One of the biggest mysteries in the DC comics universe is the origin and identity of The Phantom Stranger. DC has decided to lift that veil, and they revealed the secret in a free comic that was given away on Free Comic Book Day. If you weren’t lucky enough to get a copy then, DC is providing a free copy here..
No one is surprised as to which major historical figure he turned out to be?
Took me two reads to figure it out. Interesting choice. I’m only vaguely aware of the Phantom Stranger’s history, so I don’t really have much of an opinion on how this works for the character.
In my mind, he’s the Wandering Jew, and that’s good enough for me.
Spoiler box the answer?
Judas.
Hint:Count the coins thrown.
It’s also interesting that they gave an entirely new origin for The Question that seems to have no ties to any previous origin given.
Interesting. I wonder if they are going to a mini-series to flesh this out.
The comic won’t load for me here at work. I’ll have to check it out at home.
Would anyone like to spoiler this bit?
[spoiler]The comic shows three prisoners in front of a bunch of wizards from different cultures, who start sentencing them for being the “Trinity of Sin.” The first guy is apparently Judas Iscariot, and he’s turned into the Phantom Stranger. The second guy, I don’t recognize. He’s rants a bit about how the wizards don’t have authority over him, but they make his face disappear, give him amnesia, and say that he’ll, “Forever question his identity, and search for answers that [he] will never find.” The third person is Pandora, and the comic follows her for the next half dozen pages or so.
Also, there’s a cameo from the Haunted Tank, which is pretty awesome.
[/spoiler]
Thanks.
I’m thinking the second of the accused is Alexander The Great.
That’s who I always thought he was, but I can’t remember where it came up.
DC had a comic called Secret Origins, and that was one of three possible origins they gave him.
One of four, actually: the Wandering Jew, or the one half-fallen angel who didn’t choose a side during the war in heaven, or the only good man in a sinful city marked for destruction like Sodom or Gomorrah, or a scientist hit by the swirling energies of the Big Bang while stopping some nut with a time machine from obliterating history.
Thank you for the correction.
The Doctor prefers the phrase “madman with a box,” actually. 
And the universe got better, FWIW.
The Vertigo one shot of the PS (It’s set in a mysterious nursing home) has the Stranger revealed to be
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.An angel (possibly one of the Watchers) who lusted after a human woman and had sex with her