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  1. #1
    Astonishing Member Air Wave's Avatar
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    Default Phantom Stranger Appreciation Thread 2020

    An appreciation thread for the PHANTOM STRANGER!

    Screen Shot 2020-07-02 at 7.32.50 AM.jpg

  2. #2
    Extraordinary Member Güicho's Avatar
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    Always seemed odd to me when inferring a Marvel Dr. Strange analog, most seem to default suggest Dr. Fate.
    Yet Phantom Stranger (who also debuted before Strange) always seemed the more appropriate to me.
    Last edited by Güicho; 07-02-2020 at 05:34 AM.

  3. #3
    Extraordinary Member Güicho's Avatar
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    I like how Moore incorporated him into the proto-Justice League Dark team.
    Although it's frustrating that when Guillermo del Toro was offering to make JL Dark loosely inspired by it, DC/WB didn't move heaven and earth to make it happen.

    Also (the Glob not withstanding) another curiosity much is made of the parallel thinking that brought us the similarly Heap inspired debuts of Swamp Thing and Man-Thing.
    Yet never referenced debuting about that same time (a few months apart) was this Neal Addams drawn Phantom Stranger cover.



    Neal Addams cover run on Phantom Stranger was quite sensational.

    Last edited by Güicho; 07-02-2020 at 06:23 AM.

  4. #4
    Ultimate Member Robotman's Avatar
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    While the New 52 book had its moments, I wasn’t a fan of the fact that they gave him a new definitive origin as Judas. I much prefer the Phantom Stranger to be a mystery. But if I had to choose an origin I would pick the Alan Moore story in which the Stranger was an angel who didn’t pick a side in Lucifer’s rebellion in heaven, so he’s condemned to walk the earth forever.

    I kind of remember an issue of Justice League Dark from a year or so ago in which the Phantom Stranger once again has an ambiguous origin, so the Judas stuff may have been retconned.
    Last edited by Robotman; 07-03-2020 at 03:32 PM.

  5. #5
    Extraordinary Member MRP's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Robotman View Post
    While the New 52 book had its moments, I wasn’t a fan of the fact that they gave him a new definitive origin as Judas. I much prefer the Phantom Stranger to be a mystery. But if I had to choose an origin I would pick the Alan Moore story in which the Stranger was an angel who didn’t pick a side in Lucifer’s rebellion in heaven, so he’s condemned to walk the earth forever.

    I kind of remember an issue of Justice League Dark from a year or so ago in which the Phantom Stranger once again has an ambiguous origin, so the Judas stuff may have been retconned.
    The issue of Secret Origins that had the Moore origin tale (and three others) is one of my top 5 single issues of all time...



    I really dig the Moore origin, but prefer the origin to be ambiguous. However, as a huge folklore nerd, I think the take of the Stranger as the Wandering Jew was my favorite of the 4 takes.

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  6. #6
    Astonishing Member Air Wave's Avatar
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    The PHANTOM STRANGER's first appearance from 1952.

  7. #7
    Boisterously Confused
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    Quote Originally Posted by Robotman View Post
    While the New 52 book had its moments, I wasn’t a fan of the fact that they gave him a new definitive origin as Judas. I much prefer the Phantom Stranger to be a mystery. But if I had to choose an origin I would pick the Alan Moore story in which the Stranger was an angel who didn’t pick a side in Lucifer’s rebellion in heaven, so he’s condemned to walk the earth forever.

    I kind of remember an issue of Justice League Dark from a year or so ago in which the Phantom Stranger once again has an ambiguous origin, so the Judas stuff may have been retconned.
    I file The Phantom Stranger under the same heading as The Joker: People Who Should Never Have Their Origin Or Identity Revealed.

  8. #8
    Ultimate Member Gaius's Avatar
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    I liked the Stranger's brief use in Batman: Brave and The Bold.


  9. #9
    Spectacular Member Charlus's Avatar
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    So, what do you guys think about the Phantom Stranger being defeated by Wonder Woman? I thought he could only lose at the hands of The Spectre and, maybe, Doctor Fate. Isn’t kind of odd?

  10. #10
    Ultimate Member Robotman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Charlus View Post
    So, what do you guys think about the Phantom Stranger being defeated by Wonder Woman? I thought he could only lose at the hands of The Spectre and, maybe, Doctor Fate. Isn’t kind of odd?
    Eh, not really. Diana fights gods. That’s what she does. If anyone could handle the Phantom Stranger it’s her.

  11. #11
    Astonishing Member Tzigone's Avatar
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    I file The Phantom Stranger under the same heading as The Joker: People Who Should Never Have Their Origin Or Identity Revealed.
    I tend to agree.

    I like some of the bronze age stuff with Doctor Thirteen. Though reading the '50s stuff was kinda odd after that.

  12. #12
    Ultimate Member Gaius's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Charlus View Post
    So, what do you guys think about the Phantom Stranger being defeated by Wonder Woman? I thought he could only lose at the hands of The Spectre and, maybe, Doctor Fate. Isn’t kind of odd?
    The lasso is what I think was meant to give her the advantage since it's been used on god-like beings before so I didn't really think much of it. Him acting more like I felt The Spectre would was a bit more questionable to me.

  13. #13
    Astonishing Member signalman112's Avatar
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    Cover to WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #249 by Jim Aparo.

    WFC249.jpg

  14. #14
    Astonishing Member Korath's Avatar
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    I'm kind of divided about the Phantom Stranger (and the Specter also). On the one hand, he's a very cool and mysterious character, larger than even our heroes are.

    On the other hand, it solidifies the idea that Abrahamic God is the real one and I really don't like it for plenty of reasons.

    But I'm surprised to see that he retained his New 52 origin. Do you think it means Pandora and The New 52's Question still exist somewhere ?

  15. #15
    Extraordinary Member Restingvoice's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Korath View Post
    I'm kind of divided about the Phantom Stranger (and the Specter also). On the one hand, he's a very cool and mysterious character, larger than even our heroes are.

    On the other hand, it solidifies the idea that Abrahamic God is the real one and I really don't like it for plenty of reasons.

    But I'm surprised to see that he retained his New 52 origin. Do you think it means Pandora and The New 52's Question still exist somewhere ?
    Yeah, I found out that he's still Judas Iscariot. What the heck? I don't really like that concept, and it has nothing to do with anything now that The Trinity of Sin concept is no longer used.

    I kinda feel like they're just don't wanna think about a different concept just yet so they used the last one. Especially with the status of the new timeline is still unsure.

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