
After dating love interest Palmer for decades, he married her in 1977, and she later gave birth to twins, Eloise and Kit (the latter destined to become the 22nd Phantom). Over the years, Phantom accumulated a wide cast of characters, including Guran, leader of the tribe trusted friend Bandar foster son Rex trusted wolf Devil and horse Hero. Each generation of Walkers is trained to take over the mantle of Phantom and, since all wear the same costume, local legend has it that he is in fact the same man 400 years later, hence the nickname, “the Ghost Who Walks.” The child thrives under the tutelage of the tribe and creates the Phantom costume, inspired by a native idol, to strike fear into the hearts of his enemies. Washed up on a beach in an unspecified jungle setting, the child is befriended by a local tribe and swears an oath to “devote my life to the destruction of piracy, cruelty, and greed, and my sons will follow me!” Early versions of the origin name the child’s father as Sir Christopher Standish, a British nobleman, but later versions name him as Kit Walker, and his descendants appear to think of themselves as American.

Phantom’s origin lays hundreds of years in the past-the 16th century, in fact-when pirates raided a merchant ship, killing the crew and captain and leaving only the captain’s young son alive. In addition, Phantom came equipped with his superweapons and super-gadgets, including two revolvers, homing pigeons he dispersed to send and receive messages, and a “skull” ring worn on his left hand, the imprint of which clearly meant that a person was struck by the hero.

Preceding Superman by two years, it is here that the superhero blueprint was first fully established: a physically impressive, costumed character, complete with secret identity (Kit Walker), imperiled girlfriend, and secret hideout (the Skull Cave). With his purple bodysuit (though readers had to wait for a Sunday strip added in May 1939 to actually see the costume in color), striped trunks, hood, blank-eyed mask, and black leather gun belt bearing a “death’s head” skull, Phantom’s costume defined his persona as a masked avenger. Readers first see Phantom rising out of the sea to rescue beautiful Diana Palmer from peril, thus putting in motion events that will be repeated many times in coming decades.

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