The El Fantasma Memory Card Game was produced in Mexico in 1984. The Game cards contain an image on one side of professional wrestlers, and are blank on the reverse. They were sold as uncut sheets in Mexico, with the player required to cut the cards before they were played with. The Memory Card Game is unlicensed by King Features Syndicate.
Two uncut sheets are provided for the Memory Game which measure 10” x 4.75” when uncut. A total of 54 memory cards measuring 1.5” x 1” are produced when cut.
The Phantom is found on 2 of the Memory Cards, with the words ‘El Fantasma’ printed on both cards.
The Memory Card Game is played with 2-4 players. All 54 cards are turned face down, before being scrambled and re-aligning all cards in rows to form a large square. The first player begins by flipping one card over face up, then a second card is chosen and flipped up to find the same image. If a pair is not found, both cards are turned over face down again. Each player in turn must try and remember the images and collect pairs. If a player selects a pair of identical images, they are removed from the play area and they take another turn. The player who collects the most pairs is the winner of the game.
Throughout the years of professional wrestling in Mexico, there have been many fighters that have worn some kind of resemblance to the Phantoms cowl and mask. But the very 1st to wear the Phantoms costume in its entirety was Mexican wrestler El Rebelde, born on the 1st of November, 1961. His professional career began in 1979 and for over a decade he was one of Mexico’s most famous and promoted wrestlers. Beginning in the early 1980’s El Rebelde was one of the pillars in the star billboards of the cast of Superlibres, headquartered in the Pavilion Azteca, located next to the famous Azteca stadium.
El Rebelde appeared on posters, stickers and in magazines including the cover of Mexico’s most famous wrestling magazine ‘Lucha Libre’ issue number 1177 (seen above). El Rebelde also served as president of the Boxing and Wrestling commission in Mexico City.
Thank you Christopher Smith for assisting with images and information.
The Phantom 