| Space Phantom | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Avengers vol. 1, #2[1] (November1963) |
| Created by | Stan Lee (writer) Jack Kirby (artist) |
| Characteristics | |
| Place of origin | Limbo |
| Inherent abilities |
|
Space Phantom is the name of severalcharacters who belong to a fictionalspecies appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created by writerStan Lee and artistJack Kirby, Space Phantomfirst appeared inThe Avengers vol. 1 #2 (November 1963).[2] A Space Phantom is a being who was transformed by staying in theLimbo dimension too long.[3] They started as adversaries of the superhero team theAvengers.[4]
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The Space Phantoms debuted inThe Avengers vol. 1 #2 (November 1963), and were created byStan Lee andJack Kirby.[5] They appeared in the 1966Thor series,[6] and in the 1998Avengers 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 ofImmortus.[8] For many years, it was assumed that there was only one Space Phantom, but in the course of theDestiny War theAvengers discovered that there were multiple. During a journey back in time to 1873, a trio of Space Phantoms was caught impersonating theGunhawks and theBlack 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 inLimbo, 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 inThe Avengers #2, copyingGiant-Man,Iron Man, andHulk. 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 copyThor and was returned to Limbo because his powers could not affectAsgardians.[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 theGrim Reaper and impersonatedMadame Hydra, and commanded a division ofHydra in that identity. The Space Phantom battled the Avengers, but was shunted back into Limbo when he attempted to mimicRick Jones, who was then linked toMar-Vell.[13] A Space Phantom was compelled by Immortus to impersonateMantis to deceiveKang.[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 Mjolnir's power over time.[10] A Space Phantom once encounteredRom the Space Knight in Limbo.[15] A Space Phantom later encountered the Avengers in Limbo.[16] A Space Phantom was used as a pawn by theYoung God Calculus in a scheme pitting Spider-Man against the Avengers.[17]
The original Space Phantom is revealed to be disguised asSpider-Man inBeyond!.[18]
Kurt Busiek used Space Phantoms and Immortus inAvengers Forever to explain a number of inconsistencies such as the Avengers crossover titledThe 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.[19][20] 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 unable to duplicate certain powerful beings who possess magical enchantments; when he attempts to duplicate such a being he 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 travelsfaster 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.
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