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Bob Phantom

Walt Whitney was a New York City news reporter who wrote a gossip column called ‘On Broadway.’ It frequently made fun of law enforcement who failed to catch criminals and because of this Walt was unpopular with the police. He also served as a radio reporter in his early appearances. What most people didn’t realize was that he secretly was the crime fighter Bob Phantom, whose names came from a stage magician who did a great disappearing act. From Top-Notch Comics #15 onward, he was assisted by Jinx Friday, an awkward but clever girl who became his secretary and (not much later) his girlfriend. His first recurring enemy was professional criminal Trigger Slumm, who reappeared to work for Ah Ku, a Chinese femme fatale and self-proclaimed princess of crime, who would go on to become his nemesis. Bob Phantom’s powers included invulnerability and teleporting by disappearing in a cloud of smoke and then reappearing somewhere else.
Alias Bob Phantom
Real Names/Alt Names Walt Whitney
Characteristics Hero, Reporter, MLJ Universe, Ghost-themed, Teleporter, World War II Era
Creators/Key Contributors Irv Novick, Harry Shorten
First Appearance Blue Ribbon Comics #2 (Dec. 1939)
First Publisher Archie / MLJ [CB+] [DCM] [GCD]
Appearance List Blue Ribbon Comics #2-3, Star Comics #1, Keen Komics #1, Top-Notch Comics #3-25, Mighty Crusaders (Archie, 1965 series) #4
Sample Read Blue Ribbon [DCM] [CB+]
Description Walt Whitney was a New York City news reporter who wrote a gossip column called ‘On Broadway.’ It frequently made fun of law enforcement who failed to catch criminals and because of this Walt was unpopular with the police. He also served as a radio reporter in his early appearances. What most people didn’t realize was that he secretly was the crime fighter Bob Phantom, whose names came from a stage magician who did a great disappearing act. From Top-Notch Comics #15 onward, he was assisted by Jinx Friday, an awkward but clever girl who became his secretary and (not much later) his girlfriend. His first recurring enemy was professional criminal Trigger Slumm, who reappeared to work for Ah Ku, a Chinese femme fatale and self-proclaimed princess of crime, who would go on to become his nemesis. Bob Phantom’s powers included invulnerability and teleporting by disappearing in a cloud of smoke and then reappearing somewhere else.
Source Bob Phantom – Public Domain Super Heroes Wiki
Blue Ribbon Comics #3 | Irv Novick, Harry Shorten
Blue Ribbon Comics #3 | Irv Novick, Harry Shorten