The Phantom was huge in India. I wish they would bring this back to the theaters or maybe Netflix

The Phantom was also a character on another cartoon series called Defenders of the Earth. It ran from 1986 to 1987 and had 65 episode.

Wow the Phantom is being covered. He's been so obscure over the years.

The Shadow definitely needs a remake and The Phantom was sick too

Here is a weird fact: The Phantom is a huge phenomenon in Papua New Guinea. Local Tribes worship him like some sort of War God. There are lots of PNG tribal paintings of The Phantom, often depicted on large War Shields. It's believed that during WW2 US soldiers made contact with the Tribes and introduced them to comicbooks and the legend of The Man Who Couldn't Die. From their the have basically adopted him into their culture and he is still a very recognizable Icon.

He feels like a character uncle Ben would’ve been a huge fan of when he was younger.

My father is a huge fan of the Phantom. He's now 67 years old & has a huge collection of the Phantom comics that he has collected over the years. The Phantom also introduced me to the world of comics

Love the 1996 film. Extremely underrated IMO. Billy Zane was awesome in that role; Would be great to see him reprise it.

I haven't seen the Phantom since I was a child!

Before Superman, before Batman, before Wonder Woman and before the Avengers, there was....The Phantom.

The Ghost that Walks is one of the greatest mantra’s in comics. Top 3 definitely.

As someone who grew upon on The Phantom comics in Sweden this episode was very much nostalgia for me. More episodes like this.

“Yeah Derek, listen to your friend Billy Zane.”

I'm a little surprised you didn 't even mention The Phantom's pets. The white stallion Hero (who is the world's fastest horse) and the tame wolf Devil. A standing joke in the comic books is usually people telling The Phantom that they do not allow dogs (either in flights, restaurants, hotels, etc.) to which The Phantom replies "It is not a dog, it is a wolf." In addition to Devil and Hero, the Phantom has several other animals, many of which live on the island of Eden, where carnivores and herbivores live peacefully side by side (carnivores only eat fish). Among the Phantoms' animals are a domestic elephant, a falcon, a lion, a tiger and two domestic dolphins. In addition, both a mysterious prehistoric human figure with a wife and children and a stegosaurus appear.

Best comic hero ever. I grew up reading Phantom comics in Sunday newspapers.

The Phantom was the biggest hero in Norway back in the day. My dad has tons of old phantom comic books

Also: Phantom was licensed to be printed outside of the US, so he's popular in Europe, Australia, etc far beyond that of other Pulp heroes. Love your work - keep it up!

The Phantom looks pretty cool to me.

Some major missing media details: The Phantom was the star of a 15-chapter Columbia serial, in 1943, starring Tom Tyler. It is pretty faithful and Tyler, who also played Captain Marvel, at Republic, looks the part. It has everything, right down to the Skull Cave and the throne. A sequel was prepared, but Columbia lost the rights to the character and renamed the hero (played by John Hart)) Captain Africa, slightly modifying the costume, but it did reuse fotage of Tyler, from the first serial. In 1961, a Phantom tv pilot was produced, which featured Lon Chaney Jr, as one of a group of criminals. The character has a cameo appearance in The Beatles Yellow Submarine and is one of several King Features Syndicate characters who appear in 1972's Popeye Meets The Man Who Hated Laughter, which was part of the ABC Saturday Superstar Movie, on Saturday morning. The Phantom, Steve Canyon, Flash Gordon and Mandrake are among the adventure strip heroes who appear, along with humor characters, like Dagwood & Blondie, Snuffy Smith and the Katzenjammer Kids. In 1986, he debuts as part of the Defenders of the Earth, along with Mandrake and Flash Gordon. That is followed by Phantom 2040, in 1994. Apart from the 1996 film, there was a 3-part mini-series, on SyFy, in 2009/10, with an updated take on the character and the Singh Brotherhood. Paul Hogan used to do satirical sketches with the Phantom, in his Australian tv show. The Venture Brothers' Phantom Limb is largely inspired by the hero, with a dash of the French early 20th Century criminal, Fantomas.. In terms of comics to read, the Gold Key material is pretty decent; but the Jim Aparo issues of the Charlton series are a must-read, as are issues 67-74, with art by Don Newton. 67 revisits the origin, while issue 70, "The Mystery of the Mali Ibex," is a big Bogart movie riff, with plot elements taken from The Maltese Falcon, Treasure of the Sierra Madre and The African Queen. Issue 74 has the Phantom of 1776 aiding Ben Franklin and witnessing the Signing of The Declaration of Independence. Peter David & Sal Velluto's Hermes series is also a great read. There were 15 Phantom paperback books, from Avon, adapting stories from the comic strips, plus new stories. They are credited to Lee Falk; but, the bulk were adapted or written by Ron Goulart. There was also a novelization of the 1996 film, expanding on the material. The Phantom starred in 6 Big Little Books and the novel, Son of the Phantom, all from Whitman, aka Western Printing & Lithography, aka the company behind Gold Key Comics. The costume, in styling, is based on the sort of thing worn by medieval executioners, including mask and the tights & trunks and death's head symbols. The Flash Gordon strip featured similarly clad jailers in Ming's dungeons. The generational aspect was later borrowed for the revival of Archie Comics' The Black Hood. Mandrake the Magician was a guest at the Phantom's wedding, to Diana Palmer, in the comic strip.

Phantom was huge in India. Along with Garth (a British comics) His comics and strips ran since the 60s He is called "Betaal", Kit walker. In fact there was a live action TV series called "Betal Pachisi" (the 25th phantom) living deep in the jungle in India, respected by the tribes and animals alike. He fights with poachers and greedy city businesses men , falls in love with a research journalist, and there's also a forest witch who loves him. The show lead to a plagiarism lawsuit which the comics creator lost.

I’m glad this character was covered! I remember being obsessed with this characters mythos and lore in middle school

Catherine Zeta-Jones was FINE in that movie

In the TV series "Defenders of the Earth" the Phantom had the power to call of 10 Tigers!

The phantom is huge in Scandinavia. Sweden creates its own stories. Definitely my favourite hero after batman.

My dad was a fan of Phantom comics in Hindi. He still has his whole collection.

The Phantom is a classic in Finland. You can find a magazine in almost every Finnish grandparents house.

I am so glad that you gave a shout out to The Phantom, a legend created by Lee Falk. Tysm.

I've LOVED the Phantom movie ever since I was little always thought of him as this kinda of fusion of Batman and Black Panther!

Love The Phantom! Read his strip for years in the Sunday comics when we were on our way to church.

I recently rewatched the 90s movie. Its silly but, I like it.

Lord of the jungle, the hero who stalks! The beasts call him brother, the ghost who walks! Phantom!

Thanks for the episode. The phantom was my most favorite character in my school days along with Batman and Spider-Man. Now it feels bad that almost everyone has forgotten this character. thanks for bring back the nostalgia.

He so needs his own Netflix show. Him and 'The Shadow'.

OH YES. I love Phantom comics. Thanks for the giving him a spotlight Would've been cool if you mention the Skull Cave, his treasury and all his animal allies.

I remember the phantom Loved it

I remember the character from a cartoon called Flash Gorden & the defenders of the Earth which aired 30+ years ago

I am from Assam, India. And I passed my entire childhood reading Phantom comics in Bengali.. this is pure nostalgia ❤️

Really enjoy Phantom stories and concept which many ’newer’ comics took on and expnded.

While growing up in my pre-teen years, I lived with my grandparents. My grandfather would play old radio serials on his old reel-to-reel tape recorder. Miss those times.

I read Phantom comics as a kid all the time, thanks Variant for making this video

They still print phantom comic strips in the news paper its great I always liked the character and the history behind him I even liked the movie wen I was a kid great vid

First the Avengers, then Justice League, now we need "Defenders of the Earth", Phantom, Flash Gordon, Mandrake and Lothar (they could add the Shadow)

Thanks for reminding me of an obscure part of my childhood I had almost forgotten.

Always loved how the mythos was setup so that the Phantom was a hereditary hero. You really didn't see heros passing the mantle down until so much later in comics

Nostalgic!!!🥺🥺 They really need to make the real phantom series again.

I'm with you man. I loved that movie when I was a kid, still have a huge soft spot for it

Growing up in small towns, phantom was often the only thing available What an intro to comics🤟

Dude I love ur reading recommendations section at the end of every episode it is great and it is what separates u from other comic book youtube channels because no one else has a reading recommendations section and that section was just a genius idea keep up the good work brother and I hope things continue to go good for u and ur channel and that the channel continues to grow

You should start an origin of the boys characters, especially from the seven

I love the phantom! Shame the movie sucked, but great simple comics with consistent power levels and no need to have time travel to fix stuff like every other damn comic

Thank you so much for showing love for The Phantom! The movie was the one that really got me into superhero movies as a kid. Can't wait for the rest of the pulp era characters!

I’ve read alot of the Phantom in my childhood, or «Fantomet» which is the norwegian name of the Ghos that Walks. I always loved the character and think he’s very underrated. There’s so much potential in a Phantom tv-series today, so I hope some creatives and studios takes a serious look at it.

I remember reading this in the newspaper when I was like 5 years old and I thought he was also VERY BADASS

Absolutely love the Phantom legacy, needs a movie that’s done Watchmen Style 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Thank you for covering the Pulp Era. I am a fan of alot of them. I can't wait for the Doc Savage and Shadow episodes especially.

I had bought a Phantom book on a whim when I was a kid. At that time I couldn't even read English properly (I'm not from an English-speaking country). I still loved the art. When I coils read and understand it, the story was pretty great too. Unfortunately those books are not available anymore.

I remember reading one of the comic and I still remember the movie.

He says father's skull, but the comic says skull of his father's murderer

Thank you for this! The Phantom was the REAL stuff back in the day. Although flying like a bird or a plane or having the Batmobile was cool I knew in my 10 y.o. heart (in 1961) I could never be them. But someone who new acrobatics/gymnastics, how to shoot straight and true, ride a horse, and who new how to box and wrestle; those things I knew I could achieve if I worked hard enough. This made the Phantom relatable.

The Phantom is honestly one of my favorite lesser known heroes, next to the Thunderer from Marvel comics. They both lack superpowers but they have the balls to fight criminals with just punches, so much that I was inspired to make a police themed superhero who has no powers, but is an expert combatant and is dangerous to criminals, but also is a massively jolly and friendly guy like Superman but without godlike strength

Bruh its been so long since I seen the phantom

We need a live action movie ❤️

Deep cut! Definitely been thinking about this character randomly.

Awesome, The Phantom was the first comic I read. My dad was a fan and collected them, I got read a few of the old original comics.

I love the movie I remember renting it when I was a kid

The First Comic I ever read was The Phantom!! I grew up in India and it was one of the only ones available there. Good times!!

i used to love this character. thank u for bringing him up

So great video showcasing The Phantom!

i see variant, i click!🙌🏾

Are you excited for Mandalorian season 2

Great video and well put together template of how and what to present. Good structure.

Loved the Ghost Who Walks, the 90s cartoon was great growing up.

Variant Comics can you do a history of The Powerpuff Girl's arch foe Mojo Jojo.

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 a classic comic book character. Honestly, my favorite outside of DC & Marvel! The movie was also a certified classic in my opinion! I also never knew he wore two rings. The whole time I thought it was just one.

Thank you doing a vid on Phantom, one of the most underrated characters of all time.

SyFy also made a miniseries. Love this. Thank you for casting light on this proto-hero. Grew up with him.

2nd comment..... Idk what to comment

I forgot about the live action back in the day lmao!

This is the character that got it me into superhero comics, followed by The Justice League cartoons. Thank you so much for covering my childhood favorite superhero

Really wish they would make more material on the Phantom hes such an awsome character thanks for making this video mann

Second person me and dude I can't go a day without listen to you

Plz review Ben 10 😂😂 just for a change 😂

I never really knew about the Phantom until a few months ago. I only recognized him because he had a cameo in the 1968 movie, Yellow Submarine. I didn't realize he was an actual superhero. I find it very inspiring that Lee Falk started writing these comics in the 1930's and was still writing them until he died in 1999.

Got a soft spot for him he was my grandfather’s favorite hero which ultimately led me to start collecting, I also think the movie was underrated a lil corny but very true to his roots. I remember both Len wein & Darwin Cooke say they regret the gloom of the 80s hero becoming so dark that your actually supposed to get enjoyment out of these characters- that’s what the phantom is about

Do “Nagraj” from Raj Comics.

😉So that’s where the white eyes came from😉

That DC mini series was so bold and badASSSS. His desire to get revenge is sometimes what fuels me to pay my bills every month. And Christopher Walken just missed having the next bad ass name since Buddy Guy. Great work!! You rock! And the Phantom probably will touch you with his left ring soon.

Such a Great Video ....Thanks! I collected DC and Marvel since I was a Kid.... but always Read the Phantom in the Newspaper...it was great that his Ancestry were phantoms .....

fantastic, more of these please. now to get my copies of phantom out

Your still my fav man...keep up the good work Arris! Love that pulp into mainstream era pure noir

Was born in mid 80's in NE part of India... Grew up with the phantom, mandrake n tarzan before I was introduced to DC n marvel... Ty for covering the phantom.. Nostalgic.. 👍

Another amazing video from Variant never fails

Loved the Phantom when I was a kid. Thanks for the vid

Cool video! Some trivia for you: In the Swedish version there was a printing error with the Phantoms suit becoming Blue instead of Purple this printing error was never corrected so all subsequent Swedish versions/issues of The Phantom have a blue suit.

The Ghost Who Walks is one pic my all-time favorite comics. Glad to see the pulp comics getting some love.

Arris, why haven't you done these top 10 lists? - Hottest Comic Characters - Comic Characters Who Have Remained Dead and Their Chances of Resurrection - Top Marvel What-ifs

I hope this character is explored again in movies.

I vaguely remember reading one of the books concerning The Phantom in middle school. Awesome book!!!

Thank you for doing an episode on one of my favorite characters of all time...I think he even inspired the Black Panther. And Phantom 2040 has one of the best theme songs in the cartoon history

I've always loved the movie and in the past week I've been wanting to learn more about his comic. Perfect timing