{"id":34765,"date":"2026-01-18T09:00:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T09:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=34765"},"modified":"2026-01-16T17:43:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T17:43:24","slug":"the-phantom-the-complete-series-the-gold-key-years-volume-1-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2026\/01\/18\/the-phantom-the-complete-series-the-gold-key-years-volume-1-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Phantom – The Complete Series: The Gold Key Years volume 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" \"\"
\nBy Bill Harris<\/strong> & Bill Lignante<\/strong> with George Wilson<\/strong> (Hermes Press)
\nISBN: 978-1-61345-005-5 (HB\/Digital edition)<\/p>\n

This book includes Discriminatory Content<\/strong> produced in less enlightened times.<\/em><\/p>\n

In the 17th<\/sup> century a British sailor survived an attack by pirates, and, washing ashore in Africa, swore on the skull of his murdered father to dedicate his life and that of all his descendants to destroying all pirates and criminals. The Phantom<\/strong> fights crime and injustice from a base deep in the jungles of Bengali<\/em>, and throughout Africa is known as the \u201cGhost Who Walks…<\/p>\n

His unchanging appearance ad unswerving quest for justice have led to him being considered an immortal avenger by the credulous and the wicked. Down the decades one hero after another has fought and died in an unbroken line, and the latest wearer of the mask, indistinguishable from the first, continues the never-ending battle.<\/p>\n

Lee Falk created the Jungle Avenger at the request of his syndicate employers who were already making history, public headway and loads of money with his first strip sensation Mandrake the Magician<\/strong>. Although technically not the first ever costumed hero in comics, The Phantom<\/strong> was the prototype paladin to wear a skintight bodystocking, and the first to have a mask with opaque eye-slits.<\/p>\n

He debuted on February 17th<\/sup> 1936 in an extended sequence pitting him against a global confederation of pirates – the Singh Brotherhood<\/em>. Falk wrote and drew the daily strip for the first two weeks before handing artist Ray Moore the illustration side. The Sunday feature began in May 1939. For such a successful, long-lived and influential series, in terms of compendia or graphic novel collections The Phantom <\/strong>has been very poorly served by the English language market. Various small companies have tried to collect the strips – one of the longest continually running adventure serials in publishing history – but in no systematic or chronological order and never with any sustained success.<\/p>\n

However, even if it were only of historical value (or just printed for Australians, who have long been manic devotees of the implacable champion) surely \u201cKit Walker<\/em>\u201d is worthy of a definitive chronological compendium series?<\/p>\n

Happily, his comic book adventures have fared slightly better – at least in recent times.<\/p>\n

In the 1960\u2019s King Features Syndicate dabbled with a newsstand line of their biggest stars – Flash Gordon<\/strong>, Mandrake<\/strong>, Popeye<\/strong> and The Phantom<\/strong> – but immediately prior to that, the Ghost Who Walks held a solo starring vehicle under the broad and effective aegis of veteran licensed properties publisher Gold Key Comics.<\/p>\n

This superb chronological compendium gathers the first eight issues – cover-dates November 1962 through August 1964 – and, as explained in fan\/scholar Ed Rhoades\u2019 Introduction \u2018The Phantom and the Silver Age\u2019<\/em>, offers newspaper strip tales originally illustrated by Wilson McCoy that were adapted by original scripter Bill Harris and redrawn in comic book format by Bill Lignante. The Phantom<\/strong> was no stranger to funnybooks, having appeared since the Golden Age in titles such as Feature Book<\/strong> and Harvey Hits<\/strong>, but only in straight strip reprints. His Gold Key exploits were tailored to a big page and a young readership. The fascinating history lesson is also augmented by pages of original artwork and ends much too soon for my elevated tastes, but if you\u2019re a fan of pictorial adventure there\u2019s plenty more to enjoy.<\/p>\n

Each issue was fronted by a stunning painted cover by George Wilson and the excitement kicks off here with \u2018The Game\u2019<\/em> (The<\/strong> Phantom<\/strong> #1, November 1962) as the international man of mystery encounters Prince Ragon Gil<\/em>, whose idea of fun is to pit abducted, bought or bribed strangers against ferocious beasts. When an interfering masked man closes down his warped games, the eastern potentate swears vengeance and kidnaps the hero\u2019s fianc\u00e9e Diana Palmer<\/em>. His plan is to force the interloper to play his savage game, but it\u2019s his last mistake…
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

That premiere issue concludes with a single-page recap of the legend of The Phantom before #2 (February 1963) resumes the wildwood wonderment with \u2018The Rattle\u2019<\/em> as an exploit from The Phantom\u2019s ancestral past flares up again after tiny bird-riding barbarians start stealing from the local tribes. The current ghost must crack the casebooks of his forefathers and penetrate a most inhospitable region to get to the bottom of the mystery and bring peace back to the jungle…<\/p>\n

A second story taps into contemporary Flying Saucer interest as our hero encounters aliens intent on conquest. Thankfully, the purple-clad subject of \u2018The Test\u2019<\/em> proves sufficient to change their inquiring extraterrestrial minds…
\n\"\"
\nHistory\u2019s greatest treasures are stored in ghost\u2019s fabulous Skull Cave, and the first tale in #3 (May 1963) relates how a rescued white man glimpses \u2018The Diamond Cup\u2019<\/em> of Alexander the Great and accidentally triggers a greed-fuelled crusade by eager criminals and ambitious chancers before the Ghost Who Walks finally restores peace and order. Rounding out the issue, \u2018The Crybaby\u2019<\/em> finds frail village boy Cecil<\/em> given a crash course in confidence and exercise by the enigmatic masked man. The experience is literally life-changing…<\/p>\n

For #4 (August) disgraced, fraud-perpetrating witchmen strike back against The Phantom through their manufactured deity \u2018Oogooru\u2019<\/em>, only to be shown what real sleight-of-hand and prestidigitation can achieve, after which ocean voyager Kit Walker<\/em> solves the enigma of vile vanishing villains the \u2018Goggle-Eye Pirates\u2019<\/em>…<\/p>\n

Two centuries previously, The Phantom established a police force dubbed The Jungle Patrol<\/em> with himself as its titular but anonymous head. In #5 (October) those worthy stalwarts are almost outfoxed by a devious gang of bandits known as \u2018The Swamp Rats\u2019<\/em> – until the unseen Commander<\/em> takes personal charge.<\/p>\n

The big innovation of the issue is the premiere of a new episodic feature detailing \u2018The Phantom\u2019s Boyhood\u2019<\/em>, as a baby is born in the Skull Cave. Tracing the formative experiences of the current Phantom, the initial yarn follows little Kit from toddler to dawn of adolescence, when his parents regretfully decide it\u2019s time to pack him off to private school in America…
\n\"\"
\nThe Phantom<\/strong> #6 (February 1964) leads with \u2018The Lady from Nowhere\u2019<\/em> as heiress Lydia Land<\/em> is thrown from a plane and rescued by the masked manhunter. Soon he\u2019s dogging her steps to track down which trusted associate was trying to silence her and steal her fortune…<\/p>\n

A life-changing meeting shapes the destiny of the hero-to-be in \u2018The Phantom\u2019s Boyhood Part II – Diana\u2019<\/em> as Kit falls for the girl next door and makes his mark amongst the cads and bullies of the civilised world.<\/p>\n

The peaceful villages of the jungle are thrown into turmoil by the thieving depredations of \u2018The Super Apes\u2019<\/em> (#7, May) until the Jungle Patrol and The Phantom expose their shocking secret whilst \u2018The Phantom\u2019s Boyhood Part III – School\u2019<\/em> finds the African \u00e9migr\u00e9 making his mark in the classroom, on the playing fields and in the newspapers…
\n\"\"
\nThe Phantom<\/strong> #8 (August) closes this initial outing with an epic extra-length tale of vengeance as the current Ghost Who Walks finally tracks down \u2018The Belt\u2019<\/em> and dispenses the Phantom\u2019s justice to the villain who killed his father and stole it…<\/p>\n

Straightforward, captivating rollicking action-adventure has always been the staple of The Phantom. If that sounds like a good time to you, this is a traditional nostalgia-fest you won\u2019t want to miss…
\n\"\"
\nThe Phantom\u00ae \u00a9 1962-1964 and 2011 King Features Syndicate, Inc. \u00ae Hearst Holdings, Inc. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n

Today in 1908 publishing Svengali and Marvel Comics godfather Martin Goodman<\/strong> was born. Graphic philosopher and storyteller supreme Raymond Briggs<\/strong> arrived today in 1934, as did artistic Mon o\u2019 Mystery \u201cFrank Quitely<\/strong>\u201d in 1968. Sadly he was far too young to ever collaborate with the amazing Bill<\/strong> (Batman<\/strong>, Green Lantern<\/strong>, Wildcat<\/strong>, Robin<\/strong>, Joker<\/strong>, Catwoman<\/strong>, Batgirl<\/strong>, Bat-Mite<\/strong>, Ace, the Bat-Hound<\/strong>, Lana Lang<\/strong>, All Winners Squad<\/strong>) Finger<\/strong>, who passed away today in 1974.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Bill Harris & Bill Lignante with George Wilson (Hermes Press) ISBN: 978-1-61345-005-5 (HB\/Digital edition) This book includes Discriminatory Content produced in less enlightened times. In the 17th century a British sailor survived an attack by pirates, and, washing ashore in Africa, swore on the skull of his murdered father to dedicate his life and … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “The Phantom – The Complete Series: The Gold Key Years volume 1”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[191,351,78,75,108,127,132,242,296,107,385,251,156],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34765","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventure","category-apes-monkeys","category-comic-strip-classics","category-crime-comics","category-miscellaneous-superhero","category-nostalgia","category-older-kids","category-pirates","category-school-stories","category-science-fiction","category-sea-stories","category-the-phantom","category-world-classics"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-92J","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34765"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34765\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34775,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34765\/revisions\/34775"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}