Last Phantom #2 Review

I take a look at the second issue of Dynamite Entertainment's The Last Phantom series and discuss how the publishers' take on the character is coming on.

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• phantom
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• last phantom
• dynamite
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[MisterWhat]

I have to disagree in some points. The Phantom is mainly a strip, but even then, despite what Falk would later say, he had moments of violence. You might say it wasen`t graphic violence, but comic books changed a lot in all these years. You need to take in account that this is for a market where graphic violence is a part of the package.

Continues..

[ChronicleChamber]

@MisterWhat Thanks for the comment, but I think you may have misunderstood me. I know that Falk has the Phantom act violently, and even kill, but as I said these instances were in very extreme circumstances. He would NEVER gun down all-but-defeated villains as he does in this issue. After those early strips though Flk retconed the Phantom to be quite a non-violent character and that continued until his death in 1999. With that long a standing such a character trait should not be ignored.

[ChronicleChamber]

@MisterWhat And I'd like to add I've no issue with violence in comics as such, just that the Phantom, as I mentioned previously, is not a character who acts as violently as he does in this issue.

But those are just my feelings, you are of course welcome to your own.

[ChronicleChamber]

Sorry about the mess up with the sound at the end there, folks. Not sure what happened.

[dkswede]

i completely agree with your review. I grew up with the scandinavian fantomen and I know the Phantom is portrayed differently here than in America, but i could not in anyway consider this portrayal of the character to be just. I think the story, the art and the gritty look of the comic is great, BUT it is just not the Phantom to me. I do like fresh and new takes on characters i just don't find this version to be true to the source material

[MisterWhat]

@GeekJoeMD No, not at all. I`m aware it`s a point where the fan base get`s divided. I personally don`t mind in terms of the context of this story alone, now if he starts going Punisher in everyone`s arse...that`s another matter.

You have my blessing.

[GeekJoeMD]

@MisterWhat No worries. Thanks for some interesting thoughts. Would you mind if I posted them on the CC forums? I think they would be of interest to our members.

[MisterWhat]

@ChronicleChamber I totally respect your view all the same, and thanks for the kind reply.

[MisterWhat]

@ChronicleChamber No problem.

As for the matter, i simply feel this is also an extreme circumstance. The assassination of his famiy clearly put him on an edge, that many Phantoms likely never experienced with the children living safely on studies out of Africa or in the Skull cave. Mind you i kind of accept it in this context only, he should never be a Punisher, he is better than that.

This may be the point of the story too, his understanding of what the Phantom should be about.

[MisterWhat]

..we have the training. I feel that while some will find it extreme...it needs to be. We are talking of a character who unlike Batman does not rely on many toys to survive on environments. He needs to be better because of that, he needs to have all his senses and physical power developed to the highest point you can be, before you verge on the super human. He needs to be the best pure trained man on Earth, or at least among them. It can`t just be fencing lessons, it needs more.

[MisterWhat]

I also like the berry look, in the context that Moonstone and Marvel also used: a primal "look".The look before the actual costume was made. It makes much more sense that the 1rst Phantom would make one based on war paints to quickly rescue his friends, instead of wasting time sewing the actual thing. That one is to pass to another generation. This may also be something a Phantom would wear to not disgrace the honor of the uniform if one seeks vengeance, which in this case - he does.

Finally..