Australia plans to reboot "The Phantom"

[RJDiogenes]

Is it possible to come up with a definition of "classic" for popular culture that translates as something more sophisticated than "we're used to it," or a definition of "iconic" other than "it's popular enough for people to recognize it?"

"Stands the test of time."

You'd like to think, but post-postmodernism is not going to respect that shit either. The moving finger writes...

Maybe so. But culture moves in cycles, and we're overdue for a rebel generation....

Okay, you just gave me the perfect cue to plug THE PHANTOM: GENERATIONS, a new comic book miniseries that is covering the entire history of the Phantoms, one issue at the time. By amazing coincidence, my issue (featuring the 12th Phantom, back during the French Revolution) comes out in a few weeks!

I've been buying that book, so I'll be seeing your issue when it comes out.

 

[Nerys Myk]

The most amazing thing about the Phantom is that he is so obscure in the US.

Here in Sweden, there have been a Phantom comic book since the 50:s, and it is still one of the few comics still going strong with about 26 issues/year.

The Phantom is even "adopted" by scandinavia, in a way, due to the fact that most stories are written here nowadays.

He was pretty popular in the US back in the 30s and 40s as a comic strip. 100,000,000 readers. Odd he originated many of the trappings of the comic book hero, but has met with mixed results in that format in America. Though it seems that many strip characters never took off in the books.

 

[coolghoul]

You know, The Phantom's background provides a unique opportunity to tell a multigenerational story over a period of centuries. You have the potential to introduce up to 21 (22 if you count an update of young Chris or Heloise) different actors/actresses to play The Phantom.

Okay, you just gave me the perfect cue to plug THE PHANTOM: GENERATIONS, a new comic book miniseries that is covering the entire history of the Phantoms, one issue at the time. By amazing coincidence, my issue (featuring the 12th Phantom, back during the French Revolution) comes out in a few weeks!

Way cool for the pic!

I think the Billy zane costume was pretty bad. I give it points for the 1930s era, having Hero and Devil but the story was just too crazy/magical for me. But I enjoyed Treat Williams' scenery chewing.

In any new version, they have to get the costume right. And I think the above is neat way of doing that. The newspaper strip - it still runs in the Houston Chronicle - now features a blue (as opposed to purple) costume.

You can read Phantom in the dailies like I do by going to the Houston Chronicle pages
The current storyline is about Phantom trying to destroy Chatu, a terrorist who blew up the UN building where Diana Palmer-Walker worked and Diana is feared killed in the blast. Young Kit and Heloise are still in living in the jungle but the Phantom (the 21st I think) is out and about with a female ship captain who has high hopes of becoming Mrs. Walker. Little does she or the Phantom know that Diana is alive...

 

[Teelie]

I believe Sam Raimi intends to reboot The Shadow.

Completely unrelated and off topic but my first kiss was during that movie. I don't remember much about the movie. I've never actually thought to rent it again or anything either.

 

[KB24]

The Phantom is obscure in the US? Really? I've been reading it all for years, beginning with my Dad's vintage Harvey Hits and Four Color comics. Doesn't everyone know and love The Phantom? We had a hockey team here in Philadelphia called the Phantoms even, and their colors were orange and black from the Flyers parent club and purple for The Phantom.

I weep for those who don't know who the Phantom is.

And way back I suggested Defenders of the Earth as a film because you don't put all your bank on one particular character. If you make one comic movie and its a bust then you end up with reboots and stalls and all kinds of crap. If you make a Defenders of the Earth movie and see which of your heroes looks like the break out star, then you can off shoot. This worked for X-Men, but I hear all the Avengers ideas of multiple films and origins has been canned.

You can't win.