Phantom Reporter
- "Richard Jones" redirects here. For the Hulk's companion, see Rick Jones.
The Phantom Reporter, born Richard Jones,[1] is an American vigilante hero in New York City and a reporter for the Daily Express newspaper. An ace athlete in college, Reporter uses his agility and martial-arts skills to subdue—and often kill—criminals. He also has an alterego known as Mr. Van Ergen, a rich playboy persona that he adopts for the purpose of subterfuge.
Biography
An early case for Jones saw him assigned to investigate a series of brutal home invasions in the east side of New York. Disguised as the Phantom Reporter, he abducted one of the men involved and learned who was responsible. In fact, it was a vast conspiracy involving the chief of police, the park commissioner, and the publishers of rival newspapers to the Daily Express. The papers would report on the brutality of the invasions, families would leave the east side, and they would build a park there for cheap and profit greatly. Phantom Reporter uncovered the conspiracy and brought those involved to justice.[2]