So Moonstone keeps The Phantom while Dynamite tries out (what appears to be) Ultimate Phantom. OK, I can see that the owners might want to try expanding the line. If we're lucky, then we'll have twice the Phantom to enjoy.
Thanks for the heads up Dougy. Keep your fingers crossed everybody!
Ticktock
As long as the Moonstone crew keeps up the great work they've been doing with the Phantom, I'll keep reading it.
Not too sure about this whole Dynamite business....
It was John Cassaday for Moonstone's Phantom #1 that got me introduced to the Phantom. I had seen (and enjoyed) the Phantom movie. Since then I have picked up every Phantom item that Moonstone has published as well as all their western titles, the Spider and Phantom prose anthologies. I am very happy to hear that Moonstone still has the license to make Phantom comics. What about The Spider? Was the anthology just a one shot item, or will there be a comic series as well. I'm looking forward to Airboy and pretty much everything else Moonstone is doing. You guys are awesome.
Now I seem to be in the minority here, but I enjoy most of Dynamite's books. Lone Ranger I absolutely adore, and Zorro is fantastic as well. I also pick up The Boys, but that's mostly due to Garth Ennis. I am interested in how two different companies can hold the license to one character. Is it possible that neither have an 'exclusive' license?
Either way, I am excited to see what Moonstone does with the Phantom as well as what Dynamite does.
Thanks for listening,
MikeM
The only Dynamite books I've read have been Superpowers #0 and a few of their Battlestar Galactica series all of which left me feeling very cold. I hate to say it, but I'm not holding my breath as to the quality of this book.
There have been yet
MORE developments with this with Dynamite basically accusing Joe Gentile of stuffing everything up and causing a delay of two years before we see D.E.s comics.
According to the article Joe jumped the gun and caused a mess around with the rights. Dynamite is going to wait until Moonstone's right to the character run out (in two years time) before releasing their own series.
It;s kind of bitter sweet, get still get Moonstone but only for two years. Still, I'd like ot hear Moonstone's reply to the article.
That whole interview looks a little hinkey to me. I just can't see Joe and Co. letting the Phantom go like that.
Joe's response was great. Professional and I am looking forward to seeing more Moonstone Phantom!
MikeM
Joe's response was much more professional than Nick's self-love. The more I read of the the more respect I have for Moonstone and the less I have for D.E.
D.E. has treated this like a public argument while Moonstone have been quite certious to all. D.E. is really not doing themselves a lot of good with this...
The Dynamite spokesman makes it sound as though Moonstone will not have the license at all after the next two years. Why? Will Moonstone not be able to renew again? I far prefer Moonstone's Phantom over what Dynamite is proposing. King, hear that well.
What I am interested in seeing is -- from which ever publisher will produce them -- quality reprint volumes of classic Phantom newspaper stories. Would love to see the first few Phantom Sunday stories published in color, in the same size as Fantagraphics' past Prince Valiant volumes. I also wouldn't mind seeing some American reprints of the Egmont stuff, as I've only seen some sample panels and pages in online articles.
I think D.E.'s spokesman is engaging in wishful thinking. If they don't put out a quality product ASAP and prove they can contribute to King Features pocketbook, then Dynamite is going out with a whimper in two years. That said, I'm still hoping we have twice the Phantom goodness in the near future.
On reprints, I've seen very little of the Egmont stories so I'd love to see them done well. The Prince Valiant books are an excellent example. I do have a reprint copy of the title put out by Wolf a few years ago. Good stuff, picked it up in Birmingham when the convention there was held at the Custard Factory.
Ticktock