Fantom of the Fair
Encyclopedia
The Fantom of the Fair was one of the earliest published Golden Age
superhero
es. He debuted in Amazing Mystery Funnies Vol 2 #7 (Whole #11), July 1939, Centaur Publications
. He premiered, according to cover dates, the same month as DC Comics
' Sandman
and Fox Publications' The Flame, and Centaur's The Masked Marvel
. He was created by Paul Gustavson
, who had previously created The Arrow
for Centaur. His series replaced that of Skyrocket Steele, Bill Everett
's first comic series.
His early adventures were set fighting threats at the 1939 New York World's Fair
. During the time between the 1939 and 1940 Fair seasons, he traveled in a series of stories set outside the Fair. He was often shown during these 'outside' stories in a simple suit, with a hat brim hiding his features.
He was originally clad in an all-black hood & body suit, with a purple cape. but soon adopted an open faced cowl and red cape around the close of the 1939 Fair season. The Fantom was seldom displayed with overt powers, but demonstrated the ability to tamper with people's memories and displayed incredible strength in his initial appearance. He also used secret trap doors placed around the Fair. His 1st adventure showed an ancient book that indicated that the Fantom had lived in Iceland 1000 years ago. He was possibly the first comics hero with a subterranean headquarters.
The Fantom of the Fair appeared in Amazing Mystery Comics until Vol 3 # 8 (Whole #24), Sept., 1940. In this final issue, he was called Fantoman.
His adventures were reprinted in Amazing Adventures #1, June, 1940, and in Fantoman #'s 2-4, Aug.-Dec. 1940. Other artists on the series included Frank Thomas, Harry Sahle
, and writer George Kapitan.
The Fantom of the Fair was inspired at least in part by the Phantom of the Opera
, as portrayed by Lon Chaney, Sr.
A sound version of Chaney's POTO movie had been released in the 1930s.
story in the late 1980s and in Sandman Mystery Theater, and Gravestone in Malibu Comics
' Protectors
series.
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
es. He debuted in Amazing Mystery Funnies Vol 2 #7 (Whole #11), July 1939, Centaur Publications
Centaur Publications
Centaur Publications was one of the earliest American comic book publishers. During their short existence, they created several colorful characters, including Bill Everett's Amazing Man....
. He premiered, according to cover dates, the same month as DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
' Sandman
Sandman (Wesley Dodds)
Sandman , is a fictional superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first of several DC characters to bear the name, he was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Bert Christman....
and Fox Publications' The Flame, and Centaur's The Masked Marvel
Masked Marvel (Centaur Publications)
The Masked Marvel was a fictional superhero originally published by Centaur Publications. He debuted in 1939, on the pages of Keen Detective Funnies #7...
. He was created by Paul Gustavson
Paul Gustavson
Paul Gustavson née Karl Paul Gustafson was an American-immigrant comic-book writer and artist. His most notable creations during the Golden Age of Comic Books were The Human Bomb for Quality Comics, and the Angel, who debuted in Marvel Comics #1 , the first publication of Marvel Comics forerunner...
, who had previously created The Arrow
Arrow (comics)
The Arrow is a fictional character, a superhero originally published by Centaur Publications. The character first appeared in 1938 in Funny Pages #21 . After Centaur Publications went out of business, the Arrow, along with most other company properties, lapsed into public domain...
for Centaur. His series replaced that of Skyrocket Steele, Bill Everett
Bill Everett
William Blake "Bill" Everett, also known as William Blake and Everett Blake was a comic book writer-artist best known for creating Namor the Sub-Mariner and co-creating Daredevil for Marvel Comics...
's first comic series.
His early adventures were set fighting threats at the 1939 New York World's Fair
1939 New York World's Fair
The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
. During the time between the 1939 and 1940 Fair seasons, he traveled in a series of stories set outside the Fair. He was often shown during these 'outside' stories in a simple suit, with a hat brim hiding his features.
He was originally clad in an all-black hood & body suit, with a purple cape. but soon adopted an open faced cowl and red cape around the close of the 1939 Fair season. The Fantom was seldom displayed with overt powers, but demonstrated the ability to tamper with people's memories and displayed incredible strength in his initial appearance. He also used secret trap doors placed around the Fair. His 1st adventure showed an ancient book that indicated that the Fantom had lived in Iceland 1000 years ago. He was possibly the first comics hero with a subterranean headquarters.
The Fantom of the Fair appeared in Amazing Mystery Comics until Vol 3 # 8 (Whole #24), Sept., 1940. In this final issue, he was called Fantoman.
His adventures were reprinted in Amazing Adventures #1, June, 1940, and in Fantoman #'s 2-4, Aug.-Dec. 1940. Other artists on the series included Frank Thomas, Harry Sahle
Harry Sahle
Harry Frank Sahle was an American comic book artist who drew for such publishers as Archie Comics, Quality Comics and the Marvel Comics precursor company Timely Comics during the 1930s-1940s period historians and fans call the Golden Age of Comic Books.In 1940, with writer George Kapitan, Sahle...
, and writer George Kapitan.
The Fantom of the Fair was inspired at least in part by the Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera
Le Fantôme de l'Opéra is a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. It was first published as a serialisation in "Le Gaulois" from September 23, 1909 to January 8, 1910...
, as portrayed by Lon Chaney, Sr.
Lon Chaney, Sr.
Lon Chaney , nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American actor during the age of silent films. He was one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema...
A sound version of Chaney's POTO movie had been released in the 1930s.
Influences
The original Fantom of the Fair has inspired such characters as DC's Phantom of the Fair, in the Sandman's Secret OriginsSecret Origins
Secret Origins is the title of three American comic book series published by DC Comics.The title began in 1961 and for one issue, all reprints. The title Secret Origins of Super Heroes went onto a second series, also reprints, which ran for seven issues from 1973-1974...
story in the late 1980s and in Sandman Mystery Theater, and Gravestone in Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics was an American comic book publisher active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, best known for its Ultraverse line of superhero titles. The company's headquarters was in Calabasas, California. Malibu imprints included Aircel Comics and Eternity Comics...
' Protectors
Protectors
The Protectors was a 20-issue comic book series published by Malibu Comics from 1992 until 1994. Originally meant to be a six-issue series, response was positive enough that Malibu decided to make the series ongoing...
series.