No 2025 — 90 Legendary Years Special It has been 90 years since Lee Falk’s Phantom strip debuted and so Frew has naturally published a 90th anniversary special. Full colour, which is always a delight.

No 2024 This issue contains a Fratelli Spada story from the 1960s and the next part of Julie Ditrich’s Simulacra serial.

No 2023 — The Dictator Lamanda Luaga is gifted corn cakes and flies into a rage every time he eats one. He even orders the Phantom to face a firing squad! This felt very repetitive. I just wanted it to be over. We also didn’t see any real consequences on Lamanda’s actions! 2/5

No 2022 A Team Fantomen story from 2021 takes pole position while a Frewniverse part rounds out the issue.

No 2021 The stories paired in this issue are from Team Fantomen and Frew (the latter is another part of Simulacra).

No 2020 Here we have a Fratelli Spada remake of a Lee Falk classic and the first part of a Frewniverse serial by Julie Ditrich.

💥 Frew Publications Celebrate 90 Years of The Phantom with Special Comic Release. Cover art by Ben Bradi. 🫟 More information here 👉 thephantom.fan/2026/06/29/f... #thephantom #phantomcomic #leefalk #comic #art #frew #special

No 2019 Both stories in this issue are new, from the pen of Shane Foley, and from the “Frewniverse”, which is a term that I’ll adopt in future — “Frew original” doesn’t sound quite as exciting.

No 2018 Another issue, another 1980s Team Fantomen story, another part of Hunters’ Prey. Let’s do this! Frew is using “Bangalla” here… but I know that it would be “Bengali” in the original script. I’m torn about what to do in this situation.

I think you can all guess what arrived today.

#thephantom #comics

No 2017 Here is a typical pairing — a Team Fantomen story (from the 1980s) and part of a Frew original. If it works, it works. And it does.

No 2016 We have two stories in this issue, neither of which have been published here before (one is a Frew original). The Team Fantomen story is printed to commemorate artist Heiner Bade. As is my usual custom, I’ll use its original title.

Australian Phans! You can now buy a paperback copy of my book of reviews (No 1500-1599) directly from my website. Link: www.alycecaswell.com/store/p1/Adv...

Oooh I'm not sure how I feel about Frew using "Bangalla" in translations of Team Fantomen stories where "Bengali" would've been used...

No 2015 — Replica Series No 45 Four issues from 1953 are included here for our reading pleasure. They are Nos 61, 60, 59 and 58. I have reviewed all of them in some shape or form in the past.

No 2014 — The Phantom and Mandrake (2026 Annual Special) A special featuring crossover stories from both Phantom and Mandrake franchises. My dislike of Mandrake the Magician is well documented, but I’ll survive. Somehow.

My Supanova haul... I could have bought so many from the various comic stalls, but chose issues based on the covers. I love that dynamic style from Tommy Hughes.

No 2013 This full-colour issue includes an older Falk story, as well as a modern sequel by Dr Paul Mason.

No 2012 — 2025 Christmas Special As we’ve all come to expect from a Christmas special, this full-colour issue contains the new-ish Sunday and daily stories from the US. I say “new-ish”, because they finished in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Apologies for the radio silence. Publishing the book burnt me out a little! I'm currently working my way through my stack of comics (I'm at No 2013) and I'll start posting reviews soon.

I will be attending Sydney Supanova in June, for anyone who wants to order a signed copy of my review book for $25. www.alycecaswell.com/adventures-w...

This is what the paperback looks like btw

It's time! My book of Phantom reviews is available in various places online, but YOU get the ebook for free. Hit the Smashwords link below and use coupon code CB7TW in your cart or at checkout. www.smashwords.com/books/view/1...

Sorry for the radio silence. School holidays were a bit chaotic, so perhaps publishing a book in January was not a good idea. Yes, it's published in various places! Those places carry a price tag, but I'll provide a coupon for freebies off Smashwords after I catch up on some work.

No 2011 As with the previous issue, this one contains a new Team Fantomen story and a new part of “Hunters’ Prey”.

No 2010 This issue pairs a new Team Fantomen story with the first part of a Frew original—a Shane Foley serial, which continues on from “Bad Blood in Bangalla”.

No 2009 — Carnival in Rio The Phantom joins in Diana in Rio de Janeiro and looks into why a dam building project is being sabotaged. The investigation part of this story was excellent. Great pacing! Then things went slightly south when it became about an Incan-inspired cult. 4/5

No 2008 In this full-colour issue, Frew treats us to two homegrown stories. The pages are of magazine quality, something that happens every now and then. And how I adore this cover!

No 2007 — Replica Series No 44 Reprints of Nos 65, 64, 63 and 62 are to be found inside this issue; unusually, it also contains two non-Phantom stories.

Heads up, subscribers... if Frew calls your phone, it's because they want to sell you back issues and not because they discovered a book you might be publishing in the near future lmao

How to Dress as the Phantom: Halloween Costume Guide by Comics Kingdom Comics Kingdom, the digital comics website owned by King Features Syndicate, has shared a selection of fun Halloween costume ideas on their Instagram account. Their post reads: Still don't know what you're gonna be for…

The review ebook has a January 24 release date. I'm unable to set up preorders for free books but obviously I'll remind you all when it drops. I hope to have the paperback also done by then (POD, available only by contacting me directly) - and this concludes any updates on the matter until January.

Typesetting complete. Basic ebook cover created (have stock subscription and Photoshop, will travel). Next stage is proofing...and possibly making paperback files. Or maybe picking up the latest issue and reading that 😅

Third draft of The Book is now finished. What's next? Typesetting!

I couldn't get this team up idea out of my head so here it is! I think this is an unstoppable team! What do you guys think? #blackpanther #kingtachalla #thephantom #theghostwhowalks #marvelcomics #madcavestudios #fanart #teamup #crossover #freelanceartist #wakandaforever

Just found this file in my cloud storage and remembered that I once searched Trove for the Phantom's first appearance in Australia. As you do! (Yes, yes... I know it's not Frew...) #thephantom

No 2006 — The Man Who Cannot Die What if the Phantom truly was the man who cannot die? He has lived for centuries, endlessly fighting piracy, and hasn’t much humanity left. This was awesome! A great read in the lead up to Halloween — I’d like to see more stories like this. 5/5

No 2005 This issue serves up part 2 of “The Killer and the Ghost”, along with a Frew-first story by Shane Foley.

No 2004 This issue pairs a new Team Fantomen story with the next instalment of The Phantom: Vietnam.

We hope you’ll dig part 3 when it eventually comes out, with the hopes we get to do more with Julie down the track. Thank you!

Finally caught up on everything, including Giantsize. Now I can relax... *spots the Super Yank hardcovers on my dining room table* Oh no

No 2003 — The Final Battle (The Devil’s Brotherhood Pt 3) Rpt. The Phantom heads to Hong Kong to take on the remaining Tiger Generals and the mysterious “21”. The Phantom’s legend was used well here. But I’m a bit disgruntled that this battle is far from “final”. 3.5/5

No 2002 — The Tiger General (The Devil’s Brotherhood Pt 2) Rpt. Chou Chan’s daughter is kidnapped and the Phantom flies to Bangkok to rescue her. This is an engaging story, but the edges are fraying a bit. The crocodile scene made the bad guys look ridiculously inept. 3.5/5

No 2001 — The Red Staff (The Devil’s Brotherhood Pt 1) Rpt. When Chou Chan, a friend of the Phantom’s, goes missing in China, the purple guy heads over and encounters opium dealers. I’m amazed at just how much story these pages yielded. I’m very invested in what happens next. 4/5

No 2000 — Issue 2,000!!! This epic 228-page issue has been greatly anticipated and is gratefully received. It contains classics and new tales, all in full colour, all on pages of magazine quality. A poster is also included.

I can't be the only one shipping Heloise and Kadia, right?

There is something immensely satisfying about holding a physical draft.

The second draft of the review book is complete. I'll get it printed off for the next draft and then, hopefully, I'll be able to typeset it. Following this, I'll have to make a cover that doesn't upset the folks at King Features Syndicate. AND THEN - publication of the ebook. Possibly paperback.

@pmason83.bsky.social Hi there! I've been going through my old reviews and noticed something. Correct me if I'm wrong, but The Phantom: Vietnam chapters are not all in chronological order, right?