THE PHANTOM: VIETNAM
(Frew Publications)
“…Ma Nguoi Di. The Ghost Who Walks. I had heard his name in whispers throughout the North and South..."
Approved by King Features, The Phantom: Vietnam follows Lee Falk's internationally- renowned comic strip hero The Phantom, through stories situated in a much different jungle to the one he calls home in Bangalla; the harsh terrain of Vietnam during the 1960s.
The first story was published by Frew in the Phantom 2019 Annual (issue #1830 "The Phantom at War"), and is written and drawn by Paul Mason (illustrator for the Kid Phantom comic book series) and edited by Glenn Ford (longtime Phantom illustrator and co-director of Frew Publications). It was the first full-length Phantom story both written and drawn by an Australian cartoonist. The story won a Bronze Ledger at the 2020 Ledger Awards.
Story 2: "It's Just a Shot Away..." published in The Phantom #1905 contributed to Paul's 2022 Stanley Award. Story 3: "It Ain't me, it Ain't Me" from The Phantom #1886 was shortlisted for the 2022 Comic Arts Awards of Australia (CAAA/Ledger awards), and art from story 8 "...And our Friends are all aboard" for The Phantom #1952 awarded Paul with the 2024 Stanley Award for Comic Book Artist of the Year.
The series is written and drawn by Paul, with assistant edits by Amanda Bacchi, edited by Glenn Ford and published by Dudley Hogarth at Frew Publications.The Phantom is available in newsagents, participating comic stores nationally, book stores and online via Frew Publications in print and digital comic formats.
The Phantom: Vietnam
Story 1: "It Tolls for Thee"
Published 17th January 2019
Winner Bronze Ledger 2020 Ledger Awards
A platoon of US. Soldiers from the 4th Infantry division become lost during Operation "Tollroad", in late 1968. As an ambush by NVA and V.C becomes inevitable, both sides of the conflict encounter 'The Ghost Who Walks'. But why is he in the jungles of Vietnam?
Written and drawn by Paul Mason
Edited by Glenn Ford
The Phantom #1830
Wraparound cover by Wendell Cavalcanti.
Interior Story cover by Paul Mason.
The Phantom #1905
Cover by Paul Mason, back cover by Glenn Lumsden.
The Phantom: Vietnam
Story 2: "It's Just A Shot Away."
Published 4h November 2021
Contributed to 2022 Stanley Award
The Phantom is caught up in family conflict and civilians in danger in Hue during the Tet Offensive in '68; how will 'The Ghost Who Walks" manage to get across the city alive while U.S Marines and ARVN forces battle NVA and V.C infiltration?
Written and drawn by Paul Mason
Edited by Glenn Ford
The Phantom #1886
Cover by Anthony Spay, back cover by Paul Mason.
The Phantom: Vietnam
Story 3: "It Ain't Me, it Ain't Me..."
Published 11th February 2021
2022 Comic Arts Awards of Australia Shortlist
An Australian reporter based in Saigon recounts his time in 'The Battle of Long Tan', but all is not safe in the city on the eve of Tet , 1968...
Written and drawn by Paul Mason
Edited by Glenn Ford
Assisted Edits by Amanda Bacchi
The Phantom #1887
Cover by Anthony Spay, back cover by Paul Mason.
The Phantom: Vietnam
Story 4: "Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"
Published 25th February 2021
The Phantom's adopted son Rex finds a misplaced chronicle book in the Skullcave, and learns of the time that the Phantom's moral values were put to the test, when he encountered soldiers involved with the war crimes in My Lai.
Written and drawn by Paul Mason
Edited by Glenn Ford
Assisted Edits by Amanda Bacchi
The Phantom #1940
Cover by Lauren Marshall, back cover by Paul Mason.
The Phantom: Vietnam
Story 5: "Said the Joker to the Thief..."
Published 16th March 2023
CIA operative Harrison Gross continues his investigation into the "Mac-V Ghost", this time interviewing a former "student" of the infamous "Crime School", who found himself pulled into off-to-book activities in the Mekong Delta, 1968.
Written and drawn by Paul Mason
Edited by Glenn Ford
Assisted Edits by Amanda Bacchi
The Phantom #1942
Wraparound Cover by Grange Wallis.
Interior story cover by Paul Mason.
The Phantom: Vietnam
Story 6: "Paint It Black"
Published 13th April 2023
The Phantom arrives in Saigon 1967 as Kit Walker; Reporter, looking for ways to travel across Vietnam to find the missing Wambesi Prince. Meeting Australian journalist Barry Mengel, he is taken to the local Black Markets where he discovers an old enemy of his ancestors...
Written and drawn by Paul Mason
Edited by Glenn Ford
Assisted Edits by Amanda Bacchi
The Phantom #1943
Cover by Alex Trpcevski, back cover by Paul Mason.
The Phantom: Vietnam
Story 7: "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place..."
Published 27th April 2023
The Marshall Sisters find themselves on USO Tour entertaining the troops, and run into some trouble trying to reach Da Nang before the 1967 Christmas special...
Written and drawn by Paul Mason
Edited by Glenn Ford
Assisted Edits by Amanda Bacchi
The Phantom #1952 75th Anniversary Special
Cover by Glenn Lumsden, story cover by Paul Mason.
The Phantom: Vietnam
Story 8: "And Our Friends Are All Aboard..."
Published 31st August 2023
Saigon: The Tet Offensive in 1968 has thrown the city into chaos. Australian Journalist Barry Mengal is attempting to cross the city to get back to the Daily Press office to report on the new developments in the War, but finds himself face to face with the Ghost Who Walks, and a colleague with a secret agenda...
Written and drawn by Paul Mason
Edited by Glenn Ford
Assisted Edits by Amanda Bacchi
The Phantom #1952 - Frew 75th Anniversary Special
(in colour!)
The Phantom #1995
Cover by Lauren Marshall, back cover by Paul Mason.
The Phantom: Vietnam
Story 9: "If I Can Dream Of A Better Land..."
Published 17th April 2025
CIA Case Officer Leon Gross is getting pressure from the White House to find the Mac-V Ghost as the Watergate trials commence. However, his efforts seem hampered by haphazard record keeping. We find ourselves heading back to before the first story, learning more about what drew the Phantom to Vietnam in the first place, the legacy of the Phantom in the region, and the sacrifices made in order to maintain peace in his home.
Written and drawn by Paul Mason
Edited by Glenn Ford
Assisted Edits by Amanda Bacchi
The Phantom #1996
Cover by Antonio Lemos, back cover by Paul Mason.
The Phantom: Vietnam
Story 10: "Going Up The Country..."
Published 1st May 2025
Diana's Uncle Dave, former Military Intelligence, has figured out a way into Vietnam for Kit Walker aka the Phantom; travelling down the Mekong River in a PBR. This boat however is captained by an old friend of Dave's, but will the two see "eye to eye"? What dangers lurk in the jungles of Cambodia in late 1967?
Written and drawn by Paul Mason
Edited by Glenn Ford
Assisted Edits by Amanda Bacchi
The Phantom #1998
Cover by Alex Trpcevski, back cover by Paul Mason.
The Phantom: Vietnam
Story 11: "Purple Haze"
Published 1st June 2025
Retired former Heavyweight Boxing Champion Kid Hercules laments past decisions and lost opportunities while drowning his sorrows on a USO tour in Vietnam. After witnessing some rowdy Green Berets in the USO Saigon bar, the boxer and former marine finds himself outnumbered in a street fight, but living his glory days imagining boxing once against the mysterious 'Masked Marvel'...
Written and drawn by Paul Mason
Edited by Glenn Ford
Assisted Edits by Amanda Bacchi
More stories in the series coming soon...
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Chapter 12: "...I chop it down with the edge of my hand."
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Chapter 13: "...As the war machine keeps turning..."
