Only a Fool Crosses The Phantom! The Phantom #1 Review

By Daniel Schwartz

Reviewer | Pastrami Nation

Publisher: Mad Cave
Writer: Ray Fawkes
Artist: Russell Olson

The Phantom first swung into action 89 years ago in the pages of newspaper comic strips. Since then, The Ghost Who Walks has been in all kinds of media, from comic books to movies. Thanks to Mad Cave, The Phantom and his signature purple costume return to the printed page in The Phantom #1.

In the African country of Bangalla, a drug-smuggling plane has crashed in the jungle near the village of Bandar. The Phantom springs into action to save the smugglers before the plane explodes. Unfortunately, for the residents of Bandar, the crash has brought the smuggling kingpin Asif Singh into their hidden sanctuary. After threatening the local tribe and taking over the village, Singh must face the vengeance of The Phantom!

When I saw that Mad Cave was publishing a new Phantom series, I could not wait to read it. The Phantom is a great old-time hero in the style of Buck Rogers or The Lone Ranger. Ray Fawkes does a great job mixing some of the campy tones of the series with the serious subject matter of a drug smuggler. The result is a fun story that not only reintroduces people to the Man in Purple but also presents him with an impossible situation against a powerful foe that could alter his home forever.

Like the writer, artist Russell Olson perfectly balances the campy with the serious subject matter. The drug kingpin Asif Singh has a threatening look and jumps off the page as a terrifying villain.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Pastrami Nations. An entertaining re-introduction to a classic hero with a fantastic story and great artwork.