On these pages I will post some of my reflections regarding the Phantom strips. I have been writing these as I have edited the stories to be as close to the originals as possible. I will try to post several texts on one page, and will need feedback on how this works out.
Thanks.
IpComics' Phantom reflections!
Once again are there some problems between the Phantom and Diana, which seams to happen in every other story, a fellow fan said to me, after reading the ingress for this (D030 - Romance) story.
Well in this story it is true, Diana almost married another person and of free will. There have been some stories where the Phantom has stopped a marriage between Diana and some “no good” that wants to marry here, but that is not the case here. They have a disagreement, and Diana say “yes” to another man, simple as that.
But let us have a look at what my fellow fan say; problems between the Phantom and Diana in “every other” story? Is that true? Let us have a look!
When looking through the daily stories between 1936 and 1966 I only found two stories where they had serious problems regarding their love life, this one and D018 – The Phantom’s Engagement, and it is only in D030 – Romance they are arguing.
Why is it that fans think that The Phantom and Diana are arguing very often in the stories and ends up wedding someone else? Perhaps the few stories with this theme are popular and well remembered. And there are quite a few where Diana is almost wed, against here will, with another, it may be a case of mistaken identity, or rather stories.
Anyway, with the angel of “arguing” Falk was able to send the Phantom away for some time, and also let us learn about some of his less know personal ways. He runs several miles early in the morning, he is able to be jealous and he does not dance. Some of these “facts” have been changed in later stories, but it is fun reading about them anyway.
Problems with their love life - again?
Trouble with reprints!
Strange enough, this story has never been properly reprinted since it first was published in the papers. At least not in English. Frew did publish it several times in their "The Phantom", but heavily edited at first, then, when it was said to be complete there were something missing. A week or, for the last try, one single strip.
Every attempt to publish this has also been with reduced strips.
The story, D030 - Romance, is now planned for publication in USA, in the Comics Revue magazine. That reprint will be complete.