The Expanding Tracyverse

It wasn't that long ago that I cited an example of Mike Curtis and Joe Staton bringing another comic strip into Dick Tracy's universe (see: Dick Tracy's Dream). The sequence below ran July 12-14, 2016 and brought another long-running comic strip character into the Tracyverse.

I'm not sure if this appearance is somewhat elliptical because of copyright restrictions, but it certainly fits with the character.

Long-time comic strip readers will recognize the Phantom in his Mr. Walker persona. Although the figure is never clearly shown, his upturned collar, low-slung fedora, and dark glasses provide more than enough clues. And the wolf is, of course, Devil as Tracy almost directly says.

In a way, this addition is a twofer. Both the Phantom and Mandrake the Magician were created by Lee Falk, and share the same universe (having appeared in each other's strips). So if Dick Tracy and the Phantom know each other, then Mandrake is part of the Tracyverse now, too.

And as part of the same story arc, another cameo was brought back. Deathany Denobia of Bill Holbrook's On the Fast Track was already established in the Tracyverse (see: Dick Tracy on the Fast Track). She returned in an early August 2016 sequence to provide information about the sidekick of Abner Kadaver, a horror show host turned hitman.

One-off cameos can be fun. Subsequent appearances by them can be even more so.

The Phantom Insider - 6

The story arc that began in The Phantom comic strip November 7, 2016, had an introduction by Lee Falk. Writer Tony DePaul and artist Paul Ryan have used this device before -- having the creator of the comic strip stepping in address the reader (see: The Phantom Insider).

It's not something DePaul and Ryan do every time a new story starts. An introduction by Falk usually adds significance to the upcoming story. In this case, Orson Burley (in a nod to Orson Wells), is about to cross paths with the Phantom.

He wants to create a commemorative stamp for what he sees as a fictional figure. Everyone tells him it's a bad idea, but he eventually has to meet the Phantom himself before he abandons the project.

This isn't a run-of-the-mill story, hence the introduction by Falk. Just another reason for me to keep reading.

The Phantom Fete

While the characters in the Phantom don't age in real time, they do age -- especially under the current creative team of Tony DePaul and Paul Ryan. In mid-November, the strip reached an important milestone. The fraternal twins of the current Phantom, Kit and Heloise, turned 15. In the tradition of the Phantoms, it was time for the male heir to go out into the world to study and learn. He will return when the current Phantom dies to take his father's place.

And this time, because there's also a daughter, she'll go out into the world, too -- although not to return as a Phantom. In the mythos of the strip, the identity of the Phantom is secretly passed from father to son to preserve the perception that the Phantom is immortal, the "Ghost who walks."

Depaul and Ryan and have paid homage to Lee Falk, the creator of both the Phantom and Mandrake the Magician before (as I've noted in The Phantom Reunion). In this 15th birthday party celebration (and rite of passage), the team brings together the major characters from both strips in the panel from January 11, 2016.

From left to right : Guran, Hero, Captain Lara, Prince Rex of Baronkahn,
 the Phantom, Diana Palmer-Walker, Kit Palmer-Walker, Princess Narda of Cockaigne,
Mandrake the Magician, Heloise Palmer-Walker, Prince Lothar, Old Man Mozz, Hojo

And arriving a little late via elephant, Lily Palmer, Diana's mother.

From left to right (first panel): Taru Tagama-Lauaga,
President Lamanda Lauaga of Bangalia, Lily Palmer, Dave Palmer

For long-time readers of these strips, it's a treat to see all these familiar characters together -- as it is for any family gathering.

So who are all these people?

This might give you some idea of the rich mythos built up in these two long-running strips. In order of mention: 

• Guran is a member of the Bandar pygmy tribe and the current Phantom's oldest friend from childhood
• Hero, the Phantom's dog
• Captain Lara is Prince Rex's personal bodyguard and love interest. She's originally from Shambad, a neighboring Misty Mountain kingdom. Shambad had strained relations with Baronkahn, and her background -- and the fact that she's a commoner -- made her an unpopular choice for Prince Rex's affections.
• Prince Rex of Baronkahn was an orphaned foundling rescued by the 21st Phantom. The Phantom adopted him as his ward and raised him. In time, it was revealed the Rex King was the heir to the throne of Baronkahn, one of the kingdoms of the Misty Mountains.
• The Phantom is the 21st descendant of the original Phantom to assume the identity -- and the 21st to be named Kit Walker (after the original Phantom).
• Diana Palmer-Walker is the wife of the 21st Phantom and the mother of Kit and Heloise. She works in the UN"s Bangala office.
• Kit Palmer-Walker is the son of Kit and Diana, and in time will become the 22nd Phantom.
• Princess Narda of Cockaigne (a small European country). Although she entered the Mandrake comic strip in 1934, she didn't marry him until 1997.
• Mandrake the Magician, a master hypnotist (though he may have other powers, such as invisibility, shapeshifting, and teleportation -- it depends on the writer)
• Heloise Palmer-Walker, 
• Lothar, Prince of the Seven Nations, is Mandrake's long-time companion and friend.
• Old Man Mozz is the resident sage of the strip, often telling jungle stories. He may have psychic powers (and he's always been ancient).
• Hojo, chief of Intel-Intel. Originally just the chef for Mandrake's estate, he was later revealed to be the head of a secret international police force, as well as a master of the martial arts. Taru Tagama-Lauaga is the wife of President Lauaga. She entered the strip as the tutor for Rex King and the twins.
• Lamanda Lauaga is a member of the Llongo tribe, and is president of the Republic of Bangalia
• Lily Palmer is the mother of Diana, and sister to Dave Palmer.
• Dave Palmer is Lily's brother and Diana's uncle. When he first entered the Phantom strip, he was a police commissioner (eventually serving as the Police Commissioner of New York City). He is currently is part of the US government's anti-terrorism department,

The Phantom Insider - 5

 Writer Tony DePaul and artist Paul Ryan took a break from the current story arc in the Phantom comic strip. It's something that been a tradition of the strip since its inception back in 1936 to get new readers up to speed. For the original creator of the strip, Lee Falk, it was an opportunity to retell the Phantom's origin story. The strips that began "For those who came in late," told of the first Phantom (in the 1500's) who swore he and his descendants to fight for justice. The current Phantom is the 21st in that unbroken line. "Came in late," indeed!

DePaul and Ryan have used the convention for a slightly different purpose. They recap the current story line, which enables them to have longer story arcs than most adventure strips can manage these days because of shrinking panel size. Here's the most recent example from February, 2015 (click on images to enlarge).

The narrator who breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the reader is none other than Lee Falk (see: Phantom Insider for other examples). The creator of the Phantom worked on the strip until his death in 1999. It's a fitting tribute that he now recount the Phantom's adventures from inside the legendary comic he created.

The Phantom Insider 4

"For those who came in late." For decades that's been the caption for quick recaps of the origin story of the The Phantom. It had a certain irony to it, as the first member of the Walker family to become the Phantom did so in 1536. No matter how long you've been reading the strip, you've come in late!

The current creative team of Tony DePaul and Paul Ryan use the phrase to signal a cameo by the comic strip's creator, Lee Falk. Rather than recap the origin of the Phantom, Falk (the character) simply gets readers up to speed with the current story.

As I noted in the Falk's last appearance (The Phantom Insider 3), the current story is partially set in the actual New York City apartment building where Falk lived. So while he does break the fourth wall and talk directly to the reader, his appearance is quite logical. After all, he's just going to his apartment. (click on images to enlarge)

DePaul and Ryan are clearly having some fun with this convention. And when the creators have fun with a comic strip, it usually translates to fun for the attentive reader.

The Phantom Insider 3

Tony DePaul and Paul Ryan have been subtly making Lee Falk, the creator of the The Phantom, a recurring character. Over the past few years, Lee Falk has appeared in the strip as a narrator. He always talks directly to the reader (see: The Phantom Insider -- Revealed!) either summing up what's happened in the current story arc, or introducing a new storyline.

In a recent sequence, Falk's New York City address was cited. (click on image to enlarge)

And now Mr. Falk stands outside his residence to summarize the action. He looks quite dapper with his skull head cane (referencing the Phantom's skull ring) and amulet (the same skull symbol as on the Phantom's belt buckle).

It's a sequence that works on three levels:

1) Those with little knowledge of the strip get a synopsis.
2) Those who have been reading the strip will recognize the background as one of the story locations, and will get added meaning from the sequence.
3) Those who are comics scholars will recognize Lee Falk and get the full flavor of the homage.

Sure, you can read a comic strip in a few seconds. But see what you're missing?

The Phantom Reunion

The Phantom comic strip runs parallel stories -- one for the daily (Monday-Saturday), and the second on Sundays only. Both sequences recently had an homage to the original creator -- Lee Falk

Lee Falk was a larger-than-life figure, as famous for his work in the theater as he was for the comics he created. And both those comics are still being published. Falk started Mandrake the Magician in 1934, and two years later created the Phantom.

Fred Fredericks is the current author/artist of Mandrake. I think his thick-lined style suffers quite a bit from the cramped space modern comics are forced into. (click on images to enlarge)

Terry Beatty, the artist for the Sunday continuities, seems to do a better job. (Although note how he tries to imitate Fredericks' chunky style when drawing Mandrake and Narda)

Tony DePaul, who writes the stories for both the dailies and the Sunday strips, does homage two ways. In the Sunday story, he's reuniting Falk's creations. And in the daily strip, he's referenced Lee Falk in passing -- by having a character be dropped off at Falk's old address in New York City. It's the kind of thing that doesn't necessarily add (or detract) from the story.

But for knowledgeable comic fans, it's a nice little extra.

The Phantom Insider 2

What I thought was a cameo has turned out to be a regular feature. Back in December I noted the appearance of Lee Falk in the comic strip, The Phantom. The current creative team of Tony DePaul and Paul Ryan had brought in the creator of the strip, Lee Falk back as a character to provide a synopsis and introduce a new storyline.

Now that the current story arc is wrapping up, here's Mr. Falk again to introduce the next chapter. As with the previous appearance, he's been drawn into the scene, but speaks directly to the reader. (click on image to enlarge)

It's a nice touch, and a nod by the creative team to the long history of the strip. And for the novice who doesn't recognize the significance of Falk, it also doesn't get in the way of the story. Another well-done cameo. I'll be looking for future appearances.

In praise of Eduardo Barreto, Part 2

Yesterday I posted an analysis of one of Eduardo Barreto's last comic strip sequences published before his death. Barreto was one of those amazing artists who did such a masterful job that his work furthers the story, rather than call attention to itself. And it does so in ways often unnoticed by the causal reader.

In this last sequence published before Barreto's death, Noble, the head of the Shadow Team is having an audience with the Wambesi chief, explaining his mission. In disguise is the Phantom. (click to enlarge)

In the upper panel, the eye moves from left to right, starting with the caption. Note how carefully Barreto places everyone. The heads of the crowd are lower in the left than the right, pulling the eye along (and also suggesting depth). Noble is in the center, so we know exactly who the caption refers to. The chief is in the right foreground, and between the two is a picture of Noble's hunt -- the Phantom.

All three heads are related, conveyed by the subtle alignment of eyes. The eyes of Noble, the Phantom, and the chief are all in a straight line. The reader's eyes move from speaker, to subject, to audience. Also note Noble's dynamic pose. He didn't just hold up this picture. He whipped it out of his pocket and lunged slightly forward to show the chief. Noble isn't just mildly interested in finding this man, he really wants to find him.

The next two panels are interesting, because they take place at the same time. By laying the panel with the Phantom's face over Noble's scene, Barreto shows what the Phantom is thinking at the same time Noble is speaking. And look at the grouping of three faces. Noble address his man, who has a neutral expression. But on either side of him (and behind him) are two Wambesi warriers looking angry. Although Noble thinks he knows why, the placement of the figures suggests that Noble's team is surrounded and outnumbered by dangerous foes.

The next panel shows the Phantom in a field of white. While it nicely breaks up the page and gives the eye a bit of a rest, it has a more important narrative purpose. By isolating the figure, Barreto has removed all distractions. We need to pay attention to what the Phantom's thinking. It's the dramatic turning point in the sequence, and because there's nothing around the figure, time seems to stop for a moment.

In the first panel on the last row, the action heats up. Barreto uses speed lines to indicate motion. Noble doesn't just point to the picture, he jabs it emphatically. His emotion is carrying him away. This panel has to be read in tandem with the one that follows. In this one, we only see Noble, who's oblivious to what's happening around him. In the final panel, we see the results of Noble's words.

The Wambesi have exploded with fury. In the far right of the panel, you can see Nobel, still talking, unaware of the riot behind him. Not so the Phantom! Look how all the lines sweep the eye from left to right. The line of warriors is closest at the far left and trail off to the right. This funnels the eye straight through the middle of the panel to the Phantom, who's leaning backwards to carry the eye over to Noble.

Noble, however, is in shadow, so while that's the end of the narrative of the panel, it's not the main point. The main point is that the Phantom is facing  a sea of angry warriors.  Because Noble's in shadow, the eye pauses on the Phantom. All the warriors are leaning to the right, as are their spears. But only one is pointed horizontally -- and that one is aimed straight at the Phantom.

In far less time than it takes to read this post, Barreto works his magic. His lines lead the reader's eyes in the direction he wants them to, ensuring they see not only what he wants them to see, but in what sequence and with what weight. There's not a misstep anywhere along the way.

Eduardo Barreto was a rare talent. He'll be sorely missed.

In praise of Eduardo Barreto, Part 1

Shortly after I posted my last comment about the Phantom comic strip, I found out that Eduardo Barreto had passed away. Barreto was an amazingly talented illustrator. Like many, I first became aware of his art through his work on DC's Teen Titans.

I've written before about his work on the comic strip Judge Parker. His dynamic comic-book style and imaginative compositions (not to mention the way he drew women) revitalized the strip. His art was the perfect accompaniment to the change in direction the writing had taken, and together Barreto and Woody Wilson pushed Judge Parker into the 21st century.

Illness forced him to give up his duties. Eventually he returned to the field doing the Sunday sequences for The Phantom. The Phantom continues the practice many adventure strips maintained of running one story during the week, and different story in the Sunday sections.

To acknowledge the work of this master, let's take a closer look at the last two sequences published before the announcement of Barreto's death. Although it only takes a moment to read, Barreto's craft in telling a story in pictures is worth a second look. (click on image to enlarge)

 In this sequence, note the simple, but effective placement of panels. The top panel sets the scene (Africa) and gives us the two main characters -- the Phantom (in disguise) and Shadow Team leader.

The next panel shows us the Wambesi chief talking with the men. Note the line going from the Phantom's head to the chief's. It's going upwards from left to right, drawing the eye from the speakers of the request (the team leader, through the interpreter) to the receiver of the request (the chief). Note also that the figure of the chief is not only set higher in the frame, but also apart from the other figures, which are grouped together. This isolation and elevation shows his authority.

In the left lower panel, Barreto depicts the reaction to the team leader's words. The Phantom is at left, with all of the Wambesi to the right of him. The eye (always moving left to right) reads his thoughts, and then naturally move to the reactions he's worried about.

The final panel is a real tour-de-force. Barreto pulls back and gives us the Phantom in the exact center of the picture. The team leader and chief are still in their relative positions, so we know where we are. The village is full of detail, but not so much that it clutters the panel. And notice that there's an overall motion to the image. There's still the diagonal line running from the Phantom to the chief, extending downward through the two warriors in red (and don't think it an accident that only those two figures are clad in that eye-catching color).

In front of him is a curved enclosure. The eye moves up the implied line from red warriors to the chief, and come back down and follow the curved line of the enclosure, then pull right to read the word balloon.

Every line is there for a purpose, and the purpose is to further the story.

Tomorrow we'll look at the final panel published before Barreto's death.

The Phantom Insider -- Revealed!

A few days ago, I pointed out that the current creative team producing the Phantom (Tony DePaul, Paul Ryan, and Eduardo Barreto)  made a reference to one of the strip's long-standing tropes. In the last two days, it's just gotten better. Not only is there a character breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to the reader, but it's not just anyone. As today's sequence makes clear, our distinguished-looking speaker is actually Lee Falk, the creator and first writer of the Phantom. A very nice homage, indeed. (click on images to enlarge)