Wikimedia Commons/The Phantom TV series Celebrity The Phantom, the 1936 superhero who predates Superman & Batman, is returning to TV. A new action-adventure series is in development from producer Reginald Hu... April 18, 2026 AceShowbiz - One of the earliest superheroes ever created is preparing to return to television. The Phantom, a character who first appeared in 1936, predates icons such as Superman, Batman, and Captain America.