Moonstone Forums

Well I got this issue today. I haven't read the issue in it's entirety and found it remarklable for one thing.

NO ANNOYING QUIPS!!!

Yes this was a Phantom who was more reminscent of the Phantom I grew up on. He sounded like an adult male and a hero. Not an adolescent on a sugar rush. I also liked the fights, I thought they were brutal. But again this is personal. So it would make sense for the Phantom to reac that way.

Oh and I liked the artwork. Thank you whoever for not having the Phatom bundled up like some knock off of a 30's film noir detective.

I really am glad that Mike took (some) of my criticisms and improved on it. Not that I need Mike to listen to me necessarily. But I just like it when an author is secure and mature enough to listen to (constructive) fan feedback. Not getting all huffy and turning into an entitled 'prima donna' who thinks that no one should criticize them. Creators who behave like this not only make me disinclined to continue purchasing the book they are writing. But also from touching anything with their name on it.

I read this issue today and really, really enjoyed it! It's not often we see the Phantom portrayed in a dark way so it was interesting seeing him like that. Sometimes I forget that the Phantom is just a man but this issue really drives it home that he isn't, the fight between the Phantom and the leader of the gang brillianty shows this!. An awesome, gripping read all around Artist Carlos Magno did a wonderful job with the artwork and his style really suited the darker style. The only problem I could find with the artwork was that I didn't really like the way Kit Walker was drawn. The Phantoms dialogue was a HUGE step up in comparison to issues #12 and #13!!

I'm really pumped for the coming issues, Mike Bullock has really hit his story telling stride with this arc and I can't wait to see where he takes the character

Well done, Mike Bullock & Carlos Magno.
This is an utterly enjoyable, action-packed comic.
Fast paced story which again conveys to all phans, new & old, that Mike is eminently suitable to write Phantom stories and Carlos Magno’s artwork nicely complimenting the overall tone & tenor of the story, there’s never a dull moment. And fighting scenes are really, really thrilling.
Thanks Mike Bullock & Carlos Magno for this really exciting read. Really looking forward to future issues now.
And once again, I will repeat- moonstone; if mike can keep writing more such stories and artists like Carlos are ready to do the artwork quickly enough, make phantom a monthly affair. We don’t need any break between story arcs, for God’s sake.

And one final point, while there’s no doubt that all cover artists are doing a good job, but if Doug Klauba is reading this post, then Doug, I really wish to tell you, now that I am not seeing your painted covers on phantom comics, I am missing them a lot. So please come back & restart giving us those painted covers for the phantom.

I'm glad you liked it, Emma. I do have to confess that this issue was written long before I ever read any of your criticisms for my previous issues. However, I do take your comments to heart and use them to improve. Keep 'em coming!

I'm happy you enjoyed it, Brucey. I really wanted to do some characterization so that new readers could see how our hero became the man he is today. The events in Childhood of the Phantom show where he was, and current stories prove where he is, but I've found very few tales that tell us how he got there. Hopefully, 14 & 15 is one of those stories.

Thanks for your comments, Sherlock, I'm glad you're enjoying the series.

While I'd like nothing more than to have the book in stores every 4 weeks no matter what, it's just too much of a strain on a small publisher such as Moonstone to do that. Thankfully, the current schedule has put seven new Phantom books on the store shelves in the last six months, so that's something to smile about for sure.

You haven't seen the last Doug Klauba Phantom cover, that's a fact.

I didn't have emma's problem with the quips. I kinda like the quips personally. Still, with them, without them, makes no difference it was still a great story and (with apologies to those who enjoyed Civil War and the aftermath) with all of the Marvel "Civil War" debates and Captain America hype machine when I got to the last page and read the Phantom's words there my response was "Well, hallelujah and amen! SOMEONE GETS IT!" So thanks Mike. Thanks for "getting it", thanks for giving me a superhero to read last week who is honestly a good guy. Not a guy without flaws, not a guy who doesn't struggle to make the right decision, but a guy who, in the end, makes the right decision.

Also, nice little touch in Magno's artwork there at the end as well -- having the Phantom's son mirroring his father's posture. Shows subtly how much the boy looks up to his father and how much, in the end, he wants to be the same kind of man his father is.

BTW -- any plans for showing the relationship between Phantom and daughter? It seems that, with the Phantom legacy being a male entitlement, often the female memebers of the Walker line get a little short shrift.

Thanks for the nice review, Tonya.

Heloise will play a rather large role in issues 21-23. And sometime after issue 25, I have plans to do a story on Julie, the one and only female Phantom. Stay tuned!

Female Phantom? That sounds so cool!!!

I read the issue yesterday. The posters before me said it best, so I'll just add: Very good job. I'm hooked.

Keep up the great work!

Generally not a huge fan of 'heroes that vow never to kill get pushed into situation where they may break that vow!' stories, but this was done better than most.

Loved the old jungle sayings sprinkled throughout.

Also nice that in Africa, the Phantom is a legend, in the USA he's basically Batman.

Again, great fight scenes and the Phantom had just the right grim feel to him.

Street gang was kind of generic evil guys. Does the Phantom have a rogues gallery or has he always just fought terrorists, mobsters and poachers?

Each issue has been better than the last, so I'm going to be sticking around.

Read it yesterday and absolutely loved it. Brilliant issue!

The speech the Phantom gives as he defeats the gang leader sent shivers up my spine. Definatly the hightlight of the issue - amazingly written!

It was a very powerful issue and actually surpassed part one. The emotion in this book is amazing, very tense stuff.

Well done Mike, your script was perfect.