{{short description|Comic strip}} {{about|the comic strip|the character himself|Phantom (character)|the unrelated 2021 documentary film|The Phantom (2021 film)|the musician who recorded the 1960 rockabilly song, ''Love Me''|Jerry Lott}} {{Other uses|Phantom (disambiguation){{!}}Phantom}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2018}} {{italic title}} {{Infobox comic strip |title= ''The Phantom'' |image= File:First Phantom Sunday strip.jpg |caption= First Sunday strip (May 28, 1939);<br>art by Ray Moore |author=Lee Falk |website= |rss= |atom= |status= Running |syndicate= King Features Syndicate |first={{start date and age|February 17, 1936}} |last= |genre= adventure |rating= |followed by= }} '''''The Phantom''''' is an American adventure comic strip, first published by Lee Falk in February 1936. The main character, the Phantom, is a fictional costumed crime-fighter who operates from the fictional African country of Bangalla. The character has been adapted for television, film and video games.

The series began with a daily newspaper strip on February 17, 1936, followed by a color Sunday strip on May 28, 1939; both are still running as of {{CURRENTYEAR}}. In 1966, King Features stated that ''The Phantom'' was being published in 583 newspapers worldwide.<ref>Ron Goulart,"The Glory Days, or Believe It or Not!" in Dean Mullaney, Bruce Canwell and Brian Walker, ''King of the Comics : One Hundred Years of King Features Syndicate''. San Diego : IDW Publishing, 2015. {{ISBN|978-1631403736}} (p.185)</ref> At its peak, the strip was read by over 100&nbsp;million people daily.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jpdefillippo.com/demos/phantom/prodnote.htm |title=The Phantom |publisher=Jpdefillippo.com |access-date=2011-02-28 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713122131/http://jpdefillippo.com/demos/phantom/prodnote.htm |archive-date=July 13, 2011 }}</ref><ref>"When young Lee Falk wrote his first tale of the jungle ruler, the Phantom, in 1936, it is doubtful that he anticipated that 1995 would see a movie, a television series, an Americanised futuristic version of his hero, merchandising, special-tribute editions to himself and international recognition from more than 100 million avid fans". Julian Lewis, "The Phantom Phenomenon" in ''The Canberra Times'', Saturday, February 11, 1995 (p.48).</ref>

Falk worked on ''The Phantom'' until his death in 1999; since his death, the comic strip has been written by Tony DePaul. Since 2016, it has been drawn by Mike Manley (Monday–Saturday) and, since 2017, Jeff Weigel (Sunday).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://comicskingdom.com/phantom#authors|title = Comics Kingdom &#124; the Phantom by DePaul (Scripts), Manley (Daily Art) & Weigel (Sunday Art)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.phantomwiki.org/Jeff_Weigel|title=Jeff Weigel - PhantomWiki|website=www.phantomwiki.org|access-date=2019-10-22}}</ref> Previous artists on the newspaper strip include Ray Moore, Wilson McCoy, Bill Lignante, Sy Barry, George Olesen, Keith Williams, Fred Fredericks, Graham Nolan, Eduardo Barreto, Paul Ryan, and Terry Beatty. In the strip, the Phantom is 21st in a line of crime-fighters which began in 1536, when the father of British sailor Christopher Walker was killed during a pirate attack. Swearing an oath on the skull of his father's murderer to fight evil, Christopher began a legacy of the Phantom which would pass from father to son. Nicknames for the Phantom include "The Ghost Who Walks", "Guardian of the Eastern Dark" and "The Man Who Cannot Die".<ref name="coogan">Peter Coogan,''Superhero : The Secret Origin of a Genre''. Austin, TX : MonkeyBrain Books, 2006. (p. 185) {{ISBN|193226518X}}</ref>

Unlike many other superheroes, the Phantom has no superpowers; he relies on his strength, intelligence, skill at arms (he carries two holstered handguns, a revolver and a 1911 .45 autopistol,<ref>more likely two revolvers earlier and nowaday two 1911 semi-automatic pistols</ref> one on each hip, and is an expert marksman with both), and the myth of his immortality to take action against the forces of evil. The 21st Phantom is married to Diana Palmer; they met while he studied in the United States and they have two children, Kit and Heloise. He has a trained wolf named Devil and a horse named Hero, and like the 20 previous Phantoms he lives in the ancient Skull Cave.

The Phantom was the first fictional hero to wear the skintight costume which has become a hallmark of comic-book superheroes, and was the first shown in a mask with no visible pupils (another superhero standard).<ref name="coogan" /><ref>''The Phantom: Comic Strip Crusader'' (1996 A&E Documentary), and article Lee Falk: Father of Superheroes from ''Comic Book Resources'' No. 121, May 2005 {{better source needed|date=July 2015}}</ref> Comics historian Peter Coogan has described the Phantom as a "transitional" figure, since the Phantom has some of the characteristics of pulp magazine heroes such as The Shadow and the Spider and earlier jungle heroes such as Tarzan, as well as anticipating the features of comic book heroes such as Superman, Batman, and Captain America.<ref name="coogan" />

==Publication history==

===Creation=== After the success of ''Mandrake the Magician'', King Features Syndicate asked Falk to develop a new feature. His first effort was to write and draw a strip about King Arthur and his knights.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicology.in/2009/04/lee-falks-phantom-1-origins-of-ghost.html |title=Comicology: Lee Falk's Phantom-1: Origins of Ghost Who Walks |publisher=Comicology.in |access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref> When King Features rejected the strip, Falk developed the Phantom, a mysterious, costumed crime-fighter. He planned the first few months of the story, and drew the first two weeks as a sample.<ref name=RetFan1>{{cite journal |last=Pasko |first=Martin |author-link=Martin Pasko|date=Summer 2018|title=The Ghost who Stumbles: The Phantom Phollies of Philmland|journal=RetroFan |issue=1 |pages=17–24 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing}}</ref>

Fascinated by myths and legends (such as King Arthur and El Cid) and the modern fictional characters Zorro, Tarzan and ''The Jungle Book''{{'s}} Mowgli,<ref>[http://www.deepwoods.org/lee_falk.html Lee Falk]</ref> Falk envisioned the character as wealthy playboy Jimmy Wells by day and the crime-fighting Phantom by night. During his first story, "The Singh Brotherhood", before disclosing that Wells was the Phantom, Falk changed the setting to a jungle and made the Phantom an apparently immortal, mythic figure.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://weirdscifi.ratiosemper.com/phantom/faq.html#3 |title=The Phantom – FAQ |publisher=Weirdscifi.ratiosemper.com |access-date=2011-02-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724032456/http://weirdscifi.ratiosemper.com/phantom/faq.html#3 |archive-date=July 24, 2011 }}</ref> Thinking that there were already too many characters called "the Phantom" (including The Phantom Detective and The Phantom of the Opera), Falk considered calling his hero "The Gray Ghost". However, he could not find a name he liked better and decided to stay with "The Phantom".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deepwoods.org/lee_falk.html |title="Lee Falk: Father of The Phantom", by Bryan Shedden |publisher=The Deep Woods |access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref>

In the A&E American cable TV documentary ''The Phantom: Comic Strip Crusader'',<ref>The Phantom: Comic Strip Crusader, an A&E Biography of the Phantom aired on May 31, 1996</ref> Falk explained that Greek busts inspired him to omit the Phantom's pupils when the character was wearing his mask. He incorrectly believed that ancient Greek busts had no pupils (they were painted on originally and faded with time), which he said gave them an "inhuman, awe-inspiring appearance."<ref name=RetFan1/> In an interview for ''Comic Book Marketplace'', Falk said the Phantom's skin-tight costume was inspired by Robin Hood, who wore tights in films and onstage.<ref>Comic Book Marketplace No. 121, published May 2005 by Gemstone Publishing</ref>

Falk was a Shakespeare enthusiast,<ref>{{cite news |title=Aftonbladet nyheter: Fantomens skapare Lee Falk död |url=http://wwwc.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/9903/15/falk.html |access-date=15 April 2019 |work=wwwc.aftonbladet.se}}</ref> and the comic included several references to Shakespeare. These include the third Phantom playing Juliet in the original premiere of ''Romeo and Juliet'', as well as marrying Shakespeare's niece.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shakespeare - Rasmus Fantomenindex |url=https://fantomenindex.krats.se/what/shakespeare |website=fantomenindex.krats.se |access-date=15 April 2019}}</ref>

===Newspaper strips=== {{more citations needed section|date=February 2016}} ''The Phantom'' began as a daily strip on February 17, 1936<ref name=toonopedia>{{cite web |url=http://www.toonopedia.com/phantom.htm |title=''The Phantom'' |publisher=Don Markstein's Toonopedia |access-date=2011-02-28 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240527122010/https://www.webcitation.org/6bIm7eDdi?url=http://toonopedia.com/phantom.htm |archive-date=May 27, 2024 |url-status=live }}</ref> with "The Singh Brotherhood",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://deepwoods.org/daily.html |title=The Daily Strip |publisher=Deepwoods.org |access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref> written by Falk and drawn by him for two weeks and then by Ray Moore (assistant to artist Phil Davis on ''Mandrake the Magician''). That year, ''The Phantom'' was serialized in the ''Australian Woman's Mirror''. A Sunday ''Phantom'' strip was added on May 28, 1939.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://deepwoods.org/Sunday.html |title=The Sunday Strip |publisher=Deepwoods.org |access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref>

During World War II Falk joined the Office of War Information, where he became chief of the radio foreign-language division. Moore also served during the war and left the strip to his assistant, Wilson McCoy. When Moore returned he worked sporadically on the strip until 1949, when McCoy succeeded him.<ref>{{cite web|author=Lambiek comic shop and studio in Amsterdam, the Netherlands |url=http://lambiek.net/artists/m/moore_r.htm |title=Comic creator: Ray Moore |publisher=Lambiek.net |access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref> During McCoy's tenure, ''The Phantom'' appeared in thousands of newspapers worldwide and was smuggled by boat into Nazi-occupied Norway during the war; "Phantom" was a password for the Norwegian resistance movement.<ref>The Phantom: Comic Strip Crusader (1996 A&E Biography)</ref>

McCoy died unexpectedly in 1961. Carmine Infantino and Bill Lignante (who later drew several Phantom stories for comic books) filled in before a successor was found in Sy Barry.<ref name="weirdscifi.ratiosemper.com">{{cite web |url=http://weirdscifi.ratiosemper.com/phantom/faq.html |title=The Phantom – FAQ |publisher=Weirdscifi.ratiosemper.com |access-date=2011-02-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724032456/http://weirdscifi.ratiosemper.com/phantom/faq.html |archive-date=July 24, 2011 }}</ref> During Barry's early years he and Falk modernized the strip, laying the foundation for what is considered the Phantom's modern look. Under Barry, Bangalla became a democracy and the character of President Lamanda Luaga was introduced. Barry worked on ''The Phantom'' for over 30 years until his 1994 retirement, drawing a total of about 11,000 strips.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edrhoades.com/sardis2008.htm |title=Sardis2008 |publisher=Edrhoades.com |access-date=2011-02-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710171731/http://edrhoades.com/sardis2008.htm |archive-date=July 10, 2011 }}</ref>

His longtime assistant George Olesen remained on the strip as penciller, with Keith Williams inking the daily strip. The Sunday strip was inked by Eric Doescher until Fred Fredericks succeeded him in 1995.

Falk continued to script ''The Phantom'' and ''Mandrake'' until his death on March 13, 1999. His last daily Phantom strip story, "Terror at the Opera," was finished by his wife, Elizabeth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deepwoods.org/daily.html |title="The Daily Strip", by Bryan Shedden |publisher=The Deep Woods |access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref> After Falk's death King Features cooperated with European comic publisher ''Egmont'', publisher of the Swedish ''Fantomen'' magazine (which changed from publishing ''Phantom'' stories in comic-book format to providing the newspaper strip as well) by adapting their own ''Phantom'' comic-book stories into the strip format. ''Fantomen'' writers Tony DePaul and Claes Reimerthi alternated as writers of the newspaper strip after Falk died, with DePaul handling the daily strips and Reimerthi the Sunday ones. DePaul would later become the strip's sole writer. Some stories were adapted from those originally published in ''Fantomen''.<ref name="weirdscifi.ratiosemper.com"/>

In 2000, Olesen and Fredericks retired from the Sunday strip. It was continued by comic-book artist Graham Nolan, who had drawn three ''Fantomen'' covers. In early 2005 Olesen and Williams left the daily strip after Olesen retired, and artist Paul Ryan (who had worked on the ''Fantomen'' comic stories and had been a fan of the character since childhood) took over the daily strip. Ryan succeeded Nolan as artist on the Sunday strip in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jazmaonline.com/interviews/interviews2009.asp?intID=348 |title=Interview with Paul Ryan |publisher=Jazma Online |access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref> On July 31, 2011, Eduardo Barreto became the Sunday-page artist. He died after only a few months, and Ryan temporarily took over the Sunday page again on January 15, 2012 (which featured a memorial to Barreto). Ryan also did the following week's strip, before Terry Beatty became Barreto's replacement.

Ryan died at his home unexpectedly on March 7, 2016. Mike Manley succeeded Ryan as artist on The Phantom, beginning with the strip dated May 30, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mike Manley To Take Over The Phantom Comic Strips|url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/03/21/mike-manley-to-take-over-the-phantom-comic-strips/|website=Bleeding Cool|date=March 21, 2016|access-date=March 23, 2016}}</ref>

Beatty stepped down as Sunday artist in 2017, and was replaced by Jeff Weigel.

===Internationally===

====United States==== ''The Phantom'' has had a number of publishers in the United States. During the 1940s the strips were reprinted in ''Ace Comics'', published by David McKay Publications. Harvey Comics published ''The Phantom'' during the 1950s. In 1962 Gold Key Comics took over, followed by King Comics in 1966 and Charlton in 1969.<ref>{{cite book|last= Overstreet|first= Robert M.|title= Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide|edition= 49th|publisher= Gemstone Publishing|date= 2019|location= Timonium, Maryland|page= 927|isbn= 978-1603602334}}</ref> By 1977, a total of 73 issues were published. Principal ''Phantom'' artists during this period were Bill Lignante, Don Newton, Jim Aparo and Pat Boyette.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deepwoods.org/phantom.html |title=Gold Key / King / Charlton |publisher=Deepwoods.org |date=March 30, 2002 |access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref> George Wilson drew several covers for the Gold Key series.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/wilson_george.htm|title= George Wilson|date= February 6, 2026|website= Lambiek Comiclopedia|archiveurl= https://archive.today/20260213001108/https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/wilson_george.htm|archivedate= February 13, 2026|url-status= live|df= mdy-all|quote= Among his many other credits are adventure, sci-fi and mystery comic books like...''The Phantom'' (13 covers).}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last= Taylor|first= Anthony|chapter= |title= The Art of George Wilson|publisher= Hermes Press|date= 2025|location= Neshannock, Pennsylvania|pages= 205|isbn= 978-1613452882}}</ref>

In 1943, Columbia Pictures released the 15-episode serial ''The Phantom'' starring Tom Tyler as "The Phantom" and Jeanne Bates as "Diana Palmer".

DC Comics published a ''Phantom'' comic book from 1988 to 1990. The initial May–August 1988 miniseries was written by Peter David, penciled by Joe Orlando, and inked by Dennis Janke. A subsequent series, written by Mark Verheiden and drawn by Luke McDonnell, ran for thirteen issues from March 1989 to March 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deepwoods.org/dc.html |title=DC Phantom Comics |publisher=Deepwoods.org |date=December 5, 1999 |access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref> In the series, the Phantom fought racism, toxic dumping, hunger and modern-day piracy. According to Verheiden, the series ended as much because of licensing issues as falling sales.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edrhoades.com/phantom/mark.htm |title=mark |publisher=Edrhoades.com |access-date=2011-02-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710171635/http://edrhoades.com/phantom/mark.htm |archive-date=July 10, 2011 }}</ref> In the final panels of issue 13, the Phantom marries Diana.

In 1987, Marvel Comics published a four-issue miniseries written by Stan Lee and based on the ''Defenders of the Earth'' TV series. Another three-issue Marvel miniseries, ''The Phantom: The Ghost Who Walks'' (February–April 1995) followed which was written and drawn by David de Vries and Glenn Lumsden; it featured the 22nd Phantom with an updated, high-tech costume. Marvel later released a four-part miniseries (May–August 1995), pencilled by Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko, based on the ''Phantom 2040'' TV series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deepwoods.org/marvel.html |title=DC Phantom Comics |publisher=Deepwoods.org |date=July 4, 2004 |access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref> One issue featured a pin-up by the original two Spider-Man signature artists, Ditko and John Romita, Sr.

In the United States and Australia, ''The Phantom'' was released in theaters as a major motion picture starring Billy Zane as “The Phantom/Kit Walker,” the 21st Phantom. Opened June 7, 1996 nationwide in the aforementioned markets.

Moonstone Books published Phantom graphic novels beginning in 2002. Five books, written by Tom DeFalco, Ben Raab and Ron Goulart with art by Mike Collins were published. In 2003, Moonstone introduced a ''Phantom'' comic-book series written by Raab, Rafael Nieves and Chuck Dixon, and drawn by Pat Quinn, Jerry DeCaire, Nick Derington, Rich Burchett, and EricJ. After eleven issues Mike Bullock took over the scripting, with Gabriel Rearte and Carlos Magno creating the artwork before Silvestre Szilagyi became the regular artist in 2007. Bullock's stories often feature topical issues, based on actual African conflicts. In a 2007 three-part story arc, "Invisible Children", the Phantom fights a fictional warlord called "Him" (loosely based on Joseph Kony).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=465 |title=Invisible Children (vol X/iss 3/March 2007) |publisher=Sequential Tart |date=March 1, 2007 |access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref>

In 2006, Moonstone published a retcon of the Phantom's origin, "Legacy", by Raab and Quinn. Three years later the company reintroduced the series as ''The Phantom: Ghost Who Walks'', beginning with issue 0 (a retelling of the first Phantom's origin). The aim was to make the comic darker, grittier and more realistic, similar to the 1930s stories by Lee Falk and Ray Moore. It updated the Phantom, giving him modern accessories, and introduced a number of supporting characters and villains. In the series, the Phantom fights reality-based enemies such as modern terrorists, organ smugglers and Somali pirates.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090211042638/http://ideologyofmadness.spookyouthouse.com/archives/355 "Mike Bullock Interview&nbsp;– The Phantom: The Ghost Who Walks"], Ideology of Madness (fan site), February 6, 2009</ref>

Dynamite Entertainment introduced a monthly comic-book series, ''The Last Phantom'', in August 2010.<ref>Dynamite's Phantom sells out|http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/news/dynamite-s-the-last-phantom-1-sells-out</ref> The series was written by Scott Beatty and drawn by Eduardo Ferigato, with covers painted by Alex Ross.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22481 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090812103521/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22481 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 12, 2009 |title=CCC09: Dynamite Entertainment |publisher=Comic Book Resources |date=August 10, 2009 |access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref>

In 2013, the Phantom appeared in Dynamite's five-issue miniseries, ''Kings Watch''. In the series, written by Jeff Parker and drawn by Marc Laming, the Phantom joins Flash Gordon and Mandrake the Magician to fight Ming the Merciless and prevent his attempt to take over the planet.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=46062|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820052630/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=46062|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 20, 2013|title=Jeff Parker to Pen Dynamite's "Kings Watch" in September|date=June 13, 2013|access-date=September 6, 2015|publisher=Comic Book Resources}}</ref> It was followed by the 2015 five-issue miniseries ''King: The Phantom'' in which Lothar as the new Phantom looks for the rightful heir to the legacy. In 2016, started a new crossover of King Features characters (The Phantom, Mandrake the Magician, Flash Gordon, Prince Valiant, Jungle Jim), ''Kings Quest''.

In 2014, Hermes Press announced that it would publish a Phantom comic-book miniseries with new content, written by Peter David and illustrated by Sal Velluto,<ref name=HP>{{cite web|title=Hermes Press To Publish New Phantom Series|url=http://www.chroniclechamber.com/2014/05/hermes-press-to-publish-new-phantom-series/|publisher=Chamber Chronicle|access-date=May 27, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714234013/http://www.chroniclechamber.com/2014/05/hermes-press-to-publish-new-phantom-series/|archive-date=July 14, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> scheduled for publication in November 2014.<ref name=HP /> It debuted October 31, 2014.<ref name= BleedingCoolHP>{{cite web|last1= Johnston|first1=Rich|url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/05/23/peter-david-and-sal-velluto-bring-back-the-phantom/|website=BleedingCool|title=Peter David And Sal Velluto Bring Back The Phantom|date=May 23, 2014|publisher=Bleeding Cool|access-date= October 27, 2014}}</ref> For Free Comic Book Day 2015, Hermes published a Phantom comic book with art by Bill Lignante and samples of the new miniseries.<ref>{{cite web|title=FCBD 2015 Phantom Special|url=http://www.freecomicbookday.com/Home/1/1/27/1042?stockItemID=STK664317|publisher=Diamond Comic Distributors|access-date=May 1, 2015}}</ref>

In 2024, Mad Cave Studios published a new Flash Gordon comic book, a trade paperback of Marvel's ''Defenders of the Earth'' series, and launched a new series of the team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Corley |first=Shaun |date=2024-08-17 |title=Mad Cave's DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH Wonderfully Subverts the Saturday Morning Cartoon Formula (Review) |url=https://screenrant.com/mad-cave-defenders-of-the-earth-review/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> Mad Cave released an issue #0 for Free Comic Book Day 2025 written by Ray Fawkes and illustrated by Russell Mark Olson.<ref>{{Cite web |last=madcaveteam |date=2025-04-30 |title=Celebrate Free Comic Book Day 2025 With Mad Cave! |url=https://madcavestudios.com/celebrate-free-comic-book-day-2025-with-mad-cave/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Mad Cave Studios |language=en-US}}</ref>

===={{anchor|Scandinavia and Nordic region}}Nordic region==== Egmont Publications has published original Phantom stories in a fortnightly ''Phantom'' comic book in Sweden as ''Fantomen'', in Denmark and Norway as ''Fantomet'' and in Finland as ''Mustanaamio''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tynninen.mbnet.fi/mustanaamio_index/ |title=Mustanaamio -julkaisut Suomessa. The Phantom publication in Finland}}</ref> (''Black Mask''). The first issue of ''Fantomen'' was dated October 1950, and over 1,600 issues have been published. The first story created originally for ''Fantomen'' was published in 1963, and there are a total of over 900 ''Fantomen'' stories. The average ''Fantomen'' story is over 30 pages, compared to 20–24 pages for most American comics. Artists and writers who have created stories for ''Fantomen'' include Dick Giordano, Donne Avenell, Heiner Bade, David Bishop, Dai Darell,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Jermayn |date=2021-05-04 |title=History of Female Phantom Writers {{!}} Chronicle Chamber Home of all the Latest Phantom News |url=https://www.chroniclechamber.com/post/history-of-female-phantom-writers |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Chronicle Chamber |language=en}}</ref> Georges Bess, Jaime Vallvé, Joan Boix, Tony DePaul, Ulf Granberg, Ben Raab, Rolf Gohs, Scott Goodall, Eirik Ildahl, Kari Leppänen, Hans Lindahl, Janne Lundström, Cesar Spadari, Bob McLeod, Jean-Yves Mitton, Lennart Moberg, Claes Reimerthi, Paul Ryan, Alex Saviuk, Graham Nolan, Romano Felmang and Norman Worker, and they have been nicknamed "Team Fantomen".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deepwoods.org/fstories.html |title=Team Fantomen Stories |publisher=Deepwoods.org |date=July 12, 2003 |access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref> The team have experimented with the character and his surroundings, with Singh Brotherhood leader Sandal Singh taking over as President of Bangalla<ref>''The New President'', by Claes Reimerthi and Sal Velluto</ref> and the Phantom and Diana having marriage problems.<ref>''Diana's Crisis'', by Tony De Paul and Felmang</ref> In particular, the team has elaborated on the Phantom's back story, producing a lot of historical stories for all twenty earlier Phantoms. In 2018, the Norwegian branch of Egmont issued a statement that the Norwegian Fantomet edition would get cancelled at the end of 2018,<ref>[https://www.tegneserier.info/press/det-siste-fantomet-bladet/ Det siste Fantomenbladet], Statement from the Norwegian editors. (Norwegian)</ref> thus leaving the Swedish edition as the only remaining edition in Scandinavia. The Phantom has been a noticeable part of culture in Sweden especially. Between 1986 and 2010, there was even a "Fantomenland" (Phantom Land) at the Parken Zoo in Eskilstuna in Sweden.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Strandberg |first1=Jonas |title=Den märkliga historien om Eskilstunas Fantomenland |url=https://www.cafe.se/nar-fantomen-flyttade-till-eskilstuna-historien-om-fantomenland/ |website=Café |access-date=14 February 2025}}</ref> Due to the strips and comics being exported without a coloring guide, old ''Fantomet'' and ''Mustanaamio'' comics had the Phantom wearing a light blue costume.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Fantomet | url=https://media.snl.no/media/27390/standard_374_FANTOMET.jpg | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523094518/https://media.snl.no/media/27390/standard_374_FANTOMET.jpg | archive-date=2022-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title=Musta Naamio | url=https://kauppa.acv.fi/image/catalog/acv/2023/3%20Maaliskuu/11/DSC_0634.JPG | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260210151903/https://kauppa.acv.fi/image/catalog/acv/2023/3%20Maaliskuu/11/DSC_0634.JPG | archive-date=2026-02-10}}</ref>

====Australia==== In Australia, the ''Australian Woman's Mirror'' began publishing the strip in 1936 and Frew Publications has published a fortnightly ''Phantom'' comic book since 1948, celebrating sixty years of uninterrupted publication in September 2008.<ref>[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/the-comic-that-will-not-die/story-e6frg8n6-1111117501004 The comic that will not die], ''The Australian'', September 20, 2008</ref> Although Frew's comic book primarily contains reprints from the newspaper strips, ''Fantomen'' (translated into English) and other Phantom comic books, it has occasionally included original stories drawn by Australian artists such as Keith Chatto. The editor-in-chief was Jim Shepherd until his death. Frew's ''The Phantom'' is the longest-running comic-book series with the character in the world,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://deepwoods.org/australia.html |title=The Phantom in Australia |publisher=Deepwoods.org |date=March 19, 2007 |access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref> and Australia's bestselling comic book.<ref>"''The Phantom'' is Australia's favourite comic hero, regularly out-selling the flashier, glossier Batman, Superman and Spider-Man by as much as ten-to-one". Russell Marks, [https://overland.org.au/2013/06/the-legend-and-the-phantom/ "The Legend and The Phantom"]. ''Overland'' Magazine, June 14, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2015.</ref><ref>Richard Rae, ‘The Comic Book Industry in Australia’, in Toby Burrows and Grant Stone (eds.) ''Comics in Australia and New Zealand: The Collections, The Collectors, The Creators''. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press, 1994, (pp.23)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ebook30.com/magazine/comics/140984/the-phantom-encyclopedia-2nd-edition-2008.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708000658/http://ebook30.com/magazine/comics/140984/the-phantom-encyclopedia-2nd-edition-2008.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-08 |title=The Phantom Encyclopedia – 2nd edition (2008) |publisher=Ebook30.com |access-date=2011-02-28 }}</ref> Frew ''Phantom'' comics appear in a number of Sydney Royal Easter Show, Royal Adelaide Show, Melbourne Show and Perth Royal Show showbags.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://perthroyalshow.com.au/showbags/ |title=Showbags / Perth Royal Show and the royal Melbourne show|publisher=Perthroyalshow.com.au |access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref>

In 2013, publisher Jim Shepherd, who had bought the rights from the original owners during the late 1980s, died of a heart attack. Shepherd had taken over the company and introduced some minor changes to placate King Features, which had become unhappy at Frew's treatment of its character. Shepherd's changes included glossy covers (replacing the standard newsprint covers), brief editorials, regular 100-page specials and, most significantly, an annual special of between 200 and 300 pages which included multiple stories and a standalone "replica" reprint of a very early Frew edition. Shepherd also embarked on an ambitious project to reprint the entire backlist of Lee Falk stories in their original formats: Frew's reprints had often been heavily edited to fit its 32-page format. Following Shepherd's death, Frew and ''The Phantom'' were continued by Shepherd's wife Judith until she sold the business to artist Glenn Ford and Rene White in 2016. Since then, the new "Frew Crew" (with new publisher Dudley Hogarth) have introduced a range of innovations: * ''Kid Phantom'', a standalone quarterly all-colour, glossy comic book aimed at children, with original material, illustrated by Dr Paul Mason and written by Andrew Constant. * ''Giant-Size Phantom'', a standalone quarterly comic book series reprinting Frew's other characters from the 1950s as well as ''The Phantom''. The title revives an earlier title published by Frew between 1957 and 1960. * ''Phantom's World'', a standalone quarterly comic book series which features Phantom stories from around the world, often seen for the first time in English, as well as original material.

====New Zealand==== King Features sold ''The Phantom'' to a number of New Zealand newspapers, included ''The New Zealand Herald''. ''The Phantom'' also appeared in a successful comic from the Wellington-based Feature Publications during the 1950s.<ref>"Wellington's Feature Publications was continuing to build on its successful line of re-packed comic strips with ''Jungle Jim'' and ''Mandrake the Magician'', but it was Lee Falk's other famous creation, ''The Phantom'', which became a sales phenomenon. The reprint series ran for 550 issues, from 1950 to 1960, making the jungle hero an icon for an entire generation of New Zealand children". Adrian Kinnaird, ''From Earth's End : The Best of New Zealand comics''. Auckland : Random House New Zealand, 2013. {{ISBN|978-1-86979-995-3}}, p. 31</ref> The Frew comics are also available in New Zealand. The Phantom wore a mustard-colored costume in older comics printed in New Zealand, due to also not receiving a coloring guide.<ref>{{Cite web| title=The Phantom | url=https://www.deepwoods.org/nz/fp543.jpg | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021116053127/http://deepwoods.org:80/nz/fp543.jpg | archive-date=2002-11-16}}</ref>

====India==== In India, ''The Phantom'' first appeared in ''The Illustrated Weekly of India'' in the 1950s. In 1964, the Indian publisher Indrajal Comics began publishing a ''Phantom'' comic book in English.<ref name="km">Karline McLain,''India's Immortal Comic Books''. Indiana University Press, 2009, {{ISBN|0253220521}}, (p. 30, 36).</ref><ref>" Indrajal published mainly stories from King Features, most famously including Lee Falk's ''Mandrake'' and ''Phantom''". Jeremy Stoll, "Telling stories and building community: making comics in India". ''Marg: A Magazine of the Arts'', December 1, 2014.</ref> Later Indrajal would also publish ''The Phantom'' in several Indian languages.<ref name="km" /> Over the years, other Indian publishers have printed Phantom comic books, the most prominent being Diamond Comics, Euro Books (formerly Egmont Imagination India), and Rani Comics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deepwoods.org/india.html |title=The Phantom: A Publishing History in India |publisher=Deepwoods.org |date=September 21, 2003 |access-date=2016-01-12}}</ref> The Telugu regional daily Eenadu published translated versions of Phantom comics during the early days of its Sunday supplements. Phantom is also published in Bengali and Hindi language in local newspapers. In Hindi it is published by Indrajal comics as character name Vetaal. They have also published it in Bengali as character name, Betaal.{{cn|date=March 2026}}

In the early 1990s, Regal Publishers from Kerala started publishing Phantom comics in Malayalam Language. After a gap, Regal Publishers have again started publishing Phantom comics in Malayalam in 2019. {{cn|date=March 2026}}

===={{anchor|Others}}Other countries==== Italian publisher Nerbini reprinted the Phantom strip in its weekly comic newspaper L’Avventuroso, starting in issue 101, September 13, 1936. In 1939, Roberto Lemmi and Emilio Fancelli started to produce some new stories.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Testate |title=L'Avventuroso |url=http://www.guidafumettoitaliano.com/guida/testate/testata/806 |website=Guida Al Fumetto Italiano |access-date=15 November 2020}}</ref>

Italian publisher Fratelli Spada produced original Phantom stories for their ''L'Uomo Mascherato'' (''The Masked Man'') series of comic books during the 1960s and 1970s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deepwoods.org/felmang_index.html |title=Felmang's Phantom Index |publisher=Deepwoods.org |access-date=2011-02-28}}</ref> Contributing artists included Raul Buzzelli, Mario Caria, Umberto Sammarini ("Usam"), Germano Ferri, Senio Pratesi, Angelo R. Todaro, and Romano Felmang. Ferri, Usam, Felmang and Caria later worked for ''Fantomen''. Brazilian publisher RGE and German publisher Bastei produced original Phantom stories for their comic books; in Brazil, the Phantom is known as ''o Fantasma'', and wore a red costume until 1990 due to printing issues that prevented the purple from being properly reproduced.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fantomet.org/hele_art/id/49/ |title=Fantomet på nett |publisher=Fantomet.org |access-date=2011-02-28 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723115817/http://www.fantomet.org/hele_art/id/49/ |archive-date=July 23, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In 1939, the Phantom appeared in the second story of the Yugoslav comic ''Zigomar'', "Zigomar versus the Phantom", as an opponent and then an ally of the title character.<ref name="zograf7">{{cite book|last=Zograf|first=Aleksandar|title="Umesto predgovora: Zigomar iza Zigomara", Zigomar: Maskirani pravednik|year=2011|publisher=Kulturni centar Pančeva|location=Pančevo|page=7}}</ref> In South Africa, ''The Phantom'' ran in Afrikaans newspapers as ''Die Skim''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2013/10/29/VB/6/kdraai26.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905090500/http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2013/10/29/VB/6/kdraai26.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-09-05 |title=Newspaper: Volksblad: Volksblad: Rubriek Kaapse Draai deur Johan van Wyk, date: 29 Oct. 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2005/10/20/VB/10k/10.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905091311/http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2005/10/20/VB/10k/10.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-09-05 |title=Newspaper: Volksblad: Briewe, date: 20 Oct. 2005 }}</ref> In the Republic of Ireland, the Phantom appeared in both the ''Irish Independent'' and ''Sunday Independent'' newspapers during the 1950s and 1960s.<ref>"Ireland's Most Popular Cartoon Character, ''The Phantom''". Advertisement in ''The Sunday Independent'', November 20, 1960 (p.22)</ref>

Also in 1939, the Phantom appeared in Turkey as "Kizilmaske", which translates to "Red Mask" in Turkish, by publishers Tay Yayinlari.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}} Originally, the publishers colored the hero's costume in red on the covers, and decided to stay with that color throughout the history of the comic in Turkey, rather than use the original purple coloring.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}} Under the name "Kizilmaske" and with color covers drawn by Turkish artists, older Lee Falk stories of the Phantom has since appeared in Turkish comic books primarily in black and white.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

===Reprints=== The entire run of the ''Phantom'' newspaper strip was reprinted in Australia by Frew Publications, and edited versions of most stories have been published in the Scandinavian ''Phantom'' comics. In the United States, the following Phantom stories (written by Lee Falk) have been reprinted by Nostalgia Press (NP), Pacific Comics Club (PCC) or Comics Revue (CR): * "The Sky Band", Ray Moore, November 9, 1936, CR * "The Diamond Hunters", Ray Moore, April 12, 1937, PCC * "Little Tommy", Ray Moore, September 20, 1937, PCC * "The Prisoner of the Himalayas", Ray Moore, February 7, 1938, NP * "Adventure in Algiers", Ray Moore, June 20, 1938, CR * "The Shark's Nest", Ray Moore, July 25, 1938, PCC * "Fishers of Pearls", Ray Moore, November 7, 1938, CR * "The Slave Traders", Ray Moore, January 30, 1939, CR * "The Mysterious Girl", Ray Moore, May 8, 1939, CR * "The Golden Circle", Ray Moore, September 4, 1939, PCC * "The Seahorse", Ray Moore, January 22, 1940, PCC * "The Game of Alvar", Ray Moore, July 29, 1940, PCC * "Diana Aviatrix", Ray Moore, December 16, 1940, PCC * "The Phantom's Treasure", Ray Moore, July 14, 1941, PCC * "The Phantom Goes to War", Ray Moore and Wilson McCoy, February 2, 1942, PCC * "The Slave Markets of Mucar", Sy Barry, August 21, 1961, CR

In its October 2009 issue, ''Comics Revue'' began reprinting the Sunday story "The Return of the Sky Band" in color.

As of August 2019, Hermes Press has reprinted sixteen volumes of Phantom dailies and five volumes of Phantom Sundays. Volumes nine and ten of the dailies also carry the color Sundays from 1949 to 1951, when the stories for dailies and Sundays were synchronized.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Phantom: The Complete Newspaper Dailies|url=http://www.comicvine.com/the-phantom-the-complete-newspaper-dailies/4050-44892/|website=ComicVine|access-date=October 27, 2014}}</ref> In 2011 Hermes began reprinting the Complete Gold Key Volumes 1 and 2 with issues 1–17 and King's complete ''Phantom'' issues 18–28 comics side by side.<ref name=DorklandHP>{{cite web|last1=Helton|first1=Christopher|url=http://dorkland.blogspot.com/2013/09/hermes-press-gold-key-comics-phantom.html|title=Hermes Press' Gold Key Comics The Phantom Reprints|website=Dorkland!|date=September 19, 2013|access-date=October 27, 2014}}</ref> The following year, it began reprinting the Charlton Years: Volume 1 through volume 5, issues 30–74. There was no issue 29, as Charlton started their series with issue 30) Hermes has also published a full-size Phantom Sunday Archives, 1939–1942.<ref name=ComicsRoundtableHP>{{cite web|title=Review: 'The Phantom: The Complete Series |url=http://captaincomics.ning.com/forum/topics/review-the-phantom-the-complete-series-the-charlton-years-volume-|website=The Comics Roundtable|date=April 2012 |publisher=Captain Comics|access-date=October 27, 2014}}</ref>

== Other media == {{Main|Phantom (character)#In other media}}

A live action serial titled ''The Phantom'' was released in 1943 stars Tom Tyler. As the alter ego of Kit Walker had not yet been introduced in the comic strip, the serial uses the moniker Geoffrey Prescott.

The 1986 animated series ''Defenders of the Earth'' is a team-up between The Phantom, Mandrake the Magician (another hero by Lee Falk) and Flash Gordon.

The animated series ''Phantom 2040 ''ran for two series between 1994 and 1996. It follows the 24th Phantom.

A live action film of ''The Phantom'' was released in 1996, starring Billy Zane.

A live action mini-series, ''The Phantom'', was released on Syfy in 2009 starring Ryan Carnes as the 22nd phantom.

===Tribal pop art=== 150px|thumb|alt=phantom shield|Photo of Phantom on shield|right During World War II, soldiers received care packages containing comics. The soldiers stationed in Papua New Guinea shared these comics, and the Phantom became extremely popular among the tribes. The Papuan people who could read English would read the stories and share the images with others; by the 1970s, they were available in Tok Pisin. The character's image is often painted on ceremonial shields or alongside other tribal art.<ref>{{cite web|title=Why Does This Comic Book Hero Appear on So Many New Guinea War Shields?|url=http://io9.com/why-does-this-comic-book-hero-appear-on-so-many-new-gui-1621448221|website=io9|date=August 14, 2014 |access-date=December 3, 2015}}</ref> This is sometimes referred to as "tribal pop art".<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/VnYZgX_PpyE Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20151202195521/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnYZgX_PpyE&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|title=Why Is THE PHANTOM Painted on Tribal Art|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnYZgX_PpyE|website=NerdSync| date=December 2, 2015 |access-date=December 3, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{sister project links|d=Q947755|c=Category:The_Phantom|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|wikt=no|s=no|q=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20170328130515/http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0027936/ The Phantom] on IMDb

{{Phantom|state=expanded}} {{King Features Syndicate Comics}} {{Golden Age of Comic Books}} {{Gold Key Comics|state=collapsed}} {{Portal bar|Comics}}

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