| 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 |
|
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]
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The Space Phantoms debuted in The Avengers vol. 1 #2 (November 1963), and were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. [5] They appeared in the 1966 Thor series, [6] and in the 1998 Avengers Forever series. [7]
The Space Phantoms were originally various beings who became trapped in Limbo, were transformed into monsters and rendered amnesiac by its effects, and were conditioned to become servants of 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 were multiple. 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.
A Space Phantom can assume the form of virtually any single object or living creature at a time, trapping the real entity in Limbo until they switch forms. [20] [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.
The Avengers are a team of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1. Labeled "Earth's Mightiest Heroes", the original Avengers consisted of Iron Man, Ant-Man, Hulk, Thor and the Wasp. Captain America was discovered trapped in ice in issue #4, and joined the group after they revived him. The Avengers are an all-star ensemble cast of established superhero characters from the Marvel Comics portfolio. Diegetically, these superheroes usually operate independently but occasionally assemble as a team to tackle especially formidable villains. This in contrast to certain other superhero teams such as the X-Men, whose characters were created specifically to be part of their team, with the team being central to their identity. The Avengers were created to create a new line of books to sell and to cross-promote Marvel Comics characters.
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The Wasp is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee, Ernie Hart, and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #44.
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Mephisto is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Silver Surfer #3, and was created by Stan Lee and John Buscema and based on Mephistopheles: a demon character from the Faust legend, who has sometimes been referred to as Mephisto. Introduced as a recurring adversary of the Silver Surfer and Ghost Rider, Mephisto has also endured as one of Spider-Man's most prominent adversaries, being responsible for Norman and Harry Osborn's respective transformations into the Green Goblin and Kindred; and for the superhero's loss of his marriage to Mary Jane Watson, considering their future daughter Spider-Girl his archenemy. Mephisto has often come into conflict with Doctor Strange, Doctor Doom, Scarlet Witch and other heroes of the Marvel Universe, being responsible both for the creation of the Cosmic Ghost Rider and the descents of Phil Coulson and Otto Octavius into villainy.
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Loki Laufeyson is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby, he is based on the Norse mythological deity of the same name. Although a version of Loki debuted in Venus #6, his characterization as the adoptive brother and nemesis of the superhero Thor was introduced with the version that debuted in Journey into Mystery #85, which has persisted to the modern age.
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