Moonstone Forums

Just finished reading Phantom 21-23, first three instalments of Checkmate arc. Not an easy task this, for someone in India. Must admit though, very exciting story. Mr. Mike Bullock deserves a lot of praise for some really thrilling stuff. Just one problem, why do contemporary writers appear adamant on involving Diana in a big way in almost all Phantom stories? Wall

Will try reading 24 shortly, though if my “reliable sources” are to be believed, I can skip 24 and jump straight to 25 without missing much. If that’s indeed the case, it means only one thing- 24 is not that great an issue. Hopefully, if and when I read 24, my “reliable sources” will be proved wrong, and I will be the happiest person if that happens.
Anyhow, I am really looking forward to issue no. 25 and Phantom annual 2, because it features my favourite fictional character-MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN.
MANDRAKE FANS WORLDWIDE UNITE AND BUY AS MANY COPIES OF MANDRAKE COMICS AS YOU CAN SO THAT MOONSTONE CANNOT CANCEL MANDRAKE COMICS CITING LOW SALES.
MR. JOE GENTILE, IF YOU EVEN THOUGHT OF CANCELLING MANDRAKE COMICS CITING LOW SALES, I WILL COME ALL THE WAY TO THE US AND WILL SIT ON A FAST-UNTO-DEATH OUTSIDE THE MOONSTONE OFFICE. SO BEWARE. thumbs up

Now, pardon me, fans, but since I am writing a post on this forum after ages, I will share with all of you all Moonstone related thoughts encroaching my mind write now.
First of all, Phantom issue number 5-6. I have been thinking of saying this for a long time, finally getting down to it. While I liked the story “Damnation game” very, very much, with some very nice action-sequences, the artist’s rendition of the Phantom in this story is nothing short of pathetic. Showing phantom’s eyes throughout the story, goodness me, what a mess! Thankfully, we don’t find such drawing of the “phantom” (wearing black specs and not mask) in the moonstone comics any longer. This horrible drawing of the phantom proved an irritant which somehow dampened the enjoyment of an otherwise very good story.
Again, issue number 12-13. It will always remain an enduring mystery for all fans why Mike Bullock thought of presenting two separate stories as a single, two-part story, because to my mind, the link between the story presented in 12 with that presented in 13 is tenuous at best.

They could easily have been two separate stories, one showing phantom capturing poachers and another showing him fighting a madman named Ortega.
Anyway, I wish to state that TO THIS DAY, I HAVE FAILED TO UNDERSTAND WHY A MAJORITY OF THE FANS THOUGHT THAT ISSUE NO. 13 WAS ONE OF BULLOCK’S WEAK EFFORTS. IN MY OPINION, ISSUE NO. 13 IS A VERY GOOD ONE, AND MIKE DESERVES PRAISE FOR THAT ISSUE. A weakened, hallucinating phantom, imagining all sorts of horrible things due to an overdose of “manic” and still beating a very dangerous foe, I really liked issue 13. Thanks Mr. Bullock for a very thrilling, action-packed issue. The problem is again the artwork, as I never liked Carlos Magna’s artwork. But Bullock story, as well as the way phantom’s nightmares are presented in no.13 makes for a very thrilling reading. Dance

Anyway, waiting for no.23 and annual 2 now, as well as mandrake comics.

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sherlock Wrote:

Just one problem, why do contemporary writers appear adamant on involving Diana in a big way in almost all Phantom stories? Wall

I disagree, as I love seeing Diana being used in a cool new way. All Egmont's used her for for years now has pretty much been as a victim of kidnapping (which Moonstone did too recently, obviously. If there's a Guinness record for kidnapping, Diana owns it prodly). I loved the way Ben Raab made Kit Walker play second-fiddle to her when they appeared in public together; he was just the husbond of the important United Nations woman who stole the spotlight (not that Kit would want attention anyway).

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Again, issue number 12-13. It will always remain an enduring mystery for all fans why Mike Bullock thought of presenting two separate stories as a single, two-part story, because to my mind, the link between the story presented in 12 with that presented in 13 is tenuous at best. They could easily have been two separate stories, one showing phantom capturing poachers and another showing him fighting a madman named Ortega.

Totally agree. I really enjoyed them both. Maybe the shift in tone from issue to issue upsetted some?
Besides, Ortega is the coolest opponent the Phantom has had for years. I would love to see the Ghost Who Walks get something of a regular "rouges gallery" that he just can't seem to beat completely, like Batman and Spider-Man has (as long as the writer can keep them interesting, that is).

I agree with you on most points there Sherlock.

However, I would strongly suggest that you DO read issue #24. While I do feel that it is the weaker of the four parts released thus far it sets up some things that are sure to be very important in issue #25. I won't say what these things are because I don't want to spoil it for you but I'd say if you don't read #24 you'll be scratching your head in #25.

As for Diana, I agree with Walker. I think that she is a brilliant character who has for way too long been ignored. Ben Raab did an excellent job with her in his issues and I hope with the re-launch Mike gives her more to do. The same (to a slightly lesser extent) goes for the twins.

I really didn't like #13. Mike knows this any he hasn't grilled me for it. IMO it just didn't run very well as a cohesive story. Yes, I understand that the Phantom was supposed to be drugged up and out of it but that doesn't mean the story has to be incomprehensible. Watch the film Requiem for a Dream, or even Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas to see how stories about drug fueled folks can still make sense to the viewer.

Nice post thought man, you raise some interesting points.

sherlock Wrote:

Just finished reading Phantom 21-23, first three instalments of Checkmate arc. Not an easy task this, for someone in India. Must admit though, very exciting story. Mr. Mike Bullock deserves a lot of praise for some really thrilling stuff. Just one problem, why do contemporary writers appear adamant on involving Diana in a big way in almost all Phantom stories? Wall

Thanks for the praise, Sherlock. We're all really glad everyone seems to be enjoying the arc.

As for your other point there, Diana did not have a big role in issues 12-20. In fact, the Checkmate arc was the most I've used her so far.

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Will try reading 24 shortly, though if my “reliable sources” are to be believed, I can skip 24 and jump straight to 25 without missing much. If that’s indeed the case, it means only one thing- 24 is not that great an issue. Hopefully, if and when I read 24, my “reliable sources” will be proved wrong, and I will be the happiest person if that happens.

While #24 may not have been all out action, there's definitely stuff going on you'll need to know. ESPECIALLY the end.

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Again, issue number 12-13. It will always remain an enduring mystery for all fans why Mike Bullock thought of presenting two separate stories as a single, two-part story, because to my mind, the link between the story presented in 12 with that presented in 13 is tenuous at best.

They could easily have been two separate stories, one showing phantom capturing poachers and another showing him fighting a madman named Ortega.

I think the big disconnect with this arc is
1) I wrote part one months before I wrote part two (normally I write an arc as one big story, where I sit down on page one of the first issue and don't stop until I've done the last page of the last issue) and
2) the change of artist from Gabriel to Carlos. I really loved Carlos' work and wish he would have done the entire arc and then some, but since his exit brought on Silvestre (who I think is rapidly becoming the best regular comic book artist the Phantom has ever seen), I'm happy it rolled out like it did.

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Anyway, I wish to state that TO THIS DAY, I HAVE FAILED TO UNDERSTAND WHY A MAJORITY OF THE FANS THOUGHT THAT ISSUE NO. 13 WAS ONE OF BULLOCK’S WEAK EFFORTS. IN MY OPINION, ISSUE NO. 13 IS A VERY GOOD ONE, AND MIKE DESERVES PRAISE FOR THAT ISSUE. A weakened, hallucinating phantom, imagining all sorts of horrible things due to an overdose of “manic” and still beating a very dangerous foe, I really liked issue 13. Thanks Mr. Bullock for a very thrilling, action-packed issue. The problem is again the artwork, as I never liked Carlos Magna’s artwork. But Bullock story, as well as the way phantom’s nightmares are presented in no.13 makes for a very thrilling reading. Dance

I'm glad you "got it". Some people did and some didn't. That's the problem when trying to be experimental. Some will dig it, some won't. Thankfully, it seems a lot more did than didn't. Grin

#25 should be in stores any time now, with that gorgeous Doug Klauba wrap around cover. So, I look forward to reading your thoughts on it once you've had a chance to stop drooling on Doug's art long enough to read the story.

sherlock

Walker

Dougy

Mike Bullock