tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66496178939353084972024-03-13T17:29:37.280-04:00The Ghost Who BlogsA look at Lee Falk's The Phantom in comic book form.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-50195441048121615472011-09-13T17:12:00.001-04:002011-09-13T17:12:31.709-04:00New Lee Falk bookOn April 28th,2011 Phantom and Mandrake the Magician creator LEE FALK would have been 100 years old. To celebrate his centennial, the Scandinavian Chapter of the Lee Falk Memorial Bengali Explorers club (with worldwide assist) have put together a tribute book, entitled LEE FALK – STORYTELLER. <p><br />The 348(!) page book collects interviews with Falk, pieces of his own writings (short stories, excerpts from play and comic scripts etc), articles about him and his creations, and memorials from family and friends. </p> <p><br />The Book will be released at the Gothenburg Book Fair on September 23rd and is available in TWO versions: Swedish and English.</p> <p><br />More information can be found here:<br /><a href="http://latestphantomnews.blogspot.com/2011/09/lee-falk-storyteller.html" target="_blank">http://latestphantomnews.blogspot.com/2011/09/lee-falk-storyteller.html</a></p> <p><br />To order the book or request more information, send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:boken@schapter.org">boken@schapter.org</a></p> <p><br />Note: If you order and pay before the fair, you will get the book for the special introduction price it's sold for at the fair (200 SEK)!</p>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-33020343025094097992011-04-28T08:52:00.003-04:002011-04-28T08:57:16.670-04:00Happy Centennial, Lee Falk!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7ul4xValTLn0g_9Qrq77RMElUVigoJQQlCdiPqXWurNoJt00XPipzEICfrFESYko3rzftjlPIHvP-hDgultnh3r43DHpB4AXeJF76MjQiU24oK9hkOYXQ8nQuRuYnu8IY2g6OOF1QYA/s1600/leefalk100.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7ul4xValTLn0g_9Qrq77RMElUVigoJQQlCdiPqXWurNoJt00XPipzEICfrFESYko3rzftjlPIHvP-hDgultnh3r43DHpB4AXeJF76MjQiU24oK9hkOYXQ8nQuRuYnu8IY2g6OOF1QYA/s320/leefalk100.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600617640579959602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Today marks the 100th anniversary of Phantom creator Lee Falk's birth.<br /><br />The Scandinavian Chapter of the Lee Falk Memorial Bengali Explorer’s Club have published a book, commemorating the event. Details can be found at<br /><br /><a href="http://www.schapter.org/#English"></a><br /><br />Thanks to Andreas Eriksson and Pidde Andersson for giving me the "heads up".Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-92130137241103916972011-02-02T08:00:00.001-05:002011-02-02T08:00:09.235-05:00Random Phantom Panel #14<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhue0fIIS1Ujlj_sQn5v-l4OUC7PXVER6g-lQOWBFMLvr1luIkb076leV60Tl8_k2T4vPM15Olh8Xi1jKlY7E1hapfLrBVtDRCPf37PlZUF1YbNBaTOxqAAQ7uslvH-nF_PxtaRvA1ivb8/s1600/random127.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhue0fIIS1Ujlj_sQn5v-l4OUC7PXVER6g-lQOWBFMLvr1luIkb076leV60Tl8_k2T4vPM15Olh8Xi1jKlY7E1hapfLrBVtDRCPf37PlZUF1YbNBaTOxqAAQ7uslvH-nF_PxtaRvA1ivb8/s320/random127.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565218222787116610" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-87043349878662275612011-01-31T08:00:00.001-05:002011-01-31T08:00:11.268-05:00Random Phantom Panel #13<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3M7BxvA-F7FpO40dtOITC2tVegwxDEdB57mSkrDz6TlT1qXFxzAHgI-uLomHkZPkHhdrcvOOVu00YF-kXdRC765tIdjRh5PWfe62Qnrsp_tjM2jbHKhE1SfQdLFmJGZXmgJZo54v-bg/s1600/random126.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3M7BxvA-F7FpO40dtOITC2tVegwxDEdB57mSkrDz6TlT1qXFxzAHgI-uLomHkZPkHhdrcvOOVu00YF-kXdRC765tIdjRh5PWfe62Qnrsp_tjM2jbHKhE1SfQdLFmJGZXmgJZo54v-bg/s320/random126.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565217981505840130" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-21042415272433746002011-01-29T08:00:00.000-05:002011-01-29T08:00:06.213-05:00Random Phantom Panel #12<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNg-Fta7EPDx49nrBkGcizYIT7ygkpu6fipZJi0oI2e3bPODDokUZNDU6YjORY6RacL95RPirP1oAs2FdS6ajbuJ8AH0AmaNK7McSdIFdpZ-FegoepZ0d7vhcajiZWTs3dUBYo-rhp9g/s1600/random124.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNg-Fta7EPDx49nrBkGcizYIT7ygkpu6fipZJi0oI2e3bPODDokUZNDU6YjORY6RacL95RPirP1oAs2FdS6ajbuJ8AH0AmaNK7McSdIFdpZ-FegoepZ0d7vhcajiZWTs3dUBYo-rhp9g/s320/random124.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565217137995842594" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-46602109919977166442011-01-27T08:00:00.001-05:002011-01-27T08:00:07.919-05:00Random Phantom Panel #11<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsep6qHd_8r_S_m0LVT6H3OXCeXQDpCSuM26fkQZVS51hwmhPUsXgIsueZIqCQzXhOiJ_yQKNsvaLHSlrkn-rXu269Gml5cS01acQG3qIn9n9a8YGADrtwB97jKb7Jt7xGSMtNV8Qjes/s1600/random123.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsep6qHd_8r_S_m0LVT6H3OXCeXQDpCSuM26fkQZVS51hwmhPUsXgIsueZIqCQzXhOiJ_yQKNsvaLHSlrkn-rXu269Gml5cS01acQG3qIn9n9a8YGADrtwB97jKb7Jt7xGSMtNV8Qjes/s320/random123.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565216798222262738" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-19339877577251188122011-01-25T08:00:00.001-05:002011-01-25T08:00:07.935-05:00Random Phantom Panel #10<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsPiQkSvumDm8hb4boI2SmCTGs_KczosECiwysNlC1PuISvYcJc3dFBFSma0GByQzhvCKruJfH1aTDt_3j4r87Vt1Ccbv2eyFNoMTKh9sgahIF2dYouVCZCX2MDydcYefSnkj4NxamtU/s1600/random125.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsPiQkSvumDm8hb4boI2SmCTGs_KczosECiwysNlC1PuISvYcJc3dFBFSma0GByQzhvCKruJfH1aTDt_3j4r87Vt1Ccbv2eyFNoMTKh9sgahIF2dYouVCZCX2MDydcYefSnkj4NxamtU/s320/random125.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565216421005382242" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-10420405839591919482011-01-23T08:00:00.000-05:002011-01-23T08:00:06.717-05:00Random Phantom Panel #9<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfC69n-ks35D4IjSQL9tVgJ9XivBU1CGPJx6Jm1HdvFf2dkDMJQyUUUx45em5OmSSQ73CYd2JxWB0l2zHMT5s1j_F-NB1epxcOX4vO3OC0PRIcJT9MV1ra8MJ9rXWWnVv6MiureIG3xkE/s1600/random122.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfC69n-ks35D4IjSQL9tVgJ9XivBU1CGPJx6Jm1HdvFf2dkDMJQyUUUx45em5OmSSQ73CYd2JxWB0l2zHMT5s1j_F-NB1epxcOX4vO3OC0PRIcJT9MV1ra8MJ9rXWWnVv6MiureIG3xkE/s320/random122.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565215886141685842" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Maybe Bengali could use a few more cell towers?Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-7645423721010895732011-01-22T19:48:00.006-05:002011-01-22T21:56:41.898-05:00A Swedish Perspective on the Australian DVD of a Canadian-Made American Phantom for TV...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5Me4uwFjbMEeixfOJB44f8SR_j8OPuTTVcZAmSan2s3OrKMPakhg2AvxTqNSSRpi_gZOiIDVHKjSG85ddjF8y7eojs_CbnhdNNgZ_OEra8g02eM-0S221mT02q7ZsVWTk9xBVG98Auc/s1600/phantom+SYFY.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5Me4uwFjbMEeixfOJB44f8SR_j8OPuTTVcZAmSan2s3OrKMPakhg2AvxTqNSSRpi_gZOiIDVHKjSG85ddjF8y7eojs_CbnhdNNgZ_OEra8g02eM-0S221mT02q7ZsVWTk9xBVG98Auc/s320/phantom+SYFY.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565179487423110866" border="0" /></a><br />Guest Blogger and Jungle Patrolman Pidde Andersson has provided us with this fabulous review of SyFy's <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Phantom</span> TV Movie:<br /><br /><div style="padding: 10px 7px 7px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); overflow: auto;font-size:13px;"> <div style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 10px 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >About twenty years ago, I was talking to my friend, the late Fantomen editor Mats Jönsson, who for some reason asked me if I was the one who had suggested doing a Frank Miller style revamp of The Phantom. No, it wasn’t me -- but it could have been, and I had been thinking about suggesting writing one. However, Mats said they weren’t the slightest bit interested in that, you can’t do something like that with a character like The Phantom.</span> <div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >But then just a couple of years later, Team Fantomen -- headed by writer Claes Reimerthi -- did an ill-fated revamp anyway. They did their best to modernize the comic, both storywise and the way it’s told. The readers didn’t appreciate the effort, though, and Fantomen was back to normal within no time.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >This year it’s 35 years since I started reading Fantomen. I still like the character but I can’t say I’m a very faithful reader. Last year I didn’t buy one single issue of the book. Still, I leaf through every new issue when stopping by the comics rack in supermarkets and at tobacconists. That book meant a lot to me growing up, that </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >character </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >meant a lot to me. He’s part of my life.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Like most Phantom fans -- at least the Scandinavian ones who know who the guy is -- I got rather upset when I the other year saw the concept art for the then upcoming Phantom mini-series from Syfy, and when I read the storyline. It seemed to be a re-imagination in which they’ve altered just about everything. Why bother? Why not just create a new character if they’re going to change everything that is The Phantom?</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >I like the Phantom movie from 1996 starring Billy Zane. It’s a bit sloppy and the Phantom of that movie isn’t really </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >my</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" > Phantom -- but it’s still the Phantom, sporting his tights and mask, jazzing around the jungle along with Hero and Devil, and punching bad guys with his skull ring. Heck, I even like the Phantom of the fun 1940s serial! But this new one from Syfy seemed to be absolutely </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >awful!</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Then the series aired, if not here in Sweden, and was released on DVD in Australia -- and it got surprisingly good reviews. Several hardcore Phantom fans claimed it was good. No, that just can’t be -- or can it?</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Now I’ve seen this 2009 Canadian production, directed by Paolo Barzman, veteran of lots of Canadian TV shows like “Highlander”, “Largo Winch”, “Relic Hunter” and “The Dead Zone”. And you know what? This two-part, three hour series is actually pretty damn good!</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Ryan Carnes is 24-year-old Chris Moore, a daredevil and hothead, living in New York with his foster parents, when he’s one day approached by the mysterious Abel Vandermaark (Jean Marchant, who kind of looks like Ghandi’s evil brother). It turns out that Chris Moore really is Kit Walker, son of Diana Palmer and, uh, Kit Walker, and that he’s supposed to become the 22nd Phantom.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Chris thinks that’s bullshit, he’s more interested in cute paramedic Renny (Cameron Goodman), but when the Singh Brotherhood strikes and kills Chris’s foster parents, the poor guy has no choice but following Abel to a mysterious island that in this version of the story is called Bengalla (and not Bengali or Bangalla). There he’s lead to the Skull Cave, which is quite a nifty place, and he’s introduced to Guran, who’s as far from a fat little African man you can get -- this Guran is a tall, gorgeous brunette played by Sandrine Holt.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >It turns out that the Phantom has a whole team working for him. This Phantom is some kind of superhero version of James Bond. Chris Moore accepts to become Kit Walker after having read the journals of his forefathers, but he’s still just an immature kid who needs training before he can don the costume, so Kit practices target shooting and is forced to run around half-naked in the woods. And when he’s ready, he refuses to put on the Phantom costume, which he finds silly. Fortunately, one of the team has developed a prototype of a new, bulletproof costume, which comes in handy when it’s time to fight Rhatib Singh (Cas Anvar) and the Singh Brotherhood.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >You see, the Singh fellas, along with mad scientist Dr. Bella Lithia (Isabella Rossellini looking unusually creepy) have a sinister plan. Inspired by the pilot episode of the short-lived 1970s Spider-Man series starring Nicholas Hammond, or that episode of “The Persuaders”, or that Charles Bronson movie “Telefon”, they have programmed a bunch of people to commit murders when they’re triggered by a phone call. So, the Phantom goes to work along with his high tech team...</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Syfy’s “The Phantom” is basically a combination of our beloved Ghost Who Walks and “Alias”; the great Jennifer Garner spy show. And there’s much to appreciate here -- but let me first mention what I didn’t like about this mini.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >The Phantom works alone. He’s his own boss. If he needs help, he maybe contacts the Jungle Patrol or some friend, but he really shouldn’t be part of a team.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Ryan Carnes isn’t a very fun actor and the guy’s way too boyish for the part. He isn’t very well built and he appears to be rather short. And he’s never Mr. Walker. He still shows his eyes after having become the Phantom, and he wears what looks like a silly purple Smurf hat. Not good.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >The old, classic Phantom costume might look ridiculous if worn in real life, but the new uniform isn’t much of an improvement. It actually looks like … I dunno … Judge Dredd’s pajamas? And Carnes is too tiny to look cool and threatening wearing it.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >...And this Phantom wears the skull ring on the wrong finger; on the ring finger of the right hand (okay, so did Ray Moore’s Phantom in the first few strips), and none of the bad guys get punched on the chin and skull marked. They don’t even mention this important part of the Phantom lore.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >But otherwise, some of the ideas in this series should have been adopted for at least Team Fantomen’s version a long tome ago to modernize the character.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >The skull cave is furnished like a real home. It has electricity, antique furniture, a computer with Internet, and everything the modern man needs.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >I really liked that the Singh Brotherhood is a well-known corporation nobody knows really is a crime syndicate; they’re right out of a Bond movie.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >I liked that this Kit Walker actually had to go through a “Phantom training school” before he puts the costume on, most other superheroes just don a costume and immediately know how to fight crime.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >The origin of the Phantom is told in a short animation, which I found pretty neat, and even though the makers of this show has updated the character and altered quite a lot, there are quite a few references to the familiar Phantom we all know and love.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Slight spoiler:</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" > I’ve no idea if there ever will be a series or at least another TV-movie, but this mini builds up to a continuation, since it ends with one of the good guys becoming the new leader of the Singh Brotherhood. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >End of spoiler</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >“The Phantom” is surprisingly gory, I thought it would be more family oriented. Both episodes tend to become a tad draggy, but as a whole I found this mini-series very entertaining. It’s not really The Phantom, but it’s a good action show with a decent story and, as mentioned, several great ideas.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 0pt; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Pidde Andersson</span></p></div></div> </div>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-39714708392547456632011-01-09T14:35:00.002-05:002011-01-09T14:38:47.962-05:00ATTENTION JUNGLE PATROL!I just received a Monkey Mail from a very talented reader, a Mr. John Picha :<br /><br /><pre><blockquote>Hello<br /><br />my name is john picha. i recently discovered your falkonthewildside blog and<br />have enjoyed it very much. in fact, i used a lot of the reference found on your<br />site to build a 3d model of our favorite jungle hero and upload it to youtube.<br />you can see it here if you're curious.<br /><br />if you'd like to add the video to the falkonthewildside collection, please feel<br />free to embed it.<br /><br />keep up the great work and thanks for the time and effort you put into your<br />site!<br /><br />john picha<br /><br /><br /></blockquote></pre><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mzTvbqPG-wY?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mzTvbqPG-wY?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Well, John, that's just about the niftiest thing I've seen in a long time! I wish there was a Phantom Video game out now that featured your Phantom.<br /><br />Thanks for sending this in.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-72467019652486028002010-10-21T09:00:00.000-04:002010-10-30T22:57:37.550-04:00Random Phantom Panel #8<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPuzkK31IpNSc4Hx7-BNdX-pREuzdznPFlyg911bm84ulh0HxuAsGA1fszMjCW7eKU1TVoWciQ-i-whHAiihI-ummCgcXyQBE3TLITTVblAYgRwu5zxLCoO9uObP_Mh8FCemzrv-EzUA/s1600/67-4.1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPuzkK31IpNSc4Hx7-BNdX-pREuzdznPFlyg911bm84ulh0HxuAsGA1fszMjCW7eKU1TVoWciQ-i-whHAiihI-ummCgcXyQBE3TLITTVblAYgRwu5zxLCoO9uObP_Mh8FCemzrv-EzUA/s320/67-4.1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529911886545536786" border="0" /></a><br />Thanks, Toots. You're not so bad yourself!Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-33722801523024522332010-10-19T19:52:00.000-04:002010-10-19T19:54:55.172-04:00Random Phantom Panel #7<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGQrUpYPsPvn9Kb2JLdBBWHv1nV04y64h0atky7cJhOGHjbj0jvYLA326ZYst5nBA2v3PSEZUS1gJDeM0hHLXBNJ6c9EF80SzBkWnoPJClB29PFA4Rm5nShgi3WcYx12FQYt8Hzg2HYY/s1600/7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGQrUpYPsPvn9Kb2JLdBBWHv1nV04y64h0atky7cJhOGHjbj0jvYLA326ZYst5nBA2v3PSEZUS1gJDeM0hHLXBNJ6c9EF80SzBkWnoPJClB29PFA4Rm5nShgi3WcYx12FQYt8Hzg2HYY/s320/7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529909563238472130" border="0" /></a><br />And THIS is why we needed a Health Care Reform bill!Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-20110819553684581102010-10-15T08:00:00.000-04:002010-10-15T08:00:12.820-04:00Random Phantom Panel #6<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3suPiD9jdwSufu5F5oePhWbdrur-YELGd7l1CRICb_6m9a3LdGhQpaHGxMz5ns5kS7MljrMLnteHFJm53YzurDrPOEM-T4NMPalgeMaSZeScG5KzLu4T7OFYzIGgax15-Xgi2O6g-7Bk/s1600/6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3suPiD9jdwSufu5F5oePhWbdrur-YELGd7l1CRICb_6m9a3LdGhQpaHGxMz5ns5kS7MljrMLnteHFJm53YzurDrPOEM-T4NMPalgeMaSZeScG5KzLu4T7OFYzIGgax15-Xgi2O6g-7Bk/s320/6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527319297486424546" border="0" /></a><br />Wait, is THIS what he was doing with that tiger in Random Panel #2?Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-69562528667779199542010-10-14T08:00:00.001-04:002010-10-14T08:00:13.551-04:00Random Phantom Panel #5<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwgU2psgElKiJbnE3kb0pmielx4_UNmHRvGeLAtIF3nNXi4-uvz7DKDF55fiJLmynTYJ7VYY2rvKLbtBsJT9H7rTCSZyCLZ-mGX0iuyHKplRJl9NHy9OlcgCafdQ08ql2cxHFZgqTK-I/s1600/5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwgU2psgElKiJbnE3kb0pmielx4_UNmHRvGeLAtIF3nNXi4-uvz7DKDF55fiJLmynTYJ7VYY2rvKLbtBsJT9H7rTCSZyCLZ-mGX0iuyHKplRJl9NHy9OlcgCafdQ08ql2cxHFZgqTK-I/s320/5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527318936013504258" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I think this one speaks for itself.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-73278141076226479442010-10-13T08:00:00.000-04:002010-10-13T11:54:31.938-04:00Random Phantom Panel #4<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0ooXiiTfdExEMpWt2l7ECCrmX5fe8C_3ouXqUwJejzi33Axdp9CtSvsTK2MF-GzAPkS1nMWTz8m5zwYmuZYsi8V1HQXnFeyQArQ4KcLKWOQWEc-7rXLujLfVll9MmYe1J5qqWorzjm4/s1600/4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0ooXiiTfdExEMpWt2l7ECCrmX5fe8C_3ouXqUwJejzi33Axdp9CtSvsTK2MF-GzAPkS1nMWTz8m5zwYmuZYsi8V1HQXnFeyQArQ4KcLKWOQWEc-7rXLujLfVll9MmYe1J5qqWorzjm4/s320/4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526946057343216690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Take THAT, Batcave!Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-81839325873419393282010-10-12T08:00:00.000-04:002010-10-12T08:00:07.735-04:00Phantom #43- Charlton, Part Two<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1spY8kdUy6qdwGCMJ7pv1sIGz-OAoI1Sj-jpWdSkxoZCUDSVisLbt67QFX3fNrSvfwTefjqID88Si8QTke5pBUsYE06dB-OZLw-9HcvwFOLRRWxy6kYBD9o8u-H2ynFp0pxIkyTC-WEM/s1600/Ph0.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1spY8kdUy6qdwGCMJ7pv1sIGz-OAoI1Sj-jpWdSkxoZCUDSVisLbt67QFX3fNrSvfwTefjqID88Si8QTke5pBUsYE06dB-OZLw-9HcvwFOLRRWxy6kYBD9o8u-H2ynFp0pxIkyTC-WEM/s320/Ph0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526934990258556114" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">P</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">hantom</span>#43<br />April 1971<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Charlton Comics</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cover</span>: Pat Boyette<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Script</span>: ?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pencils/Inks</span>: Pat Boyette<br /><br />"Paid in Full" is the second of our "Complete Action Jungle Adventures" as promised on the cover. I don't care HOW English you are, NO-ONE wears a bowler hat and ascot into the Bengali jungle unless they're John Steed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ru5g2NTtfyBlylqUI3CHO8CEYPo-0UTyxme0TMQxtLnAM3tuf90mcomXA4PJWvhfCKjhl7iqBF8X5AMoOMfOsnErs9_KnMfqjCtb-bAP1tXa5R_3PKjkm_IOvQ7Xil6mC_f3gS9scO8/s1600/pH1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ru5g2NTtfyBlylqUI3CHO8CEYPo-0UTyxme0TMQxtLnAM3tuf90mcomXA4PJWvhfCKjhl7iqBF8X5AMoOMfOsnErs9_KnMfqjCtb-bAP1tXa5R_3PKjkm_IOvQ7Xil6mC_f3gS9scO8/s320/pH1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526934983569757170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxC-_OJ7x68jG0PSaP4GFYWEIalPPeDsHNH25w_28b_k3QG3L_kRGuW51xvgXDjZyhWl9LDpNfLAwWnLZztS5zByX1apz1qeDaUWqX9WCVzwU5heUX-zT5c82_rzllgjWZ2CwmT7g4Q4/s1600/pH2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxC-_OJ7x68jG0PSaP4GFYWEIalPPeDsHNH25w_28b_k3QG3L_kRGuW51xvgXDjZyhWl9LDpNfLAwWnLZztS5zByX1apz1qeDaUWqX9WCVzwU5heUX-zT5c82_rzllgjWZ2CwmT7g4Q4/s320/pH2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526934978262215042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQq7LgaRRv7h3MTqYdLvDfW0WdTY4z7l0HY9HIlpDeTLA_NcxbbvROCk5T3jvMFejhkBc7q8DqpE3NMVqI7fDEtTaneNYMUdHdjm85mfsOrU1ugli-KRHNdPoKAcbdgo6eYiGWn05_oE/s1600/pH3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQq7LgaRRv7h3MTqYdLvDfW0WdTY4z7l0HY9HIlpDeTLA_NcxbbvROCk5T3jvMFejhkBc7q8DqpE3NMVqI7fDEtTaneNYMUdHdjm85mfsOrU1ugli-KRHNdPoKAcbdgo6eYiGWn05_oE/s320/pH3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526934332591437218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfG3EVSFPLtGB9l91Zdc1VNci7hqvjsbJSMbnTHTpczg0p1ck6iCgub9qITjpEiwnVpyy37odKf9wD9OW0uKvUcWTCyFpyzp4kDqfoKRAUf5k2b6wfhJ_BIp4oePM2KNS1SSztCDHzKo/s1600/Ph4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfG3EVSFPLtGB9l91Zdc1VNci7hqvjsbJSMbnTHTpczg0p1ck6iCgub9qITjpEiwnVpyy37odKf9wD9OW0uKvUcWTCyFpyzp4kDqfoKRAUf5k2b6wfhJ_BIp4oePM2KNS1SSztCDHzKo/s320/Ph4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526943878785318514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-NcsCd3DLa8vbxYnSNckU4UGLLi6Ntcy47b8xz9kp2Rlm07Qnan3zJ-VM9Ww-zDkacmwvs2jMM-Qfx1Ad7VlNrYERLYf3Ju3SPeisftkM2wyZaTYwhXhCddr6WC4tMSu4WY-JXH9ZDM/s1600/pH5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-NcsCd3DLa8vbxYnSNckU4UGLLi6Ntcy47b8xz9kp2Rlm07Qnan3zJ-VM9Ww-zDkacmwvs2jMM-Qfx1Ad7VlNrYERLYf3Ju3SPeisftkM2wyZaTYwhXhCddr6WC4tMSu4WY-JXH9ZDM/s320/pH5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526934326343222818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXoUHQZnXf1Z0eNc-IvayZKwRIhDCBzg8VURQKczuxyfL1a5dME3A-nF5dLKZ98EymPADJsdJjUr14ON5sfws7LXOBvbTdPl8FL6kWz-uyLOAnJr3gNsBfsDSH9dcoGnWuZf8usUj-gRA/s1600/pH6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXoUHQZnXf1Z0eNc-IvayZKwRIhDCBzg8VURQKczuxyfL1a5dME3A-nF5dLKZ98EymPADJsdJjUr14ON5sfws7LXOBvbTdPl8FL6kWz-uyLOAnJr3gNsBfsDSH9dcoGnWuZf8usUj-gRA/s320/pH6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526934321183343826" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYK3fdIEl9mstQK4vPJfBC-EsyPEaceW9Am0K6tq9Mu9qHAwYHdmJ_l4MsIRR7-BX6b9sPKjAzZHlaFsI13RzsmTlkwkFq5u4Ej2Q8fZUZrKCJI3ljc6TxzoD0QObyXubsfnDz8BIU4ac/s1600/pH7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 175px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYK3fdIEl9mstQK4vPJfBC-EsyPEaceW9Am0K6tq9Mu9qHAwYHdmJ_l4MsIRR7-BX6b9sPKjAzZHlaFsI13RzsmTlkwkFq5u4Ej2Q8fZUZrKCJI3ljc6TxzoD0QObyXubsfnDz8BIU4ac/s320/pH7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526934318437894498" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This plot struck me as a little bit reminiscent of a (probably better) Uncle Scrooge plot.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-37671053716110113262010-10-08T08:00:00.003-04:002010-10-08T08:00:12.047-04:00Random Phantom Panel #3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1AxgoyX4WyZ53PJfWlMA8yHFbFt4dTm1xpUYNFdE6HZl6-NzQQBeb6o_jaVLBq2YjB9Si0v6erkZ4O8nozxQYyoKfobywgNtzoH6CLps_Ll3fL4tLLuI_by8iTb2vhpHmfOsgen3ckM/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1AxgoyX4WyZ53PJfWlMA8yHFbFt4dTm1xpUYNFdE6HZl6-NzQQBeb6o_jaVLBq2YjB9Si0v6erkZ4O8nozxQYyoKfobywgNtzoH6CLps_Ll3fL4tLLuI_by8iTb2vhpHmfOsgen3ckM/s320/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525085890495302034" border="0" /></a><br />The Ghost Who Swims?Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-83768235134202407052010-10-07T12:00:00.002-04:002010-10-07T20:02:23.484-04:00Happy Anniversary Fantomen !<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntZHAYuoMGlt4bMpE1GkITzq1bnx7ZKq_YVYVqtsJvR18b51I3tsEBCNhzHiZ7MbE0MoezpCpO8B-vgAxnjVLKiIizLF2htQYjGg0LEuocMwywV4HYUWVCrDLwnoVUCEFhwic2WUsKnk/s1600/395868.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntZHAYuoMGlt4bMpE1GkITzq1bnx7ZKq_YVYVqtsJvR18b51I3tsEBCNhzHiZ7MbE0MoezpCpO8B-vgAxnjVLKiIizLF2htQYjGg0LEuocMwywV4HYUWVCrDLwnoVUCEFhwic2WUsKnk/s320/395868.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525457080684684850" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Today marks the 60th anniversary of <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Fantomen</span>, Sweden's Phantom comic. I know Nancy and Sluggo are also still popular in Sweden, but I have my doubts about the staying power of Hopalong Cassidy and Knockout Charlie.<br /><br />You will notice that The Ghost Who Walks is attired in the dark blue color he wears in Northwestern Europe to this day. His trunks, however are a decidedly American baby blue and black stripe, unlike his current red and black ones.<br /><br />Thanks to Pidde for reminding me of this important event and you should all be sure to check out the wonderful commemorative book at:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.schapter.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A5n_lila_v%C3%A5lnad_till_bl%C3%A5gul_hj%C3%A4lte" target="_blank">http://www.schapter.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A5n_lila_v%C3%A5lnad_till_bl%C3%A5gul_hj%C3%A4lte</a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-63789623672251182232010-10-07T08:00:00.001-04:002010-10-07T08:00:02.030-04:00Random Phantom Panel #2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjVT_jSSpdIZZn7052XpoFX38MAWiNqGboD_uGsR7cfQVmJgSUrGv0nyq0w6_m33iN-ioEhs5WVVeHaZC32IaA3ScGpTNy0sL0UIoFmDO60kTX944JN0_IFQql8POu22L3Iqe6Yom2yg/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjVT_jSSpdIZZn7052XpoFX38MAWiNqGboD_uGsR7cfQVmJgSUrGv0nyq0w6_m33iN-ioEhs5WVVeHaZC32IaA3ScGpTNy0sL0UIoFmDO60kTX944JN0_IFQql8POu22L3Iqe6Yom2yg/s320/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525103561963727170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The Ghost Who... SAY! Just What IS He <span style="font-style: italic;">Doing</span> To That Tiger !?Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-69061147324684258822010-10-06T09:30:00.001-04:002010-10-06T09:32:20.356-04:00Random Phantom Panel #1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArGJwx65awsHVR2tR05fDwuOujCVNGvha2O_dNW3UratDx2XIshd9V6Nvv-I-KYcnLrokBTvNs5qY5k9zMMQH03hk3KVaNznYjl5tEpRkPDg_SjP1pxRgACWgZLnZxtY46JAhnYjeaTg/s1600/phantom070238.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArGJwx65awsHVR2tR05fDwuOujCVNGvha2O_dNW3UratDx2XIshd9V6Nvv-I-KYcnLrokBTvNs5qY5k9zMMQH03hk3KVaNznYjl5tEpRkPDg_SjP1pxRgACWgZLnZxtY46JAhnYjeaTg/s320/phantom070238.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524925126573859634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Ghost Who Enjoys Delivering a Good, Sound Spanking?Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-76201663679664110452010-10-05T08:00:00.001-04:002010-10-05T19:44:42.258-04:00Phantom #43- Charlton, Part One<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpiw-sxNKWxxeqQQwebNiLNtvDuR25GShcC6cM3sGiglaE2CrovnakyZolEycKZsa3tGIlHYmtGu9zdHmlV2gLFywe0YT-tGsaSfmm_tjPTksCGgIHxHSGOwS5twkvD0dBnylgC3dXLs/s1600/Ph0.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpiw-sxNKWxxeqQQwebNiLNtvDuR25GShcC6cM3sGiglaE2CrovnakyZolEycKZsa3tGIlHYmtGu9zdHmlV2gLFywe0YT-tGsaSfmm_tjPTksCGgIHxHSGOwS5twkvD0dBnylgC3dXLs/s320/Ph0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523999836710868738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">P</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">hantom</span>#43<br />April 1971<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Charlton Comics</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cover</span>: Pat Boyette<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Script</span>: ?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pencils/Inks</span>: Pat Boyette<br /><br />In the early 1970's, Charlton seemed to have a penchant for packaging 2-3 short Phantom stories per issue. Some covers, like the one above, use this as a selling point-promising "3 Complete Action Jungle Adventures" That comes out to a nickel per story, for you thrifty Phans at home!<br /><br />Here, from 1971, we present <span style="font-style: italic;">"Test of an Idol"</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLihd9gI2OCgjRTaqJoBo4DGNlt1I4CtIKGFBqWfWhjOfs_IxrhCGbt0FShd-7r0wk7QKZgDF1ucHIMHaOgUo_60vBFzsRmEOa48Z_Wv-W94BHeVQ6zCtwN0a1L9_YNEQDWPkqSsoPG8/s1600/Ph1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLihd9gI2OCgjRTaqJoBo4DGNlt1I4CtIKGFBqWfWhjOfs_IxrhCGbt0FShd-7r0wk7QKZgDF1ucHIMHaOgUo_60vBFzsRmEOa48Z_Wv-W94BHeVQ6zCtwN0a1L9_YNEQDWPkqSsoPG8/s320/Ph1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523999833971656834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJc-aZ1X-Wtozr71n74GI_j5RKp2fqu4pbnMV6_vgccbKCZgHgfz0pot046uSmEkLsjwbEpxPMeaZ6WywrwSOF6eyXtkpucRgLOCesuycc3SuaTzGKLwEF1voFMjSKHsyb_eSnThnyeko/s1600/Ph2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJc-aZ1X-Wtozr71n74GI_j5RKp2fqu4pbnMV6_vgccbKCZgHgfz0pot046uSmEkLsjwbEpxPMeaZ6WywrwSOF6eyXtkpucRgLOCesuycc3SuaTzGKLwEF1voFMjSKHsyb_eSnThnyeko/s320/Ph2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523999826017387250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPrGTvWnyc7IMXzcOg3t8yre2-Poxe68UAcJJnv982uRxs_z7acbf-zToCnZiSezgMQWI7CzsUV9kx8XTZ2um2I7tvPw3Rl55nzkaqrwSr5CwXZZvShS-CntpMpigECjJVvNZRjGKW5M/s1600/Ph3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPrGTvWnyc7IMXzcOg3t8yre2-Poxe68UAcJJnv982uRxs_z7acbf-zToCnZiSezgMQWI7CzsUV9kx8XTZ2um2I7tvPw3Rl55nzkaqrwSr5CwXZZvShS-CntpMpigECjJVvNZRjGKW5M/s320/Ph3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523999500468414578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXubgfH1vozsL9Goy0EnSCVXJnmRDjtv8bxQqGl4Odia8Jtv11iQheez2YiLp-Eo03fWaz9Jl25qxa44_36E1qCw_i1lKXkyRBd8knON_xkwMvgDA-HUGd7wGTVheTFXQ-s8LoqW6EoM/s1600/Ph4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXubgfH1vozsL9Goy0EnSCVXJnmRDjtv8bxQqGl4Odia8Jtv11iQheez2YiLp-Eo03fWaz9Jl25qxa44_36E1qCw_i1lKXkyRBd8knON_xkwMvgDA-HUGd7wGTVheTFXQ-s8LoqW6EoM/s320/Ph4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524712033267421970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IwgAIPyJsgqUrYn7PNW_LfrQ2OwUFxX6Prct-jndn678EYFaVhYSbeF2eDfDY86aCQppW1svsiQcDA0Z59JrSSdcBBSj5DeVBkhMRldPBJRmadt4Y45yI_AY2MhbpGZjnhav5Gk1tio/s1600/Ph5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IwgAIPyJsgqUrYn7PNW_LfrQ2OwUFxX6Prct-jndn678EYFaVhYSbeF2eDfDY86aCQppW1svsiQcDA0Z59JrSSdcBBSj5DeVBkhMRldPBJRmadt4Y45yI_AY2MhbpGZjnhav5Gk1tio/s320/Ph5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523999494439248594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLzLkxIOqee7qMLMLbUjAv5zNxEBcNJvkmuqeIs3kAAl-Bao1mrbsYl395b1tiv5JA1RG8NwSHvdbAuYEATK8pccPuKbHTgp71Bt6brcDXouvhawa1yq789xZYsXcvYmmHGQzn58yjYs/s1600/Ph6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLzLkxIOqee7qMLMLbUjAv5zNxEBcNJvkmuqeIs3kAAl-Bao1mrbsYl395b1tiv5JA1RG8NwSHvdbAuYEATK8pccPuKbHTgp71Bt6brcDXouvhawa1yq789xZYsXcvYmmHGQzn58yjYs/s320/Ph6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524000790664471506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHOErz4FYPPfJwxEynSeqMxJ2CxSbAlzAo2krO6n9rb56BNAfEB_26OMFjPJNBwCIDZReamJnZqeaGxHVbPD2z4wZ3GExwcFsAY4-54vpI_Sxp07EjP-yAxaDQC0Gug-BICfelhYIqGI/s1600/Ph6+001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHOErz4FYPPfJwxEynSeqMxJ2CxSbAlzAo2krO6n9rb56BNAfEB_26OMFjPJNBwCIDZReamJnZqeaGxHVbPD2z4wZ3GExwcFsAY4-54vpI_Sxp07EjP-yAxaDQC0Gug-BICfelhYIqGI/s320/Ph6+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523999485236211538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3UeJeD1D18lwQKvXx3LudvfenpJqrbV1EfWzIwdWCth_tCD8cgoM99xUfGFRLB483TJYtdXB_AaFUxZ3X0HV1yRjG-zlrKTgZjypSu1NnEJ0-YDgr9-VBiFV4UojnD22MFBm1M0Dafk/s1600/Ph7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3UeJeD1D18lwQKvXx3LudvfenpJqrbV1EfWzIwdWCth_tCD8cgoM99xUfGFRLB483TJYtdXB_AaFUxZ3X0HV1yRjG-zlrKTgZjypSu1NnEJ0-YDgr9-VBiFV4UojnD22MFBm1M0Dafk/s320/Ph7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523999473921561602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Funny how Dianna never even crossed The Phantom's mind... Maybe he should work on being The Ghost Who Walks The Line!Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-9026434970568074772010-10-04T19:49:00.003-04:002010-10-04T20:00:29.474-04:00The Ghost Who Feels Naked...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XY7A5K5Yzc2orBHqP-jWWjKFxsOyCDEFxK2XEZNKENztrl3ETQJzN6lm6QkVTW_LehV1d3l9rSXFAKA_nhxV8YmNQ2G4pEie6E_yYFpeV81hlHYdp8yiauvBStcvQ2GYvrmPnD_tbDU/s1600/06_12_9bv.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XY7A5K5Yzc2orBHqP-jWWjKFxsOyCDEFxK2XEZNKENztrl3ETQJzN6lm6QkVTW_LehV1d3l9rSXFAKA_nhxV8YmNQ2G4pEie6E_yYFpeV81hlHYdp8yiauvBStcvQ2GYvrmPnD_tbDU/s320/06_12_9bv.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524342873175059618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yesterday, my beloved Skull Ring was destroyed. I had just gotten it stretched to the point where it would fit (almost) comfortably on the middle finger of my right hand. I had been wearing it nearly every day for the last 3 or 4 months. It had become a regular part of my daily attire.<br /><br />And then, yesterday it happened. It must have fallen off of the shelf by my printer and been rolled over by the wheels of my desk chair. One side was bent all the way up under the face of the ring. I tried in vain to stretch it back with a pair of needle-nose pliers, but alas it snapped!<br /><br />I feel like my right hand is uncharacteristically light and bare.<br /><br />Oh, well, it's not like they're rare or anything.<br /><br />Still, it was my first one, and I miss it.Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-58030040941966128222010-10-01T20:59:00.003-04:002010-10-01T21:18:48.618-04:00The Living Legend- Phantom #30- Charlton<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGhZNoh_VXo6zdmPc8VQNJUQmCG2HSv3JtAyD4HgtO0NQYzr5E55ogSIFxmaoG-3hv0rgRcngKwVo5HYzGUYBASw0mCpLJ3a2IhQ6ojzd0hgoPW91HHp3jyA0aBz7ky7HO61kbtEsFRk/s1600/Ph1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGhZNoh_VXo6zdmPc8VQNJUQmCG2HSv3JtAyD4HgtO0NQYzr5E55ogSIFxmaoG-3hv0rgRcngKwVo5HYzGUYBASw0mCpLJ3a2IhQ6ojzd0hgoPW91HHp3jyA0aBz7ky7HO61kbtEsFRk/s320/Ph1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523247653734320450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8ZJkaJQ3qYcOv2ZagxsE3e4CYDK9M1l63bzrrssB5IYHD-I_IsXhHhQ43Eyi-rpQukDK75uI5t_S4QyH1ztHT7tBsqepzy8TiOYPL6g3kDqCio8uThBMQlEYaPKGjE49-c2i9y0IMWU/s1600/Ph2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8ZJkaJQ3qYcOv2ZagxsE3e4CYDK9M1l63bzrrssB5IYHD-I_IsXhHhQ43Eyi-rpQukDK75uI5t_S4QyH1ztHT7tBsqepzy8TiOYPL6g3kDqCio8uThBMQlEYaPKGjE49-c2i9y0IMWU/s320/Ph2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523247509545889906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ocytsYp9xO-Q1Zun0dFHBNo_uTo6iy5UGL-KOtq__ZmYTbT9QtZF5nxIXur3lFp1OJjeSJHGMXX9tOvR-MoeqjokiwzMqHpHEaaIXKBtdRDbtZ_Vbbh2hFUxhnXcfzH4UuJy1HHzviM/s1600/Ph3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ocytsYp9xO-Q1Zun0dFHBNo_uTo6iy5UGL-KOtq__ZmYTbT9QtZF5nxIXur3lFp1OJjeSJHGMXX9tOvR-MoeqjokiwzMqHpHEaaIXKBtdRDbtZ_Vbbh2hFUxhnXcfzH4UuJy1HHzviM/s320/Ph3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523247505067182002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVG-SgaC8od2l4z7Fq6tkZ2aLp3Q3w_lBKR1Y4IxpSTKxt56su0_fitXiS_CQQkRLs4_ePcE5nw3-v9r3n98zz2rJgCFFkbxZYDIM0cVumIPrQjhHOAXtvGOlja9NhJNc9xE3kx99wLw/s1600/Ph4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVG-SgaC8od2l4z7Fq6tkZ2aLp3Q3w_lBKR1Y4IxpSTKxt56su0_fitXiS_CQQkRLs4_ePcE5nw3-v9r3n98zz2rJgCFFkbxZYDIM0cVumIPrQjhHOAXtvGOlja9NhJNc9xE3kx99wLw/s320/Ph4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523247501997712594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgcfDEQ4y9UBlm8M9nURWyla3p9G2U7HOIs4WRV51AiFtE5ZjNmdujIW5aSRf9jgcRtwRKlnpcP9rHXcSuwSjhSa5KFEpK5645wy0wPKJrUmpWoipLQWp8J4J8-sO-vcVcq3_v7ZQKRs/s1600/Ph4+001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgcfDEQ4y9UBlm8M9nURWyla3p9G2U7HOIs4WRV51AiFtE5ZjNmdujIW5aSRf9jgcRtwRKlnpcP9rHXcSuwSjhSa5KFEpK5645wy0wPKJrUmpWoipLQWp8J4J8-sO-vcVcq3_v7ZQKRs/s320/Ph4+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523247493271030418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vY63Gpc-sBh6PP83Fqium6ABgVAaq8hM766C2Ve0jCZ7B1rLCVwYMb5CZhxq4tCgfc8k4fMOUY9GIOra7izkyzXumoolDtwOAd4pm26q8A6GF-xOX2ZwOaxq5ym1a0rw-6aEISiNveQ/s1600/Ph6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vY63Gpc-sBh6PP83Fqium6ABgVAaq8hM766C2Ve0jCZ7B1rLCVwYMb5CZhxq4tCgfc8k4fMOUY9GIOra7izkyzXumoolDtwOAd4pm26q8A6GF-xOX2ZwOaxq5ym1a0rw-6aEISiNveQ/s320/Ph6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523247487432738098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And, just like that, a four-year degree in Liberal Arts is cast aside in favor of blind superstition. Great job, O' Ghost Who Walks!Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-58174702906437832872010-09-28T08:00:00.001-04:002010-10-01T20:47:47.820-04:00Phantom #30- Charlton<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4RjWPZIH48124aLIvG91-6YS5RpqmJUkZP6AUtlm0Dcf2oHFOWv8tOZRNpQsBbueEzkSS_SFcN-XxhLdPY2XUbKdhltsfe5f_EI56d97G1WuBq8GK8iik9O5F2B4LLiYFosloAqyGhM/s1600/Ph0.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4RjWPZIH48124aLIvG91-6YS5RpqmJUkZP6AUtlm0Dcf2oHFOWv8tOZRNpQsBbueEzkSS_SFcN-XxhLdPY2XUbKdhltsfe5f_EI56d97G1WuBq8GK8iik9O5F2B4LLiYFosloAqyGhM/s320/Ph0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521767358931524898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">P</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">hantom</span>#30<br />February 1969<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Charlton Comics</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cover</span>: Frank McLaughlin<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Script</span>: ?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pencils/Inks</span>: ????<br /><br />Charlton comics tosses its hat into the ring with<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> Phantom </span>#30, picking up from right where King Comics left off. Except it's not. See, King's last issue was #28 which begs the question "Where's #29?" Perhaps it still lurks somewhere in the treasure rooms of the Skull Cave, waiting to be discovered.<br /><br />At any rate, they're off to a great start with a story that features pirates, Girl Phantom and the ubiquitous tiger attack.<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzP07xqLF_bY7Ap179pnHtLirYXH5sXI7T8_vfLKN-B9d0s7vaCJxitR-59PK0TS-K4dTMv47gm99hsIyomMz2kixt7NfO2eBY7kWhtbi2sj2u2aymkL-YpyMVfDDRSxCXd25uKdj5gA/s1600/Ph1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzP07xqLF_bY7Ap179pnHtLirYXH5sXI7T8_vfLKN-B9d0s7vaCJxitR-59PK0TS-K4dTMv47gm99hsIyomMz2kixt7NfO2eBY7kWhtbi2sj2u2aymkL-YpyMVfDDRSxCXd25uKdj5gA/s320/Ph1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521767351285447282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYdn_BFG6lGx2I79WCkjrQPzl5fCYAoJ_UKOyW60CNOJIjCr-wDkC3wVnOKI5DGgvWRoLhUNWi3r6jL4PgrhZJqwP2JZmrxdJV_NplYcaNtgF8VOFuyY_WHaWJqQxKbMTREh2XkbNn6c/s1600/Ph2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYdn_BFG6lGx2I79WCkjrQPzl5fCYAoJ_UKOyW60CNOJIjCr-wDkC3wVnOKI5DGgvWRoLhUNWi3r6jL4PgrhZJqwP2JZmrxdJV_NplYcaNtgF8VOFuyY_WHaWJqQxKbMTREh2XkbNn6c/s320/Ph2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521767340578926130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzm9JL1ZO-BluUSNgux9gTZgP3lhcGPlIGLKoV6KqtXnbA3fFC6uVpTOGmVfmnYwwzeqKMcqolBhiZb6uL0LbpyAd6obqju2G_plFkxYq2zxc-pq2NRlR-PInAYFN2htCeNl7a6t-0Eg/s1600/Ph3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzm9JL1ZO-BluUSNgux9gTZgP3lhcGPlIGLKoV6KqtXnbA3fFC6uVpTOGmVfmnYwwzeqKMcqolBhiZb6uL0LbpyAd6obqju2G_plFkxYq2zxc-pq2NRlR-PInAYFN2htCeNl7a6t-0Eg/s320/Ph3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521767338822787346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-r-iQNhe3W2EYnUXV9-6NF9o5tEcnj5ji4KaDZ4B96S0-QKwsRGkhT8jg4G_X0rDBdT9bOlrk_lnsuV5UIvJi591nlf6BIJgAvCg6MTPL0BeCBOLAYF7XQuiQlLDIMC8qg8Hhfmp3tQ/s1600/Ph4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-r-iQNhe3W2EYnUXV9-6NF9o5tEcnj5ji4KaDZ4B96S0-QKwsRGkhT8jg4G_X0rDBdT9bOlrk_lnsuV5UIvJi591nlf6BIJgAvCg6MTPL0BeCBOLAYF7XQuiQlLDIMC8qg8Hhfmp3tQ/s320/Ph4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521767330608451138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDxZQqLteWptvGU7ds8KMvgre_HY6GA9AxDlkT5IGcSUbtdGvU0QsrSGAbKvt_J40MRzfxbwlQqENGJAHKA7dVh6xmK0cPBC10SgxBM-lj9jM1xttfhbNM8DeJs06KDvWFpDEddTwFco/s1600/Ph5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDxZQqLteWptvGU7ds8KMvgre_HY6GA9AxDlkT5IGcSUbtdGvU0QsrSGAbKvt_J40MRzfxbwlQqENGJAHKA7dVh6xmK0cPBC10SgxBM-lj9jM1xttfhbNM8DeJs06KDvWFpDEddTwFco/s320/Ph5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521766837849057234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWKbWdcL3dD5wTnDlTguUYLv8rS8XobXTw2PyycOC4qvP2qXM2jSKXzgNPXMB2yogzRugtTUJkIHctryYxFzhm3ZyxTm-E8DgOhazUUu2J1HFT7hJiND2Qsu16fbyZ1TFz5dll3YzKoM/s1600/Ph6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWKbWdcL3dD5wTnDlTguUYLv8rS8XobXTw2PyycOC4qvP2qXM2jSKXzgNPXMB2yogzRugtTUJkIHctryYxFzhm3ZyxTm-E8DgOhazUUu2J1HFT7hJiND2Qsu16fbyZ1TFz5dll3YzKoM/s320/Ph6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521766830701409522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsh32C4OLupmq97W3wg6CjJXQ_oUSWH_lTx0cJudswI7dd_ptbZxociIKIfeZtT765t4YngMems3jnGzxrdngqRPtgTxHnlxQ0oGLDuFWcs6Xr80G-m4w8CVftuqGQbEq0N9q9_nzo7Q/s1600/Ph7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsh32C4OLupmq97W3wg6CjJXQ_oUSWH_lTx0cJudswI7dd_ptbZxociIKIfeZtT765t4YngMems3jnGzxrdngqRPtgTxHnlxQ0oGLDuFWcs6Xr80G-m4w8CVftuqGQbEq0N9q9_nzo7Q/s320/Ph7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521766827196614226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTtvwBZRbS7rWxM8EfyOUChDF70ovPHHeNH6WNI9X7Siq1V2zbBgbA9XkzS-jkkeHsth-81c-4hJmay9OFu4ZrSkfyl-7eU8IYkWezqagBb4nDXwQLpoAV5irg8T_bz60HHkFeIqiPLU/s1600/Ph8.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTtvwBZRbS7rWxM8EfyOUChDF70ovPHHeNH6WNI9X7Siq1V2zbBgbA9XkzS-jkkeHsth-81c-4hJmay9OFu4ZrSkfyl-7eU8IYkWezqagBb4nDXwQLpoAV5irg8T_bz60HHkFeIqiPLU/s320/Ph8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521766818310777362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAk771BUhiVE5HA7etqtPrESEAGp_5MB7i64dNY1pfFr7zkNGVGE-eCvsPKxonNlfados3Dd0iX32vLgla20CDyWxcViQHEq2xxQ-HnF1Qk44rEoykKQqR_rF4eIhsb6i56mM_G205AP4/s1600/Ph9.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAk771BUhiVE5HA7etqtPrESEAGp_5MB7i64dNY1pfFr7zkNGVGE-eCvsPKxonNlfados3Dd0iX32vLgla20CDyWxcViQHEq2xxQ-HnF1Qk44rEoykKQqR_rF4eIhsb6i56mM_G205AP4/s320/Ph9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521766813512029554" border="0" /></a>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649617893935308497.post-39927664367856808422010-09-26T08:00:00.004-04:002010-09-27T10:46:42.310-04:00Sweden Celebrates 60 years of Phantom!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDnkYMX6M81MD6DUAmLdE9I7QNutALawlWLGGFFORDoSKOnmx8aYAfTnynZbLSeu1Nr02F7vC3WUiZmq6ciaKBVCpHU4UY3NCjc1eWEnLfImJBT8cjhmrYYGLFCMBjLynx_T5e0SZlvE/s1600/Blueyellowhero.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDnkYMX6M81MD6DUAmLdE9I7QNutALawlWLGGFFORDoSKOnmx8aYAfTnynZbLSeu1Nr02F7vC3WUiZmq6ciaKBVCpHU4UY3NCjc1eWEnLfImJBT8cjhmrYYGLFCMBjLynx_T5e0SZlvE/s320/Blueyellowhero.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521031847524171778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yes, yes, we all know that <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Phantom</span> turned 60 back in 1996. But his publishing history in Sweden- a great bastion of Phantom Fandom- has just reached it's 60th anniversary and so the <span style="font-style: italic;">The Scandinavian Chapter of the Lee Falk Memorial Bengali Explorers Club </span>has produced a commemorative book<span style="font-weight: bold;"> "From Purple Ghost to Blue-Yellow Hero"</span>.<br /><br />Highlights of this book (which I haven't seen, nor did I receive an advance copy for review purposes-what's up with THAT ?) include a beautiful cover (pictured above) by Phantom fan fave and all-around nice guy Sal Velluto as well as a fascinating tale of his childhood connection to The Phantom, and commentary by such diverse contributors as <span style="font-weight: bold;">Phantom</span> great Romano "Roy" Felmang:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLN6H_oBLWtp5DqjPDTrGhJ7UgSXSpsY3nVcp_omF_IS-kERs7VztIGDfGNJRWnO2p5f3yUS8RVyrDFpFmsdcdTvrJ2sjfWTbPKw_Mu1xq3aefSpsD4Uad3P6K84xyNLr9yr4r-Sqj1F8/s1600/felmang.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLN6H_oBLWtp5DqjPDTrGhJ7UgSXSpsY3nVcp_omF_IS-kERs7VztIGDfGNJRWnO2p5f3yUS8RVyrDFpFmsdcdTvrJ2sjfWTbPKw_Mu1xq3aefSpsD4Uad3P6K84xyNLr9yr4r-Sqj1F8/s320/felmang.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521030856960513506" border="0" /></a><br />Swedish Prime Minister Frederik Reinfeldt:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwrRqaMESDl5tahh6i5UWDuv1OQiiQwEEi33IUmte8-pGXC__m1jDK0O1LLBovEVukhhttZiTpEBPYEP6OT2Zlxwl_pLwWB9frml-u8_cXYG7290cmcHPAKr74Z0rYKiHtaPNAXbcZhk/s1600/fredrikreinfeldt.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwrRqaMESDl5tahh6i5UWDuv1OQiiQwEEi33IUmte8-pGXC__m1jDK0O1LLBovEVukhhttZiTpEBPYEP6OT2Zlxwl_pLwWB9frml-u8_cXYG7290cmcHPAKr74Z0rYKiHtaPNAXbcZhk/s320/fredrikreinfeldt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521030861570546482" border="0" /></a><br />And journalist,film-critic, movie producer, actor and comics nerd-Pidde Andersson.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0Vrl_K9xljJF_QlDH8A0gAMRmBXKCwHn7XfCsgOdY8_RgJ7BZ5nTIw36hyUOKf0puAQbXw03NOaYZx840Eg0pkNVwLP5x8PK2Odq49uL2Q39Xiq9ZG-WHTuFxuVevixTsJtGfGfU2bg/s1600/piddeandersson.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0Vrl_K9xljJF_QlDH8A0gAMRmBXKCwHn7XfCsgOdY8_RgJ7BZ5nTIw36hyUOKf0puAQbXw03NOaYZx840Eg0pkNVwLP5x8PK2Odq49uL2Q39Xiq9ZG-WHTuFxuVevixTsJtGfGfU2bg/s320/piddeandersson.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521030870372269698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I was assured by Andreas Eriksson (Who graciously provided me with the above sneak-peek excepts of the book) that though this book is primarily in Swedish, it contains at least 10% English-language content (which he also stated was 10% more than any previously-published Swedish book about The Phantom)<br /><br /><div>A detailed list of contents (aimed at curious international collectors) can be found here:</div> <div><a href="http://www.schapter.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A5n_lila_v%C3%A5lnad_till_bl%C3%A5gul_hj%C3%A4lte" target="_blank">http://www.schapter.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A5n_lila_v%C3%A5lnad_till_bl%C3%A5gul_hj%C3%A4lte</a><br /><br />International collectors who are interested in this book can send an inquiry to:<br /><a href="mailto:boken@schapter.org">boken@schapter.org</a><br /><br />To tie in with the release of this exciting new tome, I briefly interviewed two of the book's contributors, cover artist Sal Velluto and Pidde Andersson who contributed an essay. An essay which I previously published <a href="http://falkonthewildside.blogspot.com/2010/04/phantom-ghost-for-all-seasons-special.html">here</a>.<br /></div><br />As an added bonus, I'm also including a previously unpublished interview with Felmang.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">First up, Sal Velluto:</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkr0fPi745EJS2C9Zqw9maMJkK3M_7_6Fx8Cl5p2e7hsLuOkAnVwu-T4kLKebTO8Z6Y_Cr8GztwBPzFOBpoZPL4Ynp7ndFMDkVUCSwDMXgfPmwlXl-17IyGHulE27SOhIaZWV852ljpiY/s1600/VellutoPortrait2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkr0fPi745EJS2C9Zqw9maMJkK3M_7_6Fx8Cl5p2e7hsLuOkAnVwu-T4kLKebTO8Z6Y_Cr8GztwBPzFOBpoZPL4Ynp7ndFMDkVUCSwDMXgfPmwlXl-17IyGHulE27SOhIaZWV852ljpiY/s320/VellutoPortrait2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521604471483065426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> So, out of all the living artists to portray The Phantom, you were the one chosen to do the art for the cover of this book. You must have been very excited.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sal:</span> I resisted the idea of being the cover artist. I believed, and still believe, there are other artists who are more qualified than me to represent 60 years of Fantomen in Sweden. The fans know who I'm talking about.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> How did this come about?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sal:</span> The folks from The Scandinavian Chapter asked me to contribute an interview and some artwork. They ended up liking the artwork enough to choose it for the cover.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> Were there any special requests from the publishers or were you pretty much free to do your own thing?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sal: </span>Since my contribution was offered on a pro-bono basis, I was given the freedom to draw whatever I wanted. I like freedom....<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> Apart from the cover, can we expect to see any further Sal Velluto art in this book?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sal: </span>There will be an exclusive interview. Among other things I explain the mysterious circumstances that led me to The Phantom...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> Were you asked to and/or did you contribute, any commentary to the book itself.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sal:</span> No. I think they ended up with too much material anyway.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> Any plans to do the 100th Anniversary cover?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sal: </span>If I'm still around, on February 17, 2036 (that's when The Phantom will celebrate his 100th birthday) I'll lobby for a cover collage of the best covers from the past 100 years.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Next up, pop culture geek and friend of this blog, Pidde Andersson</span>: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQ2uu3_P22TjxPe0oSmo2shJKQY-nK5VhfeUd2qUtxXKAoCZj9Fohb4zjUEb_wd-5k426ksmeZVkmLHUdg6MxIE7ZetsIXgifE2FdyxJ1eQvdgHwdNDau3Me192ZvlqobOA8ga-y4Xro/s1600/picture-302902.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 66px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQ2uu3_P22TjxPe0oSmo2shJKQY-nK5VhfeUd2qUtxXKAoCZj9Fohb4zjUEb_wd-5k426ksmeZVkmLHUdg6MxIE7ZetsIXgifE2FdyxJ1eQvdgHwdNDau3Me192ZvlqobOA8ga-y4Xro/s320/picture-302902.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521050483775413666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB: </span>Who approached you about contributing to this book and how did you become involved with this project?<br /><br /><div> </div> <div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pidde:</span> One of the guys behind the book, Arne Olin, runs a comic book store here in Malmö. I read in a newspaper that Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt had written a piece for an upcoming book about the Phantom, and I mentioned this to Arne. He simply asked me if I'd like to contribute as well.</div> <div><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> Were there any special requests from the publishers or were you pretty much free to do your own thing?<br /><br /><div> </div> <div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pidde: </span>I had already written a rather nostalgic article about the cover art of Fantomen in the 1970s on my blog, which in turn was inspired by a thing I wrote for Sal Velluto's blog, and this article was perfect for the book. I reworked it a little before sending it to them.</div> <div> </div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB: </span>What was your connection to The Phantom, growing up?<div><br /></div><div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pidde: </span>The Phantom, and even more so the Swedish comic book than the character, meant a lot to me. The Phantom stories themselves were most of the time thrilling, I was fascinated by the character's history and world, and many of the adventures - especially the ones produced by Semic - had this heavy, mysterious atmosphere. Dark, lots of shadows - things that disappeared when they started publishing in color. But the thing with the Swedish book, was that they kind of respected the readers. The book offered lots of info about the people making the comics, about the inspirations for the adventures and to on. And they have always crammed the book with wonderful back up comics - they still do. Blueberry, The Spirit, Bernhard Prince, Johnny Hazard, the list goes on and on and on... Fantomen made me interested in comics as a medium and art form, as did Knasen; the Beetle Bailey book, which always featured interviews with- and articles about the cartoonists.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> You've said before that the Swedish Comics scene is on shaky ground, yet The Phantom has stayed in continuous publication for six decades. What do you think is the key to The Phantom's enduring success in Sweden?<br /></div><div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pidde: </span> There are a couple of titles that "have always been around"; they are considered classic titles, so I guess Egmont do their best to keep them alive. I'm not sure who reads these titles, maybe it's the ones who "have always bought them". Meaning, adult, rather old people. I don't know who reads Fantomen today - probably very young kids and their 40+ parents, while teens and 20-somethings don't read comics at all, or stick to alternative stuff. Egmont publishes several thick, hardcover collections with popular comics; the complete Beetle Bailey and so on, and these expensive books are clearly aimed at middle-aged people who read the comics while growing up.<br /><br /></div> <span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> The Phantom is really quite different in Scandinavia than he is in the U.S.. Would you say that Sweden has a sort of proprietary feeling about the character?<div><br /></div><div> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pidde: </span>Yeah, I think we do. Maybe he's like the Statue of Liberty; nobody cares about the French, small one in Paris, when the Americans have a much bigger and cooler one in New York. And of course, everybody knows who The Phantom is over here, everybody can refer to the character, he's part of the Swedish heritage. Okay, I'm not sure about young kids, of course. Kids today don't think of Batman and Spider-Man as comic book characters, but movie heroes.<br /><br /></div> <span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> I know that sometimes Scandinavian comics fans don't care for American Phantom comics, even the ones published during Lee Falk's lifetime. Why do you think that is?<br /><div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pidde:</span> Well, very few of them have been published over here, almost none. I, as a fan, have of course bought some of the different American incarnations, as have other fans, and they just didn't feel right. I always get the impression the people behind them don't really know the character and his world. Sometimes the art was a bit odd, not different in a cool way, like when a fan fave takes over a Marvel or DC title. Americans also seem to think they need to change the character whenever the title is revived; the old, beloved version won't do. However, since Fantomen is published every other week, 26 issues a year, lots and lots and <i>lots</i> of awful episodes have been produced by Semic/Egmont.<br /><br /></div> <span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> Do you expect The Phantom to see a 100th anniversary?<br /><div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pidde: </span>Short answer: No. Will people read any comic books, printed on paper, at all in 40 years?<br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> Thanks for your time on this.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pidde:</span> My pleasure.<br /><br />And last, but by no means least, My much awaited (by me, anyway) interview with Felmang:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdDHBr1kV1VOVqqS96o6p9aKq6eWMzsDJfrvmgk6D50FqcB4H974pZhoScR8WU13m6LObuhUcm4Ag22Gf2v2vmbMLLVu7qC4mxzSzeljFaqVfE6uaAhDMnnD9X_K9k39qL9I1uOZxjXc/s1600/grande+8.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdDHBr1kV1VOVqqS96o6p9aKq6eWMzsDJfrvmgk6D50FqcB4H974pZhoScR8WU13m6LObuhUcm4Ag22Gf2v2vmbMLLVu7qC4mxzSzeljFaqVfE6uaAhDMnnD9X_K9k39qL9I1uOZxjXc/s320/grande+8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521055062521007842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span>When and how did you first become interested in art?<br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Felmang:</span> Since I was a child (5 or 6 years) I spent the great part of my time drawing, in the rest, as many other children I was playing with my two friends (girls of course) Marisa and Floriana. </p><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> Were you a fan of The Phantom before you became a Phantom artist?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Felmang: </span> 2- Mainly not. Since 7 years old I was a fervent reader of the comic art, something of Walt Disney, and especially Italian comics (called strips) with kids as main characters as example Tony Boy, Il Piccolo Sceriffo, Sciuscià (coming from the world Shoe shine), Nat of Santa Cruz, Forza John! and also comic book like Pecos Bill and Pantera Bionda (a sort of Sheena made in Italy). At ten years old I discovered the weekly magazine Intrepido and continued to collect it until the moment I start to cooperate as artist with the same magazine(1970: 750000/ 850000 copies a week,a real record!).I became a Phantom fan at 22 years in the F.lli Spada era, reading the very first adventures drawn by Raymond Moore and the new by Sy Barry.<br /><br /><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> Do you prefer The Phantom in Red, Blue or Purple? </p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Felmang: </span>I'm Italian and of course always I saw the Phantom in red, probably is easy to discover him if hidden in the Jungle, but red is a good color for this character, red put him always in evidence respect the other characters of the strip.<br /><br /><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> One morning at the end of 1963 I noticed issue 51 of <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Il Vascello Mandrake</span> at the newsstand. It was the Un mondo scomparso made by the Italian artist Domenico Mirabella. I bought it and found that Fratelli Spada Publications were produced in Rome.<br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Felmang: </span>I considered the possibility of pursuing seriously a cartoonist's career. After telephoning the next day after, with my bronze face (as I had at the time) I went to via Enea 77, offices of the Fratelli Spada press, and presented myself as an illustrator of comics, with zero experience. </p><p>Daniela, a beautiful girl (niece of mr.Giuseppe Spada) working there in the redaction, gave me a issue of L'Uomo Mascherato from the American Adventures Series. The issue was 60 Le mani sull'isola (Sy Barry's The Island of the Dogs) - saying: </p><p>This is a recent story of the Phantom from the United States; the production is syndicated, but it's not enough to cover our weekly requirement. For this reason we need illustrators who imitate Sy Barry, the leading artist of the American comic-strips. Make us a couple of trial panels in this style!<br /></p><p>During the following days I tried several times to draw The Phantom of Sy Barry, but the results were very poor. I could not confront such a demanding character tout de suite and succeed in imitating an artist, whom I considered the best at that time. So I had to practice and wait for a later opportunity. </p><p>In 1966, after my military service, the editor of F.lli Spada commissioned me I my first 8 pages Phantom story :Kaniska. He accepted the finished story which was also lettered but never published. I made my debut as a Phantom artist soon after, drawing a full length story called I Ladri della tomba del Gran Re . Some more Phantom stories in 1997 and various covers for Fratelli Spada and Editions des Remparts for Mandrake, The Phantom, Rip Kirby and Secret Agent. </p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> Who (besides yourself) is your favorite Phantom artist? </p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Felmang: </span> My favourite Phantom artist, except Sy Barry is without any doubt Ferri, he is really the best. I’m one of his fan since the first time I saw a Ph-comic drawn by him: Le anime di pietra. His Phantom comics drawn for F.lli Spada untill 1971 , about 40 adventures, are the best produced by this company. He left the comic field around the year 1971/72 for doing another job. </p><p>When in 1991 the Gammelredax asked me to produce more Phantom pages I called him. He was not interested to come back to the comic word and said no. But I insisted a lot and at the end he accepted to cooperate with me after about twenty years far away from the comics world. I am proud to had involved him to cooperate with me in many PH-episodes.<br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> Who has influenced you artistically? </p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Felmang:</span> Sy Barry and Germano Ferri, of course.<br /><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB: </span>What's your favorite comics project you've worked on?<br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Felmang:</span> <span style="font-weight: normal;">I’m human and of course imperfect, and was practically impossible to create a masterpiece of every episode I did. Furthermore I tryed to do my best every time, for this reason all the episodes are my favourite.</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB:</span> How do you feel about the current state of the comics industry? What, if anything, would you do to improve it? </p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Felmang: </span> The comic industry of to day is very poor respect the 60’s and 70’s, it is only for an “elite” of readers and fans. <p>The comic industry of today is confused (please see the not professional Ph.strips in the first years after Sy Barry, and many American comic books of the same Phantom) it needs not only good artists, but also good scriptwriters with new great ideas, and this is not easier to achieve.<br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWB: </span>What advice would you give to an aspiring comics artist? </p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Felmang: </span> I always suggest to the aspiring comic artists to (drop) <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">sic</span> this idea and start to think to another job. <p><br /></p> <p><br /></p> <p><br /></p>Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03555047330587368279noreply@blogger.com2