El Detective Fantasma es el segundo de a bordo de los héroes pulp en lo que a solera se refiere, fue el segundo en ver la luz después de La Sombra. En Febrero de 1933 salía a la calle "The Emperor of Death" , su primera aventura, un mes antes de que se publicase el primer número de Doc Savage.
La serie tuvo un total de 170 episodios lo que le convierte en el tercer héroe pulp más lóngevo, como vemos estamos hablando de uno de los grandes del pulp aunque en el mundo hispano este personaje no llegó a tener mucha presencia. Estuvo escrita teóricamente por G. Wayman Jones pero como solía suceder en la época este no era sino un "nombre de marca" de la editorial Ned Pines´Thrilling Publishing, es decir un nombre falso bajo el que escribían generalmente varios escritores como Edwin V. Burkholder, Norman Daniels uno de los que más dejó su huella con 36 episodios, Anatole F. Feldman, Charles Greenberg, George A. MacDonald, Laurence Donovan y C. S. Montanye. Otros contribuyentes en menor medida a esta saga fueron Paul Chadwick, Norvell W. Page, Paul Ernst, Emile C. Tepperman, Henry Kuttner, Ray Cummings, Ralph Oppenheim y quién sabe cuantos más.
The Phantom o El Fantasma, como era llamado realmente en las historias aunque en la portada se añadía lo de "Detective" para distinguirlo de otros "Fantasmas" que ya existían, era en realidad Richard Curtis Van Loan, el heredero de una gran fortuna al quedar prematuramente huérfano se dedica a la buena vida hasta que se alista como piloto en el ejército en la Gran Guerra (La Primera Guerra Mundial), allí su vida cambia, se convierte en un as de la aviación derribando a numerosos pilotos enemigos, pero cuando la guerra acaba su vida anterior de fiestas y convenciones sociales le parece completamente vacía, es por eso que decide aprender ciencias forenses y criminales, se convierte en un genio del disfraz hasta tal punto que desarrolla identidades alternativas como Lester Cornwell o el Dr. Paul Bendix, se hace un maestro del escapismo y de toda aquella materia que le sea útil para convertirse en el Detective Fantasma, un enmascarado bajo cuya identidad Van Loan puede ayudar a los demás sin restricciones de ningún tipo y donde podrá encontrar la vida de aventuras y acción a la que se había acostumbrado durante la guerra.
El Detective Fantasma no era un Mistery Man al uso, se llevaba muy bien con las fuerzas de la ley y cooperaba con ellos, llegando a tener incluso una placa policial oficial en la que en vez de número se podía ver la silueta de una antifaz. Ayudado por Frank Havens, el editor del periódico Clarion y el único hombre conocedor del secreto de la verdadera identidad del Detective Fantasma, Van Loan desarrolla sus aventuras poniendo sus conocimientos y experiencia como detective al servicio de aquellos que pudiesen necesitarlo. A lo largo de la serie Havens llega a instalar una señal luminosa de color rojo en el tejado del periódico para contactar con El Fantasma cuando es necesario, todo esto mucho antes de que James Gordon fuese comisario de Gothan City (¿homenaje o plagio?).
Como mandaban los canones de la época y como todo buen héroe pulp que se precie de ser llamado así, El Detective Fantasma supo rodearse de un elenco de secundarios que le ayudaban en su cruzada contra el crimen como Muriel Havens, hija de Frank y el amor del propio Van Loan. Contaba también con la ayuda de Steve Huston, uno de los reporteros del Clarion, llegó incluso a tener un ayudante juvenil estilo Robin llamado Chip Dorlan aunque después de Pearl Harbour Chip se une a la inteligencia militar y desaparece de la serie para regresar fugazmente una vez terminada la guerra.
Esta es la lista completa de las novelas de la serie original y algunas de sus portadas
1 The Emperor of Death February, 1933
2 The Crimes of Fu Kee Wong April, 1933
3 The Scarlet Menace May, 1933
4 The Island of Death June, 1933
5 The Jewels of Doom July, 1933
6 Thirteen Cards of Death August, 1933
7 Cities for Ransom September, 1933
8 The Sinister Hand of Satan October, 1933
9 Gamblers in Death November, 1933
10 The Yellow Murders December, 1933
11 The Sign of Death January, 1934
12 Death's Diary February, 1934
13 The Tick-Tack-Toe Murders March, 1934
14 Murder City April, 1934
15 The Crimson Killer May, 1934
16 Diamonds of Death June, 1934
17 The Talking Dead July, 1934
18 The Silent Menace August, 1934
19 Spawn of Death September,34
20 Merchant of Murder October, 1934
21 The Tomb of Death November, 1934
22 The Crime Castle December, 1934
23 Death on Swift Wings January, 1935
24 The House of Murders February, 1935
25 The Hollywood Murders March, 1935
26 Master of the Damned April, 1935
27 Written in Blood May, 1935
28 Notes of Doom June, 1935
29 The Prince of Murder July, 1935
30 The Pharoah's Mark August, 1935
31 Master of the World September, 1935
32 Island of Sudden Death October, 1935
33 Murder Cracks Down November, 1935
34 Murder Empire December, 1935
35 The Diamond Murders January, 1936
36 Chateau of Crime February, 1936
37 The Circus Murders March, 1936
38 The Criminal Caesar April, 1936
39 The Death-Skull Murders May, 1936
40 Six Prints of Murder June, 1936
41 Dealers in Death July, 1936
42 Specter of Death August, 1936
43 The Sign of the Scar September,36
44 Empire of Terror October, 1936
45 Death Rides the Blizzard November, 1936
46 The Silent Death December, 1936
47 The Murder Caravan January, 1937
48 The Torch of Doom February, 1937
49 The Henchmen of Death March, 1937
50 The Golden Killer April, 1937
51 Harvest of Death May, 1937
52 The Dancing Doll Murders June, 1937
53 The Beast-King Murders July, 1937
54 Cavalcade of Death August, 1937
55 Hammers of Doom September,37
56 Double-Stamped Doom October, 1937
57 Minions of Death November, 1937
58 The Corpse Parade December, 1937
59 Fangs of Murder January, 1938
60 Tycoon of Crime February, 1938
61 The Master of Death March, 1938
62 Milestones of Murder April, 1938
63 The Movie Lot Murders May, 1938
64 The Front Page Murders June, 1938
65 The Yellow Shadows of Death July, 1938
66 The Broadway Murders August, 1938
67 The Counterfeit Killers September,38
68 Graduates of Murder October, 1938
69 Death-Glow November, 1938
70 The Murder Syndicate December, 1938
71 The Yacht Club Murders January, 1939
72 The Web of Death February, 1939
73 The Chain of Death March, 1939
74 The Radio Murders April, 1939
75 Murder at the Circus May, 1939
76 Murder at the World's Fair June, 1939
77 The Forty Thieves July, 1939
78 Death Under Contract August, 1939
79 The Sampan Murders September,39
80 The Phantom Strikes Back October, 1939
81 Money Mad Murders November, 1939
82 Murder Rides the Skies December, 1939
83 The Phantom Comes Through January, 1940
84 The Phantom's Gamble With Death, February 1940
85 The Phantom's Murder Trail March, 1940
86 The Phantom and the Daggers of Kali April, 1940
87 The Phantom and the Uniformed Killers May, 1940
88 The Phantom Hits Murder Steel June, 1940
89 The Phantom and the Vampire Murders July, 1940
90 The Phantom's Murder Money August, 1940
91 The Phantom and the Melody Murders September,40
92 The Phantom and the Crime Legion October, 1940
93 The Phantom and the Green Glare Murders Nov, 1940
94 The Phantom and the Television Murders Dec, 1940
95 The Phantom's Greatest Gamble January, 1941
96 The Phantom and the Curio Murders February, 1941
97 Murder Calls the Phantom March, 1941
98 The Murder Bundle April, 1941
99 The Trail to Death May, 1941
100 The Grim Shadow of Hate June, 1941
101 The Sabotage Murders July, 1941
102 The Thousand Island Murders August, 1941
103 Death Over Puget Sound September,41
104 Race Horses of Death October, 1941
105 The Black Gold Killers November, 1941
106 Murder Stalks a Billion December, 1941
107 Murder Moon Over Miami January, 1942
108 Streamlined Murder February, 1942
109 Arsenal of Death April, 1942
110 Murder Makes a Movie June, 1942
111 The Medieval Murders July, 1942
112 Murder Cuts Diamonds September,42
113 Death to the Laughing Clown October, 1942
114 Billion-Dollar Blitz December, 1942
115 Murder Makes the Bets January, 1943
116 Stones of Satan March, 1943
117 Murder Money April, 1943
118 Death in the Desert June, 1943
119 The Red Bishop Murders August, 1943
120 The Black Market Murders October, 1943
121 Murder Under the Big Top December, 1943
122 Murder of a Plaster Saint February, 1944
123 The Rubber Knife Murders April, 1944
124 The Hi-Jack Murders June, 1944
125 The Booby-Trap Murders August, 1944
126 Mansions of Despair October, 1944
127 Murder of a Marionette December, 1944
128 The Fatal Masterpiece February, 1945
129 The Manuscript Murders April, 1945
130 Murder for Millions June, 1945
131 Killer Portfolio August, 1945
132 Death to a Diplomat October, 1945
133 The Case of the Poison Formula December, 1945
134 Doom on Schedule February, 1946
135 Model for Murder April, 1946
136 The Case of the Murdered Mendicant June, 1946
137 Death Rides the Winner August, 1946
138 The Tidewater Murders November, 1946
139 The Chinese Puzzle January, 47
140 Cartel of Crime March, 47
141 The Angel of Death May, 47
142 Masterpiece of Murder July, 47
143 The Case of the Murdered Witness September,47
144 The Case of the Burning Rocks November, 47
145 The Crooked Mile Murders January, 1948
146 The Clue of the Second Murder March, 1948
147 The Diamond Murders May, 1948
148 The Timber Tract Murders July, 1948
149 The Listening Eyes September,48
150 Murder Acres November, 1948
151 The Case of the Bible Murders January, 49
152 Servants of Satan March, 49
153 The City of Dreadful Night Spring, 49
154 Murder Set to Music Summer, 49
155 The Black Ball of Death Fall, 49
156 The Tall Tomb Winter, 1950
157 The Happyland Murders Spring, 1950
158 The Deadly Diamonds Summer, 1950
159 Homicide Town Fall, 1950
160 Murder Money Winter, 1951
161 The Video Victims Spring, 1951
162 Crimson Harvest Summer, 1951
163 Murder Millions Fall, 1951
164 The Silent Killer Winter, 1952
165 The Doomed Millions Spring, 1952
166 The Murder Machine Summer, 1952
167 Candidate for Death Fall, 1952
168 The Staring Killer Winter, 1953
169 Odds on Death Spring, 1953
170 Murder's Agent Summer, 1953
2 The Crimes of Fu Kee Wong April, 1933
3 The Scarlet Menace May, 1933
4 The Island of Death June, 1933
5 The Jewels of Doom July, 1933
6 Thirteen Cards of Death August, 1933
7 Cities for Ransom September, 1933
8 The Sinister Hand of Satan October, 1933
9 Gamblers in Death November, 1933
10 The Yellow Murders December, 1933
11 The Sign of Death January, 1934
12 Death's Diary February, 1934
13 The Tick-Tack-Toe Murders March, 1934
14 Murder City April, 1934
15 The Crimson Killer May, 1934
16 Diamonds of Death June, 1934
17 The Talking Dead July, 1934
18 The Silent Menace August, 1934
19 Spawn of Death September,34
20 Merchant of Murder October, 1934
21 The Tomb of Death November, 1934
22 The Crime Castle December, 1934
23 Death on Swift Wings January, 1935
24 The House of Murders February, 1935
25 The Hollywood Murders March, 1935
26 Master of the Damned April, 1935
27 Written in Blood May, 1935
28 Notes of Doom June, 1935
29 The Prince of Murder July, 1935
30 The Pharoah's Mark August, 1935
31 Master of the World September, 1935
32 Island of Sudden Death October, 1935
33 Murder Cracks Down November, 1935
34 Murder Empire December, 1935
35 The Diamond Murders January, 1936
36 Chateau of Crime February, 1936
37 The Circus Murders March, 1936
38 The Criminal Caesar April, 1936
39 The Death-Skull Murders May, 1936
40 Six Prints of Murder June, 1936
41 Dealers in Death July, 1936
42 Specter of Death August, 1936
43 The Sign of the Scar September,36
44 Empire of Terror October, 1936
45 Death Rides the Blizzard November, 1936
46 The Silent Death December, 1936
47 The Murder Caravan January, 1937
48 The Torch of Doom February, 1937
49 The Henchmen of Death March, 1937
50 The Golden Killer April, 1937
51 Harvest of Death May, 1937
52 The Dancing Doll Murders June, 1937
53 The Beast-King Murders July, 1937
54 Cavalcade of Death August, 1937
55 Hammers of Doom September,37
56 Double-Stamped Doom October, 1937
57 Minions of Death November, 1937
58 The Corpse Parade December, 1937
59 Fangs of Murder January, 1938
60 Tycoon of Crime February, 1938
61 The Master of Death March, 1938
62 Milestones of Murder April, 1938
63 The Movie Lot Murders May, 1938
64 The Front Page Murders June, 1938
65 The Yellow Shadows of Death July, 1938
66 The Broadway Murders August, 1938
67 The Counterfeit Killers September,38
68 Graduates of Murder October, 1938
69 Death-Glow November, 1938
70 The Murder Syndicate December, 1938
71 The Yacht Club Murders January, 1939
72 The Web of Death February, 1939
73 The Chain of Death March, 1939
74 The Radio Murders April, 1939
75 Murder at the Circus May, 1939
76 Murder at the World's Fair June, 1939
77 The Forty Thieves July, 1939
78 Death Under Contract August, 1939
79 The Sampan Murders September,39
80 The Phantom Strikes Back October, 1939
81 Money Mad Murders November, 1939
82 Murder Rides the Skies December, 1939
83 The Phantom Comes Through January, 1940
84 The Phantom's Gamble With Death, February 1940
85 The Phantom's Murder Trail March, 1940
86 The Phantom and the Daggers of Kali April, 1940
87 The Phantom and the Uniformed Killers May, 1940
88 The Phantom Hits Murder Steel June, 1940
89 The Phantom and the Vampire Murders July, 1940
90 The Phantom's Murder Money August, 1940
91 The Phantom and the Melody Murders September,40
92 The Phantom and the Crime Legion October, 1940
93 The Phantom and the Green Glare Murders Nov, 1940
94 The Phantom and the Television Murders Dec, 1940
95 The Phantom's Greatest Gamble January, 1941
96 The Phantom and the Curio Murders February, 1941
97 Murder Calls the Phantom March, 1941
98 The Murder Bundle April, 1941
99 The Trail to Death May, 1941
100 The Grim Shadow of Hate June, 1941
101 The Sabotage Murders July, 1941
102 The Thousand Island Murders August, 1941
103 Death Over Puget Sound September,41
104 Race Horses of Death October, 1941
105 The Black Gold Killers November, 1941
106 Murder Stalks a Billion December, 1941
107 Murder Moon Over Miami January, 1942
108 Streamlined Murder February, 1942
109 Arsenal of Death April, 1942
110 Murder Makes a Movie June, 1942
111 The Medieval Murders July, 1942
112 Murder Cuts Diamonds September,42
113 Death to the Laughing Clown October, 1942
114 Billion-Dollar Blitz December, 1942
115 Murder Makes the Bets January, 1943
116 Stones of Satan March, 1943
117 Murder Money April, 1943
118 Death in the Desert June, 1943
119 The Red Bishop Murders August, 1943
120 The Black Market Murders October, 1943
121 Murder Under the Big Top December, 1943
122 Murder of a Plaster Saint February, 1944
123 The Rubber Knife Murders April, 1944
124 The Hi-Jack Murders June, 1944
125 The Booby-Trap Murders August, 1944
126 Mansions of Despair October, 1944
127 Murder of a Marionette December, 1944
128 The Fatal Masterpiece February, 1945
129 The Manuscript Murders April, 1945
130 Murder for Millions June, 1945
131 Killer Portfolio August, 1945
132 Death to a Diplomat October, 1945
133 The Case of the Poison Formula December, 1945
134 Doom on Schedule February, 1946
135 Model for Murder April, 1946
136 The Case of the Murdered Mendicant June, 1946
137 Death Rides the Winner August, 1946
138 The Tidewater Murders November, 1946
139 The Chinese Puzzle January, 47
140 Cartel of Crime March, 47
141 The Angel of Death May, 47
142 Masterpiece of Murder July, 47
143 The Case of the Murdered Witness September,47
144 The Case of the Burning Rocks November, 47
145 The Crooked Mile Murders January, 1948
146 The Clue of the Second Murder March, 1948
147 The Diamond Murders May, 1948
148 The Timber Tract Murders July, 1948
149 The Listening Eyes September,48
150 Murder Acres November, 1948
151 The Case of the Bible Murders January, 49
152 Servants of Satan March, 49
153 The City of Dreadful Night Spring, 49
154 Murder Set to Music Summer, 49
155 The Black Ball of Death Fall, 49
156 The Tall Tomb Winter, 1950
157 The Happyland Murders Spring, 1950
158 The Deadly Diamonds Summer, 1950
159 Homicide Town Fall, 1950
160 Murder Money Winter, 1951
161 The Video Victims Spring, 1951
162 Crimson Harvest Summer, 1951
163 Murder Millions Fall, 1951
164 The Silent Killer Winter, 1952
165 The Doomed Millions Spring, 1952
166 The Murder Machine Summer, 1952
167 Candidate for Death Fall, 1952
168 The Staring Killer Winter, 1953
169 Odds on Death Spring, 1953
170 Murder's Agent Summer, 1953
A lo largo de esta serie llegó a contar el personaje con sus propias aventuras de comics publicadas por Nedor, editorial mítica cuyos personajes siguen vivitos y coleando hoy en día como en Proyecto Superpowers. Aquí podéis ver un ejemplo de aquellos "Thrilling Comics"
En 2006 la Editorial Wildside Press comenzó a editar y publicar nuevas novelas, las primeras tras un "breve" parón de 50 años, situadas cronológicamente en 1953 justo donde lo dejaba la serie original, las nuevas novelas hacen un análisis bastante más profundo de la personalidad de Curtis Van Loan y de sus motivaciones porque todo sea dicho en los pulps originales este tema apenas se desarrollaba.
Las historias publicadas hasta ahora son:
- Stones of Satan
- Tycoon of Crimen
- Fangs of Muder
Y ya más recientemente la aparición del personaje en "Battle for L.A." de Moonstone Books, historia donde se reunen unos cuantos de los héroes pulp para combatir una invasión alienígena, esta editorial tiene planes de futuro para el personaje, aquí tenéis unos previews del proyecto dibujados por Danilo Guida.
Hasta pronto.
