The Phantom - The Curse Of The Two-Headed Bull!

The Curse of the Two-Headed Bull is the final novel in the now long-ago series "The Story of the Phantom" from Avon Books starring Lee Falk's legendary comic strip creation. It sports a dynamic George Wilson cover and was written in 1975 by Carson Bingham from Lee Falk's and Sy Barry's "The Curse of the Sacred Image". 

This story begins in one of the settings which I detest about the Phantom -- the Isle of Eden. This is an  isolated island on which animals, predator and prey exist in harmony. I cannot imagine why Falk thought this was a good idea. It does suggest that the Phantom has some association with Jesus, but that's a lame idea. 

But while enjoying some time in this paradise the Phantom finds a man floating just off the shore. He rescues him and knows he a local fellow named Murph. Soon after being saved, he died. Then the Phantom gets a message that a sacred idol has been stolen. This idol is one of great importance and historical significance and the Ilongo tribe which lost it attaches all their good luck to its presence. Only a member of the tribe is allowed to touch it without calling down a curse, according to legend. One member of the tribe stole it, and the Phantom follows the trail to London. Sure, enough Diana Palmer tags along and sure enough she gets kidnapped by the perps to hold as leverage against the Phantom. We also see quite a bit of evidence that the curse of the idol just might be real. The scene shifts from London to a small kingdom of Suda-Kalara and Diana is made part of a harem. The Phantom is able to locate her and the idol, and his rescue is a bravura moment in the series. The idol is returned and the luck it brings returns. 

For whatever reason, this final installment of the Avon novel series proved to be a slog. I don't blame the book, but it is a bit more of a dense read than some of the breezy adventures which have come before. Still and all, it's a fascinating ending to a venerable series. I'm incredibly happy that Hermes saw fit to reprint these blasts from my past. It proves the Ghost Who Walks works in more mediums than just comics. 

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