Spotlight on Adapted Novels: The Phantom - Flash Gordon - Mandrake the Magician
Playing into the wave of nostalgia for Thirties and Forties pop culture "Avon Publications", in the years 1972-1975, published: 15 novels based on Lee Falk's Phantom stories and 6 novels based on Alex Raymond's Flash Gordon stories. The series was a co-published by Avon Books and King Features Syndicate.
The Story of the Phantom
The Story of the Phantom is a series of 15 novels, published by "Avon Publications" in the U.S. from 1972 to 1975, based on Lee Falk's Phantom stories.
The series has an interesting link to Alfred Bester, who had previously worked on the Phantom and Mandrake when Falk served in the army. In an interviw Ron Goulart later remarked that Falk originally asked Alfred Bester to ghost-write a few novels. Bester was not interested and recommended Goulart for Falk.
Book List
The prologe "How it all began" by Lee Falk is printed in all issues of this series. The article "With the Phantom, everything is possible - except boredom" by Francis Lacassin is printed from issue 9 and on. In addition there are an "Author's note" inside some issues (eg. 4[footnotes 1] , 12, 13, 14 and 15) where Lee Falk clarifies who adapted the previous stories.
| Issue (Avon) | Date issue | Title | Adapted by | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (V2460) | September, 1972 | "The Ghost Who Walks" | Lee Falk | Dedicated to: ".. the three foremost authorities on the Phantom in the whole world - my children - Valerie, Diane, and Conley." |
| 2 (V2470) | November, 1972 | "The Slave Market of Mucar" | Basil Copper [footnotes 2] | |
| 3 (V2481) | December, 1972 | "The Scorpia Menace" | Basil Copper | |
| 4 (14498) | March, 1973 | "The Veiled Lady" | Frank S. Shawn [footnotes 3] | |
| 5 (14894) | May, 1973 | "The Golden Circle" | Frank S. Shawn | |
| 6 (15545) | July, 1973 | "The Mysterious Ambassador" | Lee Falk | Dedicated to: "..Marie-Louise, Antony, and Rondi - my own beautiful little people of the Deep Woods - of Xanadu." |
| 7 (15867) | August, 1973 | "The Mystery of the Sea Horse" | Frank S. Shawn | |
| 8 (17061) | October, 1973 | "The Hydra Monster" | Frank S. Shawn | |
| 9 (17731) | December, 1973 | "Killer's Town" | Lee Falk | Dedicated to: "..those good friends and bold pioneers who first introduced "The Phantom" to Europe and Latin America so many years ago: Paul Winkler of Paris, the late Bjarne Steinsvik of Stockholm, Salvador Mendoza of Mexico City, and Percy Forster of Buenos Aires." |
| 10 (18184) | February, 1974 | "The Goggle-Eyed Pirates" | Frank S. Shawn [footnotes 4] | |
| 11 (18820) | April, 1974 | "The Swamp Rats" | Frank S. Shawn | |
| 12 (19406) | June, 1974 | "The Vampires and the Witch" | Lee Falk | Dedicated to: "This Book is for Elizabeth, My Favorite Witch" |
| 13 (23085) | February, 1975 | "The Island of Dogs" | Warren Shanahan | |
| 14 (23283) | April, 1975 | "The Assassins" | Carson Bingham | |
| 15 (24729) | July, 1975 | "The Curse of the Two-Headed Bull" | Lee Falk [footnotes 5] | Dedicated to: "..to the loving memory of my beautiful mother and dad." |
Notes
- ↑ Interesting issue 4 has a correction for the adaptors of the six first issues. Which may indicate at least two editions of the first six books?
- ↑ The adaptor is not credited in the book
- ↑ Pen name of Ron Goulart
- ↑ The adaptor is not credited in the book
- ↑ The adaptor is wrongly credited as Carson Bingham in the book
Cover Gallery
The covers for the novels were done by George Wilson, previously known for his work on US "The Phantom" comic books.
The Story
of the Phantom #1
The Story
of the Phantom #2
The Story
of the Phantom #3
The Story
of the Phantom #4
The Story
of the Phantom #5
The Story
of the Phantom #6
The Story
of the Phantom #7
The Story
of the Phantom #8
The Story
of the Phantom #9
The Story
of the Phantom #10
The Story
of the Phantom #11
The Story
of the Phantom #12
The Story
of the Phantom #13
The Story
of the Phantom #14
The Story
of the Phantom #15
Reprint
The series is reprinted in the years 2016 to 2020 by Hermes Press as part of their "The Complete Series".
Translated versiones
Several of the books were translated:
Denmark
Two unnumbered issues, released by Interpresse in 1973.
Fantomet
Fantomet
West Germany
In 1974 (to 1978) the German Kelter Verlag released "Kelter Abenteuer", a series of 52 issues featuring several figures as: "Phantom" (15 issues), "Geisterkrimi" (15 issues), "Ren Dhark" (6 issues), "Piraten" (6 issues) and "Richard Blade" (10 issues).
Kelter Abenteuer #1
(The Story of the Phantom #1)
Kelter Abenteuer #2
(The Story of the Phantom #4)
Kelter Abenteuer #5
(The Story of the Phantom #6)
Kelter Abenteuer #7
(The Story of the Phantom #7)
Kelter Abenteuer #10
(The Story of the Phantom #5)
Kelter Abenteuer #12
(The Story of the Phantom #2)
Kelter Abenteuer #15
(The Story of the Phantom #3)
Kelter Abenteuer #20
(The Story of the Phantom #11)
Kelter Abenteuer #24
(The Story of the Phantom #8)
Kelter Abenteuer #29
(The Story of the Phantom #9)
Kelter Abenteuer #34
(The Story of the Phantom #12)
Kelter Abenteuer #38
(The Story of the Phantom #10)
Kelter Abenteuer #41
(The Story of the Phantom #13)
Kelter Abenteuer #43
(The Story of the Phantom #14)
Kelter Abenteuer #45
(The Story of the Phantom #15)
India
According to Aroon Kalandy Regal Publications published around 10 novels with "The Phantom" in about 1986.
The Phantom
Italy
The first Phantom novel was released in the "Collana Oscar Mondadori" series (#692) by Mondadori in July 1976. (The Story of the Phantom #1, translated by Giovanni d'Eramo)
L'Uomo mascherato,
La storia di Phantom,
lo spirito che cammina
Norway
In 1973 "Nordisk Forlag" A/S released the first book in their "Fantomet" series.
Fantomet #1
(The Story of the Phantom #3)
translated by Jan Henrik Jensen
Fantomet #2
(The Story of the Phantom #2)
translated by Jan Henrik Jensen
Fantomet #3
(The Story of the Phantom #6)
translated by Jan Henrik Jensen
Fantomet #4
(The Story of the Phantom #7)
translated by Jan Henrik Jensen
In 1978 A/S "Hjemmet - Bladforlaget" released the first book in their "Super-pocket" series.
Super Pocket #1
(The Story of the Phantom #1)
translated by Øystein Svarød
Super Pocket #2
(Flash Gordon #1)
translated byGunnar Bråten
Super Pocket #3
(The Story of the Phantom #2)
translated by Arne Ernst
Super Pocket #4
(The Story of the Phantom #5)
translated by Arne Ernst
Audio CD
In 2006, two audio cd with the first Phantom book were released as supplements in the "Fantomet" magazine.
part 1
part 2
Portugal
In July 1974 Portugal Press released the first book in their "O Fantasma" series.
O Fantasma #1
(The Story of the Phantom #1)
O Fantasma #2
(The Story of the Phantom #2)
O Fantasma #3
(The Story of the Phantom #3)
O Fantasma #4
(The Story of the Phantom #4)
Interesting in May 1975 Portugal Press released a first issue of a Mandrake (?) series, with a cover by Carlos Alberto Dos Santos.
Mandrake #1
(Mandrake the Magician #0)
translated byL Costa
Spain
In 1973 Editorial Pala released "Pulp Colección" (de novela popular), a series that printed the first issue from the Phantom, Flash Gordon and Mandrake series. The covers were made by Enrique Torres.
Coleccion Pulp #1
(The Story of the Phantom #1)
translated by Rolando Hangling
Coleccion Pulp #2
(Flash Gordon #1)
translated by Rolando Hangling
Coleccion Pulp #3
(Mandrake the Magician #0)
translated by Carlos Pumares
Note
The books also have some articles:
- "La historia del Hombre Enmascarado": "El origen del Hombre Enmascarado" by Román Gubern, "El Hombre Enmascarado en el cine" by Luis Gasca, "El Hombre Enmascarado en España" by Antonio Martín, "La historia del Hombre Enmascarado" by Rolando Hangling and some pictures from the 1943 serial.
- "Flash Gordon en las cavernas de Mongo": "Alex Raymond novelista" de Román Gubern, "Flash Gordon en el cine" Luis Gasca, "Flash Gordon en España" Antonio Martín and some pictures from the 1936 serial.
- "Mandrake: la dimensión X": "Mandrake el Mago" by Óscar W. Benítez.
Sweden
In 1973 "Semic" released the first book in their "Fantomen böckerna" series.
Fantomen Böckerna #1
(The Story of the Phantom #4)
translated by ?
Fantomen Böckerna #2
(The Story of the Phantom #2)
translated by ?
Fantomen Böckerna #3
(The Story of the Phantom #6)
translated by ?
Fantomen Böckerna #4
(The Story of the Phantom #3)
translated by ?
In 1978 "Förlags AB Semic" released the first book in their "Fantomen" series.
Fantomen #1
(The Story of the Phantom #5)
translated by ?
Fantomen #2
(The Story of the Phantom #8)
translated by ?
Fantomen #3
(The Story of the Phantom #12)
translated by ?
Fantomen #4
(The Story of the Phantom #15)
translated by ?
Audio CD
In 2006, two audio cd with the fourth Phantom book were released as supplements in the "Fantomen" magazine.
part 1
part 2
cd case
Flash Gordon
Book List
| Avon issue | Date | Title | Adapted by | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18515 | March, 1974 | "Flash Gordon #1 The Lion Men of Mongo" | Con Steffanson (pen name of Ron Goulart) | |
| 19166 | May, 1974 | "Flash Gordon #2 The Plague of Sound" | Con Steffanson (pen name of Ron Goulart) | |
| 19695 | July, 1974 | "Flash Gordon #3 The Space Circus" | Con Steffanson (pen name of Ron Goulart) | |
| 20446 | September 1974 | "Flash Gordon #4 The Time Trap of Ming XIII" | Con Steffanson (pen name of Bruce Cassidy | |
| 21378 | 1974 | "Flash Gordon #5 The Witch Queen of Mongo" | Carson Bingham (pen name of Bruce Cassidy) | |
| 22335 | January, 1975 | "Flash Gordon #6 The War of the Cybernauts" | Carson Bingham (pen name of Bruce Cassidy) |
Cover Gallery
The covers for the novels were done by George Wilson, previously known for his work on US "The Phantom" comic books
Flash Gordon #1
Flash Gordon #2
Flash Gordon #3
Flash Gordon #4
Flash Gordon #5
Flash Gordon #6
Mandrake the Magician
Looking at translated stories from these novels it looks like Mandrake also was part of the publishing program with paperback adventure novels chronicling the exploits of King Features' three most famous comic strip heroes.
Book List
| Avon issue | Date | Title | Adapted by | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| none | 1973 (?) | Mandrake the Magician #0 Chamber into the X Dimension" | Dick Fulton |