The Phantom

From strip to silver screen

The Phantom has one of those strange comic book histories where the character feels bigger than any single era. Created by Lee Falk in 1936, the Phantom was built around a simple idea that still works. A masked figure appears immortal because each new generation secretly takes on the same role. Falk mixed jungle adventure, crime stories, radio serial energy and old newspaper strip pacing into something that landed somewhere between superhero and pulp hero. The costume helped too. The purple suit looks a little absurd until you realize how committed the character is to the bit.

The 1996 film starring Billy Zane understood that tone better than people gave it credit for at the time. It never tries to modernize the Phantom into a darker action hero. Instead it leans into the serial feel with hidden temples, smugglers, secret maps and New York gangsters. The movie moves like an old matinee adventure and Zane plays the role completely straight, which is probably why it works. There is a sincerity to the whole thing that separates it from later comic book movies trying too hard to wink at the audience. The Phantom feels like a movie made by people who genuinely liked pulp magazines and Sunday comics, and that affection still comes through.

Back in 1996, I saw this one on opening day. It was an enjoyable ride and fit right in with my love of The Shadow from a few years prior. Needless to say, I am a huge sucker for period piece pulp protagonists. I knew enough about the character of the Phantom to recognize some key points… nothing beyond that. Was it entertaining? Yes. Was it worth many years of re-watches? Again, yes. Did it need a squeal, not really. I would kind of dig a continuation story where Billy plays a grandfather who trains his grandchild to become the next phantom after his son dies. It could be a great 1970s period piece.