{"id":66,"date":"2016-07-08T17:05:00","date_gmt":"2016-07-08T15:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/?page_id=66"},"modified":"2016-11-23T18:57:13","modified_gmt":"2016-11-23T17:57:13","slug":"phantom-stranger","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/?page_id=66","title":{"rendered":"PHANTOM STRANGER"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I am a bit anxious and curious now to tackle the six-issue run of the book THE PHANTOM STRANGER in 1952\/53. These books actually present the origin of the Phantom Stranger character. There was<strong> no Phantom Stranger before<\/strong>, but lots of appearances after. The Phantom Stranger is a small DC celebrity. Heck, the guy even has his <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Phantom_Stranger\">own Wikipedia entry<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>How cool is that?!<\/p>\n<p>Phantom Stranger books all have three stories featuring the Stranger (told in third-person) and one shorter story (the third in each issue) about other matters. I could borrow the books from Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr. \u2013 so let\u2019s start our overview with &#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.comics.org\/issue\/9822\/\"><strong>THE PHANTOM STRANGER #1<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>August-September 1952<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-596\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger1.jpg\" alt=\"PhantomStranger#1\" width=\"300\" height=\"448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger1.jpg 400w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger1-201x300.jpg 201w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Cover: (Hooded figures and a cat beckoning to man in black accompanied by woman in yellow dress)\u00a0 &#8211; Carmine Infantino + Sy Barry<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Haunters from Beyond\u201d \u00a0(Carmine Infantino + Sy Barry)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen Dead Men Walk!\u201d (Carmine Infantino + Sy Barry or Joe Giella)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGoblin in the Bottle\u201d (Murphy Anderson)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhistle Magic\u201d (Mort Drucker) \u2013 one-pager<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe House of Strange Secrets!\u201d (Carmine Infantino + Joe Giella)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Haunters from Beyond\u201d features the first appearance by the Phantom Stranger, gallantly pulling a desperate woman off a bridge.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-597\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger001.jpg\" alt=\"PhantomStranger001\" width=\"1100\" height=\"989\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger001.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger001-300x270.jpg 300w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger001-768x691.jpg 768w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger001-1024x921.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger001-624x561.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The story, alas, is <strong>the usual DC ratio twist<\/strong>: Secretary Anne Parris, descendant of a family of <strong>witch-hunters<\/strong>, has inherited the Parris fortune. Her criminal cousin Bryce costumes as a witchmaster and tries to scare her to death. Anne, however, is assisted by the Phantom Stranger to reveal the plot.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NEW to all this is the character of the Phantom Stranger<\/strong>. The male protagonist in this story could have been the usual police lieutenant, newspaper reporter or private investigator, but it isn\u2019t. It\u2019s the Phantom Stranger, a true <strong>man of mystery<\/strong> \u2013 with no name or origin. His description reads: \u201c<em>Out of nowhere appears the Phantom Stranger to challenge the supernatural powers<\/em>.\u201d<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-602\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/DeadMenSplash-1.jpg\" alt=\"DeadMenSplash\" width=\"400\" height=\"573\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/DeadMenSplash-1.jpg 900w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/DeadMenSplash-1-209x300.jpg 209w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/DeadMenSplash-1-768x1101.jpg 768w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/DeadMenSplash-1-714x1024.jpg 714w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/DeadMenSplash-1-624x894.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s all we get at this point. He seems to<strong> pop up out of thin air<\/strong> and vanish the same way. The Phantom Stranger is most likely a fallen angel who is condemned to walk the earth alone for all time. Read that Wikipedia entry if you\u2019re really interested in those matters\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen Dead Men Walk!\u201d sports a beautiful splash for an inane story. I took that synopsis from Grand Comics Database (thanks to one \u201cPhantom Stranger\u201d who put it there), saved me the pains to write one myself: \u201c<em>When three friends die in a plane crash, the spirits seem to be haunting those they left behind, but the Phantom Stranger reveals that the ghostly appearances are really the work of an embezzler attempting to cover his tracks.<\/em>\u201d<br \/>\nJeez. And all of that in just six pages!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Artwork<\/strong> in PS #1 is <strong>pretty good<\/strong>, by the way.<br \/>\nIt is <strong>as good as the art in the SENSATIONS<\/strong>.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-600\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/uncanny-magician.jpg\" alt=\"uncanny magician\" width=\"300\" height=\"276\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/uncanny-magician.jpg 450w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/uncanny-magician-300x276.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u201cGoblin in the Bottle\u201d is no Phantom Stranger story. He\u2019s sitting this one out. Wise of him!<br \/>\nSocialite Moira Varner wants to break up the engagement of her former hubby \u2013 by presenting him with a <strong>bottle containing a goblin<\/strong>! It\u2019s all hocus, of course, because a radio in the bottle commands her ex Donald to marry Moira. These women will try anything to hook up with a rich heir, that much is sure\u2026<\/p>\n<p>The Phantom Stranger wraps up his first issue with a third appearance in \u201cThe House of Strange Secrets!\u201d. This story can be counted as a <strong>horror-suspense yarn<\/strong>. Stage magician Robart lures a traveler to his house. He wants to kill him and be able to <strong>cast a black magic spell<\/strong>. The Phantom Stranger appears on the scene, protects the innocent man and foils Robart\u2019s evil plans.<\/p>\n<p>Great artwork as well in here. It\u2019s entertaining and moody. Carmine Infantino comes up with <strong>some gorgeous panel<\/strong>s, e.g. this shot from below of the uncanny magician. Fun. We post the whole story <a href=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/2016\/11\/23\/the-house-of-strange-secrets-dc\/\">HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.comics.org\/issue\/9971\/\"><strong>THE PHANTOM STRANGER #2<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>October-November 1952<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-603\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger2.jpg\" alt=\"PhantomStranger#2\" width=\"300\" height=\"437\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger2.jpg 400w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger2-206x300.jpg 206w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Cover: (Reddish shadows attacking woman in white dress, the Phantom Stranger comes running to the rescue)\u00a0 &#8211; Carmine Infantino + John Giunta<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Killer Shadow!\u201d (Carmine Infantino + Sy Barry or Joe Giella)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDeath\u2019s Strange Deputy!\u201d \u00a0(Carmine Infantino + Bernard Sachs)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDeath Writes an Obituary!\u201d (John Giunta, signed as Jay Gee)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Haunting Wind!\u201d (John Giunta, signed)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Talking Head!\u201d (Mort Drucker) \u2013 one-pager<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Three Signs of Evil!\u201d (Carmine Infantino + Joe Giella or Sy Barry)<\/p>\n<p>Ahhh, it\u2019s <strong>ratio twist insanity at its finest<\/strong> in \u201cThe Killer Shadow!\u201d, a story about a guardian trying to drive his wealthy ward nuts. But he\u2019s driving us readers nuts \u2013 by performing amazing stunts as a shadow in a especially prepared room. Have a whiff of insanity right here:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-604\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/ShadowMadness.jpg\" alt=\"ShadowMadness\" width=\"900\" height=\"819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/ShadowMadness.jpg 900w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/ShadowMadness-300x273.jpg 300w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/ShadowMadness-768x699.jpg 768w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/ShadowMadness-624x568.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And these two panels from the last page of \u201cDeath\u2019s Strange Deputy!\u201d pretty much sum up more ratio twist madness. Jeez!<br \/>\nWhat kid of the 50s was actually impressed by that?!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-605\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/deputyplot.jpg\" alt=\"deputyplot\" width=\"900\" height=\"428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/deputyplot.jpg 900w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/deputyplot-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/deputyplot-768x365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/deputyplot-624x297.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And it\u2019s two times John Giunta, presenting us his art in <strong>two shorties<\/strong>: \u201cDeath Writes an Obituary!\u201d and \u201cThe Haunting Wind\u201d. His artwork is a nice addition to these pages, the second story is an entertaining four-page tale about mountain explorer Dan Russell. After stealing a ruby ring in Tibet, he is cursed to die by a vengeful wind.<br \/>\n\u201cThe Haunting Wind\u201d is <strong>no DC formula stuff<\/strong>, but presents a twist I didn\u2019t see coming. Find the story<a href=\"http:\/\/fifties-horror.de\/lesewiese\/the-good\/the-haunting-wind\"> posted<\/a> on my website FIFTIES HORROR.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Three Signs of Evil!\u201d is kind of an action-adventure. The Phantom Stranger teams up with artist Mark Davis and together they tackle a<strong> cult of evil assassins<\/strong>. I have just one question: If this is a SECRET cult, why in hell do they meet in public?!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-606\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PublicEvilCult.jpg\" alt=\"PublicEvilCult\" width=\"900\" height=\"801\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PublicEvilCult.jpg 900w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PublicEvilCult-300x267.jpg 300w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PublicEvilCult-768x684.jpg 768w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PublicEvilCult-624x555.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.comics.org\/issue\/10121\/\"><strong>THE PHANTOM STRANGER #3<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>December 1952 \u2013 January 1953<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-608\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger3.jpg\" alt=\"PhantomStranger#3\" width=\"300\" height=\"445\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger3.jpg 400w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger3-202x300.jpg 202w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Cover: (The Stranger pulling a woman by the hand out of a ghost world)\u00a0 &#8211; Carmine Infantino + Sy Barry<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGhosts for Sale!\u201d (Carmine Infantino + Bernard Sachs)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDead Man&#8217;s Hand!\u201d (Carmine Infantino + Frank Giacoia)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow to Spot a Witch!\u201d (Mort Drucker) \u2013 one-pager<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Man Who Carved Death!\u201d (Murphy Anderson + John Giunta)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Day of Destiny!\u201d (Carmine Infantino + Sy Barry\/ Joe Giella)<\/p>\n<p>That is the first time I notice the <strong>byline<\/strong> on the cover (above the PHANTOM STRANGER logo):<br \/>\n<em>\u201cIs He Man\u2026 or Ghost?<\/em>\u201d \u2013 well, <strong>they won\u2019t tell us<\/strong>, will they? Just teasing us poor readers and keeping up the suspense. Ah.<\/p>\n<p>I paused for some weeks in my DC HORROR studies. Returning now I\u2019m overwhelmed again by the sheer <strong>plot dreadfulness<\/strong>. \u201cGhosts for Sale!\u201d is one of these typical DC ratio twist stories \u2013 but now the Phantom Stranger takes the place some keen detective usually does. Huh? And what surprised me more: <strong>Every single character recognizes the Phantom Stranger instantly!<\/strong><br \/>\nThat doesn\u2019t count as \u201cPhantom Stranger\u201d anymore, does it? Celebrity Stranger maybe? Or Phantom Celebrity?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-609\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/ItsYouPhantom-Stranger.jpg\" alt=\"ItsYouPhantom Stranger\" width=\"350\" height=\"326\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/ItsYouPhantom-Stranger.jpg 500w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/ItsYouPhantom-Stranger-300x280.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Man Who Carved Death!\u201d \u2013 had been credited to Manny Stallmann inked by John Giunta.<br \/>\nWell, it\u2019s not Stallman, but <strong>DC stalwart Murphy Anderson<\/strong> inked by John Giunta. The team of Stallman\/Giunta are working together on HARVEY HORROR since 1951.<br \/>\nNow it\u2019s their first duo effort for a DC HORROR yarn.\u00a0 However, John Giunta tested the ground at DC earlier with his solo contributions to SENSATION COMICS #109 &amp; #112 \u2013 and PHANTOM STRANGER #2, of course.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Nice artwork by Infantino<\/strong> in three out of four stories. The story plots are not worth even summarizing. In the last story, the Phantom Stranger steps in to prevent a company fraud \u2013 and in doing so, is not recognized by any character! That\u2019s a relief! So things are back to normal. I guess. Whew!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-610\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/BackToNormal.jpg\" alt=\"BackToNormal\" width=\"900\" height=\"420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/BackToNormal.jpg 900w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/BackToNormal-300x140.jpg 300w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/BackToNormal-768x358.jpg 768w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/BackToNormal-624x291.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.comics.org\/issue\/10281\/\"><strong>THE PHANTOM STRANGER #4<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>February-March 1953<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-611\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger4.jpg\" alt=\"PhantomStranger#4\" width=\"300\" height=\"435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger4.jpg 682w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger4-207x300.jpg 207w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger4-624x905.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Cover: (The Stranger warning a woman to read from a book on witchcraft)\u00a0 &#8211; Carmine Infantino + Sy Barry<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Hairy Shadows\u201d (Murphy Anderson + Joe Giella)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRing the Bells\u201d (Mort Drucker) \u2013 half-pager<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Riddle of the Ghostly Trumpet!\u201d (Gene Colan + Bernard Sachs)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrail of the Lucky Coin!\u201d (Mort Drucker ? + Bernard Sachs)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGreen Thoughts\u201d (Mort Drucker) \u2013 half-pager<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Dream Killer!\u201d (Murphy Anderson + Joe Giella)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Crazy House!\u201d (Mort Drucker) \u2013 one-pager<\/p>\n<p>Beautiful cover, by the way. <strong>Super stylish.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ahaaa! \u201cThe Hairy Shadows\u201d sports NO ratio twist, but is a full-blown suspense story about hairy <strong>cavemen-creatures from another dimension<\/strong>! Interesting, and a bit confusing now. There IS real mystery in Phantom Stranger\u2019s world? Gotta be. The Phantom Stranger himself is a supernatural being.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a rather mild horror yarn, more fantasy \u2013 and not much happens, except for <strong>the appearance of The Hairy Ones<\/strong>. Six year old kids may be chilled by that kind of \u201chorror\u201d\u2026<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-612\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/FireInTheBurner.jpg\" alt=\"FireInTheBurner\" width=\"900\" height=\"421\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/FireInTheBurner.jpg 900w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/FireInTheBurner-300x140.jpg 300w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/FireInTheBurner-768x359.jpg 768w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/FireInTheBurner-624x292.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Riddle of the Ghostly Trumpet!\u201d is a feeble crime story, in which the Phantom Stranger exposes the murderer of a famous trumpet player. Over-constructed crap. Boring.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrail of the Lucky Coin!\u201d is a pointless filler story of nearly 4 pages. But \u201cThe Dream Killer!\u201d is fairly entertaining. Successful art painter William Wilson has <strong>premonitions about future deaths<\/strong>. He is haunted by terrible dreams and threatened by a medusa-like character. The Phantom Stranger steps in and discovers an evil plot behind Wilson&#8217;s dreams.<br \/>\nHa! An art painter story, gotta love those! Is this a first one by DC?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/2016\/11\/23\/the-dream-killer-dc\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-613\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/Medusa.jpg\" alt=\"Medusa\" width=\"900\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/Medusa.jpg 900w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/Medusa-300x141.jpg 300w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/Medusa-768x360.jpg 768w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/Medusa-624x293.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Showing you two<strong> suspense-packed panels<\/strong> here (click on them to see the <a href=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/2016\/11\/23\/the-dream-killer-dc\/\">whole story posted<\/a> in our \u201cStories\u201d section).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.comics.org\/issue\/10417\/\"><strong>THE PHANTOM STRANGER #5<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>April-May 1953<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-615\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger5.jpg\" alt=\"PhantomStranger#5\" width=\"300\" height=\"439\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger5.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger5-205x300.jpg 205w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger5-768x1123.jpg 768w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger5-700x1024.jpg 700w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger5-624x913.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Cover: (A huge green witch beckons to the Stranger and two passengers in a rollercoaster car)\u00a0 &#8211; Murphy Anderson ? + Bernard Sachs<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Living Nightmare!\u201d (Carmine Infantino + Bernard Sachs)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDemon Count\u201d (Mort Drucker) \u2013 one-pager<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Unseen Familiar!\u201d (Murphy Anderson + Joe Giella)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTwelve-Day Terror!\u201d (Mort Drucker) \u2013 half-pager<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTime to Kill!\u201d (John Giunta, signed)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Stars Screamed Danger!\u201d (Jerry Grandenetti ? + Joe Giella)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHand of Glory\u201d (Mort Drucker) \u2013 one-pager<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Nameless Ones!\u201d (Mort Drucker) \u2013 one-pager<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Living Nightmare!\u201d is an<strong> almost comedic story<\/strong> about a <strong>boxing prizefighter<\/strong> called Jerry Samson who is made to believe he lost his powers. Cause, you know, a gambling syndicate coaxed him into thinking he is the <strong>reincarnation of the biblical Samson<\/strong>, then cuts off his hair, thusly securing their odds at betting. Jeez! These plots are clearly concocted by the poor writers who had to come up with hundreds of <strong>nutty superhero dramas<\/strong> for DC\u2019s SUPERMAN\u00a0 franchise.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_616\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-616\" class=\"wp-image-616\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/ExplainItDammit.jpg\" alt=\"ExplainItDammit\" width=\"400\" height=\"369\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/ExplainItDammit.jpg 600w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/ExplainItDammit-300x277.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-616\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Am I glad to hear these words \u2026<\/p><\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s hog washing time with \u201cThe Unseen Familiar!\u201d, another impossible tale just right up DC\u2019s ratio twist alley. Here, a \u201cfamiliar\u201d, <strong>a spiritual being, harasses<\/strong> a rich heir to sign him over all the property. The Phantom Stranger exposes the familiar as\u2026 the butler! In disguise.<br \/>\nCa-ripes, I can seriously take not much more of this ca-rap.<\/p>\n<p>Next John Giunta \u201cguest spot\u201d with the four-page science fiction yarn \u201cTime to Kill!\u201d. Not that bad. Two panels show a rifleman shooting from a rooftop into a crowd and assassinating someone. Reminds the reader eerily of one Lee Harvey Oswald \u2026<\/p>\n<p>Last regular story is \u201cThe Stars Screamed Danger!\u201d, the title story about <strong>weird happenings at an amusement park<\/strong>. It is nonsense-business as usual, but we posted the story to give you an impression what readers of 50s DC comic books had to go through\u2026<br \/>\nAnd, BTW: The amusement park serves as a great backdrop to the Phantom Stranger\u2019s follies! See the story posted <a href=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/2016\/11\/23\/the-stars-screamed-danger-dc\/\">HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>There are three nice<strong> one-page contributions by Mort Drucker<\/strong> in this issue, one of them about the \u201cHand of Glory\u201d .The candle-bearing severed hand of a hanged man was believed to have magic powers, you know. Hard to come by nowadays. That is the third or fourth time I read about this. Other comics publishers exploited this lore as well. If you want to learn more (or try things at home\u2026) please click <a href=\"http:\/\/fifties-horror.de\/lesewiese\/just-crazy\/the-hand-of-glory\">HERE <\/a>to see a full story illustrated by the great Matt Fox.<\/p>\n<p>And we assemble a <strong>choice of Mort Drucker\u2019s \u201cone-page art<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/2016\/11\/23\/6-one-page-filler-stories-by-mort-drucker-dc\/\">HERE <\/a>in our \u201cStories\u201d section.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.comics.org\/issue\/10570\/\"><strong>THE PHANTOM STRANGER #6<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>June-July 1953<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-618\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger6.jpg\" alt=\"PhantomStranger#6\" width=\"300\" height=\"452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger6.jpg 400w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/PhantomStranger6-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Cover: (Giant claw-like hands push open a door in the sky which the Phantom Stranger and a woman try to shut)\u00a0 &#8211; Murphy Anderson\u00a0 + Joe Giella ?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Ghosts in the Locked Room!\u201d (Carmine Infantino + Bernard Sachs)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Busy Brownie\u201d (Mort Drucker) \u2013 half-pager<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDoorway in the Sky!\u201d (Murphy Anderson\u00a0 + Joe Giella)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDead Man&#8217;s Bluff!\u201d (John Giunta)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStop that Yawn\u201d (Mort Drucker) \u2013 half-pager<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHorror in Miniature!\u201d (Jerry Grandenetti ? + Frank Giacoia)<\/p>\n<p>That cover is probably NOT by Murphy Anderson, although he allegedly recalled having done this. Compare the cover to the Anderson story (and splash) inside \u2013 it\u2019s looking quite different!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_619\" style=\"width: 1260px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-619\" class=\"wp-image-619 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/DoorwayCompare.jpg\" alt=\"DoorwayCompare\" width=\"1250\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/DoorwayCompare.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/DoorwayCompare-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/DoorwayCompare-768x553.jpg 768w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/DoorwayCompare-1024x737.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/DoorwayCompare-624x449.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1250px) 100vw, 1250px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-619\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Does this look different to you? It did to us, when we scrutinized these pages. Just trust us here &#8230;<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Here we go, <strong>last issue<\/strong> of the PHANTOM STRANGER. Getting the axe in summer 1953, the same as SENSATION MYSTERY. We don\u2019t know why the titles were canceled at the height of the horror craze. One can only guess that maybe DCs horror lore was<strong> too soft for those wild times<\/strong> (though they kept HOUSE OF MYSTERY running) \u2013 or the writing was so much more needed and <strong>better suited<\/strong> to their superhero books.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Ghosts in the Locked Room!\u201d presents itself as a detective mystery, wherein the Phantom Stranger solves a clever jewelry theft, committed out of a locked room.<\/p>\n<p>O, how the mighty fall. In \u201cDoorway in the Sky!\u201d the Phantom Stranger saves actress Lorna from a deadly intrigue &#8211; on a <strong>Hollywood movie set<\/strong>! How lame can you get?! I know, you might think this could be interesting, but it\u2019s not. Trust me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDead Man&#8217;s Bluff!\u201d is this issue\u2019s John Giunta guest spot, a four page story without the Phantom Stranger. Frankly, I didn\u2019t get it. The gangster Ace Mitchell claims he can cross into another dimension &#8211; with the help of a special wrist watch. But where is his original body, why does everybody recognize him, however, and what\u2019s with the watch maker? Spare me. It all doesn\u2019t quit add up\u2026 Whatever! On, on, on, <strong>wrap this mess up<\/strong>, pleeease.<\/p>\n<p>Fun fact: Before the next story, there\u2019s a half-page filler called \u201cStop that Yawn\u201d! <strong>You wish!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-620\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/StopYawning.jpg\" alt=\"StopYawning\" width=\"900\" height=\"631\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/StopYawning.jpg 900w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/StopYawning-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/StopYawning-768x538.jpg 768w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/StopYawning-624x437.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHorror in Miniature!\u201d is about the Phantom Stranger and cameraman Tim Harley fighting back an <strong>invasion of elves<\/strong>. Yes, elves. Real ones, no ratio twist here! They dress up in armor to be protected by the elven\/ Elvin\/ elflike magic and go bust some tiny heads. <strong>Not politically correct!<\/strong><br \/>\nI also resent that story title &#8211; \u201cHorror in Miniature!\u201d. Tchh.<\/p>\n<p>Ah, well. That\u2019s all, folks. No more DC HORROR. But always remember:<br \/>\nStop that yawn! <strong>Read something else.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Harmfph. Kidding. Jump right over to our \u201cStories\u201d section and enjoy the chosen FEW tales we picked for your entertainment.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_621\" style=\"width: 910px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-621\" class=\"wp-image-621 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/NotRidiculous.jpg\" alt=\"NotRidiculous\" width=\"900\" height=\"428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/NotRidiculous.jpg 900w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/NotRidiculous-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/NotRidiculous-768x365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/NotRidiculous-624x297.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-621\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">It isn\u2019t as ridiculous as it sounds! \u2013 Okay, Phantom Stranger, if you say so.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Closing the phantom shop with our statistics for PHANTOM STRANGER.<br \/>\nInteresting trivia \u2013 <strong>NONE of these artists worked for HOUSE OF MYSTERY<\/strong> (except Jerry Grandenetti, I have to add).<br \/>\nThey worked on the SENSATIONS, though. An explanation might be that HOM was edited by Whitney Ellsworth; the other lines were supervised by Julius Schwartz!<\/p>\n<p>I counted 24 full-length stories in 6 issues (NO first-person narratives here!), with artwork by:<\/p>\n<p>Carmine Infantino \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 11\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 with inkers Sachs (4), Barry (3), Giella (3) and Giacoia (1)<\/p>\n<p>Murphy Anderson\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 with inkers Giella (4) and Giunta (1)<\/p>\n<p>John Giunta\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3<\/p>\n<p>Jerry Grandenetti\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 with inkers Joe Giella (1) and Frank Giacoia (1)<\/p>\n<p>Gene Colan\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 with Bernard Sachs<\/p>\n<p>Mort Drucker\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 with Bernard Sachs<\/p>\n<p>No doubt, Phantom Stranger, who\u2019s your daddy? Carmine Infantino rules this series, along with Murphy Anderson.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What \u2013 more horror?!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-622\" src=\"http:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/Ghostbreaker.jpg\" alt=\"Ghostbreaker\" width=\"400\" height=\"590\" srcset=\"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/Ghostbreaker.jpg 450w, https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/filecollection\/sites\/6\/2016\/07\/Ghostbreaker-203x300.jpg 203w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>The DC title STAR SPANGLED COMICS ran from 1941 to 1952 for 130 consecutive issues.<br \/>\nThe lead story in the last books (#122 &#8211; #130) featured the detective-mystery series<strong> \u201cGhost-Breaker\u201d and dealt with allegedly supernatural phenomena<\/strong>.<br \/>\n\u201cGhost-Breaker\u201d even got the prominent cover spot, see here:<\/p>\n<p>We did not look into these. We assume they run in the same vein as our Phantom Stranger.<\/p>\n<p>STAR SPANGLED COMICS was relaunched as STAR SPANGLED WAR STORIES with issue #131.<br \/>\nIn these weeks of the summer of 1952 SENSATION COMICS were <strong>renamed SENSATION MYSTERY<\/strong> and the full blown detective-mystery book PHANTOM STRANGER saw the light of publication.<\/p>\n<p>The title STRANGE ADVENTURES, if you might wonder, is <strong>no horror book<\/strong>, but DC\u2019s first science fiction comic book.<br \/>\nLaunched in August 1951, it ran highly successfully for 244 issues until October 1973.<br \/>\nThe companion title MYSTERY IN SPACE followed in April 1951 and lasted until September 1966.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I am a bit anxious and curious now to tackle the six-issue run of the book THE PHANTOM STRANGER in 1952\/53. These books actually present the origin of the Phantom Stranger character. There was no Phantom Stranger before, but lots of appearances after. The Phantom Stranger is a small DC celebrity. Heck, the guy even [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":184,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=66"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/184"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/twistmyratio.de\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=66"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}