World's Oldest Superhero, the Phantom, Getting a Modern Update

Thanks to American publisher Moonstone Publishing, The Phantom, considered by most historians to be the first masked hero to appear in a comic strip, will be getting a modern update in spring of 2009.

The modern update will be coming in the form of a new comic book series The Phantom: Ghost Who Walks, slated for release in February of 2009.

Unlike previous comic book revamps that include a new look or identity, something that even the legendary Superman hasn't been immune to, this revamp will not update the character's look, but the stories that he's featured in. Changes to the secret identity of the Phantom are nothing new; a distinct part of his mythos is that the first son of each generation carries on his father's tradition after his predecessor's death.

The publisher promises that the Phantom will be thrust into the modern age by featuring him in dark, edgy stories inspired by world events, ripped from the headlines if you will.

Written for Moonstone by Mike Bullock and illustrated by artist Silvestre Szilagyi, the creative team is joined by superstar writer David Michelinie, writer of Marvel Comics' Iron Man, now a successful film franchise. Michelinie will be acting as a story consultant.

The initial story of the series will see the Phantom in modern day Northern Africa, trying to save lives when a fanatical terrorist group targets a U.N. peace-keeping mission, aiming to become high-profile martyrs for their extreme cause.

The Phantom was created by comic creator Lee Falk, and first debuted in a newspaper strip in 1936, beating probably the world's most popular masked hero, Batman, to print by a full three years. Falk's original stories were set in the dark African Congo of the 1930's, fighting headhunters, pirates and other villains of the time. Falk's character, like his bat-winged counterpart, used superstition against his enemies. Villains believed him to be a ghost thanks to a costume inspired by a mythical African spirit. Falk's Phantom would later inspire a film adaptation in 1943 starring Tom Tyler, another in 1996 starring Billy Zane, and a new project slated for 2009 by screenwriter Mark Brewington.

The press release from Moonstone says that, in a way, this re-vamp is actually returning to the characters roots, closer to the gritty stories set in a dark African jungle that Falk originally created. In over 70 years since his creation that Phantom character had become distilled and toned down by various publishers in order to reach a wider audience.

Falk's original comic strip would outlive many imitators, becoming the most successful adventure comic strip in history. In 1962 Falk teamed with artist Sy Barry on the strip, with Barry doing illustrations. Falk and Barry's team-up brought world-wide fame to the strip. Barry drew the strip for 33 years, longer than any other artist, until he retired in 1994. To commemorate the new redirection of the character Barry has illustrated a special limited edition cover for the first issue. Falk passed away in 1999.

For now Moonstone seems to be hoping that bringing the character up-to-date and targeting a more mature audience than previous decades will breathe new life into a character that although often overlooked, influenced much of the comic industry we know today.

Sources:

Press Release contact contact_us@moonstonebooks.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sy_Barry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Falk