Product Description: Nearly five centuries ago, pirates took the life of merchant ship captain Christopher Standish. In the heat of the battle aboard the ship, Standish's son was knocked overboard to wash ashore on a remote beach. After stumbling upon the body of his father's killer, young Standish swore an oath on the murderer's skull to devote his life, and the lives of his sons and their sons, to the destruction of piracy, greed, cruelty and injustice. To the outside world, this man, seemingly immortal, has always worn the mask. As the legend grew, it transcended the life of any one mortal. And that legend became The Phantom!
Super Reader An ok anthology this one. A limited resources type publisher, so it is a trade paperback sized book, but a cheapish one.
The story average here is 3.24, hampered by the fact that a couple of the entries are not up to professional writing standard. If they were, this would be close to your solid 3.5 book. As it is, I'll give it a bonus for the cover, and actually having a go at a superhero anthology, which is certainly worth something for fans of the Phantom.
The other thing is that some of the takes can see The Phantom as grim and humourless, and far more aggressively violent than the comic strip version - perhaps taking their cue from Moonstone comics work, which appears to be like that.
The best work here is at the end, barring Henderson, Murray and Oliveri.
Phantom Chronicles : 01 White Knight - Mike Bullock Phantom Chronicles : 02 The Ghost Who Dies - Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith Phantom Chronicles : 03 Debt Of Honor - C. J. Henderson Phantom Chronicles : 04 The Fastest Animal - Ron Fortier Phantom Chronicles : 05 Truth Or Consequences - Jim Alexander Phantom Chronicles : 06 Stranger From Walker's Table - Will Murray Phantom Chronicles : 07 The Servants Of Set - Michael Oliveri Phantom Chronicles : 08 Here There Everywhere - Nancy Kilpatrick Phantom Chronicles : 09 Bad Medicine - Mike Bullock and Ed Rhodes Phantom Chronicles : 10 House Of Ghosts - David Bishop Phantom Chronicles : 11 The Promise - Grant Suave Phantom Chronicles : 12 Not That Kind Of Girl - Trina Robbins Phantom Chronicles : 13 Lessons Learned - Richard Dean Starr Phantom Chronicles : 14 Reflection Of the Ghost - Dan Wickline Phantom Chronicles : 15 A Ghost Without Yesterday - Dan Michelinie Phantom Chronicles : 16 The Hungry Swamp - Martin Powell Phantom Chronicles : 17 The Ghosts Who Walk - Craig Shaw Gardner
Rescuing Diana and her driver, from Aid robbers.
3 out of 5
The only female Phantom's son is jealous and goes for the doppelganger act.
2.5 out of 5
In a big surprise, The Ghost Who Walks breaks a pirate leader out of jail.
3.5 out of 5
The Phantom comes across Diana and a young assistant who have been attacked by Aid robbers.
3 out of 5
The Phantom is involves in an anti-ratzi castle spy operation.
3 out of 5
The sixteenth Phantom has some land pirates to deal with in the Old West.
3.5 out of 5
Pirate and cultist, a hard task for The Ghost Who Walks, with many hostages to rescue.
3.5 out of 5
The only female Phantom comes out of retirement for Jack the Ripper.
3.5 out of 5
The Phantom has to stop an athletic poisoner.
2 out of 5
A girl will be pleased to see the big purple variety that walks.
3 out of 5
A slaver ship to deal with, for the Phantom.
3.5 out of 5
An actress looking for work ends up as a stand-in goddess in a nazi Xenium plot.
3.5 out of 5
Another impostor tries to kill the Phantom, this time a hitman with honour.
4 out of 5
A dodgy German is dealing in super ammo, but a tough woman helps out The Phantom.
3.5 out of 5
The Ghost Who Walks comes to New Orleans, to help an old friend who runs an animal shelter.
4 out of 5
A trap is laid at an old hotel for the Phantom, but he does have help.
3.5 out of 5
3.5 out of 5
Phantom adventures The reason I bought this book is because I've long been a fan of the Phantom via its comic strip even since I could remember. I have to admit that I've been hooked to the Phantom as far as I know, and couldn't get enough of him! Oh, WOW!! I also hope to obtain more novels of the 'Ghost Who Walks'!!
Phantom Prose Rocks!
As a dyed in the (purple) wool Phantom fan, any collection of NEW Phantom prose is welcome. The quality of the 17 stories easily matches the comic book series published by Moonstone.
With a forward by Valerie Falk, contributions from Phantom scholars Ed Rhoades (consultant/artist/author), Will Murray (Doc Savage/Shadow) and accomplished authors David Michelinie, Mike Bullock, , C J Henderson, Ron Fortier, and Craig Shaw Gardner, the variety is outstanding. Disney artist extraordinaire Ruben Procopio's art is a good addition to the tales.
It's hard to pick out a favorite, but many capture the spirit of the Phantom very succinctly.
Can't wait for the 2nd volume.
Tim Lasiuta www.moonstonebooks.com
Lee Falk would be proud. These stories are bringing The Phantom back to life and doing it very well. There is one story I found to be a long stretch, but I'm not reviewing stories, but a volume of stories. In this volume the Deep Woods call, The Ghost Who Walks remains undying, justice prevails over the darkness of the world, and even when The Phantom seems helpless, he is just about ready to make his next move. A must for any Phantom fan! Quoth the Raven...
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