If you ask a lot of phans from specific countries like Australia, Sweden and India, they will say the Phantom is Indian, a Swede comic and or is Australian. Many see the Phantom as THEIR comic as it has grown into their culture. You can learn more about this phenomenon in Kevin Patrick's book or listen to our chat with him.
With the Australian readers as patriotic as every other phan from other countries, it is curious that the Phantom has not visited Australia more often. Frew issues have in the past flown off the shelf whenever the Phantom visits Australia.
We are excited to announce that the Phantom will be returning to Australia in 2025 likely three times in 2025.
In X-Band: The Phantom Podcast Episode #293, editors Jacob Habinc and Andreas Eriksson told us that Swedish writer John Rassy is working on the first story. No story specifics on this story or the artist have been given to us at this stage.
For those eagle-eyed social media surfers, you may have also seen some teasers by writer Julie Ditrich and Brazilian artist Wendell Cavalcanti who are finishing off a four-part story.
According to what is on social media, this story has supernatural horror themes and is set in current times. We can also announce that it will be printed over four issues in a serialised format and in colour.
The story is titled "Simulacra" and will be set in the Daintree River and forest located far north of Australia on Cape Tribulation, Qld which is the oldest rainforest in the world, home to the frightening cassowary and maybe something else.
Thanks to Frew and writer Julie Ditrich, we are able to share some unseen panel artwork attached as well - note this artwork is in black and white and not colour which it will eventually be published in.
The plot of the story is as follows:
Cassandra Adgar, a renowned Australian adventurer and photographer of simulacra in nature is a friend of Kit Walker and Diana Palmer.
When Cassandra becomes obsessed with local stories in Queensland’s Daintree National Park about a tree in the mangroves that resembles the face of a tentacled humanoid creature, she sets out on a river expedition, at her peril, to capture a likeness for her next coffee table book but disappears on the quest.
The Phantom sets out to find her but is unprepared for the depravity and horror of what he encounters that challenges his very sanity. For the rainforest is not all it seems.
For those smart people, a simulacrum (plural: simulacra from Latin: simulacrum, which means “likeness, similarity”) is a representation or imitation of a person or thing. Read into that as you will
The last time the Phantom was seen in Australia was in Frew #1947, by Paul Mason and Amanda Bacchi. We are led to believe that there is a big chance that Julie Walker will return in 2025 with the next parts of the "Fury" story finished and awaiting to be published as well.
On top of these adventures we will see in a Fantomen and Frew comic, one of the Phantom video game levels is also based in Sydney. Attached is a scene from the upcoming game. It will be a big year for Australian phans to fly their patriotic phantom phlag in 2025.
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