DC Comics is home to many characters, both well known and not all that well-known, but the one character that nobody knows the true identity of is the Phantom Stranger. The mysterious one has had various origins over the decades, with none of them ever truly piercing the seemingly infinite layers of mystery that enshroud the Phantom Stranger.
With that in mind, let's go over all the character's different origins, and try to determine which one is the true face hidden behind this figure of infinite power.
In the beginning...
The Phantom Stranger made his first appearance in his own self-titled comic in 1952, with art by Carmine Infantino. The official writer and creator of the Phantom Stranger has been lost to time, but most would consider writer John Broome as being instrumental in the character's creation (the same writer who only a few years later would create the Silver Age version of the Flash, Barry Allen). The Phantom Stranger's first ongoing comic only ran for 6 issues, but from his conception the character is one shrouded in mystery, aiding the helpless against magical, or seemingly magical threats. These first comics had the hero uncover that the supernatural occurrences surrounding the events of the story were just hoaxes by normal people, and it was his life's work to uncover those who would use the illusion of magic to prey on the innocent.
After the end of the original series, the Phantom Stranger wasn't seen for over a decade, when he was eventually reintroduced in the pages of Showcase No. 80 in 1969, which was written by creator John Broome and Michael Friedrich. This story followed a similar format to that of the original comics of the 1950s, with the Phantom Stranger aiding those against the supernatural. However, a major change from the original stories is that the Phantom Stranger doesn't try to disprove the existence of magic, he just tries to prevent it from harming others.
Another significant addition found in this issue was the presence of Dr. Terrance Thirteen, otherwise known as the Ghost Breaker, who seeks to find cases of anything supernatural and prove to the world at large that magic is not real. Dr. Thirteen took up the debunking of magic aspect of the Phantom Stranger from his first appearances, which would set the stage for the Phantom Stranger himself to have another ongoing series during the Bronze Age of comics that lasted over 40 issues.
Those early issues of the Bronze Age did stick to him helping innocents against supernatural threats, with Dr. Thirteen always trying to prove that the Phantom Stranger and his supernatural abilities are just a hoax, causing a conflict between the two characters. Over the course of this series, the supporting cast would grow to include both allies and villains to the Phantom Stranger, such as the embodiment of evil, the sorceress Tala, the malevolent mage Tannarak, and the blind occultist Cassandra Craft, whom the Phantom Stranger develops feelings for.
After the end of the Phantom Stranger's ongoing series, he was relegated to the background of other characters' comics and storylines, but he did star in a miniseries in the 1980s and another ongoing series during the New 52 timeline.
The Phantom Stranger's role in the DCU and his many origins
The best way to describe the Phantom Stranger's role in the DC Universe is similar to that of The Watcher's from Marvel Comics; a being who has near unlimited power but is only tasked to warn others of coming calamities without taking direct action. This has remained since the character's reintroduction in Showcase No. 80, and it seems it will continue to be the case with the character indefinitely.
The Phantom Stranger's origins have remained and continue to remain a mystery to this very day, but there have been different origins told by different creators throughout the decades. The most common variation of his origin comes in Secret Origins No. 10 in 1987, written by a variety of writers and artists, and the most recent take on his beginnings came from the New 52 ongoing series.
Let's dive into them.
Origin 1: Sci-Fi Shenanigans
This story follows a group scientists in the distant future who want to use time travel to go back in time in order to witness the beginning of the universe. Suddenly, the Phantom Stranger appears, warning the scientists of the dangers in meddling with the natural order of things, telling them that it would have dire consequences for their world.
Most of the scientists don't heed the Stranger's warning, except one, who wears a protective suit that allows him to survive the calamity that followed his universe. Alone in the void, this lone scientist is tasked as the new Phantom Stranger in order to safeguard the new universe beginning to form from the ashes of his old one.
I think out of all the various origin stories this is my least favorite. Don't get me wrong, it's an interesting story with great art, I'm just more a fan of the mystical aspect of the Phantom Stranger's character than the sci-fi ones. Just a personal preference, nothing more.
Origin 2: Private Citizen
The next story sees a distraught man during ancient times try to end his existence after the death of his family from powerful beings. Those same powerful beings appear before the man in the form of an angel, who stops the man from ending his life. The angel informs the man that due to his attempt, he must now walk the Earth as a Stranger to all of mankind as punishment.
I think my main problem with this story is that it's very minimalist in its telling. We don't get to spend enough time with the family if the Stranger, which makes the whole tragedy of this particular Phantom Stranger feel underdeveloped.
Not a bad story, just not one of the stronger entries on this list.
Origin 3: The Wandering Stranger
The following story has the Phantom Stranger trying to restore the faith of a priest by telling of his origins. He claims to be the Wandering Jew, a man whose child was killed on the orders of King Herod to destroy the chosen child before he becomes a man. Of course, Herod failed and the baby Jesus would grow to adulthood and become the man we all know today. But the man is angry when Jesus rears his head, so when he is captured and tortured, the man pays his way into the chambers where he can have his vengeance against the man who he believes should've died instead of his child.
After Jesus' crucifixion, the man is confronted by the spirit of Jesus, who tells the man that he'll "tarry till I come again". In other words, the man became immortal, and he wanders the Earth for centuries, unsure of his path, when during the Spanish Inquisition, he comes upon a woman who is killed by her torturers. Believing he could've done something to prevent it, he took it upon himself to prevent any more suffering with the powers granted by Jesus. Back in the present, the voice of God speaks to the Phantom Stranger, allowing him the chance at rest, but the Stranger chooses to wait until the second coming of Jesus. Afterwards, the priest's faith is restored and he believes that good can triumph over evil.
This version of the Phantom Stranger's origins is a very compelling narrative with a satisfying ending.
Origin 4: Fallen Angel
Similar to the previous origin, the last story in Secret Origins No. 10 tells of the Phantom Stranger helping an injured man in the present while his origins are told to the reader. In this version, the Phantom Stranger was once an angel who took no side during the conflict between God and Lucifer. After the latter's defeat and banishment to Hell, the angel was rejected by both his brother angels and the demons of Hell, who considered him a coward for being neutral. Thus, he became the Phantom Stranger, and in the present day he knows the plight of the injured man after being rejected by his peers and enemies, and helps him to his feet.
This one is easily my favorite origin from this issue, because it presents an intriguing idea of an angel who stayed out of the conflict between God and Lucifer, which in and of itself is fascinating, but the connections to the modern day portion of the story also weave the two tales into one great story.
Origin 5: The Traitor
The last origin of the Phantom Stranger comes in his New 52 run, where it's revealed that he was Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed Jesus. After trying to take his life, his soul is saved by the Council of Wizards, but as punishment for his betrayal, he is to wander the Earth for all time until he hears the voice of God again. Until that time, he's nothing more than a Stranger.
Out of all the various origins, this one is the most compelling, providing more depth to an actual figure from the Christian Bible and offering him some form of redemption along the way.
Phantom Stranger's DC TV appearances outside of comics
The Phantom Stranger has appeared in various examples of DC-inspired media outside comics. The character appeared in the animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold in the episode "Chill of the Night", voiced by the late great Kevin Conroy, the definitive voice of Batman who brought the character to life in the DCAU. He also appeared in a few episodes of Young Justice, and starred in his own animated short in the DC Showcase line of shorts. His only live action appearance was in the short lived 2019 Swamp Thing series, where he was played by Macon Blair.
While the uncertain nature of The Phantom Stranger's origins can be frustrating, it lends a level of mystery to the entity that no other character possesses, and that makes him a much more interesting character. I believe it's up for each reader to decide what they think the true origins of the Phantom Stranger are based on the origins already established, or they can make up their own version of his origins, whatever suits their fancy.
Regardless, The Phantom Stranger remains one of comic books' most mysterious and intriguing characters.