A book which some fans may not be aware of, which centers around the Phantoms origin story is a book titled ‘The Legend of the Phantom‘.

The book is written by Jacob Nelson and was released in 2013 in paperback format in English. The novel contains 372 pages, broken down into 44 chapters, with a prologue found at the commencement of the book. The book doesn’t contain any comic strips.

The self published book contains the following description:

Who is the Ghost Who Walks… also known as the Phantom?

Over four hundred years ago, a cabin boy to Admiral Christopher Columbus grew to become an explorer and a mighty sea captain… but unfortunately met his end as he fell prey to pirates, leaving his son alone. As the lone survivor of a pirate attack, the young man swore to devote his life to the destruction of cruelty and injustice… as the nemesis of pirates everywhere! He was the first to take upon himself the title of the Phantom! His son and his son’s sons-generation after generation-succeeded him in the crusade.

Their faces masked, they were loners who lived lives of mystery and danger… moving in and out of shadows… stalking… feared by evil-doers everywhere… Thus generations of Phantoms lived, fought, and died-usually violently-as they followed their oath. Jungle folk, sea folk, and city folk believed him always to be the same man, and so the legend grew-the legend of Kit Walker… the Man-Who-Cannot-Die… the Ghost Who Walks… the Phantom!

Only the pygmies knew that, always, a day would come when their great friend would lie dying. Then, alone, a strong young son would carry his father to the burial crypt of his ancestors where all the Phantoms rested. As the pygmies waited outside, the young man would emerge from the cave, wearing the mask, the costume and the skull ring of the Phantom upon his strong hand; his carefree days as the Phantom’s son over. Then the pygmies would chant their age-old chant, “The Phantom is dead. Long live the Phantom.”

This story of “The Legend of the Phantom” is the story of the father of the first Phantom and an adventure of the Phantom of our time as he discovers his roots, heritage and the origin of his rings. To good people and criminals alike, in the jungle, on the seven seas, and in the cities of the world, he is known as the Phantom; the Ghost Who Walks… the Man Who Cannot Die!

The novel immediately introduces us to the first Phantoms father, a young boy by the name of Christopher Columbus, commencing in the year 1492.

“My name is Christopher Columbus, named in part after my uncle and in part after Saint Christopher, the patron saint of sailors and travelers. But I go by Kit… a name which I have been called since I can remember… a name that honors my mother’s English heritage.

“Recently my uncle asked me to be cabin-boy on the ship Santa Maria. The purpose of the trip is to find gold! That and a new route west to the Spice Islands.

“Though I am nearly old enough to be enlisted as a sailor myself; he insisted that he have someone he could trust by his side. How could I refuse? But before I could accept, he told me that if I decided not to take the position he would give it to Pedro do Terreros instead. However, I told him I was honored by the post (which pushed Pedro to the Pinta), and since then have worked hard to show that I am grateful for it.”

The first Phantom was born in 1516, with the first Phantom oath taken in 1536. Chapter 21 in the book presents us with the ship Kit was travelling on before being attacked by the infamous pirate, Kabai Singh. He sees his father, Christopher Columbus die following a sword fight at the hands of Kabai, before the ship is blown apart by powder kegs with Kit thrown into the sea and washing up on a Bangalla beach, being the sole survivor.

The books storyline shifts commencing from chapter 22, fast forwarding 400 years to an adventure our current 21st Phantom is on, located in Costa Rica.

The Legend of the Phantom book is filled with adventure, entwining the history of the Phantom with the stories we read in our comic books. The author remains true to the Phantoms origin story as told by Lee Falk, not deviating or twisting facts to cater for the books storyline. It presents us with a fascinating and entertaining look at what brought the ship Kit was travelling on to the shores of Bangalla.

The Legend of the Phantom is available in both physical and digital formats, still sold by a variety of online stores, including Amazon and eBay.

It’s well worth a read!!!

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