Wednesday, March 22, 2017

ITG's ABCs: Phantom Lady Action Comics Weekly #s 636-641 (Jan. - Mar. 1989)


On this episode of ITG's ABCs (which is short for Anthology & Back-up Comics Stories), I'll be taking a look at the 6-part Phantom Lady serial from Action Comics Weekly #s 636-641!

This series introduced a new legacy hero to the DCU, as recent college grad Dee Tyler attempts to fill the singular one-piece of Golden Age great, Sandra Knight!  I think Dee showed some potential, and writer Len Strazewski packed this series with ideas that I think could have supported an ongoing series, had the public demanded it.  Still, we're left with what I think is one of the more enjoyable Action Comics Weekly features, so please have a listen to my recap!

Download this episode HERE!

Scroll down to see images from these issues, and please be sure to check out previous episodes of I'm the Gun on iTunes & Google Play!

Also, I'd love to hear from you!  Email me at: imthegun@gmail.com, or hit me up on Twitter: @imthegun

Thanks for listening!

This episode's promo: Worst Collection Ever

Theme created using a sample of 'Shotgun' by Duran Duran

Mrs Emma Peel - commencement speaker?

Great expressions, and a nice demonstration of what PL can do

Fight scene that would have Frederic Wertham spinning in his grave

A crowd of Phantom Ladies, plus Hobbes makes the scene

PL swipes Cyclops' headgear

A shocking revelation

3 comments:

Anj said...

I did not get Action Comics Weekly when it came out. As you say, it was a high monthly price point for the time. And since not all the characters grabbed me, I stayed away.

But one of the characters which almost got me to buy was Phantom Lady. I had run into her first in a couple of random Freedom Fighters book from the 70s. I was floored by her beauty in Crisis and Whos Who (Perez and Stevens for the win!). Suffice it to say, I am glad you are covering her here.

The story seems a little randy and definitely fun. I would have read this as a monthly. Or maybe a true miniseries. I can see why maybe DC thought it might be tough to keep this as a monthly. How often can you go to the double entendre?

And I think the art perfectly suits the story and the humor. Maybe I need to look in the cheap bins?

marksweeneyjr said...

I'd suggest it! You're right - and I don't think I stressed this enough in the episode - Austen/Martin's slightly cartoony style *was* well suited to the story, despite a couple of dark moments.

And now that you mention it, I think a contemporary Phantom Lady mini would have fit right into the DC line along with the Phil Foglio Angel & Ape and that Congorilla series . . .

Thanks for writing, Anj!

UplayOnline said...

Maybe I need to look in the cheap bins?


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