10 DC Characters Who Survived Terrible Debuts
7. Phantom Lady
The Phantom Lady first appeared in Quality Comics’ Police Comics #1 and was created by The Eisner and Iger Studio with Arthur Peddy as penciler. The character's origin was as skimpy as her outfit. She was Sandra Knight, daughter of US Senator Henry Knight. She donned a provocative costume and a “black light projector” that blinded opponents and make her invisible. Thus empowered, she went out into the night to fight crime. Any explanation of her unusual costume or how the “black light projector” was created and came into her possession wouldn’t come until several years and several comic companies later.
There was more than a little confusion as to who actually owned the character. Quality published the character up until Police Comics #23. Then, the Iger Studios split off on its own and began publishing it through Fox Feature Syndicate. Artist Matt Baker changed Phantom Lady’s costume, showing even more skin in Phantom Lady #13. It was this version that drew the ire of Dr. Fredric Wertham’s vendetta against comics that ended up in the US Congress.
Ajax-Farrell Publications published four issues of the Phantom Lady. This version sported a significantly toned-down costume after the implementation of the Comics Code Authority. Charlton Comics acquired Ajax-Farrell and began reprinting Matt Baker's stories. In 1956, DC acquired rights to all the Quality characters including the Phantom Lady.