April 4, 2016

PHANTOM NOVELS RETURN

Breaking news: Hermes Press has unveiled some exciting news today that will please Spy Vibers and fans of classic Pulp. Beginning this August the publisher will be re-printing the original Phantom novels from Avon (first published 1972-1975). Hermes will release the entire series of fifteen paperback books with their original painted covers by artist George Wilson! From the press release: "Coming soon from Hermes Press: The Phantom the Complete Avon pocket books! The Phantom: The Complete Avon Books Volume 1; 6 x 9 inch; starting in August 2016, every other month; $14.99. For the first time ever, the Avon edition of The Phantom is back in print! Hermes Press is proud to announce that they will be publishing all fifteen Avon pocket books, starting in August 2016, every other month! Book one starts off with Lee Falk explaining, via the twentieth Phantom, the histories of the Phantoms that came before the current Ghost Who Walks. Famed artist George Wilson (Dr. Solar, Magnus Robot Fighter, The Phantom) painted all of the covers used for the Avon series, and they are reproduced beautifully to keep all of the details from the original books intact for a new generation of Phans to enjoy! This first exciting book in the series, titled “The Story of The Phantom: The Ghost Who Walks,” tells the story of the childhood and adolescence of the twenty-first Phantom. His father, the twentieth Phantom, regales the reader and young Kit Walker of the men who came before him: the fighter who beat Redbeard the Pirate, while gaining the heart of Queen Natala; the harrowing actions that the twentieth Phantom took to regain the friendship of the Rope People, and many more stories! In this opening to the series, we also meet Diana Palmer– the love of the Phantom, the woman who always can count on the Phantom to rescue her, even before he becomes The Ghost Who Walks. This thrilling beginning shows the man behind the mask, as Kit and Guran, his confidant and friend, embark on the first of many adventures. Be sure to tune in, because you’d hate to come in late to this tale!" Below: Some of my favorite covers from the original Avon Phantom series. See the Hermes website soon for ordering info. Enjoy!









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6 comments:

  1. Eeeeh, so tempting but I can't afford those as I've just started buying the reissued 1930s Wallace of the Secret Service books. Maybe Santa will bring me Phantom books for Christmas.

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  2. it really is exciting news! i hadn't considered books like this might be reprinted.

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  3. strange! I was about to ask you about good quality scans of these covers!

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  4. Those are really neat covers! Although I'm not a big fan of novels adapted from comic strips or comic books, I think it's neat that they are reprinting those; and I do love The Phantom comics (strips and books). I haven't gotten around to reading many of them, but of what I've read has been real knock-outs and I plan to read more. I didn't know until you said that the Phantom has actually been inherited through the years by several alter egos. Kind of like Doctor Who only that one has to do with Doctor Whos of various parallel universes rather than inheritance of a role.

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  5. I'm glad you enjoy the cover art (and The Phantom strips!). True, he does share a kind of longevity like Doctor Who, albeit with different method. George Wilson did so much great cover art back then. You can see some here: http://www.comicartfans.com/comic-artists/george_wilson.asp

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