Fantomah saves New York

[alicemacher]

In which the Mystery Woman of the Jungle faces off against the deranged anarcho-primitivist wannabe, Mark Lord (presumably no relation to Maxwell).


From Jungle Comics #9 (Sept. 1940). Story and art by Fletcher Hanks (as Barclay Flagg). Public domain scans courtesy of ComicBookPlus.com.











"Attend to your own business," instead of "Mind your own business." Lord may be mad, but not mad enough to forget his posh education.













One of Hanks's typically weird punishments, but at least this one has some dramatic irony to it, instead of random "let's turn you into a human/grasshopper hybrid or a giant bodiless head" stuff. Also, while Hanks's "heroes" are sometimes disproportionately harsh and sometimes relatively lenient with their justice, here it's ambiguous whether Fantomah's being cruel or merciful. On the one hand, she leaves the devolved Lord at the mercy of his vengeful captives. On the other hand, as a caveman he's now bigger and stronger, and even has a weapon. So maybe, just maybe he has a chance against them, whereas his former unarmed, spindly self would've been panther chow in seconds.

Comments

[kamino_neko]

Given that they look the same earlier on, I suppose it's just how Hanks draws large felids, but the panthers look like they're gleefully anticipating what they're about to do to Cavelord Mark.

[cygnia]

Has anyone done anything with Hanks' properties? I know Wonderella had Fantomah for a guest appearance, but that's about it...

http://nonadventures.com/2016/01/09/the-fantomah-menace/

[alicemacher]

Probably the best-known case was the John Keatinge/Michael Allred Stardust tribute in 2008's Fantastic Comics #24, part of Image's Next Issue Project. It's generally seen though as a "totally missing the point" kind of thing, as you'll discover when you read it.

The first commenter on that s_d post mentions an online Fletcher Hanks Redux project, by artists from the Savannah College of Art and Design, but at some point between 2009 and now the entire site seems to have vanished.

Apart from that, all I know of is a mention of Stardust in one of the prose bits within League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century. Seems the British superhero Captain Universe finally brought him to justice (when Stardust was conveniently if uncharacteristically drunk) and imprisoned him within a chamber of Ice-9.

[locuatico]

Hack/Slash used the character of Fantomah for an arc or so.

[lilacsigil]

I really like that Fantomah doesn't give a damn about the bombing of New York, she's all about the panther theft!

[q99]

Yea. Unlike Stardust, there's less of a sense of apathy from her in general, but her focus is on the jungle and those who live there, people or animals.

[tripodeca113]

I think Fantomah is some sort of supernatural being, who is dedicated to protecting the jungle, and its people and creatures. She will punish those who transgress in her domain, but will ignore any misdeed that occurs outside it.

[bruinsfan]

Too bad Fantomah didn't have time to look up the Spectre while visiting New York. I think they'd have similar ideas about what makes for a fun date night.

[cricharddavies]

Fantomah plays a major role in the Pathfinder storyline Worldscape, alongside Tarzan, John Carter, Red Sonja and many other fantasy heroes and villains, as well as the Pathfinder iconics, of course.