The title of the story clearly refers to Gaston Leroux's novel The Phantom of the Opera, which was originally published in installments in 1909 and then as a book in 1910. It is a classic mystery narrative that was particularly well-known in America, as it was first adapted for film in 1925 with Lon Chaney in the lead role. Three years before the release of Carl Barks' story, an equally interesting British film adaptation had been screened, directed by Terence Fisher and starring Herbert Lom.

For Uncle Scrooge 60, Carl Barks designed a cover based on the story, while also submitting two other unused sketches. In 1981, a sequel to the story was released in Brazil, with texts by Ivan Saidenberg and artwork by Irineu Soares Rodrigues, titled A Voita do Fantasma de Notre Dame, first published in Almanaque Disney in May 1981. In this adventure, the role of the "phantom" is played by Magica. Irineu Soares Rodrigues once again designed the decor of the imposing Notre Dame in the story O Casamento do Pato Donald, first published in the first volume of the Ouro Disney series in July 1987.