Upon the identity of an unknown man who claims to be Don Mallory, pioneer screen idol, hangs the fate of many marked for murder — and it’s up to the Phantom Detective to unearth the startling truth!
From the beginning, The Phantom Detective wages his one-man war on crime as most hero types of his do, with a little help. Frank Havens, Publisher of the Clarion, holds the distinction for indirectly inspiring Richard Curtis Van Loan to take up the mantle of The Phantom Detective. Havens plays more of a role than that, however, throughout the series. Serving often as The Phantom Detective’s information service, Havens uses a flashing red beacon he installed on top of his newspaper building to summon The Phantom Detective whenever he is aware of a crime that may interest the hero. Muriel, Frank’s daughter, finds herself involved in several Phantom Detective adventures, both as an assistant of sorts and sometimes as the damsel in distress. She plays a rather traditional role in most stories, though she steps more into assistant than damsel overall. Her primary purpose is to be the love interest that, while she pines for Van Loan, she is continually pushed away by him because of his concern for her safety.
Another character that owes his inclusion in The Phantom Detective’s life to Frank Havens is Steve Huston. Steve works as a reporter for The Clarion and presents in most stories as a fairly formidable man in his own right, ready to jump into the fray with fists flying. He also, depending on the author behind the particular story, has affections for Muriel, which sets up something that doesn’t happen often in the Pulps, the hints of a love triangle.
