David Anthony Kraft’s Comics Interview, a pivotal publication from Fictioneer Books, served as an essential chronicle of the comic book industry, running consistently from 1983 to 1995, a remarkable twelve-year span.
This magazine distinguished itself by offering unparalleled access to the minds behind the panels, primarily through its extensive and insightful interviews with a vast array of comic creators. Over its impressive run, it published approximately 150 regular issues, providing a continuous stream of dialogue and behind-the-scenes perspectives.
Each issue was a deep dive into the creative process, featuring discussions with iconic figures such as Keith Giffen and Roger Slifer in issue #1 (August 1983), Frank Miller in issue #2, P. Craig Russell and Don McGregor in issue #3, and Jim Starlin in issue #4. Later issues continued this tradition, with Walter Simonson discussing Thor in issue #10 (March 1984), Alan Moore speaking on Marvelman and V for Vendetta in issue #12, and Ernie Colon and Don Rosa sharing their thoughts in subsequent issues.
Beyond the regular monthly releases, Fictioneer Books also expanded the Comics Interview brand with various ‘Super Special’ editions, often focusing on popular characters or specific creative talents; examples include the ‘Comics Interview Super Special Aliens vs. Predator’ (1991), ‘Comics Interview Super Special Lobo Lives’ (1992), ‘Comics Interview Super Special Rocketeer’ (1991), ‘Comics Interview Super Special Spider-Man’ (1990), and ‘Comics Interview Super Special X-Men’ (1989).
These specials, alongside the core series, cemented Comics Interview’s place as an invaluable historical record, preserving the voices and visions of a transformative era in comic book history, making it a cherished resource for fans, scholars, and future generations of creators alike.
Comics Interview edition number 146 was published in 1995 containing 58 black and white pages measures 17.5cm x 26cm. This edition contains the Phantom on the front cover, an image by Roy Felmang. The front and back covers can be seen below.
Found within is an extensive interview featuring Jim Shepherd, past editor of Phantom comic book publisher Frew Publications based in Australia. A total of 20 pages are dedicated to the Phantom, which not only details the interview with Jim Shepherd, but is also rich in images and illustrations. These include an image of Lee Falk, illustrations by Ray Moore, Wilson McCoy, Sy Barry, Don Newton and Glenn Ford, with various variations of the Phantom seen including Phantom 2040.
A sample of internal pages can be seen below.
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