Update on the Comics Revue Magazine

Comics Revue was a bi-monthly magazine exclusively devoted to reprints of newspaper comics strips including The Phantom, and has been published by Manuscript Press since 1984. Unfortunately, due to health concerns with publisher Rick Norwood, the magazine has now been cancelled.

We first reported about this back in March 2025 and since then it has basically been confirmed that the magazine will not continue publication. Thanks to some eager fans we have been able to find the covers that were created for the last two magazines that never saw distribution. The last cover (April 2025) was drawn by Phantom artist Jeremy Macpherson. We cannot confirm if any of these two magazines were printed or not.

The last magazine distributed to readers was the December 2024 magazine which featured a cover drawn by Jeremy Macpherson and featured the Phantom, Tarzan and Sir Bagby decorating a Christmas tree in the jungle.

In this issue part of the Daily newspaper story "Romance" (also known as "Romance and the Vesta Pirates") by Lee Falk and Wilson McCoy and part of the Sunday newspaper story "Rex King" by Lee Falk and Sy Barry was included.

We assume, the February and April 2025 issues would have been a continuation of the serialised part stories.

Rick Norwood has a deep love for newspaper comics and did a great job with this magazine and other publications. Since 2009, Frew colourist and Norwegian fan Ivan Pedersen and Allen Lane were brought on board as associated editors.

These additions to the team saw a level of the comic improve. From a Phantom perspective, the addition of Ivan saw him suggesting, picking, editing and colouring some Phantom stories for publication. For the nuffies who want a detailed example of what Ivan Pedersen did, here is a digitised article that was originally published in issue February 2013.

They all did a great job to ensure Phantom phans and many other fans of newspaper comics had a great niche magazine to enjoy in a modern time of slick comics.

On behalf of Chronicle Chamber, Phantom fans and others, we thank you for your efforts over the decades.