Hosted by Mad Cave
The Phantom began as a comic strip for newspapers that preceded Superman. However, the latest incarnation is becoming the latest title for Mad Cave Studios. Written by Ray Fawkes and drawn by Russell Mark Olson, Phantom #1 will arrive at the local comic shop (LCS) from September 24, 2025.
To celebrate the imminent release, Comics Beat got caught up in an email with King Feature author Fawkes, editors Sarah Brunstad and Berit Ginsberg. Here’s what we learned about the exciting upcoming series:
Avery Kaplan: Sarah, how did you become involved in editing the Phantom?
Sarah Brunstad: I have been an editor at Marvel for over a decade and joined the Mad Cave team in early 2025. He has experience working with licensed books and large teams. Props to Chas! The original editor, Pangburn, did a lot of work in advance.
Kaplan: And Ray, how did you get involved in writing the Phantom?
Ray Fawkes: At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, I was meeting crazy cave people. I had finished some work with them – I had completed writing sanctions and rounded up the bends of Blue Paro Verde so I began to talk about the next possible thing. The Phantom was mentioned and I jumped at the opportunity – I quickly learned what kind of story I wanted to tell with the characters!
Kaplan: How did you now retain your current position in the King feature?
Berit Ginsburg: I’ve always wanted to work on entertainment properties. This is a type of brand that carries deep fan connections across generations. I was lucky to land at Hasbro right after graduating. There, I was able to tackle my beloved franchises like Transformers, Power Rangers, and my little pony. These experiences gave me a real foundation in fostering steward legacy brands and fandom. I came to King’s traits to help do exactly that – revitalize our love for classic IP. One of my first projects was to launch a Flash Gordon partnership with Mad Cave, but now I’m excited to film another icon in my portfolio: The Ghost Whoks Warks.
Kaplan: Ray, did you have any personal history with the characters before writing this book?
Fawkes: Actually, as a pulp hero fan, I’ve always known the Phantom and enjoyed reading some of the Lee Folk paperbacks. I’ve tracked down some reprints of the newspaper comics, but it’s still in the studio (and I’m happy to be able to dig them out and reread them all when I started this project)! I have a real, lasting love for pulp adventurers like the Phantom, so I was thrilled to be able to go back and enter something like this again.
Kaplan: Sarah, what does your daily workflow look like while working on the Phantom?
Brunstad: First in the morning, I look for an invoice and check for emergency emails (for books that are usually printed that week). My mid-afternoon/early afternoon is usually reserved for meetings to check in with the production and design team throughout the MCS imprint. In my late afternoon I’m dedicated to reading the script, submitting materials to the licensor (King Feature Syndicate, for the Phantom) and answering the rest of the email. It’s also when I tend to get into creators and bases like Fawkes and think about obstacles to every story.
Kaplan: Are there any unique challenges to write and edit books based on such a long history of legacy characters?
Brunstad: Luckily, I’ve had a lot of experience with it. But honestly, it’s a fun constraint. There are beloved materials that you can touch on for immediate recognition, but there is also the challenge of “how to say new things.” But the reality is that stories are limited only by our imagination.
Fawkes: The biggest challenge is to balance the respect for the character and his roots with his desire to tell a new story related to our time. In other words, he is a very timeless hero, so it’s not too difficult in the Phantom. His basic good heart and honest love for adventure are easily translated into every era. Careful readers should note that our series is being done in a kind of vague “anytime.” It’s very intentional.
Kaplan: Verit, how do you approach projects like this with legacy characters like Phantom?
Ginsburg: In many ways, the Phantom orders an unparalleled place in the hero’s landscape. He has the title of hero wearing the first costume in the comic, and has been ongoing syndication for almost 90 years and publishing for 75 years. That legacy is responsible. We must respect our long history and please our fans who have been invested for decades. You also need to make sure your storytelling is fresh and relevant to new audiences. It is a balance between tradition and evolution. It gives creators a room to tell stories that resonate with today’s readers and values, while protecting myths.
I would also like to highlight my colleague Christina Nicks Lynch. Her publishing expertise and collaborative spirit are invaluable. And of course, this does not happen in a vacuum. The rest of our brand team, including Sunjana Varma and Kelsey Sullivan, are equally incredible creative partners.
Kaplan: Sarah, how about working with the King feature of the title?
Brunstad: They are great collaborators! I am so grateful to work with people who love what we do and trust us to make great comics.
Kaplan: Verit, what was it like working with Mad Cave in Phantom (and other projects you want to talk about)?
Ginsburg: Mad Cave was a great partner. I was able to work with them with dozens of titles that would expand the universe of Flash Gordon. They brought the same passion to the Phantom. They’re not just creative. They are supportive. We are constantly sharing ideas, opportunities for exchange and pushing each other forward to making our projects stronger. I learned a lot from that team. They have extensive experience with them, and beyond King’s traits, I think their work has a heart. From speed racers to gachaman, their projects are fun, original and always reader-first.
Kaplan: Ray, how was it like working with the rest of the creative team?
Fawkes: Great! Russell Olson deals in art and colour, but I couldn’t be satisfied with him. When he first started spinning the designs for the free Comic Book Day issue we did, I quickly learned that he had gained the charm of the characters and setting in a fundamental way, and prayed that he would stay in the series. His work is incredibly excellent. The Jungle has a beautiful, detailed and dangerous appearance, the Phantom is a handsome, demonic care hero, portrayed perfectly, with all the other characters all lively, expressive and amazing. I’m a huge fan of Russell’s works.
Kaplan: Sarah, what do you hope readers take away from the title? What can we expect in the future?
Brunstad: A beautiful book with truly careful artistry. Russell Olson has done quite a bit of research into the setting and the world, and it really shines. And I think Fawkes brings a modern sense of justice to the phantoms we need to see now.
Kaplan: Verit, what do you hope readers get from this incarnation of a unique phantom when compared to previous iterations?
Ginsburg: What makes the Phantom special is how deeply exploring the human side of being a hero. It’s not just about power and skills. It’s about heritage, reputation, and responsibility to carry a mantle that grows through generations. We hope readers will step away from this series and intrigued not only the Kit story but also the wider phantom lineage. Maybe they’ll jump into a classic comic strip or explore touchpoints from other brands, such as Art of Play Video Game, released this year, or the Phantom 2040 Digital Strip from Comics Kingdom. Ideally, the series is an entry point and a spark of deeper fandom.
Kaplan: What aspects of the writing process were particularly challenging (or particularly easy) for you?
FAWKES: I’m glad you added parentheses to this question. Because along the way, I find it very easy and fun. These are stories that are explosive to write.
Kaplan: Are there any comics or other stories that have particularly inspired you these days?
Brunstad: There are so many great comics right now! But I especially love the reunion of FML’s Kelly Sue Deconic and David Lopez.
Fawkes: Recently? I really enjoy Jeff Remia’s minor Arcana and Matt & Margie Kint gold leaf frames. These people are my friends and their work has always inspired me. That’s what I’m doing now!
Ginsberg: It may be cheating, but you have to call some of the amazing IPs and get work done from a colleague at King Featus. First of all, Prince Valiant’s classic storytelling and artwork continues to fascinate me. I also love working on the DTC side of business with Ilee Popeye and Phantom 2040. Outside of King’s traits, my latest reading includes the Pierced Brown Red Rising Series. But my greatest comfort of all time is always Christopher Parini’s inheritance cycle. Those books remind us of why we fell in love with storytelling in the first place.
Kaplan: Is there anything else you would like to include?
Brunstad: screaming at Freddie Williams II on the main cover, doing a gorgeous textured piece. They make a gorgeous collector set 🙂
Ginsburg: What I like about King’s traits is that we are constantly evolving and celebrate 100 years of storytelling while looking for new ways to advance these brands. This legacy is not just about success. It’s also about learning from missteps, and our fans were with us at every stage. Communities like Phantom Fan Groups and Chronicle Chambers remind us of how important it is to listen. In many ways, fans are just as part of the Phantom history as we do, and our goal is to always maintain and expand that legacy together. I hope this project helps us continue doing just that.
The Phantom will arrive at the LCS on September 24th, 2025.
Hosted by Mad Cave
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