External links
- Danny Chase at Comic Vine
| Phantasm | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | New Teen Titans Annual (vol. 2) #3 (November 1987) |
| Created by | Marv Wolfman Mike Collins |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Daniel M. Chase, later the souls of Azarath |
| Species | Human (originally) Fusion of Souls (currently) |
| Team affiliations | New Teen Titans Central Bureau of Intelligence |
| Abilities | Telekinesis Extremely intelligent with a photographic memory |
Danny Chase (later called Phantasm ) is a superhero appearing in media published by DC Comics, primarily in association with the Teen Titans. [1]
Danny Chase/Phantasm first appeared in The New Teen Titans Annual (vol. 2) #3 and was created by Marv Wolfman and artist Mike Collins. Although Wolfman hoped the character would restore the "teen hero" feel to a group composed mostly of young adults, Chase was also intended as a comic foil for one of the group's primary characters, Changeling. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The character was often portrayed as an overly snide, egotistical brat. Conflicts with Beast Boy were one-sided, with Chase invariably delivering come-uppance. Meanwhile, other members of the team proved prone to commenting on how impressed they were by Chase's cleverness and capability. This quickly proved unpopular with fans. Wolfman tried various ways to make Chase more appealing, including having him become Phantasm during the Titans Hunt storyline. However, reception to the character continued to be negative, leading him to be killed off. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
During Jay Faerber's run on Titans, he planned for the newly introduced villain Epsilon to be Danny Chase, resurrected by Tempest's evil uncle Slizzath. Editor Andrew Helfer overturned this, making Epsilon and Chase unrelated. [7]
Danny Chase is a short-lived member of the New Teen Titans. He is raised by parents who are international spies for the Central Bureau of Intelligence under King Faraday. [8] [2] [3] As a result, he is extensively trained in espionage, infiltration, and intelligence acquisition. Failing to persuade Faraday to look into his parents' abduction by Godiva, Danny turned to the Titans and Nightwing. After proving his worth as a metahuman with powerful telekinetic abilities and a near-photographic memory, he joined them. His run with the Titans ended after the death of Jason Todd, which prompted Nightwing to order Danny to leave the team for his own security. [9] [2]
During the Titans Hunt storyline, Danny Chase is confronted by two members of the Wildebeest Society inside a shopping mall. One of them blasts him away and assumes him to be dead. Danny survives and assembles a disguise from assorted items - a hockey mask, a bolt of fabric, and a modulator to alter his voice. He presents himself as the "Phantasm" to remain incognito. [10] [2] [5]
Danny later sacrifices himself to save Raven's homeworld of Azarath, with his spirit fusing with Arella and the souls of Azarath and becoming a new entity called Phantasm. [11] [3] [4] [5] Following his death, Danny's body is resurrected on two occasions, acting as a separate entity from Phantasm. He acted as an undead slave to Brother Blood in the third volume of Teen Titans (2006) and was resurrected as a Black Lantern during the Blackest Night event (2009). [4] In Blackest Night, Danny's body is destroyed by Dawn Granger. [12] [13]
In The New 52 continuity reboot, Phantasm appears as a captive of A.R.G.U.S. [14]
Danny Chase is a metahuman who possesses telekinesis, and is additionally skilled in espionage and has a photographic memory. As Phantasm, he possesses the combined magic of the souls of Azarath.
