From The Chronicles Of The First Phantom – Part Two – New Paperback Novel By Jacob Nelson

A new paperback novel by Jacob Nelson, featuring the Phantom, is now available for purchase.

Titled ‘From the Chronicles of the First Phantom – Part Two‘, the paperback novel comprises 295 pages in black and white, with dimensions of 15.2cm x 22.9cm. Published in English language, the book was officially released on the 29th of December 2024, and does not include comic strips.

This second book in the series serves as a continuation of the first installment, which was released on the 8th of November 2024 and titled ‘From the Chronicles of the First Phantom – Part One‘. Additional information regarding this edition can be found HERE. It’s available for purchase on the Lulu website HERE, on the Amazon website HERE, and on the Barnes & Noble website HERE.

From the Chronicles of the First Phantom – Part Two is described as:

For Those Who Came in Late… Who is the Ghost Who Walks… also known as the Phantom? Over five 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 the 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 generally worked alone; living 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 covers the origin of the First Phantom as told from excerpts in his diaries.

From the Chronicles of the First Phantom, Part Two continues to follow the adventures of Kit Walker, the first Phantom. The book is a collection of nine chapters that take place between the years 1543 and 1549.

Prologue: For Those Who Came In Late
Chapter One: Willy–Willy
Chapter Two: A Chance Encounter
Chapter Three: The Golden Man of El Dorado
Chapter Four: Return to Marabella
Chapter Five: Pirate Blood
Chapter Six: The Phantom’s Heart
Chapter Seven: Eric the Rover
Chapter Eight: Christina and the Blackguard
Chapter Nine: Marabella and the Great Deception
Index of Credits: My Deepest Thanks to Each of You!

The story commences with Kit Walker, the first Phantom, tasked with escorting a Bengal tiger (named Willy-Willy), a treasure of the Shah of India, to the Grand Duke of Alba in Spain. After surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Africa, Kit finds himself in the company of a Spanish noblewoman named Marabella and her betrothed, Don Diego.

Kit and Marabella fall in love, but their happiness is short-lived as they are soon caught up in a quest for the legendary city of gold, El Dorado. A significant portion of the storyline follows their adventures and challenges in the South American jungle.

After returning from El Dorado, Kit finds himself facing new challenges involving Marabella, pirates, and family drama. He continues to uphold his oath to fight evil, even as he navigates complex relationships and faces difficult choices.

The book ends with Kit back in the Deep Woods with Marabella, raising his son Chris and continuing to fight for justice. We’re told that the adventures will continue in future chronicles of the Phantom via additional paperback novels.

Some of the colorful/interesting standout characters found in the books storyline include:

Kit Walker (The Phantom/Chris/The Ghost Who Walks/Avenger): The protagonist of the story, Kit Walker is the first Phantom. He is a skilled swordsman, marksman, and fighter who is dedicated to upholding his oath to fight evil and piracy. He’s often seen disguised in a purple outfit and mask.
Marabella Colón (The Spanish Princess): A beautiful and strong-willed Spanish noblewoman. She is the granddaughter of Christopher Columbus and possesses a spirit of adventure. She falls deeply in love with Kit Walker.
Willy-Willy: A Bengal tiger gifted from the Shah of India to the Grand Duke of Alba in Spain. The Phantom escorts this tiger across the sea.
Don Diego: Marabella’s betrothed, a Spanish nobleman. He’s arrogant and jealous of Kit’s relationship with Marabella.
Don Velázquez: A Spanish leader who is obsessed with finding the legendary city of gold, El Dorado.
Hapitschombe (The Golden Man): The chief of a native tribe in South America and guardian of El Dorado, whose body is painted gold.
Don Felipe: Marabella’s brother-in-law who plots to kill her and inherit her wealth. He’s also revealed to be the leader of a group of English pirates.
Carmen: A handmaid at Marabella’s hacienda who is later revealed to be working with don Felipe to kill Marabella.
Doña Inez: A woman working with don Felipe to kill Marabella.
Don José Halcón: A man who was once helped by Kit’s father and who refers Kit to his son for help in rescuing Marabella from pirates.
Don Felipe de Halcón: Don José’s son, a nobleman who is initially skeptical of the Phantom but eventually enlists his help in rescuing Marabella from the pirate Killer Khan.
Killer Khan: A notorious pirate who kidnaps Marabella for ransom. He’s ruthless and cruel.
Nbanto: A native African chief who joins forces with the Phantom to fight Killer Khan. He’s a fierce warrior and a skilled leader.
Eric the Rover: Christina’s father, a former pirate captain who seeks revenge against his mutinous first mate, Magnus Thorn.
Magnus Thorn: Eric the Rover’s former first mate who leads a mutiny, kidnaps Christina, and steals Eric’s ship, the Black Serpent.
Christina: Eric the Rover’s daughter, who is kidnapped by Magnus Thorn. She eventually marries Kit Walker and becomes the mother of the second Phantom.
The Blackguard: A shadowy group of individuals who kidnap the Phantom’s infant son, Chris.
Chief Turan: The leader of the Bandar pygmies and a loyal friend to the Phantom. He helps rescue both Marabella and baby Chris.
Zelina: A woman who looks exactly like Marabella and who the Phantom rescues from highwaymen. She later impersonates Marabella and takes over the throne of Maravilla.
Don Ramón: Zelina’s partner, who helps her to impersonate Marabella and seize power in Maravilla. He;s eventually killed by the Phantom.

Throughout the books storyline, Kit Walker the first Phantom, is portrayed as a relentless force for good, driven by his oath to fight injustice. He begins by escorting a Bengal tiger, Willy-Willy, from India to Spain, enduring a shipwreck and nursing the tiger back to health. He then faces treacherous traps in the Temple of El Dorado, rescues Marabella from the pirate Killer Khan, and even confronts a former pirate captain, Eric the Rover, to save his daughter, Christina. When his own son is kidnapped, the Phantom fearlessly battles the Blackguard to reclaim him. Finally, he exposes an imposter who has taken over his wife’s throne and reclaims the kingdom, ensuring justice and the safety of his loved ones. The Phantom’s unwavering commitment to fighting evil and protecting the innocent is evident in every challenge he overcomes.

In the ‘Index of Credits’ section, Jacob Nelson, expresses his gratitude to Lee Falk and King Features Syndicate for creating and maintaining the legend of the Phantom, acknowledging the inspiration he drew from their work. He details how specific storylines and characters were adapted from various sources within the Phantom universe, including comic books, novels, and Team Fantomen stories. Notably, he mentions that his motivations for crafting his book are to create original storylines to bridge the gaps in existing Phantom stories and flesh out certain events, such as the romantic encounter between Kit and Marabella and the history of Eric the Rover and Christina.

It’s very clear that Jacob has conducted thorough research and has demonstrated a profound respect for the established Phantom lore and his mythos, whilst also successfully augmenting it with his own creative interpretations.

The book is presently available exclusively in print format; however, digital editions will be accessible in the forthcoming weeks through various online retailers.

From the Chronicles of the First Phantom – Part Two by Jacob Nelson is available for purchase on the Lulu website HERE.