I know of only one shop in my city that carries Phantom (like 5 copies). I buy my regular books from a guys basement so he orders my books from Previews. I can understand why MS would want to hold off on putting on trades. There are many people who don't even buy books anymore. They just wait for the trade. I am sure that simply churning out trades on quick succession at the end of a story arc, would hurt sales.
Having come on board with the highly-publicized #17 (and I don't think I'm the only one) I would love to have one thick hardcover of #1-16, to catch up. (Like GODLAND did recently.) I'm not too wild about teeny-tiny 4-issue softcovers.
Having come on board with the highly-publicized #17 (and I don't think I'm the only one) I would love to have one thick hardcover of #1-16, to catch up. (Like GODLAND did recently.) I'm not too wild about teeny-tiny 4-issue softcovers.
The first four issues are in one trade, and issues 5-11 look to be complied in the second trade, followed by 12-19 in the third trade and 20-25 in the fourth.
Doing a giant hardcover would be extremely expensive, but, Joe and I have discussed doing a giant black & white ala DC's SHOWCASE or Marvel's ESSENTIALS style books, where 1-20 are all put in one volume. However, since #20 won't be out for several months, I wouldn't expect the giant B&W book until at least mid '08.
There's also talk of doing one book containing Legacy, Man-Eaters and Law of the Jungle, but that would also be out later next year.
In the meantime, they just solicited the "Get Back On The Horse Pack" that offers 14,15,16 & Man Eaters in one package.
There's also talk of doing one book containing Legacy, Man-Eaters and Law of the Jungle, but that would also be out later next year.
I suggested this somewhere on the forum a while back, and it's extremely cool to see you are actually considering it. :mrgreen: 
Well I'm going to go out on a limb here and gues that it's going to be a long time comming before you get a tpb for the Phantom. I don't think that it would be that financially viable for a company like Moonstone. DC only started in the past year or so in putting out trades shortly after story arcs wrap up. TPB's tend to eat up profits from monthlies. Making readers unlikely to go out and hunt down back issues.
If Phantom books are so hard to come by where you live ( I know of only one comic book shop in Toronto that carries it) you might want to consider subscribing. Or buying on ebay.
personally I'd love to see more tpbs. Even though I have the separate issues I prefer to read tpbs. If the contents are as Mike described I will be satisfied, although I still think it would be nice to do a special book with Damnation Game (#5 and6) with Man-Eaters, since these stories are tied together.
personally I'd love to see more tpbs. Even though I have the separate issues I prefer to read tpbs. If the contents are as Mike described I will be satisfied, although I still think it would be nice to do a special book with Damnation Game (#5 and6) with Man-Eaters, since these stories are tied together.
While I agree with that idea, it would make the other trade (7-11) odd sized in comparison, but I'll pass your request on to Joe. 
thanks, Mike!
If Phantom books are so hard to come by where you live ( I know of only one comic book shop in Toronto that carries it) you might want to consider subscribing.
If it had been possible to subscribe on The Phantom, I would have done it long ago. Unfortunately, it isn't.
It's possible to subscribe to Phantom at any number of mail order stores.