Scans_Daily

See, this is the reason why I always loved the Phantom Stranger as a character. Written correctly, he's probably the most contrary, contradictory and badass magical character in DC. I've always had it in my head that the only reason why he prefers to remain an observer was because it appealed to his basic personality to be that way - not that there were really any rules tying him down. It's like a self-imposed limitation in payment for whatever sins or mistakes he has committed in the past.

In his sphere of influence, he is probably even more powerful than Dr. Fate. I'd say that he probably is more powerful, hands-down, but that his personal preferences prevent him from being more "flashy."

And really, if he were written as a true badass, then he would probably be one of the major players, being that he has not died (at least, it's never been shown categorically). and if some of the Vertigo stories are canonical, we're talking about a high-power classic Angel here, or at the very least a man empowered by what should be a divine (in the Judeo-Christian sense) role given to him.

Given that his multiple-choice origins are shown, is it possible that he's some sort of multi-facet being? That he's a gestalt of many "facets" that live different lives all across time? and given his abilities, he's probably the nexus point for all these personas. That would make him even more badass - and a potential landmine for anyone who tries to take him over, as Boston Brand discovered.