Sponsored by MAD CAVE
The Phantom began as a newspaper comic strip that predated Superman. But in its latest incarnation, it’s becoming the newest title from Mad Cave Studios. The Phantom #1, written by Ray Fawkes and illustrated by Russell Mark Olson, will arrive at your Local Comic Shop (LCS) beginning on September 24, 2025.
To celebrate the impending release, Comics Beat caught up over email with writer Fawkes, editor Sarah Brunstad and Berit Ginsberg from King Features. Here’s what we learned about the exciting upcoming series.
AVERY KAPLAN: Sarah, how did you come to be involved in editing The Phantom?
SARAH BRUNSTAD: I was an editor at Marvel for over a decade and joined the Mad Cave team in early 2025. I have a lot of experience with licensed books and working with large teams, and with The Phantom just kicking off, it was a natural decision to hand over the reins to me. Props to Chas! Pangburn, the original editor, who did a lot of work upfront.
KAPLAN: And Ray, how did you come to be involved in writing The Phantom?
RAY FAWKES: At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, I had a meeting with the Mad Cave folks. I was just finishing up some work with them – I’d completed writing Sanction and was rounding the bend on Blue Palo Verde, so we started talking about the next possible thing. The Phantom was mentioned and I jumped on the opportunity – I knew immediately what kind of stories I’d love to tell with the character!
KAPLAN: Berit, can you tell us how you came to hold your current position at King Features?
BERIT GINSBERG: I’ve always wanted to work on entertainment properties – the kinds of brands that carry deep fan connections across generations. I was lucky enough to land at Hasbro right after graduation, where I got to work on beloved franchises like Transformers, Power Rangers, and My Little Pony. Those experiences gave me a real foundation in stewarding legacy brands and fostering fandom. I came to King Features to help do exactly that – reinvigorate love for our classic IP. One of my first projects was launching the Flash Gordon partnership with Mad Cave, and now I’m thrilled to see them take on another icon in our portfolio: The Ghost Who Walks.
KAPLAN: Ray, did you have any personal history with the character before writing this book?
FAWKES: I did, actually – as a fan of pulp heroes I was always aware of The Phantom, and had read and enjoyed a few of the Lee Falk paperbacks. I’d tracked down some reprints of the newspaper comics, which I still have in my studio (and I’m glad I did, I was able to dig them out and re-read them all when I started this project)! I have a real, enduring love for pulp adventurers like The Phantom, so I was thrilled to be able to go back and get into this stuff again.
KAPLAN: Sarah, what does your day-to-day workflow look like while working on The Phantom?
BRUNSTAD: First thing in the morning, I look for invoices and check for urgent emails (typically for books that are due to print that week). My mid/early afternoons are usually reserved for meetings where I check in with the production and design teams across MCS’s imprints. My late afternoons are devoted to reading scripts, submitting materials to the licensor (King Features Syndicate, for The Phantom), and answering the rest of my emails. That’s also when I tend to touch base with creators like Fawkes and think through any story roadblocks.
KAPLAN: Are there any unique challenges to writing and editing a book based on a legacy character with such a long history?
BRUNSTAD: Fortunately I have a lot of experience with that, heh. But honestly it’s a joyful constraint. There’s beloved material that you can touch upon for instant recognition, while you also have that challenge of “how do I say something new.” The reality though is that stories are limited only by our imaginations–there are still infinite Phantom stories to tell.
FAWKES: The greatest challenge is balancing a respect for the character and his roots with the desire to tell new stories that are relevant to our time. I mean, it’s not that hard with The Phantom because he’s quite a timeless hero – his basic good heart and his frank love of adventure translate easily to any era. Careful readers will note that our series takes place in a sort of nebulous “any time”, where technology that could pin us to a specific decade is mostly absent. That’s very much on purpose.
KAPLAN: Berit, how do you approach a project like this with a legacy character like The Phantom?
GINSBERG: In many ways, The Phantom commands an unmatched place in the hero landscape. He carries the title of comics’ first costumed hero, with almost 90 years of continuous syndication and 75 years of publishing. With that legacy comes responsibility. We have to honor the long history and satisfy fans who’ve been invested for decades, while also making sure that the storytelling feels fresh and relevant for new audiences. It’s a balance between tradition and evolution: protecting the mythos while giving creators room to tell stories that resonate with today’s readers and values.
I also want to highlight my colleague, Christina Nix Lynch, who was truly the architect of this partnership with Mad Cave from the King Features side. Her publishing expertise and collaborative spirit have been invaluable. And of course, none of this happens in a vacuum. The rest of our brand team, including Sunjana Varma and Kelsey Sullivan, are equally incredible creative partners to work alongside.
KAPLAN: Sarah, what’s it like working with King Features on the title?
BRUNSTAD: They are great collaborators! I’m so grateful to work with folks who love what we do and trust us to make great comics, while also guiding us on the best possible treatment for these characters’ long legacies.
KAPLAN: Berit, what has it been like working with Mad Cave on The Phantom (and any other projects you’d like to discuss)?
GINSBERG: Mad Cave has been a wonderful partner. I’ve had the pleasure of working with them on dozens of universe-expanding titles for Flash Gordon, and they’ve brought that same passion to The Phantom. They’re not just creative. They’re collaborative. We’re always sharing ideas, trading opportunities, and pushing each other to make the projects stronger. I’ve learned so much from that team. They carry a wealth of experience with them, and beyond King Features, I just think that their work has heart. From Speed Racer to Gatchaman, their projects are fun, inventive, and always reader-first.
KAPLAN: Ray, what has it been like working with the other members of the creative team?
FAWKES: Fantastic! Russell Olson is handling the art and colours and I couldn’t be happier with him. When he first started turning in designs for the Free Comic Book Day issue we did, I knew immediately that he got the appeal of the character and the setting in a fundamental way and I prayed he’d stay on for the series – which he did! His work is outrageously good – the jungle is beautiful and detailed and dangerous looking, The Phantom is the handsome, devil-may-care hero perfectly portrayed, and the other characters are all lively and expressive and just amazing. I’m a big fan of Russell’s work.
KAPLAN: Sarah, what do you hope readers take away from the title? What can we expect in the future?
BRUNSTAD: It’s just a beautiful book with really careful artistry. Russell Olson does considerable research about the setting and the world and it really shines through. And I think Fawkes is bringing a modern sense of justice to The Phantom that we need to see now.
KAPLAN: Berit, what do you hope readers get from this incarnation of The Phantom that may be unique when compared to previous iterations?
GINSBERG: What makes The Phantom so special is how deeply the brand explores the human side of being a hero. It’s not just about power or skill. It’s about legacy, reputation, and the responsibility of carrying a mantle that stretches across generations. I hope readers walk away from this series intrigued not only by Kit’s story, but also by the broader Phantom lineage. Maybe they’ll dive into the classic comic strip, or explore our other brand touchpoints like the Art of Play video game released this year, or the upcoming Phantom 2040 digital strip on Comics Kingdom. Ideally, this series is both an entry point and a spark for deeper fandom.
KAPLAN: Has any aspect of the writing process been especially challenging (or especially easy) for you?
FAWKES: I’m sure glad you added the parenthetical to this question, because it’s feeling so easy and enjoyable all along the way – these are stories that are a blast to write, which I really hope means they’ll be a blast to read!
KAPLAN: Do you have any comics, or any other kind of story, that has been particularly inspirational for you lately?
BRUNSTAD: There are so many great comics out right now! But I’m particularly loving the reunion of Kelly Sue DeConnick and David Lopez in F.M.L.
FAWKES: Lately? I’ve really enjoyed Jeff Lemire’s Minor Arcana and Matt & Margie Kindt’s Gilt Frame. These folks are my friends and their work has always inspired me – it continues to do so now!
GINSBERG: It might be cheating, but I have to call out some of the amazing IP and work from my colleagues here at King Features. First of all, the classic storytelling and artwork in Prince Valiant continues to captivate me. I’m also loving the work on our DTC side of the business with Eye Lie Popeye and Phantom 2040. Outside of King Features, my latest reads have included Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series, and I finally got around to N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy, which is blowing me away (even if I’m late to it). But my all-time comfort read will always be Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle. Those books remind me why I fell in love with storytelling in the first place.
KAPLAN: Is there anything else you’d like me to include?
BRUNSTAD: Shout out to Freddie Williams II on our main covers, doing gorgeous textured pieces, and to our variant cover artists Caanan White and Natacha Bustos, who are both bringing two super different approaches to the character. They make gorgeous collector sets :)
GINSBERG: The thing I love about King Features is that we’re always evolving, honoring our 100 years of storytelling while looking for new ways to push these brands forward. This legacy isn’t just about the successes; it’s also about learning from the missteps, and our fans have been with us every step of the way. Communities like The Phantom Fan group or The Chronicle Chamber remind us how important it is to listen. In many ways, the fans are just as much a part of The Phantom’s history as we are, and our goal is always to uphold and expand that legacy together. I hope that this project will help us continue to do exactly that.
The Phantom arrives at your LCS on September 24, 2025.
Sponsored by MAD CAVE
English (US) · 