The Phantom

Real Name: Jim McGuire

Identity/Class: Human mutate

Occupation: Reporter for the Daily World newspaper.

Affiliations: None

Enemies: Bat

Known Relatives: None.

Aliases: None.

Base of Operations: Unknown

First Appearance: Pow Annual 1971

Powers/Abilities: The Phantom only has superstrength while wearing his costume, which among other things enables him to make astounding leaps. His cloak is bulletproof, and his entire costume glows constantly with an eerie light.

History: (The Phantom, Pow Annual 1972) Jim McGuire is investigating the theft of a famous gem stolen by the mysterious Bat, who seems to have a specific grudge against Sir John Ryder. He receives a tip-off that the Bat will be involved in a raid on Ryder's Chemical Factory , but on the night the raid is planned for his boss orders him to attend a costume  party at Sir John's house. Deciding he is wasting his time at the party, he slips away unnoticed, still in his costume, and heads over to the chemical plant. Sure enough the Bat and some accomplices are there, but they discover him and attack. Jim ends up falling into some electrical equipment and then a vat of chemicals. Believing him dead, the Bat departs, but Jim is alive, and crawls out the vat glowing with an eerie light. The police arrive and mistake Jim for the masked criminal. He flees, discovering that he has somehow gained superhuman strength as a result of the accident.

Identified as the Bat, Jim goes into hiding, waiting for an opportunity to prove his innocence. He discovers also that his strength is only enhanced while wearing the costume he wore when he fell into the vat. After a week the Bat returns to rob a jewelry exhibition, and Jim intervenes. After a chase across the rooftops he loses the villain, but is nonetheless able to confront him later that night - the Bat made the mistake of using the same briefcase during the robbery as he had when he encountered Jim out of disguise back before the affair began - for he is really Travers, Sir John's secretary. His name cleared, Jim decides to adopt the identity of the Phantom and continue to fight crime.

Comments: Thanks to Chris Adams, who informed me of the existence of this character and gave me my initial information about him.

CLARIFICATIONS: Not to be confused with

Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.

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