Mike Grell's Batman: Masque adapts Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera to the Batman universe. As an Elseworlds tale, the story is set outside of canon and self-contained. Bruce Wayne/Batman's origin is mostly the same, though in this rendition he plays the role of Vicomte Raoul de Chagny when he's not working as the Batman. Laura Avian, the understudy who becomes prima ballerina, takes the place of Christine Daaé and, like in Tim Burton's 1989 film, she attempts to lead Batman out of the darkness. Finally, Harvey Dent, a skilled dancer, suffers horrible burns, so that he combines the roles of Two-Face and Erik, the Phantom. Grell's retelling captures the basic details of Leroux's novel while also contributing its own interpretation. Additionally, as writer and illustrator, he knows when to let the images speak for themselves. The art is somber, maudlin, and perfectly suited to the gothic nature of the story. This is one of the most enjoyable Elseworlds tales, though it doesn't receive the attention it deserves. ( )