It all comes down to this for Mad Cave Studios' take on The Phantom! Spiraling out of events from The Phantom 5-issue series and the subsequent The Phantom vs. The Red Dragons #1 one-shot, The Phantom vs. The Singh Brotherhood #1 sees the culmination of several story lines weave into one final showdown. This is arguably the most action-packed issue in Mad Cave Studios' tenure, and as of the moment, it's the last of the announced The Phantom titles. Writer Ray Fawkes and Artist Russell Olson return, with colors by Juancho! Velez and inks by Taylor Esposito. Cover artist Mark Spears delivers a colorful, close-up cover of Asif Singh gripping The Phantom in a stranglehold on the cover. Watch our video review of the issue below! Credits for the issue are: Title: The Phantom vs. The Singh Brotherhood #1 Writer: Ray Fawkes Artist: Russell Olson Colorist: Juancho! Velez Letterer: Taylor Esposito Editor: Sarah Brunstad Main Cover: Mark Spears Variant Cover: Freddie Williams II & Andrew Dalhouse Synopsis: THE PHANTOM WALKS. EVIL DIES. It's all come down to this—The Phantom vs. Asif Singh and his Brotherhood! After the Brotherhood's failed attack on Bangalla, Singh was all set to rot in prison. But concrete walls cannot stop the man who controls one of the most notorious criminal enterprises in the world. Only The Phantom can. Or this time, he might just die trying. The Phantom vs. The Singh Brotherhood #1 cover by Mark Spears Is this the end of Mad Cave Studios The Phantom series? We don't know. This is the last of the three one-shots Mad Cave Studios announced earlier this year, and we haven't heard whether there will be more books or not. We certainly hope so! Is Asif Singh an original character? While The Singh Brotherhood is a timeless foe of The Phantom, Asif Singh as the organization's leader is original to this series. With how this issue plays out, and how Asif is characterized, it's likely a way to incorporate classic enemies without overlapping with the lore of classic Singh members. The conclusion of this issue suggests that perhaps we may see another member of the brotherhood take charge, should this series continue. Does Princess Sin appear again? No, sadly. While The Phantom vs. The Red Dragons #1 had an open-ended conclusion, we don't see Princess Sin again. In her place, we do see several members of the Red Dragons incarcerated alongside members of the Singh Brotherhood. Question for the phans: What did you make of Asif's about-turn? Let us know by commenting below this article, on our YouTube, or by dropping us a line. We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Malmö is the third-largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg, and the seventh-largest city in the Nordic region. Located on the Öresund Strait on the southwestern coast of Sweden. What makes Malmö special from a Phantom perspective is that it is the location of the Swedish branch of Egmont and now the location of the latest adventure. In issue 18-19/2026, the Phantom visits the city in two of the stories included in the magazine. This magazine is 100 pages in full colour and features three Phantom stories: "Spionernas hamn" ("Harbour of Spies") by Mats Kejonen and Janusz Ordon "Pestsmittad!" ("Plague Infected") by Norman Worker and Jaime Vallvé "Stackars Jimmy" ("Poor Jimmy") - A Phantom parody by Jimmy Wallin This special comic is now out in shops from August 19, 2026 and a little earlier for subscribers. As this is a special comic, we are going to explore the contents of the comic. The cover is beautifully drawn by Hernik Salhstrom and features a bunch of happy, celebrating soccer fans of the local football club who feature 'sky blue' as their traditional colours. The Phantom is standing on the Arbetets ära (The Glory of Labor) which is a famous 1929 bronze and granite sculpture by Axel Ebbe located on Möllevångstorget in Malmö, Sweden. It depicts naked workers lifting a heavy stone block embossed with an old industrial skyline, symbolizing labor history and local working-class struggle. "Spionernas hamn" ("Harbour of Spies") by Mats Kejonen and Janusz Ordon In this story, the 20th Phantom must help a friend who has been caught up in some political intrigue. The year is 1953, with Malmö being famous for being a hub of spies during the Cold War between the world's superpowers. It was also at the time the home of Ingmar Bergman, who was a Swedish film and theater director and screenwriter. He is considered one of the greatest and most important filmmakers in the history of cinema, most notably as a prominent figure of both the European film industry and Swedish cinema. The scriptwriter behind the Malmö adventure, Mats Kejonen, lives and was educated in the city. I am sure a majority of the Fantomen Swedish readers will love to see the Phantom back visiting their country. However, for the non-Swedish readers, will the story still hold up for those who have no affinity to the country or city, or will it feel forced? We would love to hear your thoughts. The story is drawn by Janusz Ordon, who is a very popular interior artist for Swedish but also Australian readers who have read his stories in the Frew comic. "Stackars Jimmy" ("Poor Jimmy") - A Phantom parody by Jimmy Wallin "Poor Jimmy" ("Stackas Jimmy" in Swedish) is a Swedish comedy strip by Jimmy Wallin. It stars a fictionalized version of Jimmy Wallin himself and is also set in Malmö, where he also lives. In this one-page story, he assists The Phantom with an assignment. I am surprised Frew does not use the same marketing trick of having the Phantom visit Australia to coincide with their comic conventions. Shakti Comics could also do the same again with the comic conventions they attend throughout India. Surely even casual fans would buy an extra comic if it features a hero fighting crime in their city. "Pestsmittad!" ("Plague Infected") by Norman Worker and Jaime Vallvé It may surprise some readers, but "Pestsmittad!" ("Plague Infected") by Norman Worker and Jaime Vallvé has never been published outside of Scandinavia. It was first published in Fantomen 24/1984 and last published in 2001 in the Norwegian Kronike series. This story refers to what happened in the 1977 "Mystery in Rome" story by Ulf Granberg and Jaime Vallvé as well as the 1998 story "The Ring of Death, Part 2" by Ulf Granberg and Kari Leppänen. On his way home from England in 1633, The Phantom and Suran visit Italy, where he meets Catherine Galilei, niece of the astronomer Galileo Galilei. The fourth Phantom is an interesting Phantom, with the Team Fantomen stories portraying him as probably the only person in the lineage as someone who struggled with the calling of the generational legacy. We are still after a comic reviewer for the Fantomen comics for our platform. If this interests you, please contact us.

Saturday Morning Cards (SMC) was present at San Diego Comic Con held at the end of July 2026 and they released a new collection of their exclusive, high-end cards celebrating The Phantom. This release by SMC utilised artist Erick Marshall's take on the classic "Slam Evil" post that was also used in some of the cards from Volume 1 (2025). However, significant updates have been made, with a freshly redesigned case and a modified glowing ring design just the start. These cards are strictly limited with only 266 total cards produced! See below for the full checklist: Purple Phantom Stars /75 Ice /50 Purple /25 Gold /10 Black 1/1 Alternate suit colours Red Phantom /25 Red Phantom Gold /10 Grey Phantom /25 Grey Phantom Gold /10 Blue Phantom /25 Blue Phantom Gold /10 This SDCC 2026 set will also include new sketch cards. SMC sold these first at their San Diego Comic Con booth, with the remaining stock listed for sale on their website after the event. If you live in Australia, you can buy yours via ordering via email SaturdayMorningCardsAUS@gmail.com. The cost is $135AUD per card for Australian orders.

Last month, we reported that toy company Collect Major unveiled new King Features Syndicate, Inc.-licensed figures in their Big Rubber Guys toy line. These toys are 8-inch (20.3 cm) figures modeled after popular wrestling action figures from the 80s and 90s. The Phantom, Flash Gordon, and Popeye are among this starting lineup of KFS-licensed figures, with the first two now available for preorder. The Phantom 'Big Rubber Guys' figure from Collect Major On CollectMajor.com, each Big Rubber Guy retails for $49.99 USD ($75AUD, €45, ₹4,850 INR & 500 sek/nok). Free shipping is available in the United States, though shipping won't start for quite some time. Both The Phantom and Flash Gordon are noted as shipping in April 2027. For those outside of the United States, Collect Major has emailed us at Chronicle Chamber to confirm that they will ship to Australia and internationally. For Australian phans, there's a second option to score one of these 80s retro-style figures. Big Rubber Guys are carried by Pop Cultcha. One can presume that this new The Phantom figure will be available at Pop Cultcha upon release. The Phantom Unboxed Resealable Packaging? One interesting detail about the packaging for these figures is that they're reportedly resealable, allowing phans and collectors to display The Phantom loose or mint in box. It's a neat feature, especially for those who stress about opening collectibles. For those who want to assemble half the Defenders of the Earth team, Flash Gordon can be preordered here. Once The Phantom releases, Chronicle Chamber will release a video review and unboxing of this figure. Stay tuned for more details!

Phantom artist Avishek Biswas has worked on close to 20 covers for Indian publisher Shakti Comics and now a third BIG poster of the Phantom to match the first two. These posters are visually appealing, the size is alluring, and the price is even more tempting. Buy big poster 1 Buy big poster 2 Buy big poster 3 The size is 19 x 26 inches, which is just smaller than an A1 sheet (23.4 x 33.1 inches). The regular price is ₹99.00, which roughly works out at $2AUD, $1USD, 15 sek/nok for the regular price. At the time of release of this poster, it was the 80th anniversary of India's independence, and to celebrate, Shatki Comics was having a 20% off on items on their website. Even better, this poster was FREE with any order. The code was "INDIA80" at checkout to save on your favorite comics and collectibles. Please note this is a limited-time offer. Some may question the tigers on the poster, with no tigers being in Africa. The tiger is India’s national animal, and it holds deep roots in Indian culture, religion, and ecology. India houses most of the world's wild tigers, making the big cat a core part of the nation's identity and natural heritage. Some eagle-eyed phans may notice that there is no logo for the third poster and it features different logos for the first and second posters. The logo on the second poster is different from the standard Shakti Comics logo, which we see on the first poster. Buy big poster 1 Buy big poster 2 Buy big poster 3

Concept artwork from the Defenders of the Earth (1986) cartoon has recently been unearthed, and it's quite fascinating to look at! These highly detailed designs show characters and title cards at various stages throughout production. Some are sketches; others have been inked and colored. The concept pieces (arranged below) were created by various artists, including Nestor Redondo, Rick Hoberg, Kurt Conners, and Alex Niño. We have broken up the pieces by artist, offering what insights we've learned about each one. Nestor Redondo Nestor P. Redondo (May 4, 1928 – December 30, 1995) was a Filipino comics artist best known for his work for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and other American publishers in the 1970s and early 1980s. In his native Philippines, he is known for co-creating the superheroine Darna. Redondo and Alex Niño worked as Model Designers on Defenders of the Earth, which was a co-production between Marvel Productions (the studio and animation arm of the comic company) and King Features Syndicate, Inc. Redondo contributed the promotional poster art, character designs (like the Prince Valiant attached); and title art, like the circular group shot. Included below is an episode title card for "Bits 'N' Chips," the 5th episode of the series, which originally aired on October 6, 1986 (though some sites have attributed its release date to September 12, 1986). This title card was penciled by Rick Hoberg, with inks by Redondo. Lastly, there is an original piece that features planes, a spaceship, and a space-scape, which was drawn by Alex Niño. Redondo contributed the visage of Defenders of the Earth series villain, Ming the Merciless, here as a paste-over. Rick Hoberg Rick Hoberg (June 7, 1952 - present) is an American comic book artist, storyboard artist, art director, and producer from Texas who has been involved in dozens of animated series and productions since 1978. His first work in animation began with the late 70s Godzilla cartoon, but his designs and skills have impacted memorable shows like Thundarr the Barbarian, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, RoboCop, RoboCop: Alpha Commando, X-Men: The Animated Series, Super Friends, Spider-Man, Centurions, Defenders of the Earth, and many more. When it comes to Defenders of the Earth, Hoberg is one of those who came up with the final, stripe-less design for The Phantom in the cartoon show. The decision to drop the stripes from The Phantom's trunks was made to ensure more consistency in the episodes, which were animated by a high-volume, fast-output studio overseas. While retired Hoberg's vision looms large on the industry. At Chronicle Chamber, we had the opportunity to interview Hoberg on X-Band: The Phantom Podcast. You can listen to that interview about his career and approach to characters in the video below. X-Band: The Phantom Podcast #154 - Rick Hoberg, DotE Art Director Hoberg penciled the title card for the episode "Bits 'N" Chips" shown below. He also sketched the design seen for Ming the Merciless below, which is how the character appears in the Defenders of the Earth. For the logo, Hoberg created this spherical piece with Redondo. Kurt Conner Kurt W. Conner ( - March 21, 2017) was a layout artist, character designer, storyboard artist, and art director active in animation from the late 1970s through the early 2000s. Aside from his work on Defenders of the Earth, Kurt Conner is also known for his layout art on Heavy Metal (1981) and as a creature design consultant on the original Ghostbusters (1984) film. In animation, Conner began his career as a layout artist in the 1970s before moving over to character design and storyboard work in the 1980s. He worked on James Bond Jr., The Tick, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Thundarr the Barbarian, Garfield and Friends, and many other classics. It's also believed that Conner helped with the production of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, as noted on this subreddit. Conner's character design and model work is on full display in this image of The Phantom from Defenders of the Earth below. Alex Niño Alex Niño (January 5, 1940 - present) is a Filipino artist who was part of the first generation of Filipino Wave artists, alongside Defenders of the Earth colleague Redondo, who were brought into the fold of American comics publishers in the 60s and 70s. Niño created a ton of highly detailed and impressive designs and comic book art for Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and other publishing companies. This work contributed to his induction into the Will Eisner Comics Hall of Fame in 2022. In comics, Niño has worked as a penciller, inker, colorist, and cover artist. In animation, Niño worked as a background designer and character designer for numerous productions, both on the small screen and in cinemas. Along with his work on Defenders of the Earth, Niño worked on The Real Ghostbusters and films like Pocahantas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Jungle Book, Mulan, Treasure Planet, and many more. Some of Niño's incredible model and character design work is on display below. It's highly detailed, fantastical, and imaginative. For the image with the spaceships, this was a collaboration with fellow artist Redondo. Niño is responsible for the planes, spaceship, and space-scape, while Redondo added Ming the Merciless as a paste-over. At Chronicle Chamber, we're always on the lookout for incredible finds like this! If you come across artwork from Defenders of the Earth or other Phantom-related comics or shows, drop us a line at chroniclechamber@gmail.com.

In this episode, Jermayn Parker is joined by David Barry who is the son of legendary Phantom artist Sy Barry, as he introduces and talks about the definitive Sy Barry book project. In this podcast, David gives us a tease of the biography book, including what will be included and how we fans of the Phantom and/or Sy Barry's artwork can get a copy. The Definitive Collector's Book Celebrating the Artist Who Defined The Phantom is Coming! Go and sign up to pledge We love comments and feedback from the Phantom phans from around the world. If you agree and/or disagree with us, you can either email us; leave your comments at our YouTube channel, and/or leave them at our social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram. Help preserve the legacy of Sy Barry, the legendary artist whose iconic work on the Phantom inspired generations of readers around the world. Sy Barry defined the modern visual identity of the Phantom for over three decades, shaping how millions experienced the character worldwide. Introducing a Collector’s Edition Preserving a Comic Strip Legend. Go and sign up to pledge Three levels of commitment 1) Book for $100USD 2) Collectors' edition of the book for $250USD 3) Founding patron level with the book for $500USD This founding patron will include a signed copy of the book with the dust jacket, along with a shout-out in the book plus early bird access to the behind-the-scenes of the book. For more than three decades, Sy Barry's artwork shaped the way millions of readers around the world envisioned The Phantom. His clean storytelling, dramatic compositions, and unmistakable style made him one of the most respected artists in comic strip history. Now, for the first time, his remarkable career will be celebrated in a premium, archival-quality collector's edition. Sy Barry: The Ghost Who Draws will feature the following: Rare and previously unpublished artwork Original illustrations and archival material Behind-the-scenes stories from Sy Barry's 72-year career A visual exploration of his artistic process and storytelling techniques Commentary on the lasting influence of his work on generations of artists and readers A beautifully designed hardcover worthy of every Phantom fan's library Become Part of Comic History This project is a labor of love for the Barry family, but it is being brought to life through the support of fans, collectors, and friends who believe Sy Barry's extraordinary legacy deserves to be preserved for future generations. Early supporters will have access to exclusive campaign rewards, including limited editions, signed copies, and our Founding Patron recognition opportunities. Whether you've followed The Phantom for decades or are discovering Sy Barry's work for the first time, this book is being created as the definitive tribute to one of comics' most influential artists. Go and sign up to pledge You can email us at chroniclechamber@gmail.com or chat with us via our social media profiles on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram. We love comments and feedback from the Phantom phans from around the world. Make sure you stay with us, and do not forget to subscribe and leave a review on our podcast on our YouTube Channel.

One of the things the team is most proud of are the fundraising we have been a part of for Unicef supporting Ukraine, Draw for Life, and the Red Cross in response to the Australian bushfires of 2019-2020. These fundraising efforts saw close to $50,000 AUD being raised to help those in less fortunate situations. It also enabled many phans to add some amazing original art to their collection. One such piece from the bushfire phundraiser is now up for auction at Heritage Auctions. This piece is by American artist John K Synder III. John K. Snyder III is a writer and illustrator of comic books and graphic novels. His work has been published in the pages of the underground press, most notably The Duckberg Times, and by independent comic book publishers, including Grendel for Dark Horse Comics. Click to get your bid on which starts 12 August 2026 The summer of 2019/2020 was brutal in Australia. Media coverage of the bushfire disaster was global, and the imagery and stories that we were all exposed to were truly heart-breaking. Communities devastated, lives lost, property destroyed and animals by the millions burned to death. This book assembled the wonderful submissions into a Phantom-bushfire story and had the collection professionally printed, ready for sale, with all net proceeds supporting the bushfire relief appeal. This is a licensed KFS-approved 52-page colour volume of previously unpublished Phantom artworks, the vast majority of which have been created specifically for this cause. The artists who have generously donated their time, energy, and creativity in alphabetical order include: Alejandro Parga Trevio, Alex Saviuk, Angelo Baiocchi, Anthony Spay, Antonio Lemos, Arif Iqbal, Camillo Di Pietrantonio, Ciro Balzano, Coral Martinez, Darren Shipp, Dean Rankine, Declan Tiger, Don Ticchio, Douglas Klauba, Glen Le Lievre, Grange Wallis, Guy Possiant, J.C. Baez, Jamie Johnson, Jason Paulos, Jeff Weigel, Jeremy Macpherson, Joan Boix, John K Snyder III, Josef Rubenstein, Keith Williams, Ken Best, Lou Manna, Leandro Peixoto, Luca Erbetta, Marco Tulio Vilela, Massimo Gamberi, Matt Kyme, Mikael Sol, Mike Manley, Mitchell Collins, Norm Breyfogle, Paolo Murgia, Paul Mason, Percy Ochoa, R Robert Pollak, Ruben Procopio, Sal Velluto, Samuel Salomao, Shane Foley, Sy Barry, Thomas Allvin, Tim McEwen, Tony Menzie, Vincent Raja and Wendell Cavalcanti.

400 fans from around the world have made their opinions count and have voted on their best Fantomen cover of 2025. The results have been announced in Fantomen 17/2026. This tradition of fans voting for their favourite cover of the previous year has been going on since 1971. Just over 28% of all the fans voted for Fantomen 1/2025 as their favourite cover. The cover was drawn by Henrik Salhström who has now won 7 best covers as voted by the fans. This cover is iconic with Hero and the Phantom riding into action. Henry Johannes came in second with his Fantomen 25-26/2024 cover, with 19.8% of all fans voting for this cover. This cover was a modern retake on the famous panel in the "Childhood of the Phantom" storyline and is fairly iconic. In third place with 13.8% of all votes was another Henrik Salhström cover for the special 75th Fantomen anniversary comic Fantomen 18-19/2025 which is no surprise seeing the comic was sold out throughout Sweden. Rounding out the top 10, we have Henry Johannes, filling 4 of the 11 covers (Fantomen 4/2025, Fantomen 14-15/2026, Fantomen 17/2026, and Fantomen 25-26/2026), and three other different artists all receiving a top 10 placing, which shows a great spread of talented artists covering a range of tastes. These artists are Luca Erbetta with Fantomen 2-3/2025, Fantomen 9/2025, and Fantomen 13-2025. Percy Ochoa with Fantomen 20/2025 and Rafael Ruiz with Fantomen 8/2025. Every issue received at least a vote which is nice. In 2025, Fantomen changed up the style on their covers a bit, with Rafael Ruiz and Kasia Nie having a different artistic style than what the Swedish readers are used to, and purely judging by the votes, this new style has not been popular. Will it take time for the readers to learn to like this new style? Are the fans who like this 'modern' look simply non-voters with only a small fraction of the whole readership voting? Voting is important as it helps the editors and the ones who make the financial decisions know what direction to go towards. The below page outlining all the votes for all covers was printed in Fantomen 16/2025 along with a poster of the cover. Winners of the competition will have the prize sent to the postal address that they supplied when adding their vote.

In this episode, Jermayn Parker is joined by our USA reviewer Scott Walyn as we interview the main artist of the new Comics Kingdom "Phantom 2040: A New Shadow" web comic series John Amor. In August 2026, we will be interviewing one of the other creators, Alex Segura who was one of the writers of the new Phantom web comic series. If you would like to ask any specific questions to him about the series, please contact us at ChronicleChamber@gmail.com. We do love comments and feedback from the Phantom phans from around the world. You can leave your comments at our YouTube channel and/or at our social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram. Some of the questions we ask and Phantom-related discussions we touch upon in this podcast are the following: About John Amor. John Amor's history with the Phantom and the Phantom 2040 tv show and what was involved with your research? What is the difference between a web comic and a normal comic? What is the differences between the processes of creating them The art of "Phantom 2040: A New Shadow" has its own unique coloring theme. How did John Amor come up with it? John Amor's extremely expressive eyes of the characters. Was there a source of inspiration behind this? Whose idea was it to reference the classic imagery in the parts? How’d they got chosen? Could the web comic be transformed into a traditional print comic? John Amor tells us about the origin of Anti Phantom and if phan suggestions had any say on the name. Which actors and famous people were inspiration for the characters of "Phantom 2040: A New Shadow"? What is John Amor's process for drawing a web comic? Has John Amor started working on season two? Are web comics the future? Does John Amor accept commissions? Was any of the episodes created traditionally, or was it all created digitally? You can follow John Amor at his Instagram and/or contact him for a commission at NextComicArt@gmail.com. You can email us at chroniclechamber@gmail.com or chat with us via our social media profiles on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram. We love comments and feedback from the Phantom phans from around the world. Make sure you stay with us, and do not forget to subscribe and leave a review on our podcast on our YouTube Channel.

The recording is not the best, but enjoy listening to Sy Barry from almost 30 years ago when he visited Australia for the first time in September 1998 with his wife Simmy Barry. In the video, he talks about the following: How long it takes him to draw a daily and Sunday newspaper strip. How the Phantom is uncorrupted over the years. How his life changed after retirement. What he is doing after retirement. His thoughts on Australia. His work on the 99.94 print set of 21 generations of the Phantom plus Julie and the future 22nd Phantom. Painting the Phantom in oils on canvas. He visited Australia to celebrate his 99.94 print he drew for Dietmar Lederwasch. While visiting Australia, he attended the comic convention OZCON7 in Sydney. According to reports, Sy and Simmy (Sy's wife) were overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response they received from Phantom Phans wherever they went. The third print of the series depicts the 6th Phantom in his 17th-century costume with muscats in his holsters, emerging from the Skull Cave, and brandishing a sabre in the air. The 6th Phantom is remembered as the founder of The Jungle Patrol, and this aspect of history is commemorated by the painting. Behind The Phantom, perched in the clouds, are the first four commanding officers: (left to right) Major Bart, Colonel Redbeard, Major Crusher, and Major Salla ... all of them ex-pirates. Sy's final oil painting is shown along with the watercolour version prepared prior to the oil painting. It's interesting to note some major differences between the two versions, such as the clouds behind the Jungle Patrollers and the design of their uniform, the dust cloud and shadow behind The Phantom, and Phantom Head Peak in the background. Sy Barry summarised his involvement in this project at his cocktail party, held at Customs House, Newcastle: "When Dietmar called me for the very first time, many months ago, and began to relate this project of his to me I must admit I thought he was spaced-out!! He described 400 prints here, 400 prints there, 21 paintings here plus 4 paintings there ... 25 different artists ... I thought this was a prank! But as he continued, I actually began to believe him and then to like the idea ... thinking maybe the little green men will be calling on me soon! However, it didn't take long for me to realize the truly rational and wonderful concept it was. I soon accepted the commission to paint one of The Phantoms. Now to decide which one ... well, having drawn The Phantom for 33 years, one Phantom had to remain my favourite above the rest ... the 6th Phantom!!! The reason for this choice is because this story offered me the toughest challenges ... creating these four pirates that The Phantom challenges individually to duels. Big Bart, a duel with axes; Salla with blades; Cruncher [sic] with bare fists; and finally Redbeard with sword and dagger, defeating them all and offering them their lives. In return they had to serve him as their lieutenants in the newly formed Jungle Patrol. At the same time he was successful in rescuing Queen Natala of Navarre ... Redbeard's captive. Phantom falls in love with her and later in the story she proposes to him and with some encouragement from his lieutenants, he accepts. Working out the problems of illustrating the fight sequences between Phantom and his combatants was truly gratifying. It was with the feeling of nostalgia and excitement that I tackled this painting and enjoyed every brush stroke. Thanks, Dietmar, for giving me this opportunity, and Simmy and I want to thank you and Julia for your warm hospitality." Originally the print series was going to see multiple generations of Phantoms, but due to a few circumstances, only seven were created. The 14th Phantom by Birgitte Hansen The 5th Phantom by Barry Dean The 6th Phantom by Sy Barry The 22nd Phantom by Paul Newton The 15th Phantom by Rosemary Valadon The 2nd Phantom by Fred Fredericks The 20th Phantom by Frantz Kantor More about Dietmar Lederwasch & his 99.94 prints Back in 2020, Dietmar Lederwasch of "99.94 Editions" and the 2014-2017 Phantom Art Gallery fame joined us for X-Band: The Phantom Podcast #157. Dietmar is a super phan who has lived the majority of every phans dreams by producing their own licensed Phantom products. In this podcast Dietmar goes into great detail about "The Phantom Portrait Gallery" as well as the two "Masterworks" collections he produced in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He then shows us around his house, which is covered in original Phantom and fine art of the Phantom. We recommend watching via YouTube, as you will get a better representation of what he has around his house. We did experience some recording issues, but please bear with us; you won't be disappointed.

Phantom artist Avishek Biswas has worked on close to 20 covers for Indian publisher Shakti Comics, and now they have released a second BIG poster of the Phantom to match the first one of the Phantom riding Hero with Devil by his side. These posters are visually appealing, the size is alluring, and the price is even more tempting. Buy your copy of big poster 1 Buy your copy of big poster 2 The size is 19 x 26 inches, which is just smaller than an A1 sheet (23.4 x 33.1 inches). The regular price is ₹99.00 with a special price of ₹49.00 (at time of writing), which roughly works out at $1AUD, $75USD, 10 sek/nok for the regular price. Some eagle-eyed phans may notice that the logo for the second poster looks a bit different than the standard Shakti Comics logo.

At the Hershey Comic Con’s awards ceremony on June 11, 2026, Sy Barry received "The Stacey Aragon Special Recognition Award" (SASRA) from Inkwell. The award is given to professionals who have made significant contributions to the comic book industry. It is named after Stacey Aragon, an avid supporter of the Inkwell Awards who passed away after a decade-long battle with cancer. Recipients of the SASRA are internally selected by the committee and represent some of the most celebrated veterans in comic book artistry. The Inkwell Awards is the only official 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation whose mission is to promote and educate regarding the art form of comic-book inking, as well as annually recognise the best ink artists and their work. Bob Almond who has inked several Phantom stories for Team Fantomen is involved with the non-profit organisation. You can follow their work on their social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram) or at their website. While Sy Barry did not attend, he was able to send a message to those in attendance. Bob Almond shared this about Sy Barry during the presentation: “At 5 years old, with pencil in hand, he could not only draw well but Sy Barry knew that art would be his lifelong passion. He was born on March 12, 1928 in New York City during the Depression, the 6th child in a family of 8. In 1943 Sy was accepted to the School of Industrial Art in New York City. He studied alongside contemporaries including Carmine Infantino, Alex Toth, John Romita, and others. Sy graduated from SIA in 1946 and never looked back. His early jobs with Lev Gleason, Famous Funnies, Ziff Davis, and Hillman Publications set him up for a 13-year run with National/DC, Timely/Marvel, and several other comic publishers. At DC, Sy worked in multiple genres, becoming the go-to inker for Alex Toth, Murphy Anderson, Curt Swan, Carmine Infantino, and Bob Kane. Sy holds a place in history as the illustrator of Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story, a 16-page comic book pamphlet about Martin Luther King, Jr, Rosa Parks and the Montgomery bus boycott published in 1957 by the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Sy eventually went on to draw the world’s most successful adventure comic strip, The Phantom, for 33 years from 1961 to 1994, succeeding Ray Moore and Wilson McCoy. Sy is credited for giving the Phantom character his modern look, and he brought action and a new sense of drama to the strip. At the height of their popularity, Lee Falk and Sy Barry’s Phantom stories were read by over 100 million people every day in newspapers and comic books. In 1994, Sy stepped down from the reins of the Phantom and began another chapter in his life. Interested in taking on new projects and spending more time with friends and family, despite the recent decline of his eyesight, Sy pushes on and continues to develop his painting skills and teach watercolour, and he enjoys portrait painting in a combination of oil, acrylic, and watercolour. Sy has painted the Phantom several times in oil, and his drawings continue to be used as covers for  Phantom comics around the world." Sy Barry's comments on the award and recognition were passed onto Inkwell and read out to the audience at the night. “Thank you so much to the Inkwell Awards for this incredible honour. I really regret that I can’t be with you in person today. You know, receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from an organisation that celebrates the art of inking is especially meaningful to me. When I began my professional career in 1946, I never imagined that more than seven decades later I would still be talking about comic books and comic strips, let alone accepting an award like this. My career has spanned 72 wonderful years, and I have considered every one of them a privilege. Along the way, I had the good fortune to work alongside some of the finest artists our industry has ever known—Alex Toth, Bob Kane, Carmine Infantino, Curt Swan, John Romita Sr., Murphy Anderson, Frank Giacoia, Bob Anager, and many others. Every collaboration taught me something, and I remain grateful to have shared drawing boards and deadlines with such extraordinary talent. During the 1950s, I was thrilled to be one of the artists that both DC Comics and Marvel could rely on when they needed an inker. Inking has often been called an invisible art, but those of us who practised it knew that every brushstroke mattered. In comic books, I always tried to honour the penciler’s work while bringing my own style and drama to the finished page. As a creator, I may be best known for my years drawing The Phantom. From 1961 until 1994, it was my privilege to illustrate the adventures of the Ghost Who Walks. To know that my interpretation of the character became the Phantom that millions of readers around the world came to know and love is humbling. That connection with readers and wonderful fans around the world has been the greatest honour of my career. I’m so grateful to my family, whose love and support made it possible for me to devote my life to this work, and I am especially grateful to the many friends I’ve made throughout the comic industry. Those friendships have meant as much to me as any page I ever drew. Thank you again to everyone for this recognition.”

To celebrate the Phantom's 90th birthday, Big Rubber Guys from Collect Major have announced a Phantom, Flash Gordon and Popeye line to their popular wrestling line. At this stage there is no official date of release, but in the video below they say they are in production and will be released in 2026. At a guess, I would say October / November 2026. Most of their wrestler figurines are $49.95 USD ($75AUD, €45, ₹4,850 INR & 500 sek/nok), so we assume it will be a similar price. The figurine will not be articulated like past Phantom figurine sets from Boss Fight Studios and NECA but does come with two pistols that are detachable. As the video says, the proportions are not regular human style and are stylised slightly for effect, just like their wrestlers. You can follow Collect Major on their social platforms (Instagram & Facebook) or their website. We will update you when we know more. Please stay tuned to our website, socials or YouTube to learn about more related Phantom news, reviews and interviews with creators.

In this episode, we provide the recordings from the biggest Phantom phan meetup in the world, which was in Sydney in June 2026. It included the LFMBEC charity dinner and a Phantom-related panel held at Supanova Sydney and Supanova Perth. We love comments and feedback from the Phantom phans from around the world. If you agree and/or disagree with us, you can either email us; leave your comments at our YouTube channel, and/or leave them at our social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram. A huge thanks to Sean Bassett, who recorded the Supanova Sydney panel; Dan Fraser, who recorded the LFMBEC charity dinner interview; and Duncan Munro, who recorded the Supanova Perth panel. Some things are repeated in the Sydney and Perth panels, but there are enough different topics, phan questions, and other Phantom-related tidbits that it was definitely worth including both panels. It has to be mentioned that the audio quality at some of the events was average. For example, we had to remove the fans' questions from the Perth panel and just included when the host and presenters spoke. Time stamp: Sydney Supanova panel: 2 Minutes Perth Supanova panel: 42 Minutes LFMBEC interview: 1 Hour & 19 Minutes Some of the topics discussed throughout the 2 hours of Frew creators talking about Phantom are: The process of developing a comic from the idea to the script to roughs to pencils to inks to colours. The genesis of the friendship and working relationship between Duncan Munro and Ken Steacy. The genesis of the "The Man from Mandalay" story. Phandom in Australia and the world. Ken Steacy's relationship with the Phantom. Ken Steacy's big regret with his first Phantom gig. Ken Steacy showing the Phantom's ears in the cowl. The importance of checking the tones in grayscale when colouring your stories. What is done traditionally using pencils, inks etc and what is done digitally? Duncan Munro's relationship with the Phantom and how he became a writer of the Phantom. The process of approval with the owners of the Phantom, King Features. How long does it take to write, draw, get approval & publish a story? The consistency of the Phantom over the years. Antonio Lemos' relationship with the Phantom. Antonio Lemos' relationship with Eduardo Barreto & how Lemos consulted on the strip for his friend. Antonio Lemos' favourite Phantom artists. For those on YouTube, these recordings were audio only, so there is no footage of them talking that goes with the audio. We have, however, included photos taken from the weekend overlaid with the audio. A huge thanks to Supanova and Peter Stevens for taking the photos. Attached are some of the speeches from past Phantom phan weekends at Supanova and the LFMBEC dinners. Sounds from the 2025 LFMBEC dinner & Supanova weekend Sounds from the 2024 LFMBEC dinner & Supanova weekend Sounds from the 2023 LFMBEC dinner & Supanova weekend Sounds from the 2022 LFMBEC dinner & Supanova weekend Sounds from the 2021 LFMBEC dinner & Supanova weekend Sounds from the 2019 LFMBEC dinner & Supanova weekend Sounds from the 2018 LFMBEC dinner & Supanova weekend Sounds from the 2017 LFMBEC dinner & Supanova weekend If you know of other conventions happening around the world, please contact us—you can email us at chroniclechamber@gmail.com. You can email us at chroniclechamber@gmail.com or chat with us via our social media profiles on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram. We love comments and feedback from the Phantom phans from around the world. Make sure you stay with us, and do not forget to subscribe and leave a review on our podcast on our YouTube Channel.