The Phantom Stranger #4 is an issue of the series The Phantom Stranger (Volume 1) with a cover date of March, 1953.
Synopsis for "The Hairy Shadows"
A couple of ghost hunters go the the Judd House, where the previous owner disappeared after having an encounter with a rare being and ever since, the people claim that his house is haunted. The ghost hunter couple arrive at the place, where they meet the Phantom Stranger, who warns them about the house.
The ghost hunters don't heed Stranger's advice and they go inside the place. After experimenting with some ancient books in the house, they open a threshold from where a hairy shadow appears. Scared, the ghost hunters stop their experiments and the Phantom Stranger appears to help them defeat the creature.
Once again the portal is opened with magic and from inside comes a hairy creature. Phantom Stranger subdues the creature and learns that Mr. Judd disappeared long ago when he also experimented with magic and went through the portal. With the threshold opened once again, Judd is able to return to Earth and the hairy creature returns to its own dimension. Like this, Judd's disappearance is cleared and the Phantom Stranger returns to the shadows.
Appearing in "The Hairy Shadows"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Vic Woods (Single appearance)
- Ellen Woods (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Interdimensional Beings (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Mr. Judd (Single appearance)
- Unnamed Farmer (Single appearance)
Locations:
- New England
- Judd House
- Judd House
Synopsis for "The Riddle of the Ghostly Trumpet!"
A young trumpet player seeks to replace a deceased legendary musician in his old band, but the leader of the band forbids him from entering the group. Determined to test himself, the young musician starts playing during the band's show and the band has to agree to let him be part of the group as his skills rival that of the dead player.
However, things turn weird when the young trumpet player's music resembles that of the late musician, but he also starts acting like him. The members of the band believe that the late musician's soul has taken over the young's body and the case catches the attention of the Phantom Stranger, who seeks out the man and interrogates him in order to solve the mystery.
During the interrogation, the band leader attempts to murder the young musican and Phantom Stranger stops him, exposing him as the killer of the late trumpet player. Leaving things cleared, Phantom Stranger disappears as usual.
Appearing in "The Riddle of the Ghostly Trumpet!"
Featured Characters:
- Phantom Stranger (Disguised as Dr. Magy)
Supporting Characters:
- Hal Davies (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Clay Whitman (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Perry Fulton (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Club Luna
Synopsis for "Trail of the Lucky Coin!"
Look at how sad this is making Batman. You did this.
Appearing in "Trail of the Lucky Coin!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Dream Killer!"
A notorious painter holds a successful exhibition, but in the upcoming days, he has dreadful dreams about death which he turns into paintings, only to realize that his dreams have come true and similar deaths have taken place.
Intrigued, Phantom Stranger helps the man by figuring out the mystery behind his dreams and as a result, Stranger exposes a rival painter as the mastermind behind the induced dreams and the crimes, in order to drive the painter mad and be more successful than him. With the criminal captured, Phantom Stranger is gone.
Appearing in "The Dream Killer!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- William Wilson (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Harold Devers (Single appearance)
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in Showcase Presents: The Phantom Stranger Vol. 1.
- "The Hairy Shadows" is reprinted in House of Mystery #225 and Showcase Presents: The House of Mystery Vol. 1.
- "Trail of the Lucky Coin!" is reprinted in The Witching Hour #38.
- This issue includes a text-only story titled "Mystery at Cape Cod" by Jack Miller and a one page story entitled "The Crazy House!", written and illustrated by Mort Drucker and reprinted in House of Secrets #23 and The Unexpected #108.
- This issue includes a Superboy holiday public service announcement.