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!
The story (D019 - Suzie and the Guovernor) a very long one. It is also an unusual romantic story. The Phantom has just left his girlfriend. Diana, and is involved with another girl, Suzie.
This is not a very good girl. She is mixed with a gang of pirates led by “The General”, who also has a secret identity as Governor on a small island. However, during the run from the Governor she falls in love with the Phantom.
The readers are in for a very dramatic story here. As they know that the engagement with Diana is off and think, it is the end of that story they may have thought; who know, perhaps the
Phantom now will get another sweetheart?
But, as you found by reading the story, this did not happen. Suzy is killed, and just before she dies the Phantom show here his face. A very unusual move in a story, but this time it felt right. This move has made the story to be legendary among fans. Et seems that everyone knows the story well, and if not, they want to read it.
But why this long story, 32 weeks, and why this use of sea hijackers and pirates? It is difficult to say, but the fact that it is war times and Falk was doing service may have something to do with it. He may just have left the writing to a ghost and/or just sent a hint of ”what next”. Perhaps he was not in a position to send anything some weeks and the story had to be dragged for some weeks. And then came the ending. Suzie dies. Did Falk realize what was going on and stopped it? Could we have seen another ending? Is it possible that at some point no one was really sure “what next”? Such questions are a bit fun playing with, but we will never know for sure, and that is no less well I think.
Anyway, it is a long story, but very readable and we are in for a good ending, so who is
complaining?
Hijacking and romance during wartimes
Was the Phantom really in love with Suzie? What if she had not died?
In the end the readers did knew, Diana will be back.
The gripping strip that made the story so famous.