Available for auction through the United States-based Heritage Auctions is a distinctive original page from the Gold Key Comics Phantom comic book series.

Gold Key Comics published The Phantom from 1962 to 1966, taking over the license after King Features Syndicate’s brief stint with Harvey Comics. This era was notable for being the first time the Phantom appeared in a long-running American color comic book format, featuring iconic painted covers by artist George Wilson that gave the series a distinct, sophisticated look. The interior art was primarily handled by Bill Lignante, who adapted scripts based on Lee Falk’s original newspaper strips.

While the run was relatively short at only 17 issues, it remains a pivotal chapter in the Phantom publishing history, bridging the gap between the traditional strip reprints and the more experimental directions taken by later publishers like King Comics and Charlton Comics.

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Bill Lignante was a prolific American illustrator and courtroom artist who became the first person to draw the Phantom specifically for the American comic book format, primarily during the character’s run with Gold Key and King Features in the 1960s. Tasked with adapting Lee Falk’s original newspaper strip style into a dynamic comic book layout, Lignante developed a clean, straightforward aesthetic that focused on clear storytelling and consistent character design.

Beyond his work in the jungle of Bangalla, he was a highly respected courtroom illustrator for ABC News, famously capturing the visual history of high-profile legal proceedings like the Charles Manson and O.J. Simpson trials when cameras were barred from the room. His transition from the adventurous, mythic panels of comic books to the gritty, real-world sketches of the legal system showcased his remarkable versatility as an illustrator.

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The page available at auction is from the fourth edition of the Gold Key Comics series, page number thirty two, illustrated by Bill Lignante, originally published in 1963. The art is created in ink over graphite on Bristol board with an image area of 12.25″ x 17.75″. The auction is due to end on the 10th of May 2026.

Both the page featured in the published comic book and the original artwork offered at auction are displayed below.

On this page, the Phantom delivers a group of captured pirates to the authorities after successfully thwarting their raid. The Phantom single-handedly hands over the mob to a sea captain but retains one prisoner in a flight helmet, whom he intends to use to locate the “Orion Loot“. As the Phantom departs in a small aircraft, leaving the captain questioning his identity, the final panels shift to a legendary summary of his reputation. These panels reinforce the Phantom’s mythos as the “ancient nemesis of pirates” and “The Ghost Who Walks“, illustrating how his feats against villains like “The Goggle-Eye Pirates” are whispered about both on the high seas and deep within the jungle, where his seemingly immortal nature is accepted.

The original artwork page listed on the Heritage Auctions website can be found HERE.

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