: The Animated Series.
