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| Checking in With Team Phantom |
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It's the aniversary that you probably haven't heard about - it's Phantom's 70th Anniversary and the team of Moonstone Comics' Phantom sat down with Newsarama to talk about the character and his role in comics today. Newsarama: First off with you Joe - a quesiton fit for a publisher. How did Moonstone get the publishing rights to the Phantom? Joe Gentile: Just persistence, really. We contacted the rights holders, and then, boom. Newsarama: What type of continuity does the comic have with the daily strip? Joe Gentile: Sorry, but absolutely none. Newsarama: Is this important considering that Moonstone also reprints the Graham Nolan Sunday strips? Joe Gentile: No, not a factor. The newspaper strip is it’s own entity. Newsarama: Is anything planned to coincide with the daily strip and the actual Anniversary date on February 17th? Joe Gentile: No, unfortunately, that is not under our jurisdiction.
Chuck Dixon: Wow, I can’t really remember. I was a newspaper comic strip follower from before I could read and the Phantom ran daily in the Philadelphia Daily News. It had to be there. Joe Gentile: For me, I remember the Phantom being in one of the Chicago newspapers, but I only was half interested in that. I believe when I purchased a used copy of one of the Phantom novels by Ron Goulart, That is what really made the character come alive for me. Rafael Nieves: In 1969, as a comic strip, right alongside Mandrake the Magician. Man, were they cool! Ben Raab: My first real exposure to the Phantom was actually the 1996 movie starring Billy Zane. I saw it on the flight back from Comic Con and was thoroughly entertained. Something about it really impressed me. I know there are a lot of mixed opinions about the movie itself, but the presentation of the character, in this one fan’s humble opinion, was particularly engaging. Zane’s Phantom was so mysterious and cool yet funny and vulnerable that you couldn’t help but root for the guy. A couple years later, as fate would have it, when I was presented with the opportunity to write the Phantom for Egmont Scandinavia’s Fantomen, I jumped at the chance largely due to how much I enjoyed the character as presented in that movie.
Pat Quinn: I remember seeing the strip in the newspapers as a kid, mid 70’s – 80’s, and I picked up some of the DC and Marvel books when they had the license. Vatche Mavlian: Oh man… I just knew he was one of the big ones from the 30’s. The Billy Zane movie was probably the first big introduction. Paul Guinan: I was too young to clearly remember. For me, he was a character like Superman or Batman,it seemed he had always existed since before my earliest awareness of super heroic figures. Gabriel Rearte: I read The Phantom for the first time in the Sunday strips, at the 7-8 years old... I remember cut and collect them, because I loved, then and now, the art of Sy Barry. The time passed, but that taste was increased, as a matter of choice.
Chuck Dixon: It’s a multi-generational tale of a mysterious, masked vigilante who protects the jungles of Bangalla. The title of Phantom is inherited and handed down from father to son. Mike Bullock: While the Phantom is officially the oldest super hero character to ever appear in the pages of a comic book, he is a unique in that he has no super human powers to help him out; instead, he relies on his imagination, skill and willpower to overcome his enemies. And while he’s been around for over seventy years, his charisma, values and motivations are timeless, making him just as appealing today as he was in the 1930s. Paul Guinan: He’s like Tarzan in a sense, a European raised in an African jungle who becomes a protector of the helpless and an agent for justice. But I prefer the Phantom to Tarzan, because the Phantom’s got a mask, costume, and guns. Plus he’s got a secret cave headquarters with treasure, libraries, and super-smart pets! How cool is that?! Vatche Mavlian: A buddy of mine called him a cross between Tarzan and Batman… that’s pretty good. He’s a very versatile character and brings a lot to the table. Pat Quinn: I’ll borrow a page from Beau Smith’s book and call the Phantom a bare-fisted, gun-totin’, square-jawed, romancin’, stand-up-for-the-little-guy, manly man! He’s a character with strong moral fiber and rich legacy, look for “Legacy” in March boys and girls.
Gabriel Rearte: The Phantom is not your usual superhero, limited for their powers or his capability to give justice, or make her to respect. He is a deeply human hero, with limits and contradictions. Her goodwill and determinations are powerful, together with their distinctive attributes: the collective spirit and a feel of ownership. Joe Gentile: The Phantom is a man who’s entire lineage has been dedicated to wiping out crime. Much like Clark Kent is just the secret identity of Superman, Kit Walker is just a guise for the Phantom. In his realm, he is viewed as a somewhat mythical personage, for he is “The Man who Cannot Die”. For centuries, there has always been a Phantom, so to those not close to him, it seems like he’s been alive for hundreds of years, when in fact, The Phantom has been 20 generations of Walker sons. His whole existence is focused on being an instrument of justice, and he is both revered and feared. Ben Raab: Two words: BAD. ASS.
Rafael Nieves: For me, it’s always been the idea of the Phantom as an immortal, the very idea that his legend is so great, it spans time and generations. Joe Gentile: I really think that the Phantom’s mystique, that he is this “Ghost Who Walks” type of being is really a cool mix with just being a regular, non-super powered, guy. His stories are very Indian Jones action-adventure. Then, on top of all that, he is just kind of a smart ass, which is how Lee Falk originally created him. Pat Quinn: As I’ve said before, I think his history is great, but also the dichotomy between the action-adventure persona and the family-man persona are pretty interesting to me. Mike Bullock: The mystique of the Phantom. The legends strike fear in the minds of the bad guys, while comforting those who have good in their hearts. The Phantom has an innate ability to make the villain’s own imagination work against them. So, while he has no mutant/alien/meta or other superhuman power, he is still larger than life and easily able to convince those he’s after that they’re combating someone they have no chance of besting. Comics are all about engaging the imagination of the reader, and it’s doubly enjoyable when doing that with a character who engages the imagination of his adversary. Gabriel Rearte: His sense of ownership, his courage and valor to defend and protect... This leads to a capability to assume responsibilities without take advantages unfairly: he's the hero in his classical and original nature, in his most legendary sense.
Chuck Dixon: A masked dude who rides a horse, owns a wolf, carries a Colt .45 auto and is feared by the international underworld. What’s not to like. Vatche Mavlian: Action. Newsarama: While the Phantom enjoys tremendous success internationally and as a syndicated comic strip, why has it not seen the Superman and Batman level of success as a comic in the US? Joe Gentile: That is a very good question. Obviously a few companies have tried it before us, and really didn’t make it the long haul. I believe there might be some kind of preconception that the Phantom is “old school”. See, the Batman has been around almost as long, but he is constantly being published. The Phantom has had many long gaps between publishing ventures, so he is not consistently in the public eye.
Pat Quinn: Certainly that’s the biggest struggle with any characters. I know that Ben and I tried to keep the stories topical but fun. I think that’s a big part of it fun. Not silly, but just a good ride. Ben Raab: I think the best way to do that is to just tell good, solid stories that push the character in new and different directions while remaining true to the essence of the concept. Otherwise, the character gets stagnant and the concept gets stale… Not to mention dated. Which, in my opinion, is death for good comics. Also, you have to speak to the minds and aesthetic sensibilities of today’s readers. That doesn’t mean you have to follow any trends or anything like that. I just think you have to understand who the potential audience is now, not seventy years ago, not fifty years ago, not even ten years ago, and make sure they have a damn good time whenever they pick up a Phantom comic. Paul Guinan: The series’ greatest strength is its timeless quality, including the ageless jungle setting and anti-piracy mission. My favorite aspect of the Phantom is that the character is almost automatically updated as the mantle gets passed down from father to son. Other than that, I don’t think it needs to be “modernized,” just done right. In fact, for this project I deliberately avoided depicting any details that would fix the story at a specific time, which helps keep it relevant in the future. Gabriel Rearte: Today, the key to maintain attainable, graphically saying, the character, is to give him the life and the proximity that gave him, in the past, people like Bill Lignante or Seymour Barry; a capability to express at the same time that gentle breeze of legend, and the best ideals and aspirations of the human being that lives in society. Rafael Nieves: I try to find problems and situations in the real world, and drop the Phantom character into them, in an effort to make him respond to things that might be outside his norm. I have an interest in world problems, and to see the Phantom try to resolve these conflicts, in his own small way, is fun. Frustrating, but fun! Mike Bullock: My first arc touches on themes you’ll find in today’s news. By taking the character and pitting him against modern threats and contemporary villains, we hope to allow readers to relate to the character. I’m also toying with a different approach to the character that I don’t think has been done before by anyone other than Lee Falk himself, and then only briefly, but I can’t talk about that just yet. Chuck Dixon: It’s not that hard. The concept is timeless. Like Batman or Tarzan, I think it’s only a matter of getting the character out there and readers, no matter their age, will be intrigued. Joe Gentile: Like all of us are saying, really, we just put the Phantom into a scenario that is about what’s happening in the world today and watch him go.
Pat Quinn: I’m not sure that I’m the right person to answer that one. Browsing some message boards, my guess would be that the aforementioned dichotomy and fun would be part of his success. Ben Raab: The Phantom is the quintessential hero. A normal man with only the strength of his mind and body who opposes insurmountable odds and does so with a smile on his face and good in his heart. He’s also a family man who loves his wife and kids. The list of the Phantom’s qualities which have universal appeal just goes on and on… I think that’s what attracts readers the world over. Oh, and yeah… He’s a BAD ASS! Chuck Dixon: It’s classic adventure stuff. There’s really no surprises there. Lee Falk’s creation is immortal. Vatche Mavlian: He’s very straight forward… his symbol is a skull! Many of today’s better known characters have borrowed something or other from the Phantom. He’s an original that hasn’t faded away.
Joe Gentile: I think there is a universal appeal to a character that has no superpowers but is a trained fighter, someone who has strong core beliefs, and someone who will stand up for what’s right. Mike Bullock: The Phantom is a true archetype, embodying the same traits that make characters such as Conan, Tarzan, John Carter, James Bond, Indiana Jones and Lara Croft timeless, international successes. No matter where you were born, what culture you live in and what nation you hail from, these character traits are universally appealing. Everyone likes a man who can stand up for what’s right, have the cleverness to overcome his challenges, the strength to make it happen and the charisma to make it all look easy. Rafael Nieves: There is a consistency to the character that hasn’t changed in decades. A reader can pick up any issue of the Phantom, from any era, and know what is going to happen. No continuity problems here! Gabriel Rearte: In my humble opinion, I think that the implicit adventure in the life of everyday, of course: he's “The Ghost Who Walks”!,, no matter if events have place in Central Park or in the deep forest of Bangalla, is a common note in all their classic tales of sharp rhythm, signalized for moments of calm, expectative, bold and vibrating action, etc. All these are happy characteristics that would fit to a big audience, in all times. In short: proximity, thickness of the characters, rhythm, and the necessary distance with the protagonist that make possible to identify with him. Newsarama: What do you have planned for the Phantom’s 70th Anniversary? Gabriel Rearte: I feel very recognized, and fortunate!, to have plenty participation in this very special event, and to share this run with Mike, Bullock. There are very good vibrations and I feel a real partnership with him and Joe, Gentile,... This character is being honored and treated with all respect. As far as I am concerned, I'm glad to make my contribution along with so many an so good artists that gave their own vision of the Phantom. My homage of gratitude for them is the best work that I am capable! Mike Bullock: Ben Raab and Pat Quinn have Phantom: Legacy coming soon, which will be a landmark for all Phantom Phans and something new readers can also get onboard with to introduce them to the Ghost Who Walks. This should come out amidst Chuck Dixon and Eric J’s spectacular two-issue arc. After that, Gabriel Rearte and I take over the regular series for what we hope will be a very long run.
Joe Gentile: Well, we have the ultimate Phantom origin called “Legacy”, which is by Ben Raab and Pat Quinn. It is a very unique showcase for this well filled out tale. So even if you know the origin story, there is more of it here! Then, we also have “Man-Eaters” by Rafael Nieves and Vatche Mavlian, which is a 96pg color “wide vision” book. Just a great combination of emotional art and story coming together. The, we’ll have the 72pg “wide vision” “Law of the Jungle”, which should showcase the mystique of this great character like never before. I have written a Phantom story entitled “Law of the Jungle” that’s being drawn by the incredibly gifted Paul Guinan. This tale will be a 72pg original graphic novel. My goal was to see the Phantom from, well, the bad guy’s point of view, an outsider looking in. There is a lot of action, as well as some creepy “head games”, and I think the ending will surprise some folks. Ben Raab: As homage to Lee Falk’s genius and in honor of the Phantom’s 70th birthday, I humbly submit to the canon The Phantom: Legacy… A 96-page re-telling of the origin of the Ghost Who Walks as written and illustrated by the very first Phantom himself in the 16th century, although, forsooth, I did all the writing and Pat Quinn did all the drawing,. In prose format with spot illustrations accompanying the text, it’s basically our take on how the first Chronicle of the Phantom would read if such a thing actually existed. It is, without a doubt, one of the most daring and ambitious projects I’ve ever done for any publisher and I’m honored Moonstone gave me the chance to do it. I had a blast working on this book and hope the fans will enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. Pat Quinn: Puttin’ on some stripped undies and going crocodile wrasslin’!!
Pat Quinn: Selling my stripped undies on e-bay. Mike Bullock: Celebrating his 75th anniversary. [wink] Joe Gentile: Sometimes there are “too many cooks in the kitchen”, which has delayed many of our projects. We have recently streamlined that a bit, so we look forward to producing more Phantoms than we have previously, telling special tales, and showing our true Moonstone take on the character. Ben Raab: I’m actually taking some time off from the character and letting some other writers have their way with him. I have every faith Mike Bullock will pick up the torch I’ve helped Moonstone rekindle and take their ongoing series in many exciting new directions. And I, for one, really look forward to reading those stories! Newsarama: How did you approach the Phantom visually? Paul Guinan: For this graphic novel I employed a technique called paintography, which is a blend of photography, painting, and drawing. It’s the same style I used for Heartbreakers Meet Boilerplate, the graphic novel I created with my wife, Anina Bennett, last year. The end result is very naturalistic looking, and I’m portraying the Phantom as he’s drawn in the newspaper strips: muscular but lean, not overbuilt like a steroid case. I think it makes him a little easier for readers to identify with, and it lends the story a more cinematic quality. I did try to beef him up a bit more than Billy Zane in the Phantom movie, which I consider one of the top five superhero films to date.
Mike Bullock: I’m assuming you mean predate the current Phantom, as all but the first were known as Kit Walker. If that’s what you mean, the answer is yes, I definitely do have plans for earlier Phantom tales. Pat Quinn: Why yes of course, and it’s funny that you use the term “legacy”…as that’s the name of a big comic coming out in March from Moonstone. It’s the first publication of the first Phantom’s story told from his hand…don’t ask me how Joe got in to the Skull Cave and swiped this from the Chronicles. Newsarama: Do Devil, Hero, Dart and Joomba naturally lend them selves to stories or do you have to figure out how to fit them in? Mike Bullock: They definitely lend themselves well. Devil and Hero are just as much a part of these stories as Tonto is a part of Lone Ranger lore. Chuck Dixon: They’re a terrific ensemble and it’s never hard to fit them in. As with any strong supporting cast, the hard part is making sure they don’t dominate the lead character. Pat Quinn: I let Ben worry about that. Me am draw pictures. Ben Raab: Like they say in Hollywood, “Never work with kids or animals.” I have to admit, I have a hard time writing Devil and Hero… I mean, they don’t talk, they don’t take direction well. Devil’s always licking himself… Hero keeps dumping all over the place… It’s a freakin’ mess! Rafael Nieves: I don’t know about the other writers, but it can be a chore to include Devil in my stories. Trouble is, I’m so fond of that darn wolf, I always try to make it work! Joe Gentile: I think that the idea that the Phantom has a pet wolf has to be in every story that I touch. I mean, really, what other character has that kind of pet? It brings a certain human element to the Phantom, as he deals with his animal friends.
Joe Gentile: The idea has to be really big! For instance, like “the ultimate origin story of the Phantom”. OK, that’s big, you see. It just has to be a big enough “event”, as well as the actual story having “teeth” and resonance. Newsarama: What type of Phantom merchandise can we expect to see in 2006? Joe Gentile: We will have more comics, more TPB’s, original graphic novels, plus a new format of comic we call “wide vision”, which will make folks take notice! We may have a few more tricks up our sleeves, we’ll see. Newsarama: What could you tell fans that haven’t given Moonstone’s Phantom a try? Joe Gentile: I believe that those who like Batman stories that are action based, Spiderman’s quips, And Indiana Jones type adventure, would not be disappointed with our Phantom tales. The character may have been around for 70 years, but his stories are very much from today. Rafael Nieves: If you’re looking for a character that has a very defined, very rigid moral center, an action-adventure hero that has remained constant for generations, give the Phantom a try. He’s being presented by some of the best writers and artists around… and I’m writing Phantom stories, too!
Mike Bullock: It really boggles my mind that there are so many comic readers in the US that aren’t reading this series. It has all the ingredients of a success story. Classic character, big name writers, Chuck Dixon, Ben Raab,, great artists, Pat Quinn, Doug Klauba, Eric J, Gabriel Rearte,, and everything else that makes super hero fans crave comics. If you love the mystique of Batman, the human elements of Spider-Man, the poise and benevolence of Superman or the “Man’s man” appeal of Conan, then you should be reading the Phantom. Vatche Mavlian: Everything you want in a comic book, nothing you don’t need and no bad aftertaste! Ben Raab: Old jungle saying: “The Phantom has a thousand eyes and a thousand ears.” So pick up the book, because you never know when he’s watching YOU… Chuck Dixon: It’s more Phantom. If you’re a fan, how could you resist? If you’re not, this is a great place to jump on. Pat Quinn: Fun! Fun! FUN! Newsarama: This one is for Mike Bullock. Why did you agree to become the new regular series writer for The Phantom? Mike Bullock: After the success of my Image series, Lions, Tigers and Bears, I was given a choice to write many different ongoing series. Out of all the choices, I picked the Phantom. Why did I do that, you ask? Well, simply put, the character excites me. Moreover, in addition to everything I said above, how many other comic characters have such a rich history yet still offer such a wide-open field of possibilities. I have a span of four hundred years I can play in, as well as the opportunity to delve into the future. That’s not something I can do with most other existing properties. |
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