Once again, let me start with a disclaimer: I love, love, love Charlton's version of the Phantom. The stories by Steve Skeates and Jim Aparo during the late 60s were as good as anything else on the spinner rack at that time. The stories scripted by golden oldie Dick Wood, however, are hit and miss. The Phantom #32 misses, badly. The story has something to do with a supposedly resurrected Egyptian mummy who happens to wear the same garb as the Phantom. The Phantom (of the 'Walker Phantoms') hits the Nile to investigate. A power play ensues and the Pharaoh Phantom is triumphant, throwing the entire raison d'êtreof the actual Phantom into question. In the end, the Ghost Who Walks discovers the lame sneakiness of the Pharaoh Phantom and exposes him as a fraud. The ending is supposed to be 'electric' but is more fizzle than sizzle. Not even Aparo can save this one. For Phantom completists only (that's me, I guess).
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
You've Been Warned: The Phantom #32
Once again, let me start with a disclaimer: I love, love, love Charlton's version of the Phantom. The stories by Steve Skeates and Jim Aparo during the late 60s were as good as anything else on the spinner rack at that time. The stories scripted by golden oldie Dick Wood, however, are hit and miss. The Phantom #32 misses, badly. The story has something to do with a supposedly resurrected Egyptian mummy who happens to wear the same garb as the Phantom. The Phantom (of the 'Walker Phantoms') hits the Nile to investigate. A power play ensues and the Pharaoh Phantom is triumphant, throwing the entire raison d'êtreof the actual Phantom into question. In the end, the Ghost Who Walks discovers the lame sneakiness of the Pharaoh Phantom and exposes him as a fraud. The ending is supposed to be 'electric' but is more fizzle than sizzle. Not even Aparo can save this one. For Phantom completists only (that's me, I guess).
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3 comments:
Oooh, I don't know, man. Charleton's The Phantom #32 was one of my favorites as a kid. I was quite into the "alternate" hero theme at the time. Brave & Bold having a Bat-Hulk and a ghostly "Phantom Flash". Granted, this actual story wasn't as dynamic as most of the other Charleton Phatom issues, but the cover of the alternate Phantom more than made up for it.
I like kooky stuff as much as the next guy - but it just doesn't work here. This ish is a thorn amongst the roses that Skeates/Aparo & Co. did at this time.
This nr was THE ONE who give me cold feet.
I really belive this number is the best Jim Aparos art work ever.
Jason
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