Reading comic books has become my favorite hobby over the past 3 years or so. Whenever possible I collect comics in omnibus form. An omnibus, for those not in the know, is an oversized hardcover containing the full run (sometimes broken up over multiple volumes) of a particular series. Many comic readers view the omnibus as the ultimate form of a collected edition. After all, there’s nothing better than owning an entire series in one massive, oversized tome. Some can get a little unwieldly though, particularly the ones over 1,000 pages. But the ability to own the first issue to the last of a series in one book is super appealing. For years I’ve been champing at the bit to write my first omnibus review, and I’m proud to kick that off with DC’s Phantom Stranger.
Featuring classic tales of the macabre from the golden age of comics, many different talented writers and artists have contributed to the Phantom Stranger legacy over the decades. Originating in 1952, the Phantom Stranger is somewhat of a mythical figure. Is he man or ghost? Sly trickster or master mystic? While his stories are a bit formulaic — though to be fair many from that time period were — there’s a fun sinister sense to it all. So if you like your comics slightly spooky tinged with an eerie edge, then my friend you’ve come to the right (resting) place!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
The Phantom Stranger omnibus is a banger. The stories are spooky, sometimes a little unsettling, always bizarre and usually a total blast. Some of the art is absolutely phenomenal. Colors pop off the page! It’s a fun time machine to the golden age of comics. Simple stories that speak to some level of morality help make this rise above being just a collection of random tales of the macabre. Though there’s certainly a place for that too, and enough of those stories are featured within as well! So while Phantom Stranger never quite caught on like some of his contemporaries, these twisted tales absolutely warrant a read or two especially on those dark and stormy nights.
