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In what will be one of the first major product launches for Glenn Ford's Phanfare, coming soon is a new line of Phantom jigsaw puzzles. Excitingly, Rene White of distributor Phantom's Vault tells us that these are "the first 2 in a series of planned jigsaws", so there will hopefully be many more to come. Ford has certainly chosen the images well for the first two puzzles in the series, both iconic Phantom scenes. The first, Sy Barry's 1977 "The Wedding" captures a seminal moment in Phantom history, while Ford's own historic "Frew #1000 cover" from 1991 is the subject of the second. It is exciting to be looking forward and speculating on what other Phantom images could be used in future releases. With 1000 pieces and at 75cm x 50cm (29.5" x 15.5" for US phans), these are large, brightly coloured puzzles that are sure to be challenging and "phun for all the phamily!" Despite being commissioned and produced by Phanfare, they do not appear in that Treasure Room at this time. To pre-order the puzzles you need to email shop@phantomsvault.com.au and they will contact you when the puzzles are available. At A$35 each (+GST and postage) these would seem to be affordably priced... although it could add up quickly if you need playable AND mint boxed versions for the Major Treasure Room! #Phanfare #PhantomsVault #GlennFord #ReneWhite #SyBarry

On Friday 30th September, The Phantom Art Show finally arrived in Broken Hill. Paired with Contemporary Primeval by Ann Evers & Rick Ball; Peter Kingston and Dietmar Lederwasch's The Phantom Art Show drew a sizeable crowd who enjoyed the atmosphere and diverse artworks. The Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery certainly came up with a unique marketing technique, with a cosplay Phantom and Devil spending an afternoon in the street front window earlier in the week! Some images from the Official Opening night: And this is just a small sample of what the crowd came to see: The Phantom Art Show remains open to the public at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery until 13th November. #ArtShow #PeterKingston #DietmarLederwasch

The Phantom world has lost a major talent this week with the passing of Moonstone, Hermes and Frew artist, Lindsay Walker. ChronicleChamber has confirmed with a family friend that, after a difficult period in her personal life, Lindsay tragically ended her own life on 27th September. In a terrible twist, the news comes in the same week that her first cover for Frew, issue #1764 The Crying Idol, hit newsstands throughout Australia. The stunning cover, with heavy supernatural themes, is a wonderful Frew debut cover for Walker. Phans will certainly be the poorer for not having further images grace the covers of the fortnightly release. While certainly the most mainstream, this is not the first time that Australian readers have been treated to her work, with Walker commissioned by Phantom's Vault to produce the Australian variant cover for Hermes Press' The Phantom #3B. The Hermes cover is slated for the upcoming Frew Pholio series 2 set. ChronicleChamber understands that Walker did finish autographing both the Pholio prints and Frew's Signature Series for #1764 last week. These were the first covers produced by Walker in some time. Back in 2009-2010, working as Mick Collins, she had variants published for Moonstone's The Phantom: Ghost Who Walks series, both as artist (#3) and colourist (#7). Walker is perhaps most familiar for her personal or commissioned artwork. The Phantom (2013), with Phantom firing his pistol at full gallop with a ferocious Devil by his side, has become something of an iconic image among phans. Perhaps fittingly, the last image ever published by Walker is another masterpiece. Published to her Facebook and her Deviant Art pages just the day before her death, The Phantom: Skull Throne is a dark and foreboding piece. As a proud transgender woman, Walker was a role model for others and will be sorely missed by many many more than just the Phantom community. You can hear from Lindsay on the 2014 GeekGirlSpeak podcast or the very first X-Band podcast #1 - In the beginning... You can also read her interview with Joe from 2012 or Monika Kowalska's The Heroines of my Life blog from 2014. Lindsay is survived by her partner Kim and three children Ariel, Heloise and Evelyn. If you would like to help support the family through this difficult time, please donate here. If Lindsay's story raises any issues for you, please visit Beyond Blue or call 1300 22 4636. #LindsayWalker #Moonstone #Frew #HermesPress #PhantomsVault

Next weekend the annual Woodgate Arts in Spring will be opened and this year will feature some art from Phantom Frew Cover Artist Shane Foley. We interviewed Shane Foley earlier this year. Attached below is a large version of the reworking of his back cover of Frew 1757 which will feature along with some subtle reworking of his current two covers that have also featured in Frew in being Frew 1757 and Frew 1754. Woodgate Beach is a small coastal beach town just out of Bundaberg in Queensland. If you're nearby make sure you drop in and support a local event supporting the Phantom. From their website: Join us for the 2016 Woodgate Arts in Spring weekend, when the quiet town of Woodgate Beach comes alive! It starts on Friday with the champagne flowing at the Official Opening of the ArtPlus Woodgate Art Exhibition from 6pm. After soaking in the beauty of Woodgate in the morning, join us Saturday afternoon for the FREE Concert in the Park – featuring the group Muddy Flats! Then enjoy your brunch in the park whilst listening to the musicians from Brass Monkeys, at our free Brunch and Brass event on Sunday 9.30am. Finish off the weekend with the markets that stops the Esplanade! The FREE Family Market Day features over 150 stall sites, opening from 7.30am, where you’d find plenty of goodies to remind you of your weekend at Woodgate Beach. #ShaneFoley #Frew

In an announcement via email and Facebook tonight, Frew cover artist Antonio Lemos has re-launched his personal website. The address http://www.theartofantonio.com/ is where you'll want to head to check out the magnificent work of this prolific Phantom artist. From the mouth of Antonio himself: Hello to all 'phans' in the Phantom Fraternity: I would like to invite you to visit my updated website and I welcome any comments you have to make about its contents. Please use the form on the website's Bio page at www.theartofantonio.com to do so. Kind regards Antonio It's not entirely clear how you can purchase Antonio's original work, but you can certainly have a look at some of the many works he has produced, as evidenced in the small sample available on the Gallery and Covers pages of the site. Particularly exciting is the prospect of commissioning Antonio to produce Phantom-themed art borne of your own imagination. Between this and the Art for Sale tab that Antonio has also included on the site, presumably a quick email using the link at the bottom of that page can set you up with some original artwork from one of Australia's (Argentina's) most accomplished Phantom artists. #AntonioLemos

This bit of news may have been skipped with the exciting Frew 80th Special out, but some stores also received the 2017 Mallon Diary today. There is also be a Journal out similar to the last one in 2013. Below are some pictures of the cover, back and an interior page of the Diary, with the pic of the front cover of the journal courtesy of Josh Turnbull. #Mallon #80th

With less than three weeks until the touring Phantom Art Show arrives in Broken Hill, some exciting new pieces have been unveiled as joining the exhibition. In recent conversations with curators Dietmar Lederwasch and Peter Kingston (recorded for a soon-to-be-released X-Band podcast), it has been revealed that there will be a range of new artworks for visitors to enjoy. These are starting to filter into the public eye via their FaceBook page. The Wahgi shield from Papua New Guinea that has been travelling with the Art Show to date has be withdrawn by the owner, but is to be replaced with the large metal shield below. A new sculpture from Ian McLeod Come let me show you my cave has also been leaked: It certainly appears that the words of Dame Quentin Bryce at the Toowoomba opening have certainly been heard, as this is just one of many of the new pieces that seem to have a distinct Diana flavour. Kingston has apparently been very busy, producing a number of new wood cut outs, and his experiments with weathered and textured timber appear to paying off with some beautiful results. A particularly stunning piece is a Snakes and Ladders game, another of Kingston's works and perhaps designed to accompany the very impressive Chess Set already with the Show. Described as GIANT, one hopes it may even be playable! Again, nice to see Diana make an appearance on the box. But perhaps the pieces de resistance are by Dick Frizzell. Frizzell is a wonderful artist, faithful to the style of Wilson McCoy, and if these, Exhausted Phantom and Mufti Day, are as impressive in real life as his other Phantom work, then the art lovers of Broken Hill are in for a real treat. The Phantom Art Show opens at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery on September 30th, and runs until November 13th 2016. #ArtShow #XBand #Podcast #WilsonMcCoy #DietmarLederwasch #PeterKingston

For those who came in late, a Solander box is a book-form case made from timber and typically used for storing manuscripts, maps, prints, documents, precious books and the like. It is most commonly used in archives, print rooms and libraries. It should come as no surprise then, that such a high-end form of storage should be utilised in compiling a special limited high-end collectible anthology to commemorate The Phantom Art Show currently touring Australia. Currently in the development stage, this one-of-a-kind and never-to-be-repeated compendium is truly a mouth-watering prospect. As the photo below shows, the Solander box alone is bound to be a highly desirable piece for the serious Phantom phan. Each box is personally hand crafted by Dietmar Lederwasch (co-curator) and personalised for the purchaser - you can choose it in your favourite Phantom colour: blue, red or purple. The box features a striking Death's Head image on the spine, with Peter Kingston (co-curator) and Garry Shead's Phantom in Paris on the front cover. However, this beautiful and robust box is merely an entree for the delights within. Once opened, the box reveals a literal treasure trove of prints and original pieces that are sure to delight even the most discerning phan. The next image shows that some of the contents celebrate the Art Show itself: (top row L-R): a box end Peter Kingston print; a signed DVD containing Kingston's 1970's Phantom movie Fanta and an ABC report on artist Martin Sharp; a song sheet from the Wollongong exhibition. In the photo, these latter two items are shown inside the Solander box. (second row L-R): The Phantom Art Show catalogue; a postcard made from an original 1960's comic (will vary from box to box) above a postcard from the Mackay exhibition; an original Frew valued $100-$300 (issue will vary from box to box); an invitation from the first exhibition. However, these are just a small teaser for the items that you will seriously want to add to your Major Treasure Room. The final image sent through by Lederwasch (below) shows some of the prints that are included in this incredible collectible. These are taken from original artwork that has featured in The Phantom Art Show, but not every piece has appeared in every exhibition (or even the catalogue!) and the Solander box is literally the only place you will be able to see all these stunning images in one place. (top row L-R): the Peter Kingston print as above; the colophon detail of the box contents; Michael Bell's Phantom Comics are cool comics; Elizabeth Cummings' PK as The Phantom; a Garry Shead print. (middle row): Dietmar Lederwasch's Untitled; Ian Grant's Waterfront; a Kingston etching; Euan Macleod's Walking; a Garry Shead print. (bottom row): Martin Sharp's Ghost who walks, dog who limps above another print from Shead; Reg Mombassa's Phampire; Dick Frizzle's Ouch; and two more Sheads. Please note that some contents will vary (e.g. Frew issue, postcards). Each print in the collection is signed by the artist and strictly limited to 24. Only 24 copies of this Solander box and the unique contents will be produced. With 12 of these already committed as proof copies to the contributing artists and only 12 available to the general public, this is indeed among the most exclusive and limited Phantom collectibles. Priced at $1500, this once in a lifetime anthology is not going to be affordable for every Phantom phan. However, it is perhaps anyone who wants to own this very unique piece of Phantom history should email Dietmar immediately. At least one Solander box is complete and ready to post now, so this could be heading your way today! #ArtShow #DietmarLederwasch #PeterKingston

A new eBay store has emerged selling Phantom T-shirts. T Shirts by David has a small range of designs and styles available. Two of the designs feature Frew's trademark cover banner and classic Sy Barry-esque images, while the third is more reminiscent of the American design and features a Moonstone cover image prominently in a montage. The shirts are available in purple, light blue or white, and in both male and female cuts. Sizes range from S-3XL. ChronicleChamber would point out that these do NOT appear to be official products licensed through King Features Syndicate, and for that reason alone some phans may baulk at the prices, which range from $20 to $30 depending on colour and sleeve length. That said, the site seems to be professionally run with very positive feedback percentages, is published in a polished format, and has links to Woolworths and Big W outlets. As always, phans can make their own choices as to whether these will be joining their casual wardrobes or their Major Treasure Rooms! #Clothing

Last night on the 31st August 2016 the Albury WIN TV station ran a News report on a local Phan's Phantom Collection. We all know him as Bradley Peach, one of the true Phantom gentlemen of the world. Bradley has been on the X-Band podcast a few years ago when he and the Albury Art Gallery had a Phantom Museum Exhibition which featured the Submarine from the 1996 Phantom movie along with some amazing pieces of his collection. Below is the video taken from Albury's WIN Channel. If you want to see the original on their Facebook page go here. It is great to see the Phantom getting attention in today's media. #BradleyPeach #CollectorsCorner

Sammy J has unveiled the promotional poster for Hero Complex, his upcoming Phantom-themed show at the Melbourne Fringe Festival. As recently reported on ChronicleChamber and discussed in his interview on the X-Band podcast, Sammy J's show reflects on his relationship with our purple-clad jungle-based hero. Illustrated by Peader Thomas, the poster has Sammy assuming a trademark Phantom pose - a flashing Skull Ring presented strongly to the viewer. Many phans might assume that the pose pays tribute to the classic portrayal of The Phantom by Billy Zane in the promotional material for the 1996 film, but it seems at least possible that the true inspiration was found in the first Phantom that Sammy J read - Glenn Ford's striking cover for Frew #1004 The Mob. (right). Either way, this has to be just about the most serious we have ever seen Sammy J appear in any of his promotional material - he usually looks far more quizzical or puzzled! Also of note in the full poster (below) is the clear homage to Frew - without ever breaching copyright! The framing of the image as an aged comic book; the inclusion the of "From the Creator of..." wording; the "New Story" breakout; the colour and font of the title; they're all clear tributes to Australia's oldest and longest continuous comic book publisher. Finally, it really is wonderful to see what MUST be long term friend, inspiration and Phantom phan Duncan Munro idling past on the tractor in the background. No word yet on whether the poster will be available as a collector piece for Phantom phans, but it's safe to say there are at least four members of the ChronicleChamber team who would be very interested! Hero Complex shows for the Melbourne Fringe Festival, at the Northcote Town Hall from 15th September to 1st October 2016, but Sammy has also promised a national tour in 2017. Full details and tickets available here #SammyJ #HeroComplex #BillyZane #GlennFord #1996movie

Bradford has released another item this week with advertising starting to filter through to customers inviting them to purchase a personalised "welcome" sign for their Skull Cave. This is a brilliant idea and a perfect Father's Day surprise for the Phantom phan who wants something Phantom but has a wife or partner complaining that they do not know what to get them. The price is not over the top too much with a total of $170 including postage. As usual there is a payment plan if you're on a tighter budget. While Douglas Klauba's artwork is brilliant and his Moonstone covers among the best EVER created for a Phantom cover and he goes down along with Gohs and Wilson as the best examples of Phantom painted covers, I think it may be time Bradford Exchange stops using his art for their products and use something else. Below is a great example of what the Personalised sign will look like. Will you be getting one? #BradfordExchange #DouglasKlauba #Moonstone

Frantic phans might feel like it's been a long time coming, but finally there is word of Frew's 80th Anniversary Special! On their Facebook profile tonight, Frew nonchalantly released the author, artist and cover artist details of issues 1758-1764. Tucked away somewhere in the middle is #1763, the long awaited 80th Anniversary Special. In their words: Contrary to popular belief we have been working very hard on the 80th Anniversary Special. We thought it was about time that we stopped goofing off and started actually doing some work - so here it is. 212 pages, with stories from all over the world that have never been published in English before, including some in colour! Plus an 80-year retrospective from Phantom historian, Barry Stubbersfield, a short prose piece from Brazil, a new colouring competition from Frew, a new competition from Merchantwise, with Phantom prizes valued at over $800 and a Phantom Gallery Series 2 promo card. Cover by Glenn Ford. Stop goofing off and actually start doing some work? Nice touch, Frew Crew. The ChronicleChamber team could not be more excited about the prospect of these international stories, steeped in tradition but brand new to English speaking readers. Indeed, given the range of countries/languages represented it seems unlikely that there would be many phans in the world who have read all of these stories before. At first glance the cover looks very impressive (certainly knocking the ultimately disappointing 70th Birthday cover out of the park). While Glenn Ford has employed a reasonably simple design, the way that shadow has been used - is that embossing we see? - the tip of the hat to Phantom's legendary marksmanship, and the sheer strength of the character, this looks like an instantly classic cover. Special features of the issue: 8 stories, only one of which has ever been publi Frew before (Kings Cross Connection) Colour in a Frew for only the second time ever (following the Paul Ryan tribute issue earlier this year) A prose story (only words no pictures for the uninitiated ... does this even belong in a comic book?) A colouring competition - should bring in the youngsters, or at least convince Dads to buy an extra book! Seemingly a seperate competition for adults, from Merchantwise, with some serious prizes A trading card is included? Gallery Series 2 promo? Surely this must mean... finally?!! An introduction from Egmont editor Andreas Eriksson which looks like a lovely way for the two major publishers of The Phantom to reach out to each other in for the celebration of his 80 years as an international comic strip character One point of note must be that there is no Lee Falk story, which to many will be a large omission. How can you celebrate 80 years of The Phantom without mentioning Lee Falk? Falkists will be hoping that Barry Stubbersfield's feature fills this role, but may well still be left a little disappointed. At $20 cover price, this will comfortably be the most expensive Frew ever to hit the news-stands. However, it looks like it will be worth it. Either way, this is bound to be one of the highest selling Frew issues of 2016. Timing the release of the comic around Father's Day is potentially a masterstroke, with Dads around Australia certain to be flicking through this as they wait for their breakfast in bed. Well done Frew Crew - we can't wait to read it! #Frew #80th #GlennFord #LeeFalk #TradingCards #AndreasEriksson

We all know that The Phantom has a cool dry wit, but it's not often he makes you laugh out loud. That is about to change as Sammy J brings his new show to the Melbourne Fringe Festival in September. Titled Hero Complex, Sammy tells us that the show is an exploration of the relationship he had with The Phantom during his formative teenage years, and examines the way it has affected his life. The blurb for the show reads: When I was twelve years old, I borrowed some Phantom comics from my school gardener. This set off a chain of events that led to the birth of my daughter, saw me committing a crime in Canberra, and ended with a federal policeman searching my attic. If you would like to hear the story, this show is for you. Sammy J is not yanking anybody's chain. He really is a lifelong phan, as evidenced by some of the pictures he's put up on his Facebook page recently. Back in the 90's when he was still a teenager known as Sam McMillan, he had Phantom posters in his bedroom, collected merchandise like a madman and attended Phantom Art shows. Further proof of his phandom came in 2015 when Ricketts Lane premiered on ABC television. Sprinkled throughout the 6 part series were little Phantom easter eggs - a comic on a bookshelf here, a Phantom bust on the bedside table there. See if you can find any in this promo clip for the show. ​In a recent conversation with ChronicleChamber, recorded for an upcoming episode of the X-Band podcast, Sammy J lifts the lid on his Phantom obsession and promises to reveal a whole lot more in his show. We encourage all phans, young and old, to get along to the Northcote Town Hall to see the show. Full details and tickets available here. #SammyJ #XBand #Podcast

Any Dick Tracy fans out there? Last year we saw guest stars among the other King Features characters and now it looks like Dick Tracy's turn to feature the Phantom. As you can see the Phantom is hardly shown and Devil tends to be featured more but either way it is kinder cool to see the characters guest star in each others adventures. Who would you like to see the Phantom guest star in or a character guest star in a Phantom adventure? #Devil #KingFeaturesSyndicate