Similarly, it can be argued that our phantom named his white stallion “Hero” getting inspired from the name of the third phantom’s horse. Again, can’t really call that an error.
The 21st Phantom's horse was already named Hero (actually Royal Hero) when he got him, so it can't be a case of the 21st being inspired by the 3rd. Nevertheless, I feel that in the case of the Moonstone annual the writer probably just thought, "Hey, the 21st Phantom has a wolf, so all previous Phantoms probably had a wolf too. And the horses name must have been the same for all Phantoms aswell".
If anything, it’s Moonstone’s claim that this is the first ever phantom annual that is a bit hard to swallow.
I think than when the annual was first announced, Moonstone did in fact call it "the first ever American Phantom annual on at least some occassions. Can anyone confirm?
Still, when publishers use "first ever" in their marketing it's most often about being "first ever" in their respective market. And even if it's incorrect it can generate som buzz :grin:
We have already seen Nolan’s terrific work in Sundays & in annual. So I will be thrilled if moonstone can utilize his all-too-apparent artistic talents for future phantom stories also.
Agreed!
As for Barry, what can I say? If moonstone can convince him to come out of his retirement & draw, even if just one, phantom story for them, and hopefully Mike Bullock will write a special story for that issue(but featuring our 21st phantom), then that certainly will be a collector’s item.
That would be a sensation. Maybe a full-length story is too much to ask for, but perhaps a 10-page segment in an upcoming annual...? 
Andreas, I am really glad that you have reminded me of the correct position about how Phantom got hero & that he was already named royal hero when Phantom met him.
Actually, I had read this story years ago but don’t have it with me right now, and so it slipped out of my mind. However, I do have November, 1967 issue of King Comics with me, which featured “The Story of Hero”, and in that story, King Surobi gifts Phantom a white horse for rescuing his daughter & it was Phantom who says that he will call the horse “Hero”. So since I have read this comic many times, that’s what I remembered. But you rightly pointed out the official position and so I stand corrected. Thanks again.
Andreas, I know such little details hardly matters, but I don’t think the presence of a wolf in the skull cave during the story of the third phantom is a mistake. We can confidently assume that third phantom also had a pet wolf. Remember, in the 1991 Falk story “The Fourth Son” (S137), the then Phantom (can’t remember his number right now, sorry) too had a wolf which Barry showed as a mirror image of our own Devil. So it looks like the third phantom too shared this hobby of his descendents of domesticating wolves.
Similarly, it can be argued that our phantom named his white stallion “Hero” getting inspired from the name of the third phantom’s horse. Again, can’t really call that an error.
If you one want to every every such "error" can easely be explained in the way you did, or as a mistyping of words!
If on the other hand, the publisher take a more mature reaction they said "I am sorry" to the fans who cares for such "little details" that surely matters, and tried to make it right next time.
If anything, it’s Moonstone’s claim that this is the first ever phantom annual that is a bit hard to swallow.
I think than when the annual was first announced, Moonstone did in fact call it "the first ever American Phantom annual on at least some occassions. Can anyone confirm?
Yes, they said it was the first AMERICAN annual, not the first in the world.
Okay, read it yesterday, and boy, it was great fun. This is perhaps the most fast-paced Phantom story in history.
My favorite chapter was definetely the one by Rafael Nieves. A fun, action packed story that doesn't take itself too seriously. The airplane sequences were simply thrilling to read! Moonstone, please get this man to write more Phantom stuff for you. I can't wait until Man-Eaters arrives from Amazon.
Also, Tony Bedard's work is great, with Allan Goldman's art being a revelation. What a spectacular looking Phantom! I would love to see both of these guys do more Phantom stories in the future. Another one abot the clearly screwed up 11th Phantom would be very interesting. What a nice way to make the character differ from other Phantoms.
Both Dixon and Marz's stories were fun too, and I think Mike managed to write a satisfying conclusion to the tale (although two or three more pages for this chapter would have been great). Temur Singh looks interesting, and I look forward to see more of his plans in the future.
This story was a blast!
I know this is late but thanks to the good folks at Big Brain Comics in Minneapolis I just picked up a copy during my recent business trip. Well, there are five chapters of this story dealing with a dragon broken among several fragments of a jade dragon. What actually occurs is the same two different stories told a couple of times.
One: The Phantom enters the encampment of some indigenous people, overcomes a Singh invading force, and discovers a piece of the jade dragon that was with the indigenous the whole time. This story is told twice.
Two: The Phantom goes aboard a ship at sea, confronts a Singh obstacle, and dives overboard with a piece of the severed jade dragon. This story is told three times;
The best of the first type of story is Chapter 3 written by Chuck Dixon. Nothing makes this version stand out over the other version, which occurs in Chapter 4, it's just that Chapter 4 has enough going against it to make it the lesser of the two. That would include the simple answer to the monk's riddle and the final panel showing that the monk had a psychic premonition of the Phantom's arrival.
The best of the second type of story, and indeed the best of all the chapters by far, is Chapter 2 written by Tony Bedard. This chapter has everything going for it. First the artwork surpasses everything else in this annual. Second, the period dressing that The Phantom wears was striking and very authentic in its feel. The splash page of The Phantom throwing off his British redcoat is fantastic.
Third, there is the characterization of the 11th Phantom. In the short space allotted you discover a lot about this Phantom. His crusade has cost him his wife, and presumably family although children are never specifically mentioned. This Phantom is bitter and somewhat overly driven, at the cost of what makes him human. Unlike the devil-may-care attitude of the other Phantoms the 11th is far more dark.
And while I would not like this to be the predominant tone of the Phantom it does showcase why I think the Phantom is a better character than, say Batman. The 11th Phantom mourns the loss of his relationships because it gives ultimate meaning and context to his family crusade. The Batman has forever rid himself of those ties and thus has become his own greatest enemy.
The worst of the bunch is Chapter 5, for many reasons. First, the Phantom brings the four found remnants of the jade dragon at the request of some Asian mystery woman. Why would he risk bringing the pieces of a weapon so close together in an unsecured setting? Well, as we're told by the SIngh henchman this particular Phantom likes the skirt, and that makes him do all sorts of stupid things. Like getting captured for instance. But not to worry the Singh Boys have got their own special case of the stupid. For instance, only three goons are brought along to combat a supposed immortal (all in matching green, herringbone ties no less). And after all heck breaks loose and the Phantom makes his move, instead of shooting the guy, they all come a running right into the Phantom's fist. Whoops.
And even though the the five pieces have been brought together, which according to the rest of the book should bring out the dragon, we're told the dragon master must be of "pure blood." The Phantom jokes that the Singh guy must have skipped that part, well it seems all the previous writers skipped that part too. When he realizes the lifelong quest of the Singh isn't going to pan out he proves to be a little smarter than his hired goons and starts shooting at the Phantom. He apparently misses the first time but the Phantom obligingly turns his back and gets plugged.
Well alls well that ends well and the Phantom decides to store the five pieces of a dragon that can now only be summoned by a "pure blood" (whatever that means) in his Skull Cave instead of destroying what might still prove to be a dangerous thing to have around.
Good thing we have the story of the 11th Phantom to make this a decent read, if not a consistent one.
This was a fun read.
Nice to see the various Phantoms in different historical periods. Always liked when they did that in the newspaper strip.
The art on every section was great. Loved the Phantom's look in part two!
Got to agree that the grand finale was the weakest section. Good fight scene, but the bit about 'pure blood' was mentioned and nothing seemed to be done with it and the dragon was an evil cloud?
Didn't I see something similar in the second Fantastic Four movie?
Glad to hear you guys are going to keep doing annuals. Might be fun if in the annuals focused on the past Phantoms while the ongoing was the modern guy.
...and the dragon was an evil cloud?
In Chinese mythology a dragon is often cited as coming in the form of a massive storm. Hence the storm clouds coalescing into a dragon.
Glad to hear you guys are going to keep doing annuals. Might be fun if in the annuals focused on the past Phantoms while the ongoing was the modern guy.
The lineart on Annual #2 is progressing nicely. The story, however, features the modern Phantom, with Mandrake, Guran and Lothar as well.
The next past Phantom story will be #26.
Well, if you're doing a Mandrake/Phantom team up, you can be as modern as you want.
Much as I like historical adventures, I'm a sucker for a good team up story.