Comic Title: Showcase Presents:Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 TPB
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 2008
On Sale Date: March 12, 2008 Direct Market Date March 12, 2008
Source: Previews, Vol. 17 #12 (#228)

Direct Market Date March 12, 2008
Source: ComicList, New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Cover Price: $16.99
Page Count: 496
Editor: Peter Hamboussi

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "Arise Ye Ghosts of Gotham"
Pages: 24

Feature(s):
Batman (of Earth-1)
Phantom Stranger (of Earth-1)

Writer: Bob Haney
Penciller: Ross Andru
Inker: Michael Esposito

Reprinted From:
Brave & the Bold #89 (1970)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Detective Comics #397; next appearance in Detective Comics #398)
• Phantom Stranger (last appearance in Phantom Stranger #6; next appearance in Phantom Stranger #7)

Supporting Character(s)

• Dick Grayson (last appearance in Teen Titans #25; next appearance in Detective Comics #398)
• Doctor Thirteen (first name misspelled Terence; last appearance in Phantom Stranger #6; next appearance in Phantom Stranger #7)
• Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in Brave & the Bold #88; next appearance in Batman #222)
• Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in World's Finest Comics #191; next appearance in Detective Comics #399)

Villain(s)

• Josiah Heller and the Hellerites (no further appearances)
• Karl Loftus (disguised as a descendant of Josiah Heller; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• The mayor of Gotham City (no further appearances)
• A police sergeant (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Batman and Commissioner Gordon witness a group of people enter Gotham who claim to be descendants of the Hellerites. Long ago, the Hellerites settled in Gotham City under the leadership of Josiah Heller. However, fear and mistrust caused them to be outcasts, and eventually, their settlement was burned to the ground. Survivors scattered, but Josiah Heller cursed Gotham.

The new Hellerites set up camp in the park and begin demanding reparations led by their own Josiah Heller. Bruce Wayne donates buildings to the group, but Heller remains unsatisfied that all their lands are not being returned. When several of the followers begin exhibiting signs of a supernatural trance, the Phantom Stranger appears and warns Batman of impending danger. Dr. Thirteen also arrives in town and tells Batman that the Stranger is a charlatan. They then knock out the Phantom Stranger.

Batman continues to investigate Heller, who has seemingly turned the elder son's of Gotham to his cause. Dick Grayson has been affected and attack Batman with witchcraft. Eventually Batman realizes that the ghost of the real Heller is responsible for the supernatural events. He revives the Stranger. Then working together Batman and the Phantom Strange expose the modern day Heller as a fake. Once he is incapacitated, the ghostly Heller disappears. The remaining Hellerites then leave Gotham, preferring to return to the country rather than adjust to city life.