Secret Origins (1986) 10 (3)

Secret Origins (1986) 10

Jan 1987

Revelations

by Dan Mishkin, Ernie Colón, Pablo Marcos, Carl Gafford, Albert DeGuzman, Robert Greenberger

The Phantom Stranger tries to prevent some scientists from delving too deeply into the mysteries of the origins of the universe. Alt, one of the scientists, doesn’t care for the Phantom Stranger’s interference. Alt’s colleague is more receptive to the Phantom Stranger’s words. Alt does what he can to prevent the Phantom Stranger from interfering with his work. Alt thinks that the Phantom Stranger has been incapacitated and doesn’t see him pass his power on to Alt’s colleague. 

Thoughts

Dan Mishkin and Ernie Colón also worked together on Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld.

Alt’s colleague is not given a name. He seems to become the new Phantom Stranger or maybe he was the Phantom Stranger all along?

There is what looks like a “typo” on the eighth page of this story. Alt says “we’ve begun a tank that we must finish.” I suspect that should have read “we’ve begun a task that we must finish.”

There is a nod to the moment first depicted in Green Lantern 40 (Oct 1965) when Krona possibly saw the origin of the universe. This is the same moment that played a crucial role in Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Is this the story of the Secret Origin of the Phantom Stranger or of a Phantom Stranger? I can’t decide. I like it. That much I know.