Moonstone Forums

A quick question for Mr. Bullock:

Now that your run has finally started (with positive reviews and all, I am happy to observe), and the character's been re-introduced, are you intending to write stories that will give him conflicts on an emotional level?

I think the problem with too many Phantom stories is that he most writers are not interested in the man behind the legend. How does it feel for this guy, to live up to his bizarre family legacy? Why would anyone sacrifice their own happiness for the sake of doing good to others, because of an oath your forefather swore back in 1536? In his college days, where he met Diana Palmer, was he ever tempted to ditch his real mission in life, marry her and find a "proper" job, living as an ordinary man? To sum it up, I would really like to get more into his psyche from time to time, to see how it feels for an ordinary guy to live his life as an immortal legend.

There are so much stuff like this that's barely been touched in the character's 70 years of continuous publishing, and I really wish someone could hear my pleads (Egmont never did).

I agree %110 Walker, great idea!

I always thought one interesting aspect is his legend of immortality.  His take on this hasn't really been addressed much.  

Everyone thinks he cannot die, so he has to act accordingly.
What others think is his confidence because he is 'The Man Who Cannot Die' is actually bravery, because he knows he has to act like an immortal while facing danger.

Issue 14 & 15 are very much about a conflict on an emotional level juxtaposed with a rather immense physical conflict as well.

I'm also plotting #20 right now, which also looks at an emotional issue, but through the eyes of one of his ancestors.

That's a great point, which I have not even thought about. Daredevil is said to be "the man without fear", but the Phantom truly has to be fearless, as his legend depends on it. Mark Verheiden captured how it feels like trying to act the role of an immortal jungle legend very well, in his DC run, where the Phantom was worried if he could really handle the task laying before him.

Excellent.
There's so much that can be touched here... It's naturally that Lee Falk never really did it. Newspaper strips needs to be fast paced to draw the reader's attention, but I find it strange that Egmont have only started with the "getting a bit underneath his skin" only quite recently.

Falk did cover this in the story The Normal Life in which the Phantom sees what it would be like to give up his role as Ghost Who Walks. It's a brilliant story and one of my personal favorites.