He was originally clad in an all-black hood & body suit, with a purple cape. but soon adopted an open faced cowl and red cape around the close of the 1939 Fair season. The Fantom was seldom displayed with overt powers, but demonstrated the ability to tamper with people's memories and displayed incredible strength in his initial appearance. He also used secret trap doors placed around the Fair. His first adventure showed an ancient book that indicated that the Fantom had lived in Iceland 1000 years ago. He was possibly the first comics hero with a subterranean headquarters.