This sneak behind the scenes on the making of a cover was originally posted on the Phantom reddit community and has been reposted here by permission from Frew artist Boris Kay which is a pen name for Vladimir Kuzmanov . The cover is Frew #2002 which was published in 2025 for the Australian publisher and shows the process. The process started with sketches like these five that he gave to Frew . The editor chose the one that references the actual story. In this case #4. Boris wasn't happy with the Phantom in this version of the roughs. He was too small and too stiff in his opinion. In this version he redrew The Phantom larger and sneaking. The rest of the elements were kept. Add the trade dress of the cover to check nothing is lost when it is added. Boris Kay fleshes it out in ink Boris Kay sends his colour pallete suggestion to the colourist. The colourist finishes off the colours based on Boris' suggestions but also makes a final judgement as he sees fit. Can you see any differences?

The story behind "All in a Knights Work" in Frew issue 2008 In 1996, Intrepid released the Gallery Series 1 Phantom trading cards featuring comic artists from around the world, working in their own styles to bring a new flavour to the Phantom's world. From Neal Adams to Sergio Aragones , renowned illustrators turned their hand to our phavourite hero. And all because of the vision of Glenn Ford . One of the names from Glenn’s little purple book of artists, was Canada’s Own Ken Steacy , whose work includes titles for Marvel and D C and partnerships with novelists Harlan Ellison and Margaret Atwood . Ken loves illustrating aircraft and has an enduring passion for aviation. Ken’s interpretation of an Aviator Phantom, entering the cockpit of a fighter jet, a flight helmet propped under his arm, is a striking piece and a personal highlight for me from that series. Intrepid also released a limited-edition set of 8 prints based on the cards, with Ken’s Aviator Phantom one of those chosen. I also picked up a bootleg wall decoration with Ken’s Phantom printed on a ceramic tile and both adorned the wall of my skull cave for many years. When I attended the Calgary Fan Expo in Alberta, Canada in 2018, the trading card and print made their way into my suitcase as I made my way in front of Ken's table in artist’s alley. His reception upon seeing the image again two decades later couldn’t have been more satisfying, or prophetic. Ken launched into the story of completing the work. On a whim, Ken had added a concept jet in the sky behind the Phantom, because it ‘looked fun to draw.’ Then, as soon as he posted the final art to the publisher, he remarked to his wife Joan, ‘I missed a golden opportunity, I should have made it a Phantom jet.’ Ken agreed to add me to his commission list and every time I returned to his table to check on its progress over the four days, we would have another great conversation, but Ken would not show me the piece. On the final day of the con, when I returned as directed, Ken and Joan were waiting to take me to dinner in Calgary as the inimitable Canadian hosts they are and we were joined by several creator friends for a fantastic evening out among the snow-covered streets of Calgary. At dinner, Ken presented me with the finished commission – a gorgeous recreation of the Aviator Phantom, this time with a F-4 Phantom, with some cheeky Royal Australian Air Force markings on the fuselage as a personal Ken Steacy touch. So I returned to Australia with three images of my favourite trading card, and all three were proudly displayed in my Skull Cave. A few years later when Frew Publications kindly agreed to publish some of my Phantom adventures, among the spec scripts I submitted was a 24 page story " The Man from Mandalay " - an adventure set in Burma in the buildup to the Vietnam conflict where The Phantom uncovers a secret jungle airstrip and an F-4 Phantom with no markings. This script was inspired by Ken’s heroic Aviator Phantom after I pondered what series of events would bring our hero in contact with his namesake. Frew requested a reduced version of the story, an 8 page excerpt titled “ All in Knight’s Work .” While the script sat gathering dust on Frew shelves alongside unsold back issues, Supanova invited Ken to tour Australia and speak on his recently released work with Margaret Atwood , War Bears . When Ken arrived, I was thrilled to find among his work a reimagined version of the Aviator Phantom (complete with RAAF symbol) this time in vibrant and rich dusky tones, contrasted with the bright original composition. I had the privilege to see the original first hand and the layers of art which went into creating the image were inspiring. Just before Ken departed the Aussie shores for home, Frew wisely negotiated for Ken’s updated image to grace the cover of a future Phantom issue, if they could find a suitable story to couple it with. Knowing there was already one inspired by the image, Ken steered Frew to look in their own archives and offered to produce the sequentials after he enjoyed revisiting the Phantom and been so impressed by the passion and hospitality of the Phantom Phraternity across Australia. So that’s the story, behind the story, behind the cover and story. Hope you enjoy it.

Christian Moller  reviews the very first Austrian Phantom comic from the newest magazine series from Art:9 . The magazine was first released in shops end of September 2025. This is the first time that this story has been published in Austria but also Germany and Switzerland where this series is also available for sale. " Die Singh-Bruderschaft " (" The Singh Brotherhood ") by Lee Falk and Ray Moore You can order your copy of this from the Art:9 website . They also sell their comics from shops throughout Germany and Switzerland. This issue only costs 21 Euro, the stories are in black and white and this issue is 120 pages. Issue #2 is now out and features: " Die Sky-Band " (" The Sky Band ") by Lee Falk and Ray Moore " Krieg im Dschungel " (" The Diamond Hunters ") by Lee Falk and Ray Moore Isue #3 is out in November and features: ” Kleiner Toma ” (” Little Toma ”) by Lee Falk and Ray Moore " Der Gefangene des Himalaya ” (” The Prisoner of the Himalayas ”) by Lee Falk and Ray Moore " Abenteuer in Algier ” (” Adventure in Algiers ") by Lee Falk and Ray Moore All our reviews of Phantom comics from Germany will be included in our monthly X-Band: The Phantom Podcasts. You can find out more at our website and or subscribe to our YouTube channel  for more videos. If you would like to join the team and review new comics being released around the world, please contact us.

Pattern from the Australian Woman's Mirror Who has a mum, grandma, nanna and or a friend who is handy with the knitting needle? We have the task for them! In the 6 November 1946 Australian Woman's Mirror magazine a Mrs A. E. Fisken from Victoria created a pattern for a knitted Phantom. Thanks to some long time phans in Ron Thomas and Trevor Clark , we have been able to hunt down the magazine to confirm the pattern and share it with you. We look forward to seeing your creations!

Get your wallets ready, Phantom phans! We have an early look at some of the exciting comic book covers coming out of Mad Cave Studios in the next few months. As of writing this article, we have three covers for The Phantom #3 , which is slated to release on December 3, 2025. Freddie Williams III crafts a nice action shot with The Phantom and Devil for Cover A (the main cover). The Phantom #3 Cover A by Freddie Williams III Caanan White shows The Phantom leaping into action for variant Cover B. The Phantom #3 Cover B by Caanan White As a 10 copy unlock incentive for retailers, Natacha Bustos delivers a light and fun depiction of Phantom punching the lights out of a criminal in Cover C. The Phantom #3 Cover C by Natacha Bustos The Phantom #4 kicks off the new year, debuting on January 7, 2026, per Mad Cave Studios. As of now, we have two covers available for preorder. Freddie Williams III crafts The Phantom surrounded by a foliage of guns. It's dark, tense, and shows our hero preparing for the worst. The Phantom #4 by Freddie Williams III Caanan White returns with Juancho Velez for another vehicle-themed action shot of the Ghost Who Walks in The Phantom #4 Cover B. This cover features Phantom fully on the hood of a jeep in what appears to be a convoy. The Phantom #4 by Caanan White and Juancho Velez Question for the Phans: Which cover(s) are you picking up? Let us know by commenting below this article, on our YouTube, or by dropping us a line . We'd love to hear your thoughts! As always, you can preorder The Phantom comics from your local comic shop or through MadCaveStudios.com .

Canadian comic legend Ken Steacy will be available to meet Australian phans during the summer Supanova season, attending the Adelaide (31 October 2025 - 2 November 2025) and Brisbane events (7-9 November 2025). Phantom phans may have to wait in line with Astro Boy and Jonny Quest fans, because while he may be best known for his work with those titles, Steacy's appearance as a guest coincides beautifully with the publication of his first ever Phantom story! Ken Steacy is responsible for the art for a short story written by Duncan Munro , All in a Knights Work , which will feature in Frew Publications issue #2008 released in stores on 31 October 2025. The story was inspired by Steacy's contribution to the 1996 Intrepid Gallery  trading card set; his card depicts the Phantom climbing into a jet. The image was also used as the feature illustration on the Presentation Folder for that set, as well as one of the limited signed Posters. To celebrate this event and tying in with his visit to Australian shores, Frew will release a special Ken Steacy Supanova variant cover, whcih bears a striking similarity to that 1996 Intrepid trading card. The newsagent cover for the issue is by Lauren Marshall , highlighting Jungle Love , the other short story in the issue. Steacy's cover will be a Supanova exclusive available at the two shows and is branded as such. As has been the case with previous Supanova variant covers, we fully expect that the Ken Steacy cover will be available later on the Frew website. Phans who are unable to attend the Adelaide or Brisbane Supanova events can only hope that there may also be signed copies available from Frew - the only way to be absolutely sure of collecting one is to attend, or make friends with someone who is!. Find out more about Supanova Adelaide and Brisbane here

For those who came in late... On Free Comic Book Day , fans who visited their local shop were greeted with a cover featuring a domino mask-wearing, purple clad-hero with The Phantom #0 . For many American comic readers, this would be their first introduction to The Phantom . For those same readers, it’s easy to overlook yet another costumed crusader in a market saturated with titles featuring similar-looking characters. But he shouldn’t be overlooked. And here's why... In this series of essays, we’ll explore The Phantom’s rich history, his world, and the unique characters that have crossed paths with this figure. Consider this essay your starting point, and keep your eyes on this space for more .  The Phantom #0 cover art by Greg Smallwood What’s old is new again In 2026, The Phantom will turn 90 years old. That’s 90 years of serialized pulp adventures and 90 years of action, adventure, heart, and changing social mores. Generations of fans have grown up on The Phantom’s unwavering commitment to "to the destruction of piracy, greed, cruelty, and injustice." Some were introduced to the Ghost Who Walks through the ongoing newspaper strips. Others first became fans through Avon pulp novels or comic book reprints of classic adventures.  For comic book readers of a certain age, their first introduction was through a 1996 cinematic adaptation starring Billy Zane or one of the handful of animated adaptations in the 80s and 90s. Outside the screen, the character has often been adapted, reinvented, or reintroduced to audiences by way of various comic book series from a slew of publishers. These publishers range from independents like Moonstone Books or Dynamite Entertainment to cultural icons like Marvel or DC Comics .  Mad Cave Studios , a rising independent publisher in the comic book community, is the latest to take a crack at The Man Who Cannot Die, launching a brand-new series ( The Phantom #1 is currently available) this year. Watch our review of The Phantom #1 below The Phantom’s shadow is larger than many American readers realize To the modern generation of American comic book readers, the purple-clad protector of Bangalla is relatively new, despite being the originator of a subgenre dominated by tights, capes, and superpowers. For the uninitiated, it’s easy to compare the resourceful, cunning, and globe-trotting Kit Walker to a character like Bruce Wayne. But this is an incorrect assumption. Rather, one could argue that it’s the other way around. Yes, The Phantom’s origins predate comic book superheroes. Lee Falk ’s newspaper strip debuted on February 17, 1936, which is more than a year before Superman graced the comic book page on April 18, 1938. Batman wouldn’t arrive on store shelves until March 30, 1939. In the lexicon of pulp heroes, Phantom is the first to strike fear in the hearts of criminals with an unforgettable costume. Part of this is due to the theatrical nature of the character, who often resorts to clever tricks and cunning in lieu of physical violence. Because The Phantom is a living legend who has protected Bangalla for centuries, these tricks and theatrics add to the mystique and power behind his namesake. He’s very much a mortal man, but his legacy is immortal.  From pulp strip to international notoriety In 1936, Lee Falk introduced The Phantom a few panels at a time in daily newspaper strips. The first adventure, “ The Singh Brotherhood ,” introduced readers to a pulp world that had everything—globe-trotting adventure, secret underwater bases, death traps, fist-fights, and a love interest in the form of world-renown adventurer Diana Palmer. Though The Phantom and Diana would eventually marry and have a family of their own, their early days were rife with missed connections and a will-they/won’t-they subplot that would rival Jim and Pam (of The Office  fame). This first story also introduced one of The Phantom’s biggest and most powerful foes—The Singh Brotherhood.  This criminal organization, like The Phantom, goes back centuries. Its history with The Phantom is deeply interwoven, as Singh pirates were the ones who attacked a European vessel in the 16th century, killing all but one. This sole survivor and son of the captain of the ship, Chris / Kit Walker, would find his way to shore. Swearing an oath on the skull of his father’s murderer, he became the first in a long line of Walkers to become The Phantom.  The Phantom's oath as appeared in 1936. Art by Ray Moore Much of this lore, including the Singh Brotherhood’s centuries-old connection to The Phantom, would be added to the mythos much later. What readers found in the early tales of The Phantom was a gripping, pulse-pounding storyline that delivered high-stakes adventure, tantalizing cliffhangers, and drama.  It wasn’t just American readers who were gripped by The Phantom. The Australian Woman’s Mirror  was the first Australian publication to print The Phantom in 1936. Italian readers, as well, could find Lee Falk ’s strip in the pages of L’Avventuroso  that same year. As the years passed, The Phantom would find himself published in an increasing number of newspapers worldwide. During World War II, stories of the character were smuggled into Nazi-occupied Norway, and his heroism according to stories became a rallying cry for the local resistance. It wasn’t just Norway either; Allied soldiers introduced The Phantom to the people of Papua New Guinea. To this day, The Phantom’s face and iconography can be found on Papuan ceremonial shields and other works of art.  After World War II, The Phantom would find himself in new titles like Fantomen , published by Semic and then Egmont Publications in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. Similarly, several publications in India would introduce the character in the 1950s and 60s. Arguably one of the biggest publishers of The Phantom would be found in Australia. Frew Publications released its first Phantom book in 1948 and has kept the character in continuous circulation since. As American appreciation of the character waned, Aussie and Swedish fans were of the many worldwide fans who championed the character and introduced new ideas to the mythos.  A protector in purple tights On May 28, 1939, The Phantom would appear in color in his first Sunday strip. Lee Falk originally intended a gray color for the costume, the purple stuck. There are plenty of theories on how the purple was introduced - the truth is likely lost to time. While purple is the main color associated with The Phantom, it’s not the only one. Supposedly due to printing technology limitations, The Phantom was depicted as blue in Scandinavia. In Italy, Turkey, and Brazil, the character historically sported a red outfit. In New Zealand, The Phantom was once a brown-suited character.  A crowded superhero market At the character’s peak, The Phantom was published in hundreds of newspapers around the world and drew over 100 million readers a day. While international markets continued to reprint daily strips and create their own original tales with the character, declining newspaper readership and a crowded pulp comic market took its toll on The Ghost Who Walks in the United States.  As comic books grew in popularity, readers familiarized themselves with other heroes. Superman, Batman, Spider-Man , and others seized hold of readers’ attention. The costumed hero who arguably created a subgenre of entertainment took a backseat in the landscape he defined. He wouldn’t be the only crime-fighter and pulp adventurer of his generation to struggle with a changing landscape. Characters like Dick Tracy, The Shadow , and Flash Gordon were among those who inspired new creators to contribute their own heroes to an ever-evolving stable of mythos and pulp.  Over the years, many publishers have licensed the character for publication. Big Little Books was the first company to adapt Phantom stories in more of a traditional book format. This would be followed up in 1972 by Avon Publications , which famously produced 15 novels, some of which were written by Lee Falk .  In 1962, Gold Key adapted The Phantom in true comic book format. These ran for 15 years, during which time Gold Key became King Comics , and King Comics became Charlton Comics . During the King Comics years, Phantom stories were used as a way to improve literacy for children, where definitions of bigger words were included, so younger readers could expand their vocabulary.  Both Marvel and DC Comics famously took a crack at the character as well. Marvel published a Phantom miniseries, as well as two miniseries for Defenders of the Earth  and Phantom 2040 , both of which were adapted from the animated TV shows of the same name.  Of the two companies, DC Comics arguably had better success. What started as a brief miniseries by writer Peter David (of The Incredible Hulk  and Spider-Man 2099  fame) and artists Joe Orlando and Dennis Janke evolved into a longer series with writer Mark Verheiden ( listen to an interview with him talking about the series ) at the helm.  The Phantom (1996) starring Billy Zane The 90’s and beyond In 1996, The Phantom  movie became the next in line of pulp hero film adaptation. Previous adaptations included Dick Tracy, The Shadow , and The Rocketeer . While opinions of the movie vary greatly, it didn’t resonate with enough audiences to spawn a sequel. Similarly, the Phantom 2040 animated series ran for two seasons (1994-1996) before fading (wrongfully) from the American zeitgeist.  Though that seems to be the prevailing view, for many Phantom fans, these two adaptations were their first introduction to the character. A few years later, they would satiate their desire for more Phantom stories when indie publisher Moonstone Books debuted their  The Phantom  series in 2002.  Between Moonstone in the early to late 00s and Dynamite Entertainment in the early 2010s, Phantom fans could find their hero in semi-regular publication outside of the newspaper strip (which to this day, is still running and adding new mythos to the canon).  Which canon is the “True” canon? Because The Phantom has had original stories published around the world, it’s generally accepted that the nearly 90 year-old newspaper strip is the “official” canon. However, that doesn’t mean his many incarnations don’t have value! Some of the absolute best Phantom stories can be found in books put out by Fantomen , Moonstone , and Frew , which has seen their lore introduced into the newspaper stories . Currently, Mad Cave Studios is the latest to take a crack at bringing The Ghost Who Walks to new comic book readers in the United States. While we’re not certain where this new incarnation takes place in the canon, we can be almost certain that Writer Ray Fawkes and Artist Russell Mark Olson will recontextualize the character and take him to new places readers have never seen him before.  We’ve already seen an update to The Bandar, a pygmy tribe that protects The Phantom’s secret and are loyal friends. Similarly, Guran, one of The Phantom’s closest confidants and allies, has been given a new, modernized look in this latest series.  Defenders of the Earth  recently was revived by Mad Cave Studios for an 8-issue miniseries. A follow-up series is planned for December 2025. Not to be outdone, Phantom 2040  has also been revived by newspaper comic strip platform Comics Kingdom , with new episodes coming out weekly in a scrollable webcomic format. Reviews of all these comics and stories will be included on our website, YouTube channel and other platforms. Why should American readers embrace The Phantom? Even more than Batman , the character has inspired millions of people around the globe to look out for each other, help those in need, and fight greed and injustice in all its forms. From The Phantom’s face on ceremonial shields to the latest comic issue in a child’s hands, his oath has echoed and resonated around the world. Like the people The Phantom has helped save over the years, he’s a force for all. Creators from all over the world have taken inspiration from Lee Falk ’s creation and have brought their own ideas, cultures, and experiences to the character. Simply put, The Phantom is a true original and is arguably one of the greatest exports from the United States. His heroism, bravery, and resolve can unite fans from around the world, and in our darkest hours, appreciation of The Phantom fosters connections that extend well beyond a country’s borders. When you take solace and inspiration from The Ghost Who Walks, you’re tapping into a network that knows no boundary. And if you are wondering where to start, check out your local comic shop, or explore this list .

Christian Moller  reviews the fourth issue from the newest magazine series from Zauberstern . The magazine was first released in shops end of September 2025. This is the first time that these stories have been published in Germany - for many readers it will be the first time they have read these stories. Like issue #4, these feature all Sunday stories drawn by Graham Nolan . The stories we review in this video are: " Die Prinz Rex-Verschwörung, Teil 2 " ( "The Prince Rex Conspiracy ") by Tony DePaul and Graham Nolan " Auf der Spur eines Attentäters " (" On the Trail of an Assassin ") by Tony DePaul and Graham Nolan " Der Stamm der Feuerspitze " (" The Fire Peak Tribe ") by Tony DePaul and Graham Nolan You can order your copy of this from the Zauberstern  website . They also sell their comics from shops throughout Germany. This issue only costs 7.99 Euro, is full colour and this issue is 64 pages. This cover is by phan favourite Ertuğrul Edirne  and was repurposed, with the original appearing on the Turkish Kızılmaske #3  comic published by Büyülü Çizgi Roman . The original cover featured a red Phantom and this has been edited to feature a purple Phantom. Spezial #6  will be out in November 2025. The print quality is great with thick glossy paper and the colours are very bright as per normal. This magazine does these stories justice. Included in this magazine is an editorial asking for feedback from the publishers - you can contact them at either tom@zauberstern-comics.de  and simeon.hrissomallis@zauberstern-records.de . All Zauberstern  Phantom comics and other Phantom comics from Germany will be included in our monthly X-Band: The Phantom Podcasts. You can find out more at our website and or subscribe to our YouTube channel  for more videos. If you would like to join the team and review new comics being released around the world, please contact us.

In 2024, Italian publisher Editoriale Cosmo released a hardcover collection of Sy Barry Daily newspaper stories , and now in 2025, they have released the same collection in a more price-conscious softcover album. You can buy the album for a low price of €8.90 ($16AUD, $10USD, 100 sek/nok & 175,000 INR). The hardcover album is €42.00 ($75AUD, $50USD, 500 sek/nok & 800,000 INR) Click here for the softcover album Click here for the hardcover album Each collection is 192 pages in black and white and includes the following Daily newspaper stories: " The Slave Market of Mucar " " The Epidemic " " The Wharf Rats " " The Mysterious Ambassador " " The Mystery of the Island of Dogs " You can still purchase their other collection books at their website . If you are able to review any of these collection books for our platform, please contact us. Thank you to Marko for the heads-up on this release. If you spot any other Phantom-related news that we have missed, please get in contact with us. You can email us at ChronicleChamber@gmail.com  or via our social media platforms.

[Editors note: We received this email from a phan and we thought it was a great story to share with other phans. At the end of the article, we have incldued a short bio of the phan. We would love to hear your story of your journey as a phan.] I have recently completed reading all the Sunday and Daily newspaper stories in chronological order - a total of 89 years' worth in five months! It is certainly not the intended way to read the Phantom, but reading at such a rate gave me a new appreciation for the comic I love, as well as a helpful perspective on being able to notice changes over time. These changes may have been slow for contemporary readers, but reading through the decades so quickly really shows the amazing eras of history, culture, politics and social movements that this comic has spanned. Very few other stories have such a remarkable continuous "canon" spanning from the tail end of art deco, world war 2, the cold war, the foundation and then the peak of the newspaper comic strip medium, the independence of many British colonies, the US civil rights movement, and (counting the post-Falk era) the death of the newspaper comic strip medium. The biggest realisation for me was how fast and loose Lee Falk was with his own creation. It's unfair to say he didn't plan anything ahead, but he certainly planned very few things ahead. Each story has its own internal canon, prone to change with the next story. This may be more noticeable when reading years' worth of content close together, but I think it's also likely because Falk didn't seem to care for continuity to get in the way of storytelling (plus he famously didn't keep notes - us readers likely have a better idea of his newspaper canon than he did, since he didn't seem to read his own past stories). As examples names and locations change the Phantom proposes to Diana for the first time several times Rex is introduced and then aged forward in the one story as if he was there all along; Rex's Llongo friend TomTom spends an incomprehensible amount of time in the deep woods instead of his own village and is also privy to knowing that the Phantom has generations of ancestors before him and Colonel Worubu replaces Colonel Weeks out of nowhere. When Lee Falk started writing The Phantom in 1936, it made sense for Bangalla to be run by a colonial power - but in a changing world decades later and in the face of the US civil rights movement, I imagine that Falk thought Bangallan natives needed better representation in organisations like the Jungle Patrol. It's interesting seeing stories that were clearly influenced by US popular culture at the time - a disappointing example being the " Massacre at Walker's Table" (D167) story that was a very boring and generic 'satanic panic'-era story where the bad guys had literally no motive other than being devil worshippers. Given the time frame over which he wrote, it shouldn't have been surprising to me (but still was) just how frequently Lee Falk re-used plot ideas: Dangerous strangers at Eden Keela Wee or Walker's Table conniving members of Rex's court trying to steal the throne witchmen trying to destroy Dr Axel out of jealousy General Bababu trying to overthrow Luaga or a powerful woman imprisoning the Phantom and falling in love with him. Some stories are even told then re-told as time goes on, with the first rope people story involving the present Phantom, then getting re-told in " The Tree House" (D143) as having been the 21st Phantom's father, then later still being re-told in " Captain Amazon Pirate Queen" (S134) as having been his grandfather. Tony DePaul on the other hand, has written a very consistent canon where major events remain forever a part of subsequent stories. Brilliant bad guys like the Python or the Nomad could not have existed in Lee Falk 's narrative, but at the same time, controversial story plots like the John X and the Mozz prophecy seem to "stick around" and are difficult to leave behind. Some rapid-fire observations, since this article is already too long: " Ruler of Baronkhan " (D159) has a bizarre scene where Rex's grandfather talks about how the kingdom's riches fund everything so that the people of Baronkhan don't have to pay taxes. This isn't just really bad economics; it's very on-the-nose when you reflect that in the first story where Rex's grandfather was introduced, the kingdom thrives on slavery (which the Phantom then bans)! Ray Moore 's original art deco era depiction of Diana in " The Singh Brotherhood" (D01) is the most beautiful, in my opinion. In the mid 1990s, stories like " Drama on Eden " (D187) refer to the Sangh (not Singh) pirates. I assume this is to line up with the Phantom movie's incorrect spelling around this time? On that line, Tony DePaul wrote the first newspaper strip to have a Singh pirate related story since the original " The Singh Brotherhood " (D01). In " The Ghost Pirates " (D203) the Phantom only seemed moderately surprised and not utterly gobsmacked (since they had been destroyed in the newspaper canon up to that point) at this knowledge is to me indicative of the blurring of newspaper and Fantomen canon that began after Falk's death. In the very next daily story " The Animal Collector " (D204), there are direct references to no less than 3 non-newspaper stories, now retroactively made part of the newspaper canon. This was very early into Tony DePaul's tenure as the new newspaper writer (he still wasn't even being officially credited at this point). As a Fantomen writer himself, he seemed to be trying to create a cohesive mixed canon and a clear line in the sand between pre and post Falk rather than just trying to imitate what had come before. In " Revenge of the Python " (D227) the psychic old male prisoner has sculpted a bust of Dogai Singh - more newspaper-Fantomen canon overlap? Mike Manley delightfully inserted himself into " Then Came Towns Ellerby " (D256) as a jungle patrol sketch artist. Some interesting points regarding Frew : I have loved their decision to print the newspaper stories in colour (I was not a fan of Terry Beatty 's art until I saw how it had been made to make use of colour). It's weird that Jim Shepherd had previously made a big deal about Frew re-naming newspaper stories, then once Tony DePaul took over, Frew re-named several of his stories (including " The Jungle Trek " (D216) and " The Return of Chatu " (D217) ). It's interesting that in the late 1990s the recent newspaper stories often were published second-fiddle to Swedish stories which dominated the cover art (frankly, the non-newspaper stories at this time were often more interesting than the newspaper ones). It's clear that Lee Falk was a story teller with unmatched energy and talent to create the way he did, for as long as he did. Whilst I don't feel the best about stories like the " Phantoms End " (D261), it is also clear that Tony DePaul is a superb writer who has brought his own unique but worthy take on the Phantom character. Paul Ryan (RIP) remains my favourite Phantom artist. Combined with Tony DePaul 's approach to showing the Phantom's human side, Paul Ryan was able to show so much emotion in single panels (examples being the Phantom in grief on the skull throne when he believed Diana dead, and Diana's happy tearful face showing a dozen emotions at once when she hears the Phantom's voice as he approaches to rescue her from Gravelines). I have more observations, but have taken enough of your time and wanted to say that I am glad that there are still such fandom resources that there are for this great comic! About the phan who wrote this article on his deconstruction journery. I am 33 and have been reading The Phantom since I was 8 or so. My Dad introduced me to the comic, which he had read since his childhood when they gave out Phantom comics in showbags. He stopped collecting in adulthood and regretfully gave away his old comics, but started collecting again in the early 1990s. We both stopped collecting when I left home in 2012. Over a decade later with uni done and a new career, I could never get into Marvel or DC and always found them too painfully edgy - everything had to be dark and depressing. Long story short, Dad and I took the comics out of storage and I contacted Frew to fill in the gaps up to the present. I had been quite ignorant of the difference between the newspaper and non-newspaper canon growing up as I wouldn't pay too much attention to the editor's page and would just read the comics themselves. As a young child the Ray Moore art was also kind of intimidating to me compared to the more modern artists. Equipped with the PhantomWiki Dailies and Sundays list, I wanted to read the stories in order.

Christian Moller  reviews Zauberstern #20 that was out in late August 2025. The issue features the following stories that were first published by Charlton Comics in the1970's. " Triumph des Bösen " (" Triumph of Evil ") by Joe Gill and Don Newton " Das Geheimnis des Mali-Götzen " (" The Mystery of the Mali Ibex ") by Bill Pearson and Don Newton " Kampf gegen das Monster von Zanadar " (" Battles the Monster of Zanadar ") by John Clark and Don Newton " Das Böse im Menschen " (" The Torch ") by Ben S. Parillo and Don Newton You can purchase this comic and other back issues of Zauberstern  Phantom comics from their website . This comic is of great value with 100 pages of comics in full colour on great-quality paper for 10€. This magazine sees Zauberstern  reusing a past cover instead of creating their own new covers, which they have done previously and seems to be done more and more often. Do you prefer the publisher creating their own unique covers? This cover was created by Don Newton  and was originally used as the cover #73 for the Charlton Comics series, originally published in 1976. Again, like previous issues, Zauberstern re-use another cover for a double page poster being Don Newton 's famous USA flag cover for #74. The interior colours are good and in full colours unlike in the Bastei West Germany 1978 issue which was in red, black and white. Make sure you watch the video where I show some examples of the printing not super clean due to them using old printing plates. Overall I think it works - what is your opinion? It includes an editorial information page about Don Newton which is great to highlight a past star. Ensure you read our interview with the publishers and editors behind Zauberstern  here - Interview with Simeon Hrissomallis  and Charles Bone . You will learn about the extra albums and magazines planned to be published in 2025 by Zauberstern . We have reviewed the first special magazine on our platforms. All Zauberstern and other German comic reviews will be included in our monthly X-Band: The Phantom Podcasts. You can find out more at our website and or subscribe to our YouTube channel  for more videos. If you would like to join the team and review new comics being released around the world, please contact us.

We are unapologetic that César Spadari is one of the teams all time favourite Fantomen artists who tradegically passed 12 October 2020. One of our greatest pleasures was hearing from his step son Juan Munari Rousselot , who spent some time with us creating a beautiful eulogy for him - you can read that here . Unfortunately, due to the location of César Spadari  and other reasons, many phans where unable to communicate and buy original art from the great master. However, thanks to Juan, he has made this possible now with several pieces now available to bid on at Heritage Auctions . Click to preview and bid on César Spadari original art available on Heritage Auctions The two interior pages are from " Wasakas demon " ("T he Demon of Wasaka ") which was printed in Fantomen 8/1994 and Frew #1083 . The cover is from Fantomen 6-7/2008 and was also used for the Norway and Finland cover as well.

The second episode of Phantom 2040: A New Shadow is live on Comics Kingdom , and it delves much deeper into our main protagonist, Carlos Oserio. In this second episode, we find a former soccer all-star player struggling with who he used to be. Gone is the heroic leader, once known around the world as El Fantasma De Futbol . In his place, readers find a struggling young man who wants to keep his head down, lay low, and just do his job. You can read Phantom 2040: A New Shadow Episode 2 here . Written by series writers Alex Segura  and Michael Moreci , with illustrations by John Amor , this episode also introduces us to Mel , a figure from Carlos' past, and Charles Tyrus , the tech magnate villain of Phantom 2040: A New Shadow . We don't know much about either character... yet. What we do know, however, is that Mel and Carlos once had a much closer relationship, though some distance has grown between them in recent months. Tyrus, on the other hand, seems to be reviled, though he is touting some big "announcement" in the Ghost Jungle. Phantom 2040: A New Shadow art by John Amor. Question for the Phans: Are you sympathetic to Carlos? Does he feel like an every-man type of hero? Let us know by commenting below this article, on our YouTube, or by dropping us a line . We'd love to hear your thoughts! Also, if you want to hear more about this new Phantom 2040: A New Shadow series from one of the creators, listen to this interview with Alex Segura .

We know the Phantom is not one of the big superhero characters of the world and when it comes to comic readers in the USA, he is a minor hero at best. However, the Phantom in 2025 will have some representation at one of the largest comic conventions in the world. The New York Comic Con (NYCC) event is held October 9-12, 2025. As we are a Phantom website, this article will only focus on our character and not the other amazing creators, publishers, guests, etc that will be in attendance. If we have missed any other creators and/or publishers who have Phantom credits and will also be in attendance, please let us know so we can add them. Comics Kingdom (Booth #3425) Comics Kingdom is the website that hosts the various comic strips and adventures owned by King Features . We can confirm that this side of the business will have a host. In May 2025, Comics Kingdom announced they wil be releasing a new Phantom 2040 web comic and 24 September 2025 saw the first of 20 episodes released. One of the writers Alex Segura , will be available to meet and discuss his new Phantom 2040 web comic with fans at Thursday 9 October between 1pm and 3pm and Friday 10 October between 10am and 12pm noon. Mad Cave Studios ( Booth #4455) Mad Cave Studios will have their new Phantom series available to be purchased at their booth along with some exclusives to purchase. Available to be purchased is a New York Comic Con exclusive cover by Marco Santuri with a limited Phantom pin set. At this stage, we have not found any imagery for the pin set. Along with the cover and pin set will be a T-Shirt showing the good and skull mark on the left breast with an Old Jungle Saying on the back Artists attending with Phantom credits Please note, this is NOT the final list of all artists attending. We would recommend you go to their website for that list. This is just a list of artists and creators who have worked on the Phantom in a formal licensed point of view. Note, we may have missed some artists and we apologise if that happens. Alex Saviuk . Booth C-39. Artist for Mad Cave Studios , Defenders of the Earth 1987 comic series, Fantomen , Frew , Hermes , Moonstone , Lightning Strike Comics . Jim Calafiore . Booth K-26. Artist for Mad Cave Studios . Keith Williams . Booth C-24. Artist for newspaper Daily strips, Moonstone and Mad Cave Studios . Brent Schoonover . Booth C-12. Artist for Mad Cave Studios and Dynamite Entertainment . Joe Rubinstein . Artist for Chronicle Chamber Bushfire phundraiser book. We may have missed some creators with Phantom credits and will also be in attendance, please let us know so we can add them. if we have missed other events with Phantom creators and / or publishers attending, please let us know.

Mad Cave Studios new regular Phantom series is currently out for sale around the world and is receiving warm response with their fresh new look of our hero. You can watch and or listen to our review here . Popular American artist Freddie Williams II is one of the cover artists and you can now buy three of the originals of his covers for issue 1, 2, and 3 on his website. Click to buy his cover art here Eagle eyed phans may notice that the original artwork for cover 3, has the skull ring on the left hand. The printed version which is included below shows it has been edited in production to show the good mark ring on the correct left hand.