The Phantom Stranger - The Most Enigmatic Character of Comics

Perhaps one of the most obscure comic book characters of all time is the Phantom Stranger of DC Comics. There are many comic collectors that have barely ever heard of him. Strangely enough, he is also one of the most powerful, enigmatic, and creative characters ever to grace the pages of any company's comics.

When you state the name the Phantom Stranger, what is usually brought to mind is the Rob Zombie song that bears the same name. Few know that the song is actually loosely based on an issue of the Phantom Stranger's comic.

The Phantom Stranger is a character that will appear when someone's life is at a major crossroad. He is there to offer guidance, but never solid advice. He will pose questions, but never give other characters answers.

He has shown in many issues that he is one of the most powerful characters ever created. In a series that came out from October of 1987 until January of 1988, he battled the minions of Hell without very much problem.

He has shown that he has the ability to move from one plane of existence to another, bend time, and command stronger magic then any other character.

Very little is actually known about his origins. DC once produced a special issue of Origins that gave four possible starting points for the character.

In one story it was believed that the Phantom Stranger was actually a fallen angel that did not take sides in the initial battle between Heaven and Hell. Since he did not take a side, he was condemned to wander aimlessly for eternity.

In another story, it was said that the Phantom Stranger had been a righteous person during Biblical times. God sent an angel to protect him from a wrath that was about to be sent down onto mankind. The Stranger questioned the actions of God, and then committed suicide because he did not believe in the actions that God had taken. The Character was not allowed into the afterlife, and condemned to walk the Earth for eternity.

The next idea was a take on the old story of the Wandering Jew. When heron sent his army out to kill the baby Jesus, Isaac's (The proposed original name of the Phantom Stranger) family was killed. Both his child and his wife's death caused him to have a hatred of Jesus.

When Jesus was condemned, Isaac wanted to take a turn at whipping him. These actions enraged God, and Isaac was condemned to wander the Earth for eternity. After a short time, the Phantom Stranger began to see the error of his ways, and began helping humanity. God offered to take him into Heaven, but the Phantom Stronger refused because he still had work to do on Earth.

The final idea was that the Phantom Stranger is a confusing story about how the Stranger is the last being of a former universe that was saved from destruction. It is the only origin that does not have anything to do with the Bible.

The accepted origin among most fans is that he was the Wandering Jew. It causes for one of the few ties between comics and religion.

Over the years, the Phantom Stranger has not only helped the common man, but Superman, the JLA, Wonder Woman, and the Swamp Thing along with many others. He is usually just used when the writers have backed themselves into a corner and need an easy way out.

The Phantom Stranger has always been my favorite character. I own many of the issues that out tell of his endeavors with other heroes. I also own each issue of his exclusive comic, and have a tattoo of him on my arm. I am planning more.

The fact that he is so enigmatic has always been interesting to me. He is one of the only characters that does not have a set origin or back story.

The fact that he is the wisest of all characters also causes for storylines that I enjoy. He is there to give guidance that even the most intelligent of heroes could not have come to on their own.

The final fact is that he is the most powerful of characters, but is bound to not use his power unless it is absolutely necessary. I character that can do anything, but cannot for some untold reason.