Saturday, June 12, 2021

THE PHANTOM DETECTIVE: HOUSEL CONTRIBUTES TO VOL 2

Ron Fortier has accepted my entry for Airship 27 Production's the Phantom Detective, Vol 2! 

Ron asked me to participate in the endeavor about a month ago. From there I penned the tale and handed it over to my pal, J. Dennis Papp to edit before sharing it with Ron. Ron is now awaiting Fred Adams Jr's submission, and then the artwork (cover and interiors) will be completed. 

For the fun of it, here's a little background on the character: The Phantom Detective outlasted both Doc Savage and the Shadow in print. The well-to-do character, whose actual name is Richard Curtis Van Loan, emerged in 1933, and his alias was simply referenced as The Phantom within the pages of Thrilling magazine, though the periodical's banner likely surfaced to distinguish the crime-fighter from Lee Falk's Ghost Who Walks. There was even a comic-book series based on The Phantom Detective, where our hero wears his signature, domino mask, but also a top hat and cape; in the literary source, he sports only the mask and a fedora. 

My contribution to the saga is entitled "The Master Youths of Janus" and blends elements of Village of the DamnedIt's a Good Life and the Sixth Finger. It includes three Phantom regulars: Frank Havens (the publisher of The Clarion and the only person who knows The Phantom's true identity), Muriel Havens (Frank's daughter and Van's gal) and Jerry Lannigan (a WWI buddy, who thinks The Phantom and Van are two different gents). 

I'm proud to be part of this revival venture and hope that Vol 2 inspires even more editions from Airship 27 Productions. 

In the meantime, The Phantom Detective, Vol 1 can be purchased at

https://www.amazon.com/Phantom-Detective-One-Gary-Lovisi-ebook/dp/B01MQGWQH9/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+phantom+detective+vol+1&qid=1623536279&sr=8-1

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