The Phantom Stranger #15 (DC)
Len Wein/Joe Orlando (w) Jim Aparo (a)
One of the most enigmatic of DC's comic characters has to be the Phantom Stranger. He appears from nowhere and comes and goes as he see's fit. More stealthy than the Batman and certainly more mysterious the Stranger had his own series which lasted from 1969 to 1976.
This issue is fairly typical with moody art from Jim Aparo who drew also created a similar aura for the Batman in Brave & the Bold. This tale, The Iron Messiah see's cybernreticist John Kweli return to his African homeland but survives the train crashing and is seemingly rescued by..a stranger.
On waking up in hospital he meets his old friend Ororo who brings the sad news that his father is dead. His village is in trouble and there there are soldiers arresting people in town plus a troublesome Witch doctor.
Unable to reach any agreement with the businessmen putting pressure on his people John decides to recreate the god the locals worship, Chuma.
Of course Chuma is a robot and a wee bit independent minded, even wanting to steal John's woman. In the end John dies at his creations hands getting shot in the back.
A very seventies short story. The robot of course gets his comeuppance, leaving the stranger to his musings on mankind's tampering with forces they do not understand.
The other new story is Satan's Sextet with Dr Thirteen another of DC's minor characters plus a visit from a stranger. A tale of murder and greed.
There are also a couple of old mystery tale reprints as this is one of those extra sized comics that DC ran for year but didn't catch on. One of these is a Mark Merlin story from House of Secrets in I Scout Earth's Strangest Secrets. An entertaining tale.
Fan Fact: Mark Merlin went on to become Prince Ra Man. Who you may ask? Check out old issues of House of Secrets!
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