It's crazy how long it took until The Phantom Stranger showed up in other media. We finally got an animated version on an episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold a few years back. But now we need a live action version. DC's Legends of Tomorrow or the on-again off-again Justice League Dark movie seem like the most likely options. He should be an easy character to pull off, as long as they remember to keep his eyes in shadow.
They could also use the Phantom Stranger like they did Fury as connection to other movies if DC could get their movie franchise straight.
ReplyDeleteWith Constantine joining Legends, I like the idea of PS showing up and there being some tension between the characters. Constantine is serious but not THAT serious, while PS is Captain Serious. It could be fun, and exasperating for Sara Lance--and Caity does the exasperation bit so well!
ReplyDelete@Glenn Host: Now there's a really solid idea. They should since he can just show up anytime, anywhere. That or Constantine.
ReplyDeleteHell's yes Ross!!!! Now THIS match up I've wanted to see for awhile. A really good writer would have fun with this, like having Mephisto tease and tempt the Stranger about his true past and throw it in his face....whichever past they want to give him, only to turn out to be false. It;'s best if the PS's true origins aren't nailed down. Helps with the whole mystique factor. I believe that one Secret Origins PS issue is the way to do it.
I like both Glenn's and James' ideas here. The movie version could even be an impetus for a second Justice League movie, if the producers can talk Warner Brothers into doing one. It would tend to suggest a supernatural foe, and Felix Faust and/or the Demons Three would be a good enemy -- though of course continuing the Darkseid threat would be more logical, and could still include the Phantom Stranger.
ReplyDeleteAs a writer, though, I'd tend to say not that none of the stories of his origin are true, but that they all are, despite them having numerous points of incompatibility and contradiction. I might even throw in another three or four just to further muddy the waters. The Phantom Stranger is nothing if not confusing to the untrained observer....
@Ross: I think a live-action debut on GOTHAM would be more appropriate. He could be written as striving to protect Bruce from a splinter faction of the Society of Shadows called "The Dark Circle!" Given the criminal fiefdoms that are already springing up for next season's story arc (doubtless already subtitled "No Man's Land"), an occult subsect would not require too much more suspension of viewer disbelief.
ReplyDeleteOutstanding Ross! I'm always ready for any action with the Phantom Stranger. He's still the coolest mystical hero, (and he makes the Rat-Pack look like bums.)
ReplyDeleteHe may have already shown up. Do you remember the singing Flash episode? Pay close attention to the Music Meister character. He looks different, but his powers, mysterious nature, and refusal to act directly all duplicate PS’s traits. Then listen again to his sign-off at the end.
ReplyDeleteRoss, any chance of a sequel to your Phantom Stranger/Phantom cover?
ReplyDeleteI like using The Phantom, there's always a chance.
ReplyDelete...how about the Phantom and the Funky Phantom together again for the first time fighting the Phantom Empire....
ReplyDelete...each day a new masterpiece, Ross... how do you do it???
There's a short story starring the Funky Phantom (with a briefer appearance by Jason Blood) in the back of one of the latest batch of DC/Hanna-Barbera crossover comics...
ReplyDelete@Rick2: "Remember the singing Flash episode?"
ReplyDeletePlease! I'm desperately trying to forget it!!
I say that as probably the only person in the world who literally--and unapologetically--HATES the infamous "Once More With Feeling" episode of the Buffy series.