Danny Chase

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 characters in their twenties, Danny was also intended as a comic foil for one of the group's foundational characters, Changeling.

Problematically, the character is 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 are by Chase's cleverness and capability. This quickly proved unpopular with most fans, and pro and anti-Chase letters sparked heated debate in the letter column. Wolfman tried various ways to make the character more appealing to the Titans' fan base, including having him briefly disguised as the mysterious "Phantasm" during the Titans Hunt storyline. However, negative fan pressure was strong enough to write Danny out of the series.

Years later, during Jay Faerber's run on "The Titans", he planned for new series villain Epsilon to be a resurrected Danny. Tempest's evil uncle Slizzath was supposed to have revived him as part of a planned storyline. The new editor Andrew Helfer overturned this and a new origin was given instead.^[2]

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.^[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 Godvia, 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 Chase to leave the team for his own security. ^[4]

During the Titans Hunt storyline, Danny is confronted by two members of the Wildebeest Society and presumed dead. However, he survives and adopts the Phantasm identity, using a makeshift costume and a voice-disguising modulator.

Ultimately, Danny sacrifices himself to save Raven's homeworld of Azarath. He, Arella, and other disembodied souls of Azarath merge into a new entity also called the Phantasm.^[5][6]

Danny Chase's body briefly returns as an undead slave to Brother Blood in issues #30-#31 (January-February 2006) of the third Teen Titans series (2003-2011), written by Geoff Johns. In the "One Year Later" event, Zachary Zatara mentions that he and Kid Devil went on a trip to New Azarath where they were almost eaten by the Phantasm.^[7]

During the Blackest Night storyline, Danny Chase is briefly revived as a Black Lantern before being killed again by Dawn Granger.^[8]

In 2011, The New 52 rebooted the DC universe. Phantasm is among the many subjects kept under A.R.G.U.S. control.^[9]

Danny Chase possesses the power of telekinesis, as well as being skilled in espionage and having a photographic memory. As Phantasm, he possesses the combined magic of the souls of Azarath.

• Danny Chase appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.^[10]
• Danny Chase appears in Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #16.^[11]
• Danny Chase appears in Young Justice, voiced by Jason Marsden.^[12] This version possesses teleportation in addition to telekinesis, both of which he gained from experimentation by the Light, and was further transformed by DeSaad into a robotic being known as the Kaiser-Thrall. Subsequently, he was forced into serving the forces of Apokolips before being liberated by the Team.^[13]

• Danny Chase at Comic Vine