The Phantom:
A Publishing History in Australia

by Bryan Shedden

GIANTSIZE Phantom Comic (1957-61)

(Frew/Tricho Publications Pty. Ltd.)


#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7

#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
#13
#14

#15
#16
#17
#18
#19
#20
#21

#22
#23
#24
#25
#26

First published by FREW in April 1957, GIANTSIZE COMICs contained a compilation of four or five complete stories about various characters in each issue. These 92 page comics were published about every two months, and had a cover price of two shillings. The first story in each issue was The Phantom, and these were backed-up mainly by the Australian-created characters Phantom Ranger, The Shadow, and Sir Falcon. Other characters featured in the series, were Catman & Kit, Planetman, Range Rider, Wonder Boy, Steve Rampart, Phantom Lady (no relation), Kalar the Caveman, Davy Crockett, Robin Hood, Red Wing, Bomb Squad F and Buster Crabbe. The glossy art-paper covers featured The Phantom teamed up with the three or four other main characters contained in the comic.

The first two issues of the series were not numbered and could be identified by the following means: #1 was called GIANTSIZE PHANTOM COMIC, while #2 was called GIANTSIZE COMIC WITH THE PHANTOM. The series ran for 26 issues, with the last edition being published in about April 1961. The publisher changed names midway through the series: the first 5 issues were credited to Frew Publications, but from #6 to the last (#26), the publisher was Tricho Publications Pty. Ltd., of 149 Castlereagh St, Sydney. Although the words "GIANTSIZE COMIC" appeared on all of the covers, the main cover title varied throughout the series: #1 "GIANTSIZE PHANTOM", #2-16 "GIANTSIZE", and #17-26 "PHANTOM". Details of the stories contained in each GIANTSIZE comic are shown in the following table. As you can see, I have yet to find full details for this series and if you can help with information, please contact me.

IssuePhantom Story TitleCodePagesOther Featured Characters
1The Haunted CastleS2122The Phantom Ranger (2), The Shadow, Sir Falcon
2The Marshall Sisters Pt.1S1917The Phantom Ranger (2), The Shadow, Sir Falcon, Kalar the Caveman
3Adventure in AlgiersD621The Phantom Ranger (2), Sir Falcon, The Shadow
4The BeachcomberS422The Phantom Ranger, The Shadow, Sir Falcon
5The Precious Cargo of Colonel WinnS2??
6The Blue GangD2320The Phantom Ranger, The Shadow, Sir Falcon, Robin Hood
7The 12 TasksS1721The Phantom Ranger (2), The Shadow
8The SaboteursS59Red Wing, The Phantom Ranger, The Shadow, Young Falcon, Phantom Rider
9King of BeastsS1521Phantom Ranger, The Shadow, Sir Falcon
10The Fire GoddessS322The Phantom Ranger, The Shadow, Sir Falcon
11The League of Lost MenS121The Phantom Ranger, The Shadow, Sir Falcon
12The Mysterious PassengerS2610The Shadow, The Phantom Ranger, Sir Falcon,
Wonder Boy, The Courageous Coward
13The Phantom TrophyS2014The Phantom Ranger, The Shadow, Sir Falcon,
Steve Rampart, Wonder Boy
14The Scarlet SorceressS1620The Phantom Ranger, The Shadow, Sir Falcon,
Phantom Lady
15Bobo the Toy DogD4616The Phantom Ranger, The Shadow, Sir Falcon,
Bomb Squad #7
16The Spy GangD2021The Phantom Ranger, The Shadow, Sir Falcon
17The Phantom Goes To War Pt.1D1629The Shadow, The Phantom Ranger, Sir Falcon
18The Phantom Goes To War Pt.3D1627The Shadow, The Phantom Ranger, Sir Falcon
19The Phantom Goes To War Pt.2D1620The Shadow, Catman & Kit, Planetman
20The Phantom Goes To War Pt.4D1625The Shadow, Planetman, Range Rider
21The Return of the Sky Band Pt.1S6??
22The Return of the Sky Band Pt.2S622The Shadow, Catman & Kit, Buster Crabbe
23The Gray Gang Pt.1D4022The Shadow + ?
24The Gray Gang Pt.2D4022The Phantom Ranger, The Shadow, Sir Falcon
25Dr Axel and the WitchmenD5822Range Rider, Sir Falcon, The Shadow
26The Haunted CastleS2121The Phantom Ranger, The Shadow, Sir Falcon
Notes:

Sincere thanks go to Colin Williams, Les Gray and John Henderson for much of the above information. Thanks also to Roger Stitson, Chris Smith, David Budds, Dietmar Lederwasch, Chris Hoare, Will Dorrington, Brandon Mitchell, and N Bain for providing scans.


© 2003 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE, INC. THE HEARST CORPORATION


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Bryan Shedden / guran@deepwoods.org
Last updated 25 May 2003