Justice League #6 - April 2012

"Pandora" by Geoff Johns and Carlos D'Anda.

In all my excitement over the new Phantom Stranger series, I completely forgot that PS didn't make his New 52 debut in that book, but in the back pages of Justice League #6!

The short story opens on a man, lying dead in the street as onlookers wonder what happened. The mystery woman known as Pandora strides in, assesses the body, only to be surprised by a familiar voice:

The Stranger condemns Pandora for rewriting reality (Flashpoint!), but she defends herself. He speaks of a "third sinner" still walking the Earth, and of an equally-mysterious box that Pandora has. The Stranger reaches out to her, only to be met by two mystical guns that Pandora fires at the Stranger's head!

One shot misses, but the other connects:

The Pandora feature didn't continue after this issue of Justice League, so we'll have to wait for The Phantom Stranger to actually appear alongside his former teammates(?)...which seems inevitable, doesn't it? I hope so, at least!

Justice League Dark #14 - Jan. 2013

"Enter The House of Mystery" by Jeff Lemire, Graham Nolan, and Victor Drujiniu.

I have not read Justice League Dark before, so I really have no idea what's going on in this book. It opens in Nanda Parbat, with the JLD apparently just having defeated some mystical super-baddies, like Necro and Felix Faust. Two of the team members, Zatanna and Tim Hunter, have disappeared, leaving the others--John Constantine, Deadman, and Madame Xanadu--to try and find them.

Meanwhile, Amethyst, Frankenstein, and Black Orchid are hanging out on the steps of the House of Mystery, waiting for the others to show up. They get bored and go inside--big mistake!

Back outside, Madame Xanadu tries to use her powers to find Zee and Tim, to no avail. But luckily someone is here to help:

...To be continued, of course!

Considering the line-up of the JLD, it makes total sense that the Stranger would eventually show up. After all, this book is littered with former Phantom Stranger guest-stars like Deadman, Black Orchid, and Frankenstein! Not to mention his former squeeze Madame Xanadu. How could he not show up?

This is a fun book with nice art, and characters I generally like. Now that the Stranger is here, too, maybe I'll add Justice League Dark to my pull list.

Adventure Comics #459 - Oct. 1978

"Murder Haunts the Midway" by Len Wein and Jim Aparo.

Even though I did what I thought was an exhaustive and complete list of the Phantom Stranger's chronological appearances, this one from Adventure Comics #459 managed to slip right by me:

Yep, there's the Stranger, alongside Aquaman (bonus!) in a story by Len Wein and Jim Aparo no less!

This cameo was the last time Wein and Aparo handled the Phantom Stranger since ending their brilliant run on his solo book in 1973, and the last time they ever worked on the character together, ever. A lot of history packed into this one panel!

Action Comics (Vol.2) #13 - Dec. 2012

"The Ghost in the Fortress of Solitude" by Grant Morrison and Travel Foreman.

It didn't take the Stranger long--less than a month, in fact--after debuting in the New 52 before he started popping up in other DCU books, but what's a little thing like the time stream mean to...The Phantom Stranger?

In this issue, a Halloween story (nice) that opens on Krypton, we meet Doctor Xa-Du, who is banned to The Phantom Zone for his crimes against society:

Xa-Du's first chance at parole (obviously these Kryptonians are a little less harsh than the ones seen in Superman: The Movie) just happened to be on the day Krypton exploded, which by our calendar would be considered Halloween.

Many, many years later, on Earth, in Superman's Fortress of Solitude, Xa-Du seems to have been able to return from beyond the grave to haunt the Man of Steel:

Xa-Du manages to ensnare Superman into the Phantom Zone, transporting himself to Earth. As he contemplates what further revenge to wreak, we catch up with Superman, who is met by...a stranger:

The Stranger, with the help of Krypto (now there's an issue of The Brave and the Bold!), allows Superman time to escape The Phantom Zone and suck Xa-Du back to the his otherdimensional prison.

The Stranger, not being limited to the bonds of this world, summarily disappears, leaving Krypto behind, waiting for his Master. But Superman would never break a promise to his best friend, and he does indeed return, reuniting a Boy and His Dog again. The End!


While I had my issues with The Phantom Stranger as portrayed in his new series, I absolutely loved this guest appearance--it's classic Phantom Stranger: he shows up, says a bunch of cryptic stuff, helps the hero out, and splits. Well done, Mr. Morrison!

Special thanks to Fantom Stranger Oscar Olaide who mentioned this guest appearance to me over on IATPS's Facebook page. I might have missed it entirely if he hadn't pointed it out. Thanks Oscar!

PS P.S: Lobo #50 - April 1998

While I didn't miss chronicling the Stranger's appearance in Lobo #50, at the time of the post I hadn't managed to get a hold of a copy of the book itself, so all I could do was post the cover.

But Fantom Stranger Chris Roach helpfully provided me with a scan of the page in question from Lobo #50:

...thanks Chris! I wonder what the Stranger is drinking?

Okay, that seems to be it on the comic front, in terms of missing PS appearances. But there are a couple more items I need to get to, so be here tomorrow!

PS P.S.: Swamp Thing #46 - March 1986

"Revelations" by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, and John Totleben.

...man, this was embarrassing.

A few weeks after the appropriate timeline on the blog, I got an email from Amy Kerns, who was a faithful follower of IATPS, pointing out I missed this issue of Swamp Thing--not only does the Stranger appear inside, he's right there on the cover! Ouch!

This issue took place right in the middle of the Crisis, and when Swamp Thing finds himself suddenly aboard the Monitor's satellite, he searches out some people he knows, like The Phantom Stranger:

Good catch, thanks Amy!

This makes Amy our first Fantom Stranger--a term I award to anyone who sent some PS-related item in that I missed. I really can't believe I missed this one.

Tomorrow we induct another Fantom Stranger!

Madame Xanadu #10 - June 2009

Untitled by Matt Wagner, Amy Reeder Hadley, and Richard Friend.

All the versions of the Stranger Madame Xanadu has encountered are on display:

Zatara is angry at Madame Xanadu for doing this, but she says it doesn't concern him.

The Stranger "escorts" MX into another dimension, another reality, where he attempts to explain their mystical connection and why he has had to do the things he has done.

Madame Xanadu is skeptical, and the Stranger, free of her mystical bonds, departs, wishing her peace of mind. And with the tip of his fedora, he is gone.

This issue ends with Madame Xanadu as we first came to know her, operating her small tarot card-reading shop in New York.

Solomon Grundy #1 - May 2009

"Born on a Monday" by Scott Kolins.

The Phantom Stranger does a classic, old-school bit of introducing the story this time around:

He instructs Grundy's alter-ego, Cyrus, that he has seven days to find his murderer, and forgive him--"That way leads the path to your salvation!"

But of course, its never that easy. And of course, the Stranger doesn't hang around...

Madame Xanadu #9 - May 2009

"The Last of the Future" by Matt Wagner, Amy Reeder Hadley, and Richard Friend.

After spending some time romancing Zatara, Madame Xanadu's Stranger totem begins to move on its own accord, eventually leading to something unbelievable:

To be continued!

Madame Xanadu #8 - April 2009

"Through the Crystal" by Matt Wagner, Amy Reeder Hadley, and Richard Friend.

The Phantom Stranger continues his cryptic comments about the vicious murders taking place, but when he states that it not yet time for the horror to end, Madame Xanadu is aghast:

He reappears later on, and MX gets so mad she slaps the Stranger across the face. She ends up getting so mad she uses a piece of his cloak (ripped off during their last encounter) as part of a sort-of voodoo doll of him, promising to herself that the next time they meet, she "will be ready."

To be continued!

Justice League of America (Vol.2) #29 - March 2009

"Star Struck!" by Len Wein, Chris Cross, and Rob Stull.

What a treat, having Len Wein writing the JLA again!

In a "twice-told tale from the JLA Casebook", we see the JLA square off against the cosmic vampire known as Starbreaker.

Starbreaker's lurch towards Earth was noticed by a select few, including a certain Stranger writer Wein has a lot of familiarity with:

Unfortunately, that's it for the Stranger in this issue, but nice to have him even for a cameo in this old-school JLA adventure!

Faces of Evil: Solomon Grundy #1 - March 2009

"The Curse!" by Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins.

In a book devoted entirely to Solomon Grundy(!), we find the undead muck monster turned back into a regular person named Cyrus.

Cyrus has been given "an opportunity", explained to him by Green Lantern and...The Phantom Stranger!:

To be continued!

Madame Xanadu #7 - Feb. 2009

"Through the Crystal" by Matt Wagner, Amy Reeder Hadley, and Richard Friend.

While The Phantom Stranger is teaming-up with Green Lantern over in Brave and the Bold, he also kept appearing here in Madame Xanadu, this time running into MX into Victorian England:

Once again, Madame Xanadu reads the Stranger the riot act for being seemingly indifferent to the suffering that is happening, in this case a series of what-will-be very famous murders.

She doesn't know the half of it--in this issue we see the Stranger literally standing by as another murder takes place. Yikes!

Madame Xanadu #6 - Jan. 2009

Untitled by Matt Wagner, Amy Reeder Hadley, and Richard Friend.

After long encounter with Death, Madame Xanadu convinces Death that her time is not yet at hand, and finds herself in the time of the French Revolution.

Of course, yet another incarnation of The Phantom Stranger is there, ever watching:

The Stranger literally disappears here, and the issue ends with Xanadu cursing his name, and swearing that the next time they cross paths, she will do all she can "to disrupt your questionable cause and your crass manipulations!"

To be continued!

Madame Xanadu #5 - Dec. 2008

"In the Cards" by Matt Wagner, Amy Reeder Hadley, and Richard Friend.

On the streets of France, Madame Xanadu once again encounters the mysterious stranger from her past:

The Stranger seems indifferent to the suffering Madame Xanadu endured after his abrupt departure, but she hasn't forgotten...

Madame Xanadu #4 - Nov. 2008

Untitled by Matt Wagner, Amy Reeder Hadley, and Richard Friend.

After sharing a brief kiss inside the palace of Kublai Khan, members of the Khan's Royal Guard barge in, planning to arrest both of them.

The Stranger advises them that not is a good idea, and in a nice change, we get a glimpse of some of the sheer power the Stranger possesses:

He then escorts Xanadu with him into the desert. She asks to come along with him, but he refuses to condemn her to "such a lonely life", leaving her to cry for him as he disappears into thin air.

But of course, this isn't the last time they'll ever see each other...

Madame Xanadu #3 - Oct. 2008

"Among The Stars" by Matt Wagner and Amy Reeder Hadley.

Riding on a camel into land controlled by none other than Kublai Khan is...The Phantom Stranger!:

The Stranger continues to bedevil Madame Xanadu, claiming not to know her, even though they have met before, as we saw in previous issues of the series.

The Phantom Stranger, inscrutable in any time period!

Madame Xanadu #2 - Sept. 2008

Untitled by Matt Wagner and Amy Reeder Hadley.

Madame Xanadu, wandering the forest, runs back into The Phantom Stranger, and it becomes a moment of tenderness:

...in this issue, MX even encountered Etrigan, so it was really old home week!

Madame Xanadu #1 - Aug. 2008

"By The Runes" by Matt Wagner and Amy Reeder Hadley.

After decades as a supporting player, Madame Xanadu finally gets her own title!

But this isn't the same Madame Xanadu we're all familiar with--no, this series is set in an undetermined time and place. But of course, what's time and space to a guy like The Phantom Stranger?

Early on in the issue, a slightly altered version of the Stranger reveals his presence to Madame Xanadu, although here she goes by the name Nimue Inwudu:

...even in this alternate world, the Stranger performs the same tasks he always does: guiding someone else, warning them, and watching events unfold.

Justice League Unlimited #28 - Feb. 2007

"Season's Beatings, Justice League!" by Mike McAvennie, Sanford Greene, and Nathan Massengill.

The Phantom Stranger makes another appearance in the JLU-verse, this time taking The Flash around and giving him some insights as to what makes the Batman tick:

...this seems to be the Phantom Stranger's role in the JLU-verse, since he basically performed this same service in his previous appearances in Batman: Gotham Adventures, and Justice League Unlimited.