Now technically The Phantom - The Ghost Who Walks is not a Marvel Select branded production, but it was produced in the same year as the others and functions in pretty much the same way. Maybe the decision was to keep it a "regular" Marvel comic because Marvel was also producing The Phantom: 2040 at this time. Whatever the reason, we have here a distinctly different kind of Phantom story and a distinctly different kind of Phantom.
For the first thing, this isn't the same Phantom who occupied all those strips by Lee Falk and Phil Davis and /or Sy Barry and others over the decades, but it's his son the 22nd Phantom, a speculative Phantom of the future. It's a somewhat gritty future, one in which the Phantom feels the need to armor up a bit, using more tactical equipment on his outfit other than some sturdy leather and purple silk outfit. This is a Phantom ready to go to war and it's war which might well break out if he's unsuccessful in his mission.
He's up against some especially sordid villains who are wanting to reinstall a deposed leader in the local area. He's someone the 21st Phantom sent packing and someone that might just be the reason for his demise. The goal is to obtain control of diamonds and making sure the government of the area breaks down is just a step in the direction of getting that control. The baddies have hired some pretty effective Aussie mercenaries and one in particular seems bent on getting over on the Phantom and does a pretty decent job of it. This is a tough one with blood flowing and bullets flying and unlike the comic strip real death for our hero is a possible outcome.
These are three darn good issues of Phantom storytelling by writer Dave DeVries and artist Glenn Lumsden. It's gritty stuff with more than a nod to David Lloyd's spin artistically on The Watchmen. These are not your granddaddy's Phantom stories and they are worth your time if you can find them.
Rip Off
No comments:
Post a Comment