Kathryn's Inbox

This collection may not be the best starting point for new readers of the Ghost Who Walks (especially if they're not twelve year old boys,) but it rewards old phans (yes, that was intentional,) in bucketloads. For the 2019 annual Frew, the Australian publisher of The Phantom has put together a collection of war themed stories, including the 1942 newspaper serial The Phantom Goes to War. The comic, which is far more brutal than a typical Phantom story, tells the story of how The Phantom and his friends outwit a group of Japanese soldiers who attempt to invade Bangalla. This particular story is popular among hardcore phans and, apparently is the most requested Phantom reprint of all time. (See more here .) Contemporary audiences will make of the story what they will, but it is important to remember the sentiment and the growing unease that was occurring on both sides of the Pacific at the time that the comic was first published. Three more war themed comics feature in the ann...

For Those Who Came in Late is the first trade paperback to be published by Frew and it's a fitting tribute to their most beloved superhero, The Phantom. (For those who are wondering, yes, Frew published other comics, in Australia the most notable of which are Popeye and Mandrake.) Anyway, this publication includes all of the comics that make up the stories behind the legend, and explains everything, from how the current Phantom inherited his title following the death of his father, to the origin of the infamous skull ring and for those of you who are wondering, yes, we do get to see when the Phantom, or Kit Walker, met Diana Palmer for the first time. This is a great collection, sure to please old fans and an excellent (and comprehensive guide,) for new fans of the comic. For those of you reading this from overseas, you should probably know, The Phantom is one of the most successful and enduring comics to be published in Australia--in fact, it's one of the few that is ...

For the past few months now, I have been following the latest Phantom Daily Comic Strip storyline, titled The Scoundrel.  The basic premise is this. Reporter Lara Bell wants a scoop, so she decides to do what no other reporter has done before, to journey into Bandar territory. Despite being warned not to disturb the Bandar, Lara hires sleazy and self-serving tour guide Rick Gruber. Gruber poisons her in an attempt to not only find the Bandar, but persuade them to take him to the Skull Cave, which he figures will be filled with treasures. Anyway, Gruber ends up being taken prisoner outside the skull cave, while the Phantom offers Bell a tour of the Skull Cave. At the end of the tour, comes this foolish moment where Bell makes a pass at the Phantom, which is quickly rebuffed. The picture of Bell in the first frame clearly shows the distress she feels at the news. Sure, it was a silly thing for her to do, but, the story shows that as reckless as she is, Bell is basically a goo...