Random Phantom Panel #8

Thanks, Toots. You're not so bad yourself!

More Side-By-Side Don Newton- Phantom #68

This was inspired by an e-mail I received from Jungle Patrol member Michael Wurl, aka: The Apocolyte. Michael wrote me the following:

"In my webby travels I came across this beautiful Don Newton cover painting that I thought you may enjoy, or perhaps post.
You're under no obligation to post it, but when I saw it I naturally thought of you!"

Well, first of all, it warms the heart of The Ghost Who Blogs to know you're thinking of me when you see Phantom art. But besides that, you've inspired me to do another post highlighting the contrast between the beautiful paintings Don Newton did for Charlton, vs. the printed piece.

The point of all this is not to dump on Charlton, but rather to highlight how much more beautiful the original paintings were than the kick-ass covers they became.

So, here's to you, Michael Wurl! For providing me with fodder for yet another post, you receive The Good Mark!

MICHAEL WURL

Phantom #70- Charlton

Phantom#70
April, 1976
Charlton Comics
Cover: Don Newton
Script: Bill Pearson
Pencils/Inks: Don Newton

It's funny, just Monday night I was watching The Maltese Falcon on TCM and I already had this comic scheduled to post this week. Writer Bill Pearson seems to like old Bogart movies as much as I do, if this story is any indication. As the splash will show you, at it's heart the story is sort of a tribute to The Maltese Falcon. But it takes a few detours through The African Queen, High Sierra and, of course, Casablanca. Be on the lookout for not only Bogie and Bacal in the cast of this adventure, but such stalwart supporting actors as Claude Raines, Peter Lorre, Sidney Greenstreet and Tom Fadden.


Ladies (like there are any women reading this) and Gentlemen, I present "The Mystery of the Mali Ibex".

Phantom #67- Charlton, Conclusion

And now, Part Two of "Triumph of Evil" :























Once again, Nazi War Criminals are foolish enough to set foot in the land of the Ghost Who Walks. When will those Nazis learn?

Phantom #67- Charlton

Phantom#67
October, 1975
Charlton Comics
Cover: Don Newton
Script: Joe Gill
Pencils/Inks: Don Newton

Don Newton brought his unique, Gothic style to The Phantom at the end of the series' Charlton run. Newton contributed not only his eerie, atmospheric interior art, but also a series of painted covers that elevated the look of Charlton's comics significantly. One can only imagine how much nicer the covers would have been, had Charlton used better quality control in their printing process.

I used my photo editing software to "tweak" the contrast and color on the cover painting for a less muddy look, to give a better idea of what the original painting actually looked like.

Please sit back and enjoy "Triumph of Evil"





























Script writer Joe Gill seems to have a better feel for The Phantom in this issue than he exibited in issue #64. However, he seems to have missed the fact that -of all the tribes of Bangalla- The Bandar are the only tribe who know the true nature of The Ghost Who Walks.

Tomorrow: Part two.