Space Phantom

Space Phantom
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Avengers vol. 1, #2 [1] (November 1963)
Created by	Stan Lee (writer) Jack Kirby (artist)
Characteristics
Place of origin	Limbo
Inherent abilities	Knowledge of sophisticated alien technology Advanced knowledge of time and time travel Shapeshifting

Space Phantom is the name of several characters who belong to a fictional species appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, Space Phantom first appeared in The Avengers vol. 1 #2 (November 1963). ^[2] A Space Phantom is a being who was transformed by staying in the Limbo dimension too long. ^[3] They started as adversaries of the superhero team the Avengers. ^[4]

Publication history

A Space Phantom debuted in The Avengers vol. 1 #2 (November 1963), created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. ^[5] They appeared in the 1966 Thor series, ^[6] and in the 1998 Avengers Forever series. ^[7]

Fictional character biography

The Space Phantoms are Limbo being used as agents by Immortus. ^[8] For many years it was assumed that there was only one Space Phantom, but in the course of the Destiny War the Avengers discovered that there was more than one. During a journey back in time to 1873, a trio of Space Phantoms was caught impersonating the Gunhawks and the Black Rider. ^[9] The Space Phantoms were previously said to have originated on the planet Phantus in the Phalbo system in the Milky Way Galaxy. ^{[10] [11]}

Immortus traps individuals who become lost in Limbo, and due to the nature of that plane, they begin to forget their former lives and change into misshapen beings. Immortus conditions these into servants who can perpetuate his schemes and manipulations of historical events. The Phantoms can assimilate anyone, even to the point of torture and escaping notice of even mind-readers.

The first Space Phantom first appeared in The Avengers #2, copying Giant-Man, Iron Man, and Hulk. During his battle with the Avengers, he first copied the Hulk, and battled Iron Man. He took the shape of a flying insect to escape, but Iron Man continued to battle the Hulk. The Space Phantom attacked the Wasp in his insect form, and then became Giant-Man. After fighting Iron Man, he took Iron Man's form. He finally attempted to copy Thor and was banished back to Limbo because his powers could not affect Asgardians. ^[12]

Since all Space Phantoms appear identical and can appear as any other creature, it can be difficult to determine which Space Phantom did what; the following activities have previously been attributed to the Space Phantom who first encountered the Avengers, but these may not have been the same Space Phantom. A Space Phantom allied with the Grim Reaper and impersonated Madame Hydra, and commanded a division of HYDRA in that identity. The Space Phantom battled the Avengers, but was shunted back into Limbo when he attempted to mimic Rick Jones, who was then linked to Captain Mar-Vell. ^[13] A Space Phantom was compelled by Immortus to impersonate Mantis to deceive Kang. ^[14] A Space Phantom attempted to trick Thor into freeing the planet Phantus from Limbo, and allied with Thor to save Phantus, which led to Thor losing much of Mjolnir's power over time. ^[15] A Space Phantom once encountered Rom the Space Knight in Limbo. ^[16] A Space Phantom later encountered the Avengers in Limbo. ^[17] A Space Phantom was used as a pawn by the Young God Calculus in a scheme pitting Spider-Man against the Avengers. ^[18]

The original Space Phantom is revealed to be disguised as Spider-Man in the Beyond! series. ^[19]

Kurt Busiek used Space Phantoms and Immortus in Avengers Forever to explain a number of inconsistencies such as the Avengers crossover titled The Crossing.

Powers and abilities

A Space Phantom can assume the form of virtually any single object or living creature at a time. ^[20] They can trap whoever they are impersonating in Limbo until they shift forms. ^[21] They have no difficulty imitating a number of people in rapid succession, nor does there appear to be a time limit on the period in which he can imitate someone. A Space Phantom appears to be not able to duplicate certain powerful beings who possess magical enchantments; when he attempts to duplicate such a being he himself is shunted into Limbo instead. While in the form of another creature, the Space Phantom gains all the abilities of that creature. It can even become an object that travels faster than light.

Additionally, a Space Phantom has knowledge of sophisticated alien technology far in advance of present-day Earth and advanced knowledge of time and time travel.

In other media

Television

• A Space Phantom appears in The Marvel Super Heroes , voiced by Gillie Fenwick. ^[22]
• The Space Phantoms appear in The Super Hero Squad Show episode "Revenge of the Baby Sat!", voiced by Tom Kenny. ^[23] They attack Ms. Marvel, Thor and H.E.R.B.I.E. when they enter Limbo to restore Falcon, Iron Man, and the Scarlet Witch after a time travel accident transforms them into toddlers, but quickly explain that they are only trying to protect their realm, and subsequently assist the heroes in stopping Doctor Doom's Lethal Legion.
• The Space Phantoms appear in the Avengers Assemble episode "Ghost of a Chance," voiced by David Kaye, and duplicate forms voiced by Troy Baker, Travis Willingham, Roger Craig Smith, Laura Bailey, and Adrian Pasdar. ^[24] This version of the species possess a black, gaseous appearance.
• A Space Phantom appears in Rocket & Groot , voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson. ^[25]

References

1. Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains . New York: Facts on File. p. 323. ISBN   0-8160-1356-X.
2. Corley, Shaun (April 11, 2022). "Hulk Leaving the Avengers Was Originally the Tragic Opposite of the MCU". Screen Rant . Retrieved 2024-02-21.
3. Corley, Shaun (January 3, 2024). "10 Barely-Used Marvel Aliens Who Could Return as The Next Major Threat". Screen Rant . Retrieved 2024-02-21.
4. Meenan, Devin (February 28, 2021). "First 10 Marvel Villains The Avengers Fought (In Chronological Order)". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved 2024-02-21.
5. Connolly, Spencer (April 17, 2022). "Iron Man's Original Weakness Took His Name Way Too Literally". Screen Rant . Retrieved 2024-02-21.
6. Cronin, Brian (February 11, 2024). "The Hidden Reason Behind Thor Losing His Hammer's Time-Traveling Ability". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved 2024-02-21.
7. Dodge, John (June 13, 2021). "Loki's Time-Keepers Tried to Stop the Avengers from Forming". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved 2024-02-21.
8. Allan, Scoot (March 13, 2023). "10 Ways Immortus Changed The Marvel Timeline". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved 2024-02-21.
9. Avengers Forever #5. Marvel Comics.
10. Thor #281. Marvel Comics.
11. Phantom's entry in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (vol. 2) #15. Marvel Comics.
12. The Avengers #2. Marvel Comics.
13. The Avengers #106–108. Marvel Comics.
14. Giant-Size Avengers #4. Marvel Comics.
15. Thor #281–282. Marvel Comics.
16. Rom #19. Marvel Comics.
17. The Avengers #268. Marvel Comics.
18. The Spectacular Spider-Man #168–170. Marvel Comics.
19. Beyond! #3. Marvel Comics.
20. Connolly, Spencer (November 14, 2023). "First 10 Villains the Avengers Faced in Marvel Comics Continuity". Screen Rant . Retrieved 2024-02-21.
21. Stewart, Brenton (January 14, 2022). "How a Deadly but Forgotten Avengers Villain Would Decimate Marvel's MCU". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved 2024-02-21.
22. "Voice Of Space Phantom – Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
23. "Voice Of The Phantom – Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
24. "Voice Of Phantom #1 – Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
25. "Voice Of Space Phantom – Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved February 21, 2024.

External links

• Space Phantoms at Marvel Wiki
  • Space Phantom at Marvel Wiki
• Space Phantom at Comic Vine