The Phantom Stranger: Difference between revisions

[[File:PhantomStranger05.jpg|frame|Please note he's wearing a cape, NOT a trenchcoat!]]

 

{{quote|''I am known in many realms by many names, Bartholomew Allen, but those that know me in '''your''' world call me the Phantom Stranger. I work in-between worlds, an agent of destiny and the Fates, restoring order and balance where chaos has lain her hands.''|The Phantom Stranger explains himself to a confused [[The Flash|Impulse]] (''Impulse'' #87)}}

The character debuted in ''Phantom Stranger'' vol. 1 #1 (August-September, 1952), created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino. His original series only lasted 6 issues ending in June-July, 1953. He was revived in ''Showcase'' #80 (February, 1969). Then received a second series named after him, which lasted for 41 issues (May-June, 1969 - February-March, 1976). When that series ended, the Stranger started making guest appearances in series devoted to the [[Justice League of America]], [[Swamp Thing]], etc. He has never quite faded away.

 

 

By the time the Stranger entered the larger [[DC Universe]], it was decided that he was indeed magical, but still little else was revealed about him. He almost always appears to help other heroes deal with a magical menace that they can't handle alone- though his help would always be minimal, only taking a direct hand when absolutely needed. Whether he did this because he saw his job as being helping others to help themselves, or because some [[Powers That Be]] limited his actions, has never been made clear.

 

Note also that the Stranger does ''not'' wear a mask -- that's just an (intentional) visual effect, the shadow of his hat on his face. However, the shadow still appears even when he's wearing a Santa hat, or even no hat at all. He's just that awesome. (His hair, by the way, is white.)

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** It should be noted that in his original (1950s) appearances, he does wear some kind of overcoat, with a button-up shirt and tie. (This look can be seen in the upper-left-hand corner spot illustration on the cover reproduced above.)

* [[Cosmopolitan Council]] - The Stranger was one of the members of "The Quintessence", an alliance of powerful good mystics who watched over the DC Universe... and rarely did anything else. As of current continuity, it's no longer in operation.

* [[Multiple Choice Past]] - Several ''intentionally'' conflicting origins have been suggested for the Stranger.

** Still in force as of his [[Blackest Night]] tie-in. Not only is he neither alive nor dead, but he is something "strange" (this is coming from black rings that in all other cases, with the exception of identifying the White Light, are perfectly accurate at assessing emotional states, life and death, and so on - yet they do not recognise what he is) that even Nekron does not understand. And when a Black Lantern attempts to take his heart, a page is shown of three of the possible origins of the Stranger, followed by the Black Lantern lying on the ground covered in scorch marks (thrown out violently with no harm being done to Stranger) and the Phantom Stranger declaring that the Black Lantern has "seen everything and nothing" of the truth.

* [[My Significance Sense Is Tingling]]

* [[Mysterious Past]]

[[Category:The DCU]]

[[Category:The Phantom Stranger]]