(Daring Mystery Comics 70th Anniversary Special#1 (fb) - BTS) - Richard Jones was born in the early 1910s.
(The Twelve I#4 (fb) - BTS) - Jones' father died fighting in World War I, he always remained Richard's personal hero.
(Daring Mystery Comics 70th Anniversary Special#1 (fb)) - Jones' mother remarried into a wealthy family. His parents supported him in all he did, though they didn't seem to care too much what that was "as long as he was happy".
(The Twelve I#12 (fb) - BTS) - Despite his wealth, Jones' stepfather was a drunk who never told his son anything of value. However, he did feel his mother taught him a defining life lesson:"It's a good life, if you don't weaken".
(Daring Mystery Comics 70th Anniversary Special#1 (fb) ) - Growing up, Richard had two close friends: the wealthy Edmund Chancellor and the relatively poor Billy Sullivan. Edmund's father, pharmaceuticals mogul Oswald, frequently belittled Sullivan because of his meager upbringings which annoyed Jones, but he didn't dare to talk back to Oswald.
(Daring Mystery Comics 70th Anniversary Special#1 (fb) ) - Making his lifelong dream of becoming a journalist come true, Richard eventually got a job at a New York City paper in 1939. As a cub reporter he paid his dues covering the boring jobs no one really cared for.
(Daring Mystery Comics 70th Anniversary Special#1 (fb) - BTS) - Now in their early twenties, the down on his luck Billy Sullivan was contracted by mob boss Silvio Mannino to steal the formula for the Philosopher's Stone, a powder that would supposedly grant eternal youth. Mannino was hired by Oswald Chancellor who wanted the secret to eternal life before the scientist working for him would publish it. Mannino decided to hire Sullivan for the job figuring he wouldn't mind executing him should he learn too much. Sullivan stole the formula, leaving a copy of it with his girlfriend Molly. Mannino, in need of the Philosopher's Stone himself to heal his ailing daughter, had Billy killed by setting his apartment on fire. His girlfriend survived however.
(Daring Mystery Comics 70th Anniversary Special#1 (fb) - When the death of the Sullivans became news, Edmund Chancellor made it a point to gloatingly inform Richard Jones of it. This set him out to investigate the true reason for Billy's death, slowly uncovering the connection between Sullivan and the Mannino mob. Along the way, inspired by the costumed and masked vigilantes like Fiery Mask making the scene at the time, Jones decided to adopt a costumed identity as well. He used a party mask given to him by a random drunken partygoer to become the "Phantom Reporter". In this new guise, Jones felt empowered, easily beating information out of everyone possibly connected to the crime. He eventually confronted the Chancellors with what he knew. To his shock, the supposedly geriatric Oswald Chancellor was now a powerhouse with the strength of five adult men. During the fight, the Reporter cleverly tricked his foe to storm him, only to dodge at the last possible moment causing Chancellor to crash through the windows of his high rise, falling to his death.
(Daring Mystery Comics 70th Anniversary Special#1 - BTS) - The Phantom Reporter was aware that Billy's partner Molly had survived the fire and was still in possession of a copy of the Philosopher's Stone formula. However, he decided not to pursue the matter. Instead, he continued his active career as a costumed vigilante.
(Marvels Project#6) - Early in 1940, the ongoing conflict between Namor and the Human Torch (Jim Hammond) resulted in the Sub-Mariner flooding New York City with a massive tidal wave. Phantom Reporter and several other masked vigilantes were seen aiding relief workers.
(Daring Mystery Comics I#3/4) - The Phantom Reporter uncovered a widespread network of corruption on New York's East Side. The parks commissioner had roped the corrupt publishers of newspapers News Telegram and The Record into working with the equally corrupt chief of police into turning a blind eye to a band of mobsters terrorizing and killing families living on Manhattan's East Side. The commissioner hoped to develop the East Side but needed to get its current residents out, that's why he orchestrated a campaign of terror to influence people to move out and sell their properties as cheaply as possible. The Phantom Reporter successfully put a stop to this by beating the mobsters. After feeding one of them the truth telling drug Nembutal he learned of the parks commissioner's role in the affair and went out to confront and defeat him. Later, he used the mobster's truth serum induced confession to solve the case, earning him a great scoop as reporter Dick Jones.
(The Twelve: Spearhead#1) - When the United States declared war on
Germany and the Axis powers, the Phantom Reporter was sent to Europe as
a war correspondent connected to the O.S.S. to cover the allied forces'
exploits. By 1945, he was still in the field as the Allies moved into
Germany. He met several other costumed vigilantes along the way like
Dynamic Man, Electro and Mister E, though he noticed that he was
considered a tourist by those with actual superpowers. Feeling
inadequate and eager to prove himself, he rather cavalierishly talked
himself into joining Rockman, Master Mind Excello and the Invaders on a
mission to destroy a Nazi research facility that was both a rocket
science center and a depot for mystic artifacts like the Lance
of St. Maurice. Over the course of the assignment, the Reporter
was instrumental in saving the life of Captain America. This led the
patriotic hero to personally commend the Reporter on a job well
done.(Marvels Project#8 (fb) - BTS) - In the final days of World War II, the States-bound hero Angel (Thomas Halloway) became aware that thanks to heroes like the Phantom Reporter the world was entering the age of marvels and heroes prophesied by the dying, time travelling gunslinger Matt Hawke back in 1939.
(The Twelve I#1) - On Wednesday April 25th, 1945, the
Allies began their final assault on Berlin. Phantom Reporter and eleven
other vigilantes eventually found themselves teaming up to investigate
the largely abandoned headquarters of the SS for possible snipers or
other opposition. The search led them to an underground lab facility
which actually turned out to be a trap. Once they were all inside, the
doors closed. Despite the heroes' best efforts to escape, moments later
a special knockout gas was pumped in to take even the strongest of them
down. SS officers hurried in to put the heroes in freezing tubes,
planning to study and dissect these "supermen" after the war so they
could turn the next generation of Nazis into a true master race.(The Twelve I#1 - BTS) - The SS officers hadn't counted on the Russian army reaching strategic parts of Berlin before the allied forces. The Russians captured and executed the SS officers responsible for keeping Phantom Reporter and the other heroes on ice.
(The Twelve I#12 (fb) - BTS) - All the heroes were bombarded by the continuous cybernetic thought waves of the robot Electro who was desperate and alone after the impenetrable bunker cut off his connection to its inventor Philo Zog. Eventually, he'd form a bond with the Dynamic Man's more advanced android mind, essentially becoming his servant. However, the continued exposure left the robot particularly susceptible to the other prisoners' brainwaves as well.
(The Twelve I#1 - BTS) - In recent years a German construction crew accidentally unearthed the underground facility where the heroes were being kept. The American authorities were informed and quickly took charge of the situation, bringing everyone back to the United States where they were revived in a makeshift 1940s hospital, complete with vintage nurses' outfits, equipment and even classic period specific music and radio shows to help them accommodate to having been asleep for the past 60 years.
(The Twelve I#1) - Ever the keen observer of human behavior, it didn't take the Phantom Reporter long to conclude something strange was going on. For one thing, the radio never aired any commercials and the nurse had multiple ear piercings. and thigh-high stockings without garters. Suspicious, he went out to investigate on the third day and met up with Captain Wonder who was also beginning to feel something was off when they wouldn't let him phone his family. The Reporter convinced Wonder to go outside the "hospital" to check if they were really in the United States. While he did, the Reporter promised to grab some change so he could get to a payphone and reach his family from there. Almost at the same time Captain Wonder reached the roof to find himself overwhelmed by the sight and sounds of modern day New York City, the Reporter knew they were in "the future" when he saw the mint date on the coins he'd swiped. With the secret out, the military saw no other choice but to inform the Reporter's fellow compatriots about their current predicament.
(The Twelve I#2) - Phantom Reporter and the others moved to a luxurious mansion outside of New York supplied and funded by the army. Their liaison Colonel Dexter informed them they were welcome to stay there rent- and expense free for 12 months while they got their bearings in this new world. The Reporter wasn't quite sure how to take all this change in and went to check on his fellow 1940s heroes. He ran into Master Mind Excello who asked him for an aspirin because the background noise of the modern world was wreaking havoc with his heightened senses. He also came by the Black Widow's room, politely asking if she needed anything too. She politely declined, but sensing something was wrong (and feeling an instant attraction) he pressed on. Once again, she gently rebuffed his offer for help, thanking him for his kindness but telling him there were some deals that never expire, only when you do. Some time later, walking the grounds and wondering what good an out of date reporter was, he encountered some movers who had come to deliver Electro to the mansion. Before he could help them, the Dynamic Man showed up to effortlessly carry the heavy robot to a nearby supply shed. As he was leaving, he mocked the Reporter, Laughing Mask and Mister E by claiming their lack of powers would make it even harder for them to find their place in this new world. Later still, the Reporter encountered Rockman dragging his mattress to the basement so he could be closer to his people. The Reporter watched him go and couldn't help but pity him.
(The Twelve I#3) - The next morning, Phantom Reporter went to check on Claire and was surprised when she revealed she didn't need sleep. Sensing something was very wrong with her, he nevertheless flirted with the gorgeous Widow, offering to make her some breakfast which she accepted. Their breakfast, and his clumsy attempts at flirtation, was interrupted by Daily Bugle syndicated columnist editor Samuel Kingston who had a job offer for the Reporter. Kingston wanted the Reporter to write a column about his unique perspective as a man from the 1940s looking at life in the 21st Century. Distracted by the fact the Black Widow was looking at them from her bedroom window, the Reporter accepted and agreed to start at once. Kingston was amused when Jones said his rate per column used to be 15 dollars, assuring him they could do better than that, a lot better if his column should go national. Later that evening, he was discussing his job offer with the Blue Blade, always in costume because he felt his adoring fans could drop by at any moment. They were surprised to see Mister E return home so soon after a visit to his family (that actually went disastrously), but while the Blue Blade talked it up with a thoroughly demoralized Mister E, the Reporter was transfixed by the sight of the Black Widow flying off into the night to parts unknown.
(The
Twelve I#4) - The following morning, around noon, Black Widow was
still in bed sleeping when the Phantom Reporter peeked into her
room to see what she was up to. Leaving her alone, he walked
downstairs just as police officers came by to see the Laughing
Mask and discuss a recent robbery he'd foiled. They needed to take
his guns to register them, just like any policeman's firearm. The
Reporter also discussed the inexplicable murder of one Simon
Dexter, the man was killed even though there were no signs of
breaking or entering (the Widow, acting on orders from "Satan" was
the culprit). Later that same day, the Phantom Reporter attended a
going-away party thrown for Master Mind Excello who had used his
vast personal fortune to buy an estate in Upstate New York. The belligerent Dynamic Man
caused a bit of ruckus when he picked a fight with Phantom
Reporter and the others who he considered whining moaners who
were doing nothing while he was out doing what they were meant
to do: save lives and serve their country. Phantom Reporter
effectively compared the unemotional "perfect man" to the Nazi's
perfect master race, which infuriated Dynamic Man to no end. He
was stopped from hitting Phantom Reporter by Captain Wonder. Switching gears, Dynamic Man
sarcastically carried in Electro, to remind the others they
were just like the robot: a forgotten relic nobody knew what
to do with anymore. Afterwards, the slightly
inebriated Phantom Reporter tried to chat Black Widow up, claiming they
had so much in common and that they should date. Coldly, the
Widow turned him down, stating that he knew nothing about her and
that if he was smart, he'd keep it that way. She then walked off,
leaving the embarrassed Reporter behind. Later that night again,
the Reporter finally sat down to type his first column for the
Daily Bugle in which he waxed poetic on what it meant to be a
hero, concluding that he wasn't one but that some day, maybe, with
luck he would be.
(The Twelve I#5) - The Reporter was
having breakfast with Fiery Mask, the Witness and Captain Wonder
who was slowly getting back into action after learning his
family had died. Wonder was to give a talk to students, which
was reason to the insensitive Dynamic Man to needle the Captain,
calling Jordan's actions "a pity party". The usually composed
professor grew furious and hit Dynamic Man. Before a fight could break
out, Fiery Mask intervened and used his fire powers to keep the
combatants apart. Later that day,
the Laughing Mask proposed a partnership with the Phantom
Reporter as soon as he got his guns back. Burton figured he
could write of their adventures in his Daily Bugle news column,
or possibly even change his nickname to Frowning Mask so they
would be an ever better fitting duo. On a more serious note, he
told the lovelorn Reporter that the mysterious Black Widow was
never going to love him because she didn't even deem him worth a
second glance. Before he could go on, their conversation was
interrupted by the arrival of Detective Goldstein who placed the
perplexed Laughing Mask under arrest. (The Twelve I#6) - Continuing to feel out of place, the Phantom Reporter's unease eventually led to writer's block. He realized that he missed going out as a costumed vigilante and that he needed the excitement of that life to fuel him. Just as he was looking at his old costume, he got a call from Master Mind Excello who told him he'd sensed some terrible, unknown danger was approaching. Later that night, the Reporter, Witness, Dynamic Man and Mister E were watching a newsreport on Captain Wonder's heroic exploits, including saving the damaged space shuttle Olympus. Properly motivated Jones went into his room to don his costume, guns and all, proudly declaring to himself "the Phantom Reporter is back."
(The Twelve I#7) - The Phantom Reporter went in to check out the
massacre at the Manhattan gay bar The Rail And Balls, which he
remembered was already known as the gay friendly Gloria Bar in
1940. The patrons had been brutally torn apart, with people
protesting the act as if it was a hate crime. The Reporter met
the sarcastic Lt. Det. Rose who wondered why the
Reporter was still wearing a mask when his identity was publicly
known. Rose mentioned that the murder was comparable to a spree
of other, recent killings. Hearing Rose talk about the murders,
as well as a pair of sulfurous scorch marks made the Reporter
believe the mysterious Black Widow was responsible for the gay
bar bloodbath (in reality, it was Dynamic Man using his
control over Electro to force the automaton to slay those he
felt exhibited immoral behavior). Next, the Reporter went
to see Master Mind Excello at his Upstate New York mansion to
discuss Excello's still none too clear visions of the lethal
fate that was about to befall one of them. Once the Phantom Reporter was in Master Mind
Excello's lead-lined safety room, he learned what little the
mentalist had gleaned. While he was sure
that Phantom Reporter wasn't the killer, he couldn't tell if
the death of one of their own would be the first of many. The
Reporter left Excello with more questions than answers, which
inspired him to investigate the matter himself. Later that
night, guns in hand, he sat in the Black Widow's bedroom
waiting for her to wake up so he could confront her about her
alleged part in the gay bar killings.(The Twelve I#8) - Unimpressed by the Phantom Reporter's gun or threats, the Black Widow nevertheless recounted her origins and current status as servant of "Satan" on Earth, only killing those who were wicked and truly deserved death. She claimed this meant she had nothing to do with the murders he was investigating, only to show off her massive mystical powers to convince him she was telling the truth because neither the Reporter or his bullets were a threat to her. She then dispelled another rumor for him: yes, her touch was lethal, but only when she wished it. To prove it, she caressed his face before telling him to go because she was about to do some things he should not want to see. Later that day, the Phantom Reporter received a package from Master Mind Excello containing a letter and a new, kevlar-enhanced costume that the precog felt might end up saving Jones' life. In the letter, Everett detailed his visions and the actions he had undertaken to help prevent the fate he saw, including bailing the Laughing Mask out of jail. Another one of Excello's subtle interventions, the Reporter learned, was him reaching out to Rockman to tell the despondent strongman in a dream that his people had heard him and were coming to get him.
(The Twelve
I#9) - After returning home from her latest mission, Black
Widow couldn't help but notice the Phantom Reporter tapping
away at his typewriter all through the night and for most of
the morning. When he even skipped breakfast, she decided to
surprise him by bringing some coffee and toast to his room
which amazed him to no end. Before they could discuss her
sudden change of heart, they were drawn downstairs by the
arrival of Master Mind Excello whose precognitive powers had
told him he was vitally needed there for a crucial event,
though he wasn't sure what it would be. Some time later, the
Phantom Reporter left to investigate the brutal murder of
their fellow 1940s vigilante associate the Blue Blade (the
Reporter decided not to tell anyone where he was going). The
Reporter examined the crime scene and was shown footage that
clearly showed the Blade had been killed by Electro who he had
planned to use in his variety show (in reality, the Blade's killer was Dynamic
Man who had been remote-controlling Electro to prevent the
swashbuckler from revealing he'd previously used the robot
to cause the bloodbath at the gay bar). The Phantom
Reporter met with Electro's caretaker Elizabeth Zogolowski who
showed him the robot's control console. Donning the headgear,
with Elizabeth at the controls, the Phantom Reporter was
exposed to all the experiences stored in Electro's memory
banks ever since he was brought online back in the 1940s. The
experience was overwhelming to say the least. Jones collapsed
but not before seeing the Dynamic Man was responsible for all
the deaths. (The Twelve I#10) - The Phantom Reporter woke up in hospital after seeing through Electro's eyes. None the worse for wear, he had retained the memories of Dynamic Man's role in Electro's action. By then, the Blue Blade's death had become public knowledge. Determined to reveal the truth, Phantom Reporter assembled the surviving 1940s heroes at the mansion.
(The Twelve I#10 - BTS) - Before the meeting, the Phantom Reporter met with Fiery Mask, asking him to stand ready to burn away the Dynamic Man's costume at a moment's notice.
(The Twelve I#10) - With Excello quietly backing him up, the Phantom Reporter slowly explained and established that Electro wasn't responsible for the death of the Blue Blade. Pointing out the inconsistencies in Dynamic Man's claimed origins, he revealed that Electro was being controlled by the Dynamic Man. Signalling the Fiery Mask, the Phantom Reporter proved his point when Dynamic Man's costume burned away to reveal the overzealous, moral Dynamic Man was a sexless android. Infuriated his true, inhuman origin was uncovered, the superbly powerful creature vowed to kill every last one of them.
(The Twelve
I#11) - Phantom Reporter kept out of the fighting, but was
eventually trapped with the others when Dynamic Man destroyed
the support beams of the house causing the structure to
collapse on them. Thanks to Rockman's strength, everyone
escaped unscathed even though the hero himself seemingly
perished underneath the vast amount of rubble. The Reporter
picked Captain Wonder and the Fiery Mask to go with him to
stop Dynamic Man, while Master Mind Excello decided to join them of
his own volition. Captain Wonder tore off a piece of the roof
big enough for everyone to sit on, though once they were up in
the air the Reporter noted it was quite chilly. After the Mask
used his flame powers to keep his companions warm, they
figured that Dynamic Man was headed for his deceased creator's
lab. After reaching the laboratory, the heroes faced Dynamic
Man. After Master Mind Excello used his telepathy to paralyze
the villain, the Reporter figured a bullet in the head at
point blank range might finish the villain. Instead, it only
freed him from his mental paralysis. Fed up with Fiery Mask,
the Dynamic Man killed Castle by crushing his windpipe.
Tossing his dying adversary to the side, Dynamic Man turned
his attention to Master Mind Excello and Captain Wonder. The
Phantom Reporter went to check on Castle, who quickly granted
Richard Jones the power of the Mystic Flame. As he lay dying,
Castle was content to know that even though he'd stolen the
power himself back in the 1930s, it was now passed on to a
new, worthy keeper. The newly empowered Phantom Reporter
rejoined the fight to end the Dynamic Man's reign of terror.
While Captain Wonder was holding the crazed killing machine,
Phantom Reporter unleashed the full power of the Mystic Flame
to burn the android until it malfunctioned and burned to slag.
As a result, Captain Wonder also suffered severe burns, though
he willingly endured the trauma. With the Dynamic Man defeated, the
Phantom Reporter unleashed his powers to burn the estate of
his inventor to the ground to make sure no one would ever be
able to recreate the android.(The Twelve I#11) - A few days later, Phantom Reporter and the other surviving members of the Twelve gathered to pay their final respects to Jack Castle. After the ceremony, Phantom Reporter used his newfound flame powers to turn the man's tombstone into a seemingly permanent, blazing bonfire to mark the man's heroic courage.
(The Twelve I#12 (fb) ) - Their mansion destroyed and a fair number of
them either dead or retired (Mister E had quit shortly after Castle's
funeral), the Reporter and the surviving 1940s heroes were briefly
transferred to a local army base. Getting closer to both Excello and the
Black Widow, the Reporter nevertheless continued to work on the
manuscript of the book on his fellow heroes' exploits in the new world.
He spent his days typing away on an oldfashioned typewriter supplied by
the military. One night around midnight, the precognitive Excello
"suggested" he went for a walk, to make sure Richard encountered the
Black Widow. Enjoying some alone time at last, they finally
admitted their feelings for one another. The Widow revealed she had
picked that moment to leave the base and continue to work for "Satan".
However, she did ask the Reporter to accompany her. He refused, claiming
he couldn't leave because the others still needed him. Reluctantly
letting him go, the Widow kissed him goodbye and took off, while both
their hearts were breaking and the Reporter was quietly kicking himself for picking
others over her. A few days later, Excello left the base as well, but
not before telling the Reporter about his true origins. While he was
working on his next column for the Daily Bugle, desperately trying to
think of a way to explain what had happened to them, the Reporter
received a call from the Witness, telling him he was back on the job
making sure the guilty were punished. At the end, when Captain Wonder
and the Laughing Mask had gone off as well, the Reporter was all alone
at the base. He received word from Captain Wonder that Rockman might be
alive as well.(The Twelve I#12 - BTS) - Invigorated by this new era and convinced there was still work to be done with people who had the skills and the conviction, Earl Everett decided to use part of his vast fortune to buy the world's largest private investigation services and renaming them E.X.C. Enterprises. He contracted Black Widow and then figured he should get the Phantom Reporter involved too. Everett bought a luxurious apartment for the hero and had the military drive him there.
(The Twelve I#12) - Moments after the Reporter found Excello's card explaining the place now belonged to him as a gift, the Black Widow arrived to passionately celebrate their reunion. Not feeling alone anymore and reinvigorated by this new life, the Phantom Reporter burned the manuscript of the book he was working on, along with all the notes and research. The next day, the Reporter and the Widow went to E.X.C. headquarters in New York to meet with Excello. On the way there, Claire briefly flirted with Excello's assistant who in turn also flirted with the Reporter, leading to all kinds of fascinating future scenarios. During their meeting Excello offered the two heroes all the resources and information at his disposal to help the world in need. Both the Widow and the Phantom Reporter happily agreed to work with Earl Everett's organization.
(The Twelve I#12 - BTS) - Some time later, Excello called the Reporter (now wearing a new costume to symbolize his newfound fire powers) to give him vital information on a case they were working on. Thinking back on the lesson his mother taught him way back when, Jones realized it really was a good life as long as one doesn't weaken. The Reporter and the Black Widow then set out in the night to fight the good fight.
(Daring Mystery Comics 70th Anniversary#1) - Richard Jones agreed to do an interview about his beginnings as a reporter in the 1930s with Daily Bugle reporter Sam. He recounted his early days on the job and the breakout report on the Chancellor case. Suitably impressed by the Reporter's exploits, Sam asked if the Philosopher's Stone was real and if Molly Sullivan truly had the formula. Watching the still young Molly Sullivan quietly pass them by on her way out the restaurant, the Reporter lied and claimed that he doubted the existence of the Eternal Youth formula in the first place, explaining it away as an early version of the steroids used in professional sports.