"THE PHANTOM ROBBER"

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Human (World War II Era)

Occupation: Circus roustabout

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: His fellow circus workers

Enemies: Clancy, Deadline Dawson, Dr. Watson, Terry Vance

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "The Phantom Killer" (in story title)

Base of Operations: Mobile with his circus

First Appearance: Marvel Mystery Comics I#22 (August, 1941)

Powers/Abilities: The Phantom Robber learned how to train monkeys to perform robberies. He owned a revolver.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'11")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 180 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Light brown

History:

(Marvel Mystery Comics I#22/4 (fb) - BTS) - The man dubbed "the Phantom Robber" was a circus roustabout who worked with the monkeys. He trained one of the monkeys to climb into people's apartments and steal their valuables. On one occasion, he followed the monkey up into the apartment, where he struggled with the apartment owner, who had a diamond. The Phantom Robber struck the man unconscious, then made a noose with a bedsheet and hung him from the ceiling. He hoped it would be assumed to be a case of suicide. Noticing he'd been scratched during the fight, the Phantom Robber used a bottle of iodine in the apartment to tend to his scratches.

(Marvel Mystery Comics I#22/4) - When the young detectives Terry Vance and Deadline Dawson came to the circus investigating a hunch, the Phantom Robber found Vance examining the monkeys and clubbed him over the back of his head. The Phantom Robber hurled Terry into a lion cage, but Terry's own monkey friend, Dr. Watson, brought Dawson to save Terry. Dawson attacked the Phantom Robber but he summoned his fellow circus workers to defend him. The Phantom Robber fled while Dawson dealt with the other workers.

    Vance, Dawson and Dr. Watson soon caught up with the Phantom Robber, just as the police arrived at the circus. The Phantom Robber claimed that Vance and Dawson had broken into his tent but Terry told Clancy, a friendly policeman, that they would probably find the missing valuables in the Phantom Robber's tent. As the police searched the tent, the Phantom Robber drew a revolver but before he could shoot them, a horse rider who'd befriended Tery before struck the Phantom Robber over the back of the head. The police arrested the Phantom Robber.

Comments: Created by Ray Gill and Bob Oksner.

   

   

    This profile was completed on 03/24/2026 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Phantom Robber should not be confused with:

images: (without ads)
Marvel Mystery Comics I#22/4, page 6, panel 7 (main)
Marvel Mystery Comics I#22/4, page 7, panel 4 (face)

Appearances:
Marvel Mystery Comics I#22/4 (August, 1941) - Ray Gill (writer), Bob Oksner (artist), Joe Simon (editor)

First posted: 09/16/2026
Last updated: 03/24/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
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