The Phantom Stranger has gained extra attention in the second half of 2012 due to the relaunch of his title in the New 52. The Gray Walker is one of my favorite characters of all time due to the many questions surrounding the original version of the character. The original Stranger is filled with symbolism and importance.
The Phantom Stranger
Origin of the Phantom Stranger
The original Phantom Stranger is one of a few characters in comics without a set origin. Up until the New 52, it had been speculated that the character was the Wandering Jew, Judas Iscariot, a fallen angel, or the last being from a dimension which was destroyed countless ages ago. A character’s origin is important as it tells up how a superhero gained his or her powers and what caused the character to help out humanity or to wish to destroy society. By not having an origin, the original Brotherless One became a character shrouded in mystery since his very inception.
Power
I do not see an instance in the original DC Universe in which the writers ever explored the full depth of the Phantom Stranger’s power. Sure, there were times in which The Phantom Stranger was taxed by an attack or a volley of offense, but parameters were never set on how powerful he was. We know that he automatically knows everything about every character he encounters and knows about every situation going on, but we do not know if this is of his own power or a power granted to him from a higher source. We also know he can travel through time and cast powerful magic spells but we never found out what his breaking point was. We also know that he has lived for countless years, but do not know if he can actually die.
Use of His Power
The truest area of symbolism for the Phantom Stranger comes in the form of having ultimate power but typically not being able to get directly involved. He can retaliate if he is attacked, or he can lend a hand if the powers of chaos have the chance of overtaking the powers of order – but that is about it. Instead, he is forced to give advice or to simply lead other characters in the right direction. Think about the emotional struggles you would have if you had all the power in the universe, but could not use it unless certain rare circumstances were met?
The Phantom Stranger
The New 52
I cannot write about the symbolism and significance of the Phantom Stranger without addressing the changes made in the New 52. The revelation that the Gray Walker is Judas Iscariot completely takes one of the most important aspects of the enigmatic character away. Since the Phantom Stranger has a clear origin, readers are not left with the questions they have had for decades. Years ago, I would pick up every issue the Stranger was in with the hope of having some type of clue to his origin. Sadly, DC did not remember the importance of this aspect when they created the new version of the character.
In the present day, the Phantom Stranger is set out on missions which he must complete to gain redemption. I actually like this as it melds with the old form of the character which had to weed out the powers of chaos in order to keep order. I don’t like the idea of these missions being set by a mystical group of “gods” which we have seen. DC decided to go against the idea of keeping enigmas surrounding the character and made him a jobber for “the mystical elite.”
I have mixed feelings about the idea of the Phantom Stranger leading a double life with a family. The old stranger was a constant wanderer. Obviously, he has been in the same place for a long time. Of course, some rebellious DC fans might think that I am wrong by holding onto the old and not accepting the new. Obviously, these critics would not realize the importance of a character which is different from all others. These comic book pundits would not realize how having a character surrounded in mystery can keep fans interested for years.
Oddly, with all that I dislike about the New 52 version of the Phantom Stranger, I like the storylines so far. We will see in the upcoming months if DC can keep my attention or force me to wander from the title.
What do you think about the New 52 Phantom Stranger in comparison to the original Phantom Stranger?
