- Australian box office figures for The Phantom Movie:
- 1st week (26 Sep - 2 Oct 1996) = Aus$1,597,760 (#4)
- 2nd week (3-9 Oct 1996) = Aus$1,607,487 (#4)
- 3rd week (10-16 Oct 1996) = Aus$690,092 (#3)
- 4th week (17-23 Oct 1996) = Aus$391,620 (#6)
- 5th week (24-30 Oct 1996) = Aus$251,956 (#6)
- 6th week (31 Oct - 6 Nov 1996) = Aus$141,913 (#11)
- 7th week (7-13 Nov 1996) = Aus$81,754 (#13)
- 8th week (14-20 Nov 1996) = Aus$57,151 (#14)
- 9th week (21-27 Nov 1996) = Aus$41,585 (#15)
- 10th week (28 Nov -4 Dec 1996) = Aus$22,489 (#18)
- 11th week (5-11 Dec 1996) = Aus$14,022 (#N/A)
- 12th week (12-18 Dec 1996) = Aus$14,610 (#20)
- Net gross (12 weeks) = Aus$4,983,657
20 Dec 1996
- Frew Phantom #1155 released; The Devil's Library Pt.3, Script: Claes Reimerthi (aka Michael Tierres), Art: Joan Boix, Cover: Jim Shepherd, 36 pages.
This is the third of a four part story.
13 Dec 1996
- Frew Phantom #1154 released; a 100 page Christmas Special (cover artist not named), with two new Lee Falk stories, and one complete reprint of a classic oldie:
- The Phantom's Engagement (1943 daily)
- The Lookout (1996 Sunday)
- Drama on Eden (1996 daily)
- The content list for FREW's 1997 Annual Special has been finalised and is as follows:
- The Devil Road (1947-48 daily)
- The Lady Luck (1948 daily)
- The Toad Men (1952-53 daily)
- The Betrothal (1959 daily)
- The Swamp Rats (1959 daily)
- The Werewolf (1961 daily)
- Alexander's Diamond Cup (1970-71 Sunday)
- The Jungle Olympics (1979 Sunday)
- Queen Karola of Kula-Ku (1982-83 daily)
- Return of the Singh Brotherhood (reprint of 2nd Australian-created story by Jim Shepherd and Keith Chatto)
- replica edition of FREW #6 from 1949
6 Dec 1996
- The Fall 1996 edition (#36) of Model and Toy Collector (USA) contains three excellent Phantom articles:
- Purple Reign by Ethan Roberts -- an excellent piece of prose detailing the history of the Phantom generations. Also features pictures of various Phantom comics and collectables, including the Charter of Lee Falk's Official Phantom Fan Club.
- The First Phantom by Bob Griffin -- background on the careers of Tom Tyler and Jeanne Bates, the leading actors in the 1943 Phantom Serial. Some great little anecdotes about the filming of the Serial are revealed in an interview with Jeanne Bates.
- Phantom Philms -- details about the botched attempt to make a second Phantom Serial in 1955, and information about the unaired 1960 Phantom TV series pilot episode, including a short interview with Richard Kiel (aka Jaws).
- The 2nd edition of Johnson's Official Phantom Price Guide is now on sale at most newsagencies in Australia. I also believe that it has been licenced for distribution in the USA. This 112 page volume is very thorough and covers "all" English language editions of Phantom comics, and also a huge selection of Phantom collectibles such as rings, toys, trading cards, games, stickers, posters, crockery, jewelry, stationary .... ad infinitum. Of course, it also includes price guides for each item in "Fair", "VG" and "NM" condition, which are ridiculously high. Nigel Johnson, the author of this book, owns a small chain of comic book shops in Queensland, Australia, so it is obviously in his own best interests to bump up the prices. This is a book for the SPECULATORS, but it also provides a useful source of information for Phantom FANS (there is a huge difference). It is selling for Aus$9.95.
- Granny May's have a new set of 3D "Toby" Phantom mugs produced by Skansen and made in Indonesia. There are two different designs, both with a little button on the handle: one is of the Phantom's head and has a small skull mark button, the other is a skull and has a small goodmark button. The Phantom head mug is smaller than the Toby mug produced a few years ago by Monkey's of Melbourne, but is basically identical in appearance. Both mugs are selling for Aus$25.
29 Nov 1996
- Frew Phantom #1153 released; Ali Baba's Cave, Script: Tony de Paul, Art: Cesar Spadari, Cover: Tessa, 36 pages.
- COMICON Downunder will be held at Melbourne Exhibition Centre on Nov 31 and Dec 1, and at Sydney Centrepoint Convention Centre on Dec 7 & 8. Phantom cover artists Antonio Lemos, Dean Ormston and Glenn Ford will be attending the convention and presumably will be available for signings. Ticket enquiries to (03) 9370 8890 or email comicart@ozemail.com.au
15 Nov 1996
- Frew Phantom #1152 released; Blood Brothers, Script: Lennart Moberg, Art: Felmang/Benny, Cover: Romano Felmang, 36 pages. A continuation of the President Lubanga plot -- Luaga and the Phantom are finally friends again.
- The movie has finished in Australia at most multi-screen theatres but is still being screened by the small independents on weekends.
8 Nov 1996
- Frew Phantom #1151 released;Operation Hades, Script: Claes Reimerthi, Art: Carlos Cruz, Cover: Glenn Ford, 36 pages. A continuation of the President Lubanga plot.
- The distributor of the Frew Phantom comic in Australia and New Zealand, Gordon & Gotch, have been putting a life-size Phantom cardboard display stand in many newsagents. They look fantastic! I'd recommend that you try to sweet-talk your local newsagent into saving one for you.
- Trielle's 1997 Phantom Diary is now also available through many newsagents in Australia, in addition to the Granny May's chain. It's still selling for Aus$10.
- There's a new Phantom plastic cup ("tumbler") available through Granny May's stores. It looks pretty nifty and is selling for Aus$5! Unfortunately, there's not much else new expected for the Christmas catalogue.
- Beware of the mail order company called Dazzler Enterprises. They advertised Phantom "Movie Posters" in recent Frew Phantom comics. I ordered mine thinking it was the original teaser poster, but it turned out to be a reproduction, with no details of the movie credits or anything. It still looks nice, but I'm not sure it's worth the Aus$22 that it cost. Also, don't even THINK about paying the Aus$15 that these guys are charging for the Phantom rings. You can buy the same items from toy stores for only Aus$5.
4 Nov 1996
- THE PHANTOM movie is due for video and laserdisc release in the USA on November 19.
31 Oct 1996
- The SECOND 1997 Phantom Diary is now on sale. It's designed & written by Steve Panozzo and Stuart O'Connor, and published under license by Trielle Corporation. This diary is smaller than the Phantom diary from Mallon Publishing (130mm x 190mm), but is half the price (Aus$10). It is also much better reading with a different "Phantom Phact" on each double page. Available through Granny May's novelty/gift stores.
25 Oct 1996
- Frew Phantom #1150 released;T (For Terror), Script: Lee Falk, Art: Sy Barry, Cover: Antonio Lemos, 52 pages.
A complete reprint of the 1975 daily strip story.
23 Oct 1996
- Jim Shepherd has decided to delay the first issue of FREW's Phantom Magazine until early 1997. Jim seems to think that there is a glut of Phantom stuff on the market at the moment and the magazine would probably suffer from oversupply. So we've gotta wait a bit longer ...
20 Oct 1996
- Today's Sunday Telegraph newspaper from Sydney, Australia, included another free collector's comic strip and poster (the first was last week). The giant poster has four Phantom images from Glenn Ford on one side and the second half of the 1945 story "Queen Pera the Perfect", on the other. The poster is the same as on cards #39, #40, #43 and #47 from the Comic Images Phantom trading card set. The three Phantom competitions are open for entries until midnight tonight.
18 Oct 1996
- Frew Phantom #1149 released;A Bandar's Pride, Script: Semb, Art: Hans Lindahl, Cover: Jim Shepherd, 36 pages.
The next issue (#1150) will be another complete reprinting of a classic Lee Falk story - "T" from the 1970s. Still no sign yet of the first issue of Frew's new Phantom Magazine. - The SECOND 1997 Phantom Diary (this one is from Trielle Corporation), is due to go on sale in Australia by the end of October. Publisher's copies should be out on 22nd October, and a bunch will be given away or sold at the National Cartooning Conference in Sydney on October 26.
- Don't forget the Hungry Jack's Phantom promotion throughout Australia. With each purchase of a Kid's Club Meal Deal, you get a hamburger, small fries, small Coke, and one of FOUR different Phantom promos ... a different one available each week. The four promo items are a plastic Skull ring, a plastic clip-on Phantom belt bucket, a plastic Phantom mask, and a sheet of Phantom Movie stickers.
15 Oct 1996
- Ivan Pedersen's Fantomet web page has moved again. If you have not visited in the last week or so, please have a look and update your bookmarks. Ivan has been working very hard on his page and it's looking great.
13 Oct 1996
- Today's Sunday Telegraph newspaper from Sydney, Australia, included a free collector's comic strip and poster. The giant poster has one Phantom image from Glenn Ford on one side and the first half of the 1945 story "Queen Pera the Perfect", on the other. The poster is on card #42 from the Comic Images Phantom trading card set. There are also three Phantom competitions with prizes to be one. Entry is via a series of telephone hotlines.
4 Oct 1996
- Frew Phantom #1148 released;The Marshall Sisters, Script: Lee Falk, Art: Ray Moore & Wilson McCoy, Cover: Jim Shepherd, 36 pages.
Another complete reprinting of a classic Lee Falk story. Still no sign yet of the first issue of Frew's new Phantom Magazine. - The box office figures are now available for the first week of The Phantom Movie in Australia. It opened on 121 screens throughout the country and pulled in $1,597,760. That brings the total box office to date (including previews) to $1,660,123. It was the fourth highest grossing film for the week, behind The Nutty Professor, Independence Day, and Matilda.
27 Sep 1996
- Frew Phantom #1147 released;The Sky Band, Script: Lee Falk, Art: Ray Moore, Cover: ???, 100 pages.
This is the world's first complete reprinting of Lee Falk's 1936/37 classic. It includes every little scrap from the daily newspaper strip ... including all continuity panels. The panels are reproduced in a very large size, so that each day of the strip occupies two lines, ie. 1 1/2 days per page. It's HUGE! - The 1997 Phantom Diary is now available through most good book stores in Australia. The regular retail price is about Aus$20 and it has been produced by Mallon Publications again.
26 Sep 1996
- The Phantom Movie opens today throughout Australia. Most theatres have promotional Phantom soft drink cups which look pretty nifty. Unfortunately they're only made from waxed paper ... not plastic.
13 Sep 1996
- Frew Phantom #1146 released;The Disappearance of Prince Rex, Script: Donne Avenell, Art: Heiner Bade, Cover: Tessa, 36 pages.
6 Sep 1996
- Frew Phantom #1145 released;Thor's Hammer, Script: Tony De Paul, Art: Cesar Spadari, Cover: Tessa, 36 pages.
