Publishers / DC / The Phantom Stranger (1952) / #1
1August-September 1952
$0.10

The Phantom Stranger #1

DC · August-September 1952 · on sale 1952-06-06

First appearance: The Phantom Stranger
How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
The Phantom Stranger (DC, 1952 series)
Issue
#1
Publication date
August-September 1952
Key date
1952-08-00
On-sale date
1952-06-06
Indicia publisher
National Comics Publications Inc.
Price
$0.10
Pages
36

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of The Phantom Stranger - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0Who Is the Phantom Stranger?cover1pencils: Carmine Infantino; inks: Sy Barry; letters: Ira SchnappThe Phantom Stranger First
1Superman Says: "It's Smart to Check-- And Doublecheck!"public service announcement1script: Jack Schiff; pencils: Win Mortimer; inks: Win Mortimer; letters: Ira SchnappClark Kent, Superman
2The Haunters from Beyond!comic story8script: Manly Wade Wellman; pencils: Carmine Infantino; inks: Sy Barry; letters: Gaspar SaladinoThe Phantom Stranger First
5Editorial Advisory Boardpromo (ad from the publisher)0.5letters: typeset
6When Dead Men Walk!comic story6script: John Broome, Gardner Fox; pencils: Carmine Infantino; inks: Sy Barry, Joe Giella; letters: Gaspar SaladinoThe Phantom Stranger First
7Message to Parents - What to Do if Polio Comes Your Waypublic service announcement0.5letters: typeset
9Goblin in the Bottlecomic story5.67script: John Broome; pencils: Murphy Anderson; inks: Murphy Anderson; letters: Ira SchnappMoira Varner; Don Holborn; Susan Parks; Latham
11Whistle Magiccomic story1script: Mort Drucker; pencils: Mort Drucker; inks: Mort Drucker
12Fate Takes a Handtext article2script: Jack Miller; pencils: Raymond Perry; inks: Raymond Perry
13The House of Strange Secrets!comic story6script: John Broome; pencils: Carmine Infantino; inks: Joe Giella; letters: Gaspar SaladinoThe Phantom Stranger First
14Two More Thrilling Magazines for Mystery Fans!promo (ad from the publisher)1pencils: Gil Kane, Amilcar Ruben Moreira; inks: Murphy Anderson, Amilcar Ruben Moreira; letters: Ira Schnapp

Plus 3.33 pages of advertisements and other matter across 5 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Showcase #61957On eBay ›
The Phantom Stranger #11969On eBay ›
The Phantom Stranger #21969On eBay ›
DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #41971On eBay ›
The Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told #[nn]
ISBN 0930289803
1991On eBay ›
The Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told #[nn]
ISBN 0930289838
1992On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Golden-age paper is brittle. Ask about page suppleness and check edges for chips in the photos.
  • Check for trimmed edges, married covers, and clipped coupons - all common on books this old.
  • Confirm the indicia matches this plate; many golden-age titles changed names mid-run.

Series context

1 of 6#2 ›

Sources

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com