Phantom Stranger 4 Preview/Discussion

[JimmyOlsenMustDie]

Never thought the speedos and green booties were right for one of the most power characters in comics.

Robin?

Anyway, I just read this and I really liked it - best issue so far. DeMatteis on dialogue fixed the main problem I had with this book - that ol' Phil seemed positively wooden when he was interacting with his family.

I'm really getting irritated by Constantine - the guy is everywhere these days. I really hope PS melts his brain or something and we don't have to hear his arrogant prattling anymore. Wishful thinking, I know. And yes, I also am upset that the official name for the team is now "Justice League Dark." I liked Lemire's reference to it as a joke that ARGUS made up in JLD, but now it seems that John's on board with it as well.

However, I *loved* the appearance of the missing coin. I do believe we have just received confirmation that Walt Simonson's The Judas Coin actually is part of the New 52 continuity. I've been wondering if they were going to mention a "missing coin" in PS since I read The Judas Coin. It will be interesting to see how that develops. And what does Pandora have against the Stranger?

I only got 3 DC books this week - this, Dial H, and Earth 2, and while the latter two were good as well, I have to give DC Book of the Week to this. This book has been getting better every issue since # 2 and while I know there are DiDio haters out there, at least he knew he needed some scripting help and brought a seasoned pro to help.

[Jody Garland]

That's pretty interesting. I picked up Judas Coin for Christmas and couldn't help but think of the new Phantom Stranger when reading it. Nice to see it alluded too- it does nothing but add flavor if patched into canon.

[The Frozen Reptile]

I am beginning to think that this series is the prequel to "Trinity War", which if this issue is any indication, would not be so bad.

Of course Pandora and the Stranger do not get along, they are convicts (in a different prison than we can relate to) and convicts tend to not play well with each other.

[Outside_85]

I am beginning to think that this series is the prequel to "Trinity War", which if this issue is any indication, would not be so bad.

Of course Pandora and the Stranger do not get along, they are convicts (in a different prison than we can relate to) and convicts tend to not play well with each other.

If the Trinity of Sin are three inmates, I think we can boil them down to the following:
Phantom Stranger is the wuss of the lot that's either trying to pretend he's not in prison or trying to make his cell as comfortable as possible (Warden God's pet, if you will)
Pandora is the angry one that doesn't care what she's actually done (or haven't done), she wants out and will do anything to get out (normally the hero)
The Question...hard to say since we've not met him yet, but from his one panel appearance; the crackpot who doesn't realize he's in jail (...)

[Hound of UIster]

Eh so this book is still nothing but a marketing tie-in, only with Dematteis giving some window dressing.

Yes and the large decline in the quality of his work, I doubt he has the ability to turn the book around.

[dupersuper]

(the whole thing is basically an excuse for a punch up between the JLA and Phantom Stranger).

That's JLD.

[Mr. Holmes]

Yes and the large decline in the quality of his work, I doubt he has the ability to turn the book around.

I actually think he did turn things around, he made Phantom Stranger very readable, with good dialogue and ideas.

It's just that the direction of the book is still basically more marketing-conscious and building up to Trinity War. That's obviously why Didio is writing it in the first place. This book isn't really for me, but I think Dematteis did a good job flavoring it up.