Scan barcode
dantastic's review
3.0
Showcase Presents: Phantom Stranger, Vol. 2 collects The Brave and the Bold #89 and #98, Justice League #103, Phantom Stranger #22-41, DC Superstars #18, and House of Secrets #150.
The two Brave and the Bold issues are good, especially the second one, despite Bob Haney's Batman hanging out on the street in broad daylight and having a godson as Batman. The Len Wein/Jim Aparo issues of Phantom Stranger are great, as are the Marv Wolfman/Michael Kaluta Spawn of Frankenstein backups. Unfortunately, things take a nosedive when both of those creative teams leave the book at the same time. Mike Grell doing the art on an issue was good, though, and the team-ups with Deadman were decent.
After reading both Showcase Presents Phantom Stranger volumes in rapid succession, I don't know much more about The Stranger than I got from reading his Who's Who entry decades ago. That's probably for the best. The mystery of who he is is core to the character. Once you give him an origin and start delineating his abilities, things would go south in a hurry.
While I'm not hauling these two volumes to Half Price Books any time soon, I doubt I'll shell out for the hardcover Phantom Stranger omnibus if it ever sees print. I'd be down for a Phantom Stranger by Wein and Aparo hardcover, though. 3 out of 5 stars.
The two Brave and the Bold issues are good, especially the second one, despite Bob Haney's Batman hanging out on the street in broad daylight and having a godson as Batman. The Len Wein/Jim Aparo issues of Phantom Stranger are great, as are the Marv Wolfman/Michael Kaluta Spawn of Frankenstein backups. Unfortunately, things take a nosedive when both of those creative teams leave the book at the same time. Mike Grell doing the art on an issue was good, though, and the team-ups with Deadman were decent.
After reading both Showcase Presents Phantom Stranger volumes in rapid succession, I don't know much more about The Stranger than I got from reading his Who's Who entry decades ago. That's probably for the best. The mystery of who he is is core to the character. Once you give him an origin and start delineating his abilities, things would go south in a hurry.
While I'm not hauling these two volumes to Half Price Books any time soon, I doubt I'll shell out for the hardcover Phantom Stranger omnibus if it ever sees print. I'd be down for a Phantom Stranger by Wein and Aparo hardcover, though. 3 out of 5 stars.
ipacho's review
3.0
It is a shame that only to the end of the run the Phantom Stranger tales acquired a much sought consistency and drama. The whole "spawn of Frankestein" arch was a mess, and the loss of Dr. Thirteen a pity. However, the appearance of Deadman and the recurring sorcerous villains reinvigorated an amazing character.
More...