The Reaper (DC Multiverse)

The Reaper is a character who first appeared in the "Batman: Year Two" story arc by Mike W. Barr from Detective Comics #575-578 with art by Alan Davis in the first issue and a young Todd McFarlane on the latter three. The Reaper was a killer vigilante in Gotham City 20 years before Batman but he returns with a vengeance. There's some interesting ideas in this storyline but my interest in this figure is based largely on his design which clearly must've influenced the Phantasm 5 years later (though both are based on the classic Grim Reaper from folklore). The skull helmet is awesomely creepy and his leather armour is studded with spikes and other details that perhaps look better on the page than in plastic. The hands and scythes switch out quite easily and the way the cape attaches at the back leaves a nice place to store the blades in a manner similar to the comics which is pretty awesome.

Who needs a lower jaw?

...resist...comparison...to...Skeletor

You'll believe he kicked Batman's ass!

Shing!

"I know what you did..."

Not quite enough arm clearance to replicate the comics

Nice try sonny-Jim...

"You sure haven't learned much in your first year"

"Or HAVE I?"

The Reaper's backstory in the comics did influence the character of the Phantasm...

...but not in a simple direct translation.

Yes, I'm being unnecessarily cognizant of 25-30 year old spoilers (go read the comics and watch the film)

Battle to the...death?

 

You can see how the skull motif was softened for the cartoon audience.

 

Todd McFarlane would draw the human lower jaw in certain scenes and though it makes sense in a real world way it makes the Reaper look a bit goofier.

 

 

 

I love how the scythes hook onto his back, I wasn't expecting it and it looks so cool.