At twenty-two, Edwina Carstairs lost her last surviving parent, when her wealthy father was killed resisting an armed mugger. Edwina inherited two things from her forceful father, things that defined her life. First was the huge fortune the elder Carstairs made with his publishing empire, based on numerous magazines devoted to physical fitness, body building and martial arts. Edwina's second inheritance was an amazing physique, and great martial arts skills inculcated from infancy by her stern father who practiced what he published. Upon assuming control of the Carstairs fortune, Edwina was impelled by her strict, puritan conscience, also a legacy of her high-minded father, to use her gifts for socially productive causes. Despite her busy schedule as publishing tycoon, she played an active role in the many charities to which she gave lavishly, serving on boards of directors and otherwise seeing her millions were wisely spent.

Even all these things seemed inadequate to the determined, altruistic young woman.  She felt the compulsive need to do even more. In her charity work, Edwina saw how much suffering was caused by the rampant crime in the city.  No doubt, the loss of her beloved father to street  crime, made her particularly sensitive to this issue. Yet, what could one woman, even a woman of fabulous wealth, do to alleviate crime?

Leaving a gala benefit for the Carstairs Foundation, late one beautiful, spring evening, Edwina glanced up at the full moon longingly. She glanced around and saw for a change she was free of the paparazzi who normally dogged her every step, making her life a trial. Impulsively, she waved away her chauffeured limousine, to enjoy a moonlight stroll. As she walked briskly through the deserted business district, she espied a holdup attempt, on a deserted side street. One man held an elderly couple at gunpoint, while a second helped himself to the their wallets, and other valuables. The scene was gruesomely reminiscent of her father's murder. The painful memories of her grief flooded back. Heedlessly, the young socialite rushed to the aid of the victims. Grabbing the holdup man's gun she swiftly and skillfully disarmed him. Both men attacked her with bare hands and knives, but discovered they were no match for the shapely young martial artist. Edwina swiftly subdued them, rendering both unconscious. She summoned the police on her cell phone, and then fled the scene, disappearing into the night. If she stayed, the paparazzi would make a hellish media circus of her involvement, however innocent and even heroic.

The adventure  had a profound affect on the youthful publishing tycoon. It had fulfilled Edwina's consuming need to be of service to her fellow citizens. In a way, too, it seemed to be retribution for her father's tragic death.  It was also tremendously exciting experience, giving scope  to her high-spirited yearning for adventure. She'd never felt so alive as she had facing personal danger to help others. The next night, Edwina  experienced an overwhelming urge, almost a physical need to prowl the dark streets, again, seeking out crime.  How could she though? Due to her wealth and position she was always in the public eye. The dogged paparazzi were everywhere. Her beautiful face and form graced countless magazine covers; her face familiar to millions. Edwina Carstairs was was just  too conspicuous to fight crime.  She knew that the Police Authorities looked askance at vigilantes, even unarmed ones. Her corporate lawyers would have conniptions at the legal dangers such activities would expose them to in the civil tort courts.

"I need a another identity, an alter ego, a woman who can slip through the darkness without notice!" Edwina concluded. The resourceful, young woman acquired a mask and wearing a brief, dark costume began to pursue her crimefighting avocation in secret.  It was sometimes a grueling schedule to administer her business empire, fulfill her charitable commitments, and still patrol the late night streets, as a  masked crusader, yet the resolute Edwina managed.

And so was born, the legendary Phantasma, the Blue Marvel as the media sometimes called her, the relentless scourge of city crime...

For ten years the mysterious elusive Phantasma patrolled the dark streets making life safer for the honest, and dangerous for the criminal....

Phantasma repressed a slight yawn. It was nearly dawn, and Edwina Carstairs was due at a board meeting at 9:00 A. M. Now, in her early thirties, the formidable crimefighter knew she was slowing down a little, tiring more easily. "Don't know how much longer, I can keep this pace up!"  Phantasma thought. "Maybe I need a vacation? But NO! I'm going to deal with this Enigma threat first!"

Crime had been increasing dramatically of late, and Phantasma's sources reported that a new crime boss was muscling into the city, a mysterious figure known only as Enigma. Enigma's organization was better organized, and more cleverly directed than the local criminal element, and was rapidly expanding. Crime was on the increase. Phantasma was determined to nip this new threat in the bud, before it blossomed into an unstoppable behemoth. The new crime wave was centered in the old warehouse district of the City, and Phantasma had been patrolling that area relentlessly for the last several weeks.

About to call it a night and head back home for a short nap before going to the office, Phantasma noticed a broken lock on warehouse door. Like a silent shadow, the intrepid Blue Marvel slipped inside. Two men were busy loading cases of imported liquor into a truck. Phantasma was all too familiar with most of the local crooks, but she'd never seen these two thugs before!

"Not local talent!" She thought. "My guess is they work for Enigma! This could be the break, I've been waiting for!"

The cat footed crimefighter was upon the criminals before they were even aware of her entrance. The encounter was short and decisive, ending with Phantasma carting the two criminals to the local Precinct House.

Later that day, the two thugs were bailed out of the County jail, by an attorney from another City. Taking a circuitous route and making sure they weren't followed, Harry and Moe sheepishly entered a desolate warehouse, not far from the one they attempted to rob that morning. This building was  the new local headquarters of Enigma. Inside they reluctantly approached a cheap desk. Behind the desk sat a stocky, powerful looking, middle-aged blonde woman wearing a mask. It was swiftly clear from the conversation, that the forceful blonde, was the mysterious Enigma, herself.

Enigma was furious at the disruption of her well planned caper. "That busybody slut in the blue undies has interfered in my business once too often!" Enigma stormed. "It's time, I did something about the bitch!"

The next morning as dawn broke, Phantasma was again patrolling the same blighted neighborhood. "Darn it!" She thought. "The Police didn't get anything out of those two jokers, before they let them out on bail, and then didn't even shadow them! Sometimes I wonder what I pay taxes for! I'm sure those hoods work for Enigma! It was a golden opportunity to get a lead on our mysterious 'mastermind'!"

Her all night search so far fruitless, Phantasma was about to call it a night. Ironically the criminal headquarters she sought, was only a few doors away, and in fact her stealthy hunt had been closely observed for some minutes.  As Phantasma dejectedly turned to leave the alley, she had an instinctive feeling she was being stalked. The huntress was not used to being the hunted, and felt the back of her neck prickling. She glanced over her shoulder, but saw nothing. "Been a long night and I guess I'm a little jumpy!" She thought. "Still?"

A moment later another figure moving just as silently as Phantasma, slipped catlike from a shadowy doorway, directly behind the crimefighter.

Phantasma paused uneasily. Then, without any further warning, strong hands seized her from behind.

Before the formidable crimefighter could pull free, a sturdy, booted leg slammed into her svelte midriff.

Caught by surprise, Phantasma, nevertheless, reacted with lightening reflexes, skillfully catching her foe's leg, and unending her.

Phantasma never liked kicking an opponent who was down, but she had learned the hard way, that the most prudent and merciful thing was to finish her foes off quickly.  "Anyway, this sneaky slut deserves it!" She muttered to herself.

Based on long experience, Phantasma was sure the kick to the jaw would put her assailant down for good, but she discovered, to her sorrow, that she was dealing with as tough an opponent as she ever faced. Far from being knocked out, when Phantasma leaned over to collar her, the blonde had enough strength left to kick the crimefighter in the crotch with the power of a pile driver. The kick lifted Phantasma several inches off the ground, and she howled in pain.

Still woozy from the kick to the jaw the masked blonde stumbled to her feet, as Phantasma doubled over in pain.

As she regained her balance, Phantasma wound up to throw a punch to finish the criminal, but the wily Enigma was a split second ahead of her. The gangster grabbed the crimefighter by the neck with a grip of steel, pulling her off balance, again.

Before Phantasma could tear loose, a karate jab stabbed her lower belly.

Gasping painfully, Phantasma retaliated with a shin to Enigma's crotch.

Enigma lost her grip on her foe's neck, and staggered backward nursing her injury.

Phantasma's long, shapely leg flashed high, reaching Enigma's jaw. The expert martial artist rarely missed, but this time her foot was off target by a fraction of an inch, just enough for the agile Enigma to escape the full force of the kick.

Even before Phantasma's foot was back on the ground, Enigma swiftly came back with a kick to the inside of the blue crusader's right knee; her kick was right on target, and the big crimefighter staggered.

Enigma immediately followed up with a second kick to the front of the same knee, again not missing. Phantasma nearly collapsed in agony.

Enigma paused long enough to gasp a breath, as Phantasma, nursing her disabled knee, groaned loudly.

As Phantasma gingerly tried to put weight on her injured leg, Enigma swiftly continued her attack, with a kick to the dismayed crimefighter's belly.

Standing on one foot, Phantasma swallowed her pain, and swiftly retaliated, with a left cross to Enigma's jaw. Her body not solidly anchored, the blow did less damage, than her mighty punches usually did.

Pain still slowed Phantasma's normally lightening reflexes, and Enigma caught her with deadly right to her lower belly.

As Phantasma stumbled sideways, staggered by the belly punch, Enigma followed up with a left to her kidneys.

Enigma discovered it was a little early to count the formidable Blue Marvel out, when, Phantasma desperately disregarding the fierce pain in her right leg, planted it solidly, to deliver a stunning kick to Enigma's belly, with her left.

Another kick with her right leg staggered Enigma, although it cost Phantasma nearly as much pain as it did the criminal.

As Phantasma steeled herself for the pain of another kick, Enigma whirled and caught her upraised right leg at the injured knee, immediately inflicting blinding  pain.

Enigma gleefully wrenched and twisted Phantasm's captive leg, until the crimefighter shrieked at the searing pain.

With a final awful wrench, Enigma flipped Phantasma completely off her feet.

Phantasma crash landed in the alley filth, her magnificent bosom painfully cushioning the impact.

Enigma drove her foot down with her full weight, her sharp heel impaling the small of Phantasma's back, pinning her in the dirt.

Standing on the one leg, Enigma gleefully bounced up and down.