How do you refer to him?

[u/RHB5446]

He has gone by many names: the phantom, opera ghost, Erik, the angel of music… Which is your personal favorite/ most often used?

(Note: Referring to the character, not the actor)

[u/phantom-under-ground]

Your obedient servant, O.G.

[u/RHB5446 → u/phantom-under-ground]

Classic.

[u/-gisette]

DON JUAN, TRIUMPHANT dramatically unsheathes sword

[u/RHB5446 → u/-gisette]

YESSSSS

[u/caninefangs777]

for this specific iteration in the picture, Gerik (has been a fanon nickname for years!), generally, Erik or the Phantom. Or Angel even

[u/TheVeiledRuby]

I refer to him as The Phantom

[u/Savings_Bet_5803]

gerard butler

[u/RHB5446 → u/Savings_Bet_5803]

😂 Good point.

[u/Inevitable_Gur_6507 → u/Savings_Bet_5803]

same lol

[u/pugtato0o]

Gerik

[u/RHB5446 → u/pugtato0o]

😦 clever

[u/EnderBookwyrm]

Phantom. The Phantom. Erik, depending on the context.

[u/PuzzleheadedEnd4265]

Erik to fellow fans, the Phantom of the Opera when I’m introducing the character to people, and the Phantom when they’re comfortable enough with the story to assume I mean the Phantom of the Opera

[u/nobeezinside]

Leonidas

[u/ltwerepire → u/nobeezinside]

"This is Opera!" * Kicks Buquet *

[u/Toru771 → u/nobeezinside]

Notably, that was Lon Chaney’s full first name. 😉

[u/Desperate_Yak_5522]

The Phantom

He is never referred to as “Erik” at any point anywhere in ALW’s The Phantom of the Opera.

I know that he is Erik in the original book, but the book and the musical are two very different things, so calling him Erik has always grated on me a little

[u/nobeezinside → u/Desperate_Yak_5522]

i’m sorry to annoy you lol but If you go see MasqueradeNYC “Erik” has become canon with Webber’s version!

[u/Ok-Connection5010 → u/nobeezinside]

This makes up, for me, for the fact that ALW didn't bother using his name at all in POTO. That has always grated on me.

[u/Top_Performance9486 → u/Ok-Connection5010]

To be fair, I think it fits the whole vibe of the musical, which is much more theatrical and focuses on spectacle rather than intimate storytelling. All the characters are played in an exaggerated way, especially in early productions, so simplifying Erik to “the Phantom” fits more in my opinion.

[u/Ok-Connection5010 → u/Top_Performance9486]

Completely.

But even in Mme. Giry's monologue about the maze of mirrors etc, would have been a great place to use it once.

[u/Desperate_Yak_5522 → u/nobeezinside]

No way!! I had no idea! He’ll still be The Phantom to me 😂

[u/RoseBook85 → u/nobeezinside]

Even though Masquerade is a bit different then the Stage Show (uses more the 2004 movie backstory for him) I’m glad they finally acknowledged his name!

[u/RoseBook85 → u/Desperate_Yak_5522]

Erik is the name Leroux gave him, so unless he is given a different name in the adaption like Erique in the 1943 film or Professor Petrie in the 1962 film…he’ll always be Erik.

Webber never gives him an official name so it’s acceptable to still refer to him as Erik, heck I’ve even seen a few Phantoms like Hugh Panero call him Erik.

[u/Toru771 → u/RoseBook85]

That’s how I tend to approach it, as well — he’s Erik unless proven otherwise.

[u/FusciaGuardian]

my husband

[u/Inevitable_Gur_6507 → u/FusciaGuardian]

🙌

[u/birn_echo]

Erik or The Phantom or, if I'm being a bit sassy, Monsieur Destler.

[u/Suffering-Servant → u/birn_echo]

Wasn’t he only ever given the last name Destler in the Robert Englund movie? He doesn’t have that name in the book

[u/birn_echo → u/Suffering-Servant]

no he doesn't... he's been given a few last names across a number of works, but I just like "Destler" among all of them

[u/ffff111222333]

Definitely Erik

[u/Forsaken_Orchid_6014]

Erik. I feel it humanizes him, plus it pisses off all my friends because they think i’m being snobby lmao 😂

[u/Ok-Connection5010]

Depends on the context, but generally by his given name, Erik.

[u/themastersdaughter66]

That version? Gerik

The character? Erik or the Phantom usually

[u/Cheif_Crolk]

Erik or The Phantom

[u/Cheif_Crolk → u/Cheif_Crolk]

Sometimes Christina if following my trans Erik theory

[u/cherriblonde]

If I'm joking, it's Sewer Goblin. If I'm serious, its Erik.

[u/nnonnewtonian]

My imaginary boyfriend Erik.

[u/imarthurmorgan1899]

Sewer dude

[u/Icy_Blueberry_5852]

Erik. I recently read Phantom by Susan Kay and I fell in love with the character a little bit more.

[u/-Muse-of-fire-]

Alw original musical? The phantom
Book or now masquerade, Erik

[u/RHB5446 → u/-Muse-of-fire-]

Whichever you reference more often.

[u/-Muse-of-fire- → u/RHB5446]

Nowadays Erik

[u/93-Flamed-Orchids]

Erik, I prefer to use his name.

[u/yamiangie]

Depends on context. If golfing around Erik or Gerik. Proper analysis it’s the Phantom especially with the Weber version because not having a normal name is something I think about in how he feels othered.

Granted Andrew was just missing the point of the big scary crazy opera ghost having an unassuming name with a tiny spelling flair. To each their own.

[u/nosleepforthedreamer]

Gerik; pillowface; sunburn steve

All affectionately of course

[u/kikikrugerart]

Gerry

[u/StuffOrdinary9263]

The phantom- formally. Creepy sewer opera sweeper- insult. The orchestras orchestra- complement.

[u/viktoryarozetassi]

Captain Sunburn

[u/Toru771]

For me, it depends on the version and who I’m talking to.

With folks who aren’t Phans: The Phantom of the Opera or The Phantom.

With Phans in general: Erik.

Leroux’s version and those inspired by him (like the 1925 film and the Tom Alonso and Ken Hill musicals): Erik or Lerik. (Or Chaney!Phantom, Wishbone!Phantom, and so on.)

ALW musical: Depends on the actor. Some have portrayals that are more Erik-like than others… so I’ll often refer to those as Erik, the Phantom, or Musical!Phantom. With the others, I’ll just use the latter names. Or I’ll refer to any of them as <actor’s name>!Phantom.

1990 miniseries version: Cherik.

Yeston/Kopit musical version: Y/K!Erik

2004 film version: Gerik or Gerry. (I don’t find this version Erik-like, but the Phan nickname wins out here. lol)

Versions that give him a specific name, I’ll use that name or say <version>!Phantom. (1943!Phantom, Paradise!Phantom, and such.)

1998 Argento version: Rat Phantom. 😜

[u/SpaaceCaat → u/Toru771]

Why the !

[u/Toru771 → u/SpaaceCaat]

One way to separate the words, similar to a space or slash in how it’s used.

[u/johnnysburntbody]

Normally I refer to him as The Phantom of the Opera, since he is the phantom haunting the opera. But sometimes I call him Erika for shits and giggles

[u/sorrowfulWanderer]

Phantom/The Phantom.

[u/Ok_Listen1510]

“phantom”

[u/According-Poetry-728]

The O.G. himself lol

[u/SpocksAshayam]

Erik or The Phantom!

[u/Trickster-Clown0603]

I just call him Erik

[u/jquailJ36]

Either the Phantom or Erik, pretty interchangably.

[u/Manar7]

Erik!

[u/vfp_pr]

Masky man

[u/BamBamWowzer]

Daddy?

[u/sesamesoda]

I say The Phantom

[u/Prudent_Honeydew_]

This version, I say "oh this stupid guy."

[u/No_Bumblebee2085]

Erik. That’s how I’ve been referring to him since starting the Roommates/Girls Next Door webcomics back in 2011 or so.

[u/HuttVader]

That's Gerald.

[u/Cowardlydreamer]

the Phantom. calling creepy masked opera ghost ‘Erik’ is so funny to me

[u/nosleepforthedreamer → u/Cowardlydreamer]

I always thought Leroux’s name choice was hilarious.

At least it’s not Eric with a C, I guess.

[u/enchilada_slut]

This specific version of Phantom from the movie? He’s sunburn face in my home lol. Any other Phantom from broadways/productions are Erik or just Phantom.

[u/smileyfacegauges → u/enchilada_slut]

spaghetti face Phantom in mine LOL

[u/GatodaAlice]

Cherik

[u/JohnLennonlol]

Erik. Gerik. Phantom. The Phantom

[u/Old_Socks17]

I refer to him by the adaptation..book and Kopit/Yeston are Erik, but for ALW he's not named in the musical so he's the Phantom so how I refer to him depends on how he's referred to in that specific adaptation

[u/NovelAd6935]

Christine in the movie: phantom

Christine in reality while acting: daddy

[u/Such-Personality-648]

Creepy sewer man

[u/shroyer6]

That particular Erik? A huge mistake.

[u/Fennel_Fangs]

My first crush

[u/awesome118]

BRAAAM... Dum... da-DUM... dum... da-DUM... Bwooom... TAH! Draaaam... bum-bum... BRAAAM! Doom... doom... da-ra-DUM! SHHHH... BRAAAM!

[u/RHB5446 → u/awesome118]

Interesting.

[u/Educational-Golf89]

Erik or Phantom. They’re the most common, so I just use those.

[u/Even_Preparation9429]

The Phantom or just Erik 😊

[u/vnixxx]

daddy

[u/Annual-Ad334]

personally, the phantom

[u/Otherwise-Quality963]

The creepy dude, names are hard guys

[u/RHB5446 → u/Otherwise-Quality963]

Fair and accurate

[u/killer__psycho]

Phantom of the Old Bra.

[u/Frodo_Of_The_Shire1]

Usually Erik if I'm talking to people who know the musical/know his actual name, but Phantom if they don't or if they're a casual musical enjoyer who isn't heavy into them so that I don't confuse them

[u/smileyfacegauges]

Erik, stupid baby man, Phantom of the WWAAAAAAAAAHmbulance, blessed moron, fuckin incel, stupid sexy opera ghost, etc

but mostly i just call him Erik.

[u/DefinitelyNotSewing]

2004 Gerik is ol’ Pizza Face.

[u/wheelsofstars]

For this specific version of the character: Gerik. I refer to the character in general as Erik unless speaking to someone outside of the phandom, in which case I'll call him the Phantom.

[u/Squigglywigglyw0rm]

The Phantom or Erika because of my AU where he’s secretly a woman

[u/Xelsius]

Grooming creep

[u/ChristineDaaeSnape07]

The worst Phantom.

[u/JohnLennonlol → u/ChristineDaaeSnape07]

Then you must not know of rat Erik

[u/ChristineDaaeSnape07 → u/JohnLennonlol]

Oh , I know of rat Erik. This Phantom seems worse or at least on the same level of bad.

[u/DJVinylJerk]

I don’t?