The Phantom Stranger

The Phantom Stranger
Cover of The Phantom Stranger (Jan. 2013) #4. Art by Brent Anderson.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics/Vertigo
First appearance	Phantom Stranger #1 (August–September 1952)
Created by	John Broome (writer) Carmine Infantino (artist) Sy Barry (inker)
In-story information
Alter ego	Judas Iscariot
Team affiliations	The Quintessence Justice League The Trenchcoat Brigade Sentinels of Magic Justice League Dark
Notable aliases	Brotherless One, Grey Walker
Abilities	Near Limitless Magic Manipulation Immortality Omniscience Vast reality control
The Phantom Stranger
Series publication information
Schedule	vol. 1 and 2: Bimonthly vol. 3 and vol. 4: Monthly
Format	All: Standard U.S., color. vol. 1, 2 and vol. 4: ongoing. vol. 3: Limited series
Publication date	vol. 1: August/September 1952 - June/July 1953 vol. 2: May/June 1969– February/March 1976 vol. 3: October 1987–January 1988 vol. 4: November 2012–October 2014
Number of issues	vol. 1: 6 vol. 2: 41 vol. 3: 4 vol. 4: 23 (#1-22 plus issue #0) and a Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger: Futures End one shot
Main character(s)	The Phantom Stranger

The Phantom Stranger is a fictional character, of unspecified paranormal origins, who battles mysterious and occult forces in various titles published by DC Comics, sometimes under their Vertigo imprint.

The Phantom Stranger first appeared in a six-issue anthology comic book series bearing his name published in 1952, created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino. After an appearance in Showcase #80 (February 1969), he received another series beginning May–June 1969 that lasted until February–March 1976. The Showcase appearance and the first three issues of Phantom Stranger consisted of reprints from both the 1950s title and the Dr. 13: Ghost-Breaker feature from the last nine issues of Star Spangled Comics at the same time, with new, brief framing sequences. These had Dr. Thirteen, certain that the Phantom Stranger was an impostor, determined to expose him. Beginning with issue #4 (November–December 1969), the series began featuring all-new material, with stories produced by Robert Kanigher, Len Wein, Jim Aparo, Neal Adams, Tony DeZuniga, and others. In these stories, while the Stranger's past remained a mystery, the writers added a semi-regular cast of characters for him. A demonic sorceress named Tala would become his major personal enemy; an alchemist/sorcerer named Tannarak was first an enemy and would later assist him against the Dark Circle; and a blind psychic named Cassandra Craft would assist him. The stories hinted at a romantic attraction between the Stranger and Craft, but he eventually left her, deciding she could not be part of his life, convincing her he had been killed in their final battle against the Dark Circle. She eventually learned differently and turned up occasionally. Doctor Thirteen, dropped along with the reprints, was given a back-up series here as of #12 (March–April 1971) which morphed into "The Spawn of Frankenstein" in #23 (January–February 1973).