Phantom Blot is an agent of the international criminal organization F.O.W.L. voiced by Giancarlo Esposito. He first appeared in the DuckTales (2017) episode "Moonvasion!"
Biography[]
Before becoming a member of F.O.W.L., the Blot lived in a village which Magica De Spell took over with her magic. Despite being given many gifts in exchange for not destroying his home by its inhabitants, she eventually grew tired of the praises of the village's denizens and eventually destroyed it anyway. The Blot swore revenge against Magica for this atrocity, but every attempt to enact it was thwarted by the sorceress. Despite being beaten many times, he who would become the one assailant who never gave up, adapting and improving himself until he eventually became powerful enough to defeat his hated adversary with a special glove that absorbs and blasts out whatever magic's thrown at it. Despite this, Magica was able to escape the Blot for a time by a hair's breadth.
The Blot was in a F.O.W.L. meeting alongside Gandra Dee; Jeeves, the enforcer of a cryogenically frozen John D. Rockerduck; Steelbeak; and Black Heron after the Moonvasion as an agent disguised as the Funso Mascot. He unmasks himself after the Board of Directors order all the agents to step out of the shadows with the intent of eliminating Scrooge and his family once and for all. The Blot would soon do so, stealing Gladstone Gander's magical luck before invading McDuck Manor. His attack left Scrooge and his nephews trapped in Goat'hool, and Webby, Violet, and Lena were forced to seek out Magica for help.
After Lena had received some training from the sorceress, the Blot arrived and attacked the group.
Later, the Blot used his repaired glove to trap Gene the Genie as part of F.O.W.L.'s plans to secure the Missing Mysteries of Isabella Finch. Afterwards, he traveled to Dismal Downs in Scotland, where he used a device to dispel the mists surrounding Castle McDuck. His purpose in doing so was to obtain another Missing Mystery, the Blessed Bagpipe of Clan McDuck, in company with a F.O.W.L. Egghead named Pepper. The Blot was rather annoyed by his perky partner, whom he was forced to tolerate due to Bradford Buzzard's orders.
Pepper eventually discovered the hiding place of the bagpipe, in the hall of Clan McDuck statues. She then informed the Blot that she was actually the only F.O.W.L. operative willing to act as his partner, as the other members of their organization found him too intimidating. Surprised at this revelation and touched by Pepper's willingness, the Blot made his attempt to claim the bagpipe, only to have it bring several of the statues to life. After a chaotic confrontation, the Blot and Pepper were forced to retreat, leaving behind the bagpipe but carrying with them a deepened bond of teamwork.
In his last appearance, Phantom Blot used the bagpipes on Manny and then attempted to destroy him because it was foretold that he would be the one to bring on the apocalypse, even though Manny insisted that he no longer has a desire to do so. When Lena interfered and freed both Manny and Gene, the Phantom Blot tried to take the young sorceress on, but Manny took on his true form to help. It is not shown, but it was assumed that the Phantom Blot was defeated by the combined might of Manny and Lena, both of whom were at full power.
Physical Appearance[]
The Phantom Blot appears as a black shadow-like figure with glowing green eyes. He wears a black hood and cloak, with matching gloves and boots. He is usually seen with his gold magic-draining gauntlet as well.
Personality[]
Phantom Blot hates all magic, believing it to be atrocious. He is incredibly ruthless and vengeful, seemingly not caring about anyone he hurts in his quest to destroy mysticism at its source. Determined as he is full of rage, the Blot was apparently able to devise his own anti-magical device powerful enough to drain away the high sorceress Magica's dark arcanum. Blot is also quite adept at improvement and strategic revision given how De Spell accounts his capacity for growing stronger after each new setback he's faced with to adjust his approach later on.
For all his anger and intensity, the Blot is surprisingly sensitive, and seems genuinely hurt to learn that Pepper is the only F.O.W.L. operative willing to partner with him. Though initially annoyed by her, he changes his view after learning of her unique status, and embraces the idea of the two of them forming a team.
Equipment[]
- Blot Glove: Phantom Blot created a mechanical gauntlet that can siphon magic. It can also negate spells as by draining magic it turns objects such as chains back into toys. Whenever he is defeated, Phantom Blot upgrades his gauntlet to become successively more powerful after each defeat handed to him by Magica De Spell and others. The glove seems to have limits as it can overload if it absorbs too much magic. When the glove is completely destoryed or damaged, all the magic he absorbs will return to the original source, as seen when Gene the Genie managed to safely escape from the Library of Alexandria in "The Last Adventure!" once the device was destroyed.
Appearances[]
Season 2[]
- 24. Moonvasion! (non-speaking cameo)
Season 3[]
- 1. Challenge of the Senior Junior Woodchucks! (non-speaking cameo)
- 8. The Phantom and the Sorceress!
- 13. Escape from the Impossibin! (non-speaking cameo)
- 17. The Fight for Castle McDuck!
- 22. The Last Adventure!
Gallery
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Trivia[]
- This villain was originally created by Floyd Gottfredson for the Mickey Mouse newspaper comic strip storyline "Mickey Mouse Outwits the Phantom Blot", and has regularly menaced Mickey and his friends in comics.
- Due to Mickey not being allowed to be mentioned in DuckTales, this marks the first time the Phantom Blot has appeared in a continuity where Mickey doesn't exist.
- This series is also the first time the Phantom Blot has been depicted working for anyone besides himself.
- Although his species is not revealed in this series, in the comics, he is a dog.
- Funso appears in "Daytrip of Doom!", "Storkules in Duckburg!", "GlomTales!" and "Double-O-Duck in You Only Crash Twice!" but it was confirmed by Frank Angones that the Blot took over the role of Funso after "GlomTales!" specifically to keep tabs on Magica while working on his gauntlet. This was going to be explained in a deleted scene from "The Phantom and the Sorceress!"[1]