Fantomen Nr.5/1983
by Rolf Gohs
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- The White Slave Trade
- Script: Dai Darell (aka Diane Alfredhsson)
- Art: Kari Leppänen
- First published in Fantomen Nr.5/1983 by Semic, Sweden. Original cover shown on the left, thanks to Ulf Granberg.
- The Secret Temple on Eden
- Script: Tony De Paul
- Art: Paul Ryan
- 214th daily newspaper story; 16 May - 17 Sep 2005.
- First Frew appearance
- The Prince Rex Conspiracy
- Script: Tony De Paul
- Art: Graham Nolan
- 162nd Sunday newspaper story; 3 Apr - 25 Sep 2005.
- First Frew appearance
- Message from the Publisher:
Presenting - Frew's 2005 Christmas Special edition!
We feature two brand new stories and a third adventure which is not exactly new, but at least published for the first time in our part of the world. The White Slave Trade was first published in Scandinavia in 1983 and has been held on our reserved list ever since. Written by Dai Darell (the pen name of Swedish writer Diane Alfredhsson) and illustrated by Kari Leppänen, the theme of The White Slave Trade is timeless. The events outlined in this story still happen in many parts of the world! Neatly woven into Darell's script is the eternal mystery surrounding the very existence of The Ghost Who Walks. Doctor Ernst Heath meets The Phantom (dressed as an ordinary man) early in the story and tells him of a strange encounter in the jungles of Africa with a badly wounded man dressed in a strange costume. It is only at the end of this adventure that the doctor suddenly realises that the Kit Walker he has met might well be the uniformed man he once treated. It's a theme which crops up regularly in Phantom adventures and one which never fails to please!
[Comment from Guran: This was Diane Alfredhsson's debut story for Fantomen. It was actually based on the true story of how Diane and her girlfriend Helénè were abducted by a guy in a taxi and taken to a strange mansion in Frankfurt am Main. Diane and Helénè managed their own escape, but in her Fantomen story the girls are helped by the Phantom of course!]
Our other two stories are the recently completed Phantom daily and Sunday adventures. The daily, illustrated by Paul Ryan, is The Secret Temple on Eden and the Sunday, drawn by Graham Nolan is The Prince Rex Conspiracy. Tony De Paul wrote both stories. It is, of course, high time we all caught up with Prince Rex in Baronkhan! He has been absent for far too long. You will find this an absorbing story, with a clever 'duel' between Rex and his villainous adversary, who just happens to be a master swordsman and pistol shot! Even more absorbing is The Secret Temple on Eden adventure! Just when we all thought we knew everything about this fabled island, we (and this includes The Phantom) discover there are many more secrets about Eden than simply the miracle of wild animals living happily together and existing on a vegetarian diet! Hope you will enjoy all three stories!
We have three important issues coming up in the next two months. On 6 January we will bring you another new 36 page adventure and then on 20 January we will publish the 2006 Annual Special. This will feature seven classic Lee Falk stories The Game of Alvar, Diana Aviatrix Lost, The Phantom's Treasure, Castle in the Clouds, The Scarlet Sorceress, Rex: Prince of Baronkhan and Massacre at Walker's Table. Which means you can expect art from Ray Moore, Wilson McCoy and Sy Barry - all reproduced from digitally enhanced masters. And naturally, we will include a bonus replica of a Frew edition from 1949.
The next big issue to follow will be a very special edition which will celebrate 70 years of The Phantom and as luck has it, this will go on sale on 17 February, the exact date of the debut of The Phantom in 1936! To celebrate the occasion, we have selected stories drawn by Ray Moore, Wilson McCoy and Sy Barry - and we will include a bonus lift-out special edition which will trace the amazing career of Phantom creator Lee Falk. This will be illustrated with loads of previously unpublished photographs and you will learn many secrets about Lee's life.
While we await the arrival of 2006, thanks to all Phantom enthusiasts for their support during the past twelve months. From all at Frew to all of you every best wish for a joyous Christmas and a healthy, happy and successful New Year!
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