Comic Title: Showcase Presents Phantom Stranger Vol. 1 TPB
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 2006
On Sale Date: October 25, 2006 Direct Market Date October 18, 2006
Source: Previews, Vol. 16 #7 (#211)

Direct Market Date October 25, 2006
Source: Usenet, New Releases List for Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Cover Price: $16.99
Page Count: 544
Editor: Bob Joy

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "The Curse"
Pages: 24

Feature(s):
Phantom Stranger (of Earth-1)

Writer: Robert Kanigher
Artist: Jim Aparo

Reprinted From:
Phantom Stranger #7 (1970)

Feature Character(s)

• Phantom Stranger (last appearance in Brave & the Bold #89; next appearance in Phantom Stranger #8)

Supporting Character(s)

• Doctor Thirteen (last appearance in Brave & the Bold #89; next appearance in Phantom Stranger #8)
• Spartacus, Attila, Wild Rose, and Mister Square (last appearance in Phantom Stranger #6; next appearance in Phantom Stranger #9)
• Marie Thirteen (last appearance in Phantom Stranger #5; next appearance in Phantom Stranger #8)

Villain(s)

• Tala (last appearance in Phantom Stranger #6; next appearance in Phantom Stranger #8)
• Thomas and Nicholas (a gardener and his son; Nicholas dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Vincent Krone (the brother of a dead coal miner; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Andrew and Vanessa Vulcan (a billionaire and his daughter; no further appearances)
• Count Druga (a castle owner; in flashback; no further appearances)
• Mr. Wilton and his employees (coal miners; no further appearances)
• Abel Krone (a coal miner; dies in flashback; no further appearances)
• Nick Smith and Tony (fishermen; both die in this story; no further appearances)
• Frank and Bill (brothers; Frank dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Lee Phillips, Michael Liptom, and William Howell (former boyfriends of Vanessa; die in flashback; no further appearances)
• Selena (a gardener's daughter; no further appearances)

Comments:
This story frames two stories:
"The Curse of Shaft Seven" and
"Curse of the Sea Siren"

Synopsis:
A group of teens make their way to Vulcan's Castle where they have been invited by the owner's daughter Vanessa. Tala tries to sabotage the kids, but the Phantom Stranger rescues them. Dr. Thirteen has also been invited to the castle by the owner to expose a supposed curse which has doomed three of his daughter's boyfriends to death. When Thirteen and the teens finally arrive, they witness Vanessa trying to kill herself, but the Phantom Stranger saves her.

Dr. Thirteen tries to explain that there is no curse. He tells everyone the tale of a coal mine supposedly cursed by a dead miner. Dr. Thirteen was able to expose the curse as the workings of the miners brother who wanted revenge for his brother's death.

The Phantom Stranger then tells his own tale involving two brothers who fought over an inherited fishing boat. One fell overboard and cursed the ship. The surviving brother befell many accidents until the Phantom Stranger stepped in and broke the curse.

With the tales completed, Vanessa then explains how Nicholas, the son of the castle gardener died and left her cursed because she had refused his love. Her next three suitors all died in horrible accidents. Dr. Thirteen claims it is coincidence. The Phantom Stranger digs up the coffin containing Nicholas and proves that he is still alive. The gardener, using powers given to him by Tala, had revived his son and used him as an instrument of revenge. Nicholas dies trying to kill the Phantom Stranger, and Vanessa's curse is finally ended. Dr. Thirteen remains unconvinced that any actual curse was present.