The U.S. based publishing house Mad Cave Studios have launched their highly anticipated Phantom comic book series.

Appearing on the Mad Cave Studios website, available for pre-order, is edition number one of their new Phantom comic book series, written by Ray Fawkes and illustrated by Russell Mark Olson.

Story writer Ray Fawkes is an award-nominated and award-winning author with over two decades of experience crafting comics and graphic novels, including critically acclaimed works like Underwinter, Intersect, One Soul, The People Inside, The Spectral Engine, Possessions, and Junction True. He’s also contributed to major series for publishers such as DC Comics (Batman: Eternal, Constantine, Justice League Dark, Gotham by Midnight), Marvel (Wolverines), Dark Horse (Black Hammer ’45), and AfterShock (Jackpot!). A testament to his significant contributions, Fawkes has been nominated for prestigious accolades including the Eisner, Harvey, and Shuster Awards, and is a YALSA Award winner, continuing to champion the spirit of DIY fiction while working with leading comics publishers in both the U.S. and Canada.

Artist Russell Mark Olson, originally from eastern Missouri, has been a resident of the United Kingdom for the past 16 years. He’s an accomplished comic creator, contributing to 2000AD (The Darkest Judge), Mad Cave (A Phone Call Away, Flash Gordon Quarterly), and numerous smaller presses in both the UK and US. Beyond his creative work, Olson also serves as the editor of SKRAWL, the Comix Magazine, and is the mind behind the award-winning pulp sci-fi series, Gateway City.

To mark this first edition launch, a variety of variant covers have been produced, a total of six:

• Cover A illustrated by Freddie Williams II (color)
• Cover B illustrated by Canaan White
• Cover C illustrated by Russell Mark Olson
• Cover D illustrated by Dan Brereton
• Cover E illustrated by Freddie Williams II (black & white)
• Cover F is a Blank Variant

All six front covers are displayed below in sequential order from cover A to cover F, arranged from left to right.

The pre-order advertisement describes this first edition as:

THE GHOST WALKS AGAIN! The Phantom returns! Created by Lee Falks in 1936, the Phantom is one of the first costumed super heroes in history, with untold influence on pop culture. Now, critically-acclaimed creators Ray Fawkes and Russell Olson revive the character for fans old and new.

When a violent gang of smugglers stubbles on an idyllic Bandar village, the peace that the Phantom has brought to the African nation of Bangalla will suddenly shatter. It will take all of the Phantom’s many skills — and allies — to restore it. The most exciting series of the year starts here!

The comic books will feature 32 full-color pages, presenting an original story that continues from one edition to the next, beginning with the Free Comic Book Day edition number zero released on the 3rd of May 2025 (further information regarding this edition can be found HERE). A selection of internal pages included in the series are featured below.

The inaugural edition is scheduled for release on the 24th of September 2025 and is available for pre-order in both physical and digital formats on the Mad Cave Studios website HERE.

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