A review by ianbanks
The Phantom by Rob MacGregor

3.0

The Phantom is a comic that predates Superman and Batman. It is a little frustrating that it hasn’t yet been translated satisfactorily to the screen. Billy Zane’s portrayal of him in the 1996 film is wonderful but it is let down by a story that doesn’t feel like it has come from the pages of Lee Falk’s original comic. According to this novelisation, though, we got off pretty lightly. This Phantom still communicates with his dead father but he also has a mystical connection to the land and can heal himself magically with his skull ring, a device that exists in the comics to help the Phantom get rough on roughnecks (OJS). Thankfully, those elements don’t make it past the shooting script Mr MacGregor was provided with. However, he does treat the original concept and character with enough respect that it is a heap of fun to read.