Space Phantom is the name of several characters who belong to a fictional species appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, Space Phantom first appeared in The Avengers vol. 1 #2 (November 1963).^[2] A Space Phantom is a being who was transformed by staying in the Limbo dimension too long.^[3] They started as adversaries of the superhero team the Avengers.^[4]

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A Space Phantom debuted in The Avengers vol. 1 #2 (November 1963), created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.^[5] They appeared in the 1966 Thor series,^[6] and in the 1998 Avengers Forever series.^[7]

The Space Phantoms are Limbo being used as agents by Immortus.^[8] For many years it was assumed that there was only one Space Phantom, but in the course of the Destiny War the Avengers discovered that there was more than one. During a journey back in time to 1873, a trio of Space Phantoms was caught impersonating the Gunhawks and the Black Rider.^[9] The Space Phantoms were previously said to have originated on the planet Phantus in the Phalbo system in the Milky Way Galaxy.^[10][11]

Immortus traps individuals who become lost in Limbo, and due to the nature of that plane, they begin to forget their former lives and change into misshapen beings. Immortus conditions these into servants who can perpetuate his schemes and manipulations of historical events. The Phantoms can assimilate anyone, even to the point of torture and escaping notice of even mind-readers.

The first Space Phantom first appeared in The Avengers #2, copying Giant-Man, Iron Man, and Hulk. During his battle with the Avengers, he first copied the Hulk, and battled Iron Man. He took the shape of a flying insect to escape, but Iron Man continued to battle the Hulk. The Space Phantom attacked the Wasp in his insect form, and then became Giant-Man. After fighting Iron Man, he took Iron Man's form. He finally attempted to copy Thor and was banished back to Limbo because his powers could not affect Asgardians.^[12]

Since all Space Phantoms appear identical and can appear as any other creature, it can be difficult to determine which Space Phantom did what; the following activities have previously been attributed to the Space Phantom who first encountered the Avengers, but these may not have been the same Space Phantom. A Space Phantom allied with the Grim Reaper and impersonated Madame Hydra, and commanded a division of HYDRA in that identity. The Space Phantom battled the Avengers, but was shunted back into Limbo when he attempted to mimic Rick Jones, who was then linked to Captain Mar-Vell.^[13] A Space Phantom was compelled by Immortus to impersonate Mantis to deceive Kang.^[14] A Space Phantom attempted to trick Thor into freeing the planet Phantus from Limbo, and allied with Thor to save Phantus, which led to Thor losing much of Mjolnir's power over time.^[15] A Space Phantom once encountered Rom the Space Knight in Limbo.^[16] A Space Phantom later encountered the Avengers in Limbo.^[17] A Space Phantom was used as a pawn by the Young God Calculus in a scheme pitting Spider-Man against the Avengers.^[18]

The original Space Phantom is revealed to be disguised as Spider-Man in the Beyond! series.^[19]

Kurt Busiek used Space Phantoms and Immortus in Avengers Forever to explain a number of inconsistencies such as the Avengers crossover titled The Crossing.

A Space Phantom can assume the form of virtually any single object or living creature at a time.^[20] They can trap whoever they are impersonating in Limbo until they shift forms.^[21] They have no difficulty imitating a number of people in rapid succession, nor does there appear to be a time limit on the period in which he can imitate someone. A Space Phantom appears to be not able to duplicate certain powerful beings who possess magical enchantments; when he attempts to duplicate such a being he himself is shunted into Limbo instead. While in the form of another creature, the Space Phantom gains all the abilities of that creature. It can even become an object that travels faster than light.

Additionally, a Space Phantom has knowledge of sophisticated alien technology far in advance of present-day Earth and advanced knowledge of time and time travel.