The Phantom

The Phantom

by Rob MacGregor, Jeffrey Boam

Legend tells of a young boy who watched his father die at the hands of the Singh Brotherhood, a gang of pirates. later on the skull of his father's killer, the boy swore vengeance--dedicating his life and the lives of his descendants to fighting his life and the lives of his descendants to fighting piracy, greed, injustice, and cruelty in all its forms. He was the first.

Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction, Pulp, Novels, Superheroes

246 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1996

About the author

Rob MacGregor is author of 19 novels, 14 non-fiction books, and has teamed with George Lucas and Peter Benchley. He is a winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award for mystery writing, and has been on the New York Times best-seller’s list. He writes both adult and young adult mysteries, adventure, and science fiction/fantasy. He’s best known for his seven Indiana Jones novels. He co-authored The Fog with Bruce Gernon, and with his wife, Trish, co-authored three books on synchronicity. His latest book is Aliens in the Backyard: UFO Encounters, Abductions, and Synchronicity. In his spare time, Rob teaches yoga and meditation.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Phantom was a 1996 film starring Billy Zane as the title character from Lee Falk's popular newspaper comic strip. It was the best of the media adaptations of Kit Walker, though the bar was admittedly low. I didn't like the addition of some of the supernatural elements to Falk's story, but overall I enjoyed it. Rob MacGregor (who wrote several good Indiana Jones books), wrote this novelization of the screenplay which is quite serviceable, and in fact adds quite a bit of background detail that didn't make it to the screen. Guran, Hero, Devil, Diana, and even Uncle Dave have their moments... as long as the Ghost keeps walking, things will turn out all right.

[Ian Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Phantom is a comic that predates Superman and Batman. It is a little frustrating that it hasn’t yet been translated satisfactorily to the screen. Billy Zane’s portrayal of him in the 1996 film is wonderful but it is let down by a story that doesn’t feel like it has come from the pages of Lee Falk’s original comic. According to this novelisation, though, we got off pretty lightly. This Phantom still communicates with his dead father but he also has a mystical connection to the land and can heal himself magically with his skull ring, a device that exists in the comics to help the Phantom get rough on roughnecks (OJS). Thankfully, those elements don’t make it past the shooting script Mr MacGregor was provided with. However, he does treat the original concept and character with enough respect that it is a heap of fun to read.

[Robert D · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel adaption of the movie "The Phantom" that came out in 1996. A bit more character development than the time limits of the movie allowed as well as a smoother flow of the action from scene to scene.

The book starts out with the origin story of the original Phantom, or Ghost Who Walks. Then it jumps to the 'current' one, who is the 20th in the line. The story spans his jungle base to New York and back to the Bangalla forest. While the Sengh Brotherhood of pirates play a minor part the story is driven by the power seeking Xander Dax of New York. The legend of three skulls that would grant the pocessor unlimited power drive his actions and thus his minions.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good movie, even better book.

[Jeremiah Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have never seen the movie. I have enjoyed some of MacGregor’s Indiana Jones novels. Here, the dialogue and plot felt a little clunky.

There were some fun parts. I’m curious to watch the movie now.

[Kooshmeister · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't terribly impressed with Rob MacGregor's novelization of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, however, his stab at The Phantom is a different story entirely. It provides a lot of interesting backstory, including a several-chapters-long expansion on the film's prologue detailing the attack against the ship by the Sengh Brotherhood and the death of the first Phantom's father, and even the full story of Quill's tangle with the 20th Phantom and the circumstances surrounding his death. Definitely worth a read if you liked the film.

[Victor Orozco · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice read. Nobody really makes those grand adventure films in the jungle like Tarzan anymore. Some of the characters where a little off but I have to admit it was a nice story. The movie was pretty good with the book adding much more detail. C+