The Phantom is one of the most under appreciated comic book characters of all time. Most people may not know that The Phantom was the first character to ever have the solid white eyes while wearing a mask that is standard in today's industry. He is also the first comic book character to ever wear the skin tight costume that is also standard. He truly is the first comic book superhero.
I will admit that the 1996 film is my ultimate guilty pleasure film. While that film has never been considered a superhero classic, it did have something that a lot of current comic book films have put to the side: the sense of adventure. The Phantom doesn't need to be dark and gritty. I created a story that is a little different than most comic book films out today. It is a coming of age story and also a story of family. It is about a young man fulfilling his destiny and becoming the man he was meant to be. My story has a sense of adventure. While it does cover dark and personal material, it is fun and would definitely be a summer blockbuster.
This is of course an update and would be set in the present day. This of course would mean that the spandex purple suit wouldn't work to well. I envisioned the suit as more tactical. it does keep some purple elements because having an all black suit would be just another Batman copy. My inspiration for the suit design was Snake Eyes from G.I.Joe Retaliation:
Picture the mask having an open mouth piece, but keeping the visor. I think with a few dashes of purple and the classic skull belt buckle this would be the perfect modern update for The Phantom.
Also make sure to check out my FAN-CAST: The Phantom!
Now onto the good stuff . . .
THE PHANTOM
Late 1980’s – Early 1990’s: A group of preteens play video games at a local arcade. One of the boys plays a game where the entire mission takes place in a jungle. His friends poke fun at him saying that that game is too easy. The boy, Kit Walker, retorts and says he likes the jungle the best and they leave the arcade. A man watches them as they leave. The three kids walk to Kit’s house, but when they arrive there are two police cars sitting in front of his house. He runs inside and sitting on the couch crying is his aunt who was taking care of him while his parents were out of town. She runs and goes to hold him and he breaks down and starts crying.
Multiple news stations cover the news of the death of Kit’s parents. His father was the CEO of Walker Industries. The news reported that they were killed in a plane crash. Kit became the largest share holder, but he would not take control of the company until he was ready. He ended up being raised by his aunt.
Present day: Years have passed and Kit is now a young man, in his mid-late 20’s. He is working out at a local gym, doing martial arts training. He looks at the clock and leaves the gym. He gets on his motorcycle and begins to ride home. He rides through the city, New York City, and weaves in and out through traffic. He passes under the city lights which light up the night sky. He goes by a billboard that shows pictures of a jungle and tropical places and it catches his eye. He doesn’t watch where he’s going and when he turns back to the road he nearly runs into the back of another car. He swerves his motorcycle and misses the car and runs the red light, nearly missing traffic as it crosses in front of him, but laughs it off. He pulls up in front of a house and gets off his motorcycle. He walks up to the door and rings the bell and his aunt answers the door, Aunt Heloise. They are sitting down having dinner and Kit tells her how his job is going and she tells him that he should stop and try to do something with the company. He says the big wigs can handle it. Suddenly there is a knock at the door and Heloise goes to see who it is. She opens the door and lying on the porch is an envelope. Sealing the envelope is a classic red wax seal. The image in the wax is that of a skull. She opens it and Kit gets up and walks over wondering what is taking his aunt so long. He walks up and she immediately tucks the letter away in her pocket. He knows she is hiding something and when he leaves he pickpockets her and takes the letter with him. When he gets back to his apartment he looks at the letter. It is written in a language he doesn’t recognize. He does some research and still comes up with nothing. He takes out his cell phone and makes a call. He asks the other person if they can do him a favor and if he could see them tomorrow. They agree to the meeting and Kit says thanks and then hangs up.
The next day a man, Graft, is in an elevator and when the doors open he walks out into an luxurious office. He walks up and puts a tablet down on the desk. A man turns around in the desk asks what Graft has. He says that they caught Guran at the airport only hours earlier. The man looks impressed and says that they must watch the place more carefully. Graft says, “Yes, Mr. Singh” and walks out. Mr. Singh turns back around and holds up a picture of him and Kit’s father and says that he will end the Phantom legacy.
That day Kit visits a more suburban neighborhood. An older man answers the door and they greet each other as any other friend would. He is one of Kit’s professors from college, a world history teacher, Professor Archer. Kit gives the professor the letter. They dig through some books and the professor ends up finding out that the language is an old language that was lost a long time ago. It is a form of African dialect. The letter reads that Kit is in danger and that it is time for Kit to know the truth. The letter only leaves more questions than answers and Kit thanks Archer and leaves.
A week later Kit is at his aunt’s house once again for their weekly dinner. This time he brought take out Chinese food. Kit eventually confronts his aunt about the letter. She knew he had taken it. He asks what it means and before she can answer there is a knock at the door. She opens it and a man comes barging in, Guran. This is also the same man that was watching Kit at the arcade earlier all those years ago. He yells at Heloise to turn off the lights and she immediately does. She tells Kit to go upstairs, but just as he begins to move gunshots begin blasting through the front of the house. He gets down and Guran pulls out a submachine gun from under his coat. Heloise gets up when the shooting pauses and runs over to giant mask on the wall while Guran gives her cover fire. She opens it and inside are two handguns and a ring. She grabs the guns. She takes cover and outside their at least 5 heavily armored and armed men standing out in the street. Heloise and Guran continue to fire at the attackers and a firefight ensues. They end up killing a few attackers, but suddenly Heloise is shot in the chest. Kit goes to her and applies pressure to the wound. Guran jumps out onto the porch through a broken window and kills the remaining attackers, except for one. The attacker runs and Guran chases after. Guran catches up and attacks the masked man in the nearby alley. They end up fighting in the alleyway and Guran is finally able to get the mask off the attacker. The man is Graft and they exchange words as if they know each other. Sirens are heard in the distance and Graft ends up escaping while Guran decides to go back for Heloise and Kit. He tells Kit to keep pressure and then runs off into the night.
That night Kit is sitting in the waiting room of the hospital waiting for news from the doctor when finally his friend walks in, Diana Palmer. This is the girl that was with him the day at the arcade. She sees him and walks over and he looks up and they embrace. They exchange a few words and then the doctor comes out. He says that Heloise was seriously wounded, but that they were able to get everything patched up and that once they get her settled in then Kit can see her. Kit and Diana get coffee and talk while in the hospital cafeteria and she tells him that he never calls. They continue to talk when a nurse eventually walks up and tells them that Heloise is in her room. Kit and Diana go to the room and when they walk up they hear Heloise talking to someone. Kit opens the door Guran is standing at the foot of the bed with his back to door. Kit drops his coffee and slams Guran up against the wall. Kit demands to know who he is. Guran and Heloise calm Kit down and Guran says that he is was friend of Kit’s parents. Kit is now more curious than angry. Heloise introduces Guran for the first time and they exchange words while Kit releases Guran from the wall. Guran tells Kit that in his aunt’s house is a ring and then he gives him an envelope and tells him he will explain everything in time. Guran leaves and Kit is still left in the dark. Kit opens the envelope and inside is a plane ticket and money. Police show up to ask Kit and his aunt questions and Diana tells Kit that she needs to get back to work and she leaves after giving him a kiss on the cheek. The police ask Kit to leave as they have some questions for his aunt. Heloise assures Kit that she will be fine and he asks her about what Guran said. Heloise merely tells him that this is his choice and he must decide what to do. Kit leaves
Kit is sitting in his apartment with the envelope in his hands and thinks about what he wants to do. Kit then grabs his jacket and heads back to his aunt’s house and goes into the crime scene and searches the house for the ring. He eventually stumbles upon the mask and opens it up. Inside is the ring of the Phantom. He grabs it when suddenly he hears detectives coming inside. He pockets the ring and sneaks out of the house. He rides his motorcycle through town and rides to the airport. He checks in with no extra luggage and gets on a flight to Somalia.
Graft is back in Mr. Singh’s office and informs Mr. Singh that Kit has left the country. Mr. Singh is furious because Graft failed to kill Guran and then tells Graft to send a hit squad to the island.
Kit has a dream about the jungle and he wakes up as the plane arrives in Somalia. When he gets off the plane he meets a man with a sign with his name on it. He follows the man to a cab waiting outside and once he gets in Guran startles him. Kit tries to ask more questions, but Guran tells him to be patient. They arrive at a boat dock and Guran and kit get onto a fishing boat that is in need of some TLC. Guran says the boat ride will take a few hours so Kit better get some rest. Kit takes a nap and dreams about his parent’s funeral and other dark memories. He is awakened by the sound of the captain over the intercom. Kit gets up and walks up onto the deck of the ship. He walks up next to Guran and it is quite foggy out. They exchange words and suddenly the fog begins to clear and an island can be seen through it. Kit is amazed and Guran says, “Welcome to Bangalla.” They set foot on the island and are met by a tribe of native people, the Bandar Tribe. They surround Kit and begin giving him gifts and other items. Kit and Guran make their way to a jeep and begin driving through the jungle. Guran tells Kit about the island and its history. Kit takes in the beautiful scenery and gets a sense of feeling at home. They continue to drive and suddenly around a corner is a massive waterfall and in the waterfall is the vague motif of a giant skull made into the rock face. Kit gets out of the jeep and walks up to the pool of water. Guran says that he must do this next part alone. Kit walks up around behind the waterfall and climbs up the wet rocks. He gets drenched with water and then he finally gets behind the waterfall. He walks up and directly behind the waterfall is a large stone door with a large skull motif carved in to it. Kit looks around and finds a small imprint of a skull in the center. Kit pulls out the ring he got from his aunt’s house and puts it on, a perfect fit. He then places the ring on the imprint and it seems to lock in. he turns his wrist which turns the locking mechanism. The sound of moving stone and other noises start up and then the massive stone door opens. He walks inside and walks through cave tunnel.
He enters a large room lit by torches and suddenly a snarling and growling wolf begins walking towards him. Suddenly Guran’s voice calls to the giant dog and it sits and walks over to Guran as he comes into the room. Kit wonders how he got in and Guran remarks, “The back door.” Kit asks about the wolf and Guran tells Kit that the wolf’s name is Devil, and that he was his father’s dog and that he is very old. Devil leaves the room and grunts and snorts. Guran then begins telling Kit the history of the Phantom and how there has been a Phantom for almost 500 years. He also tells Kit that Kit was actually born here on Bangalla and that is why he has had such a strong connection to the jungle. As he does this Guran takes Kit down a hallway that has a souvenir of every Phantom before him, every belt of every Phantom is hanging on the wall. The last plaque is his father’s, but there is no belt. Guran tells Kit that his parents weren’t killed in plane crash. He tells Kit that when they were heading back home on their boat they were attacked by pirates. Guran then tells Kit about the Singh Brotherhood and how they have grown immensely powerful over the hundreds of years. Kit refuses to do this at first, but after being persuaded to find his parents killer he finally decides to start training.
Guran takes Kit to another area of the cave and opens up a modern looking steel door. They walk into a luxurious penthouse type setting. They continue walking and they eventually pass a gun range, an armory, a medical center, and eventually enter a training area filled with all sorts of equipment. They begin training and Kit learns very fast as he has had experience in fighting. He learns how to disarm enemies with his gun and also learns that the Phantom does not kill, only wounds. Eventually he trains enough and Guran tells Kit he is ready to wear the suit of the Phantom. Kit enters the armory and at the very end is the famous purple costume, but it is a much more modern version. Guran says, “21st Phantom for the 21st Century.”
One night Kit gets up and walks around the penthouse. He searches a bookshelf and finds a photo album. He opens it and a memory card falls out. He picks it up and puts it into the nearby computer. A video begins to play and it is Kit’s father. He says that if Kit is watching this video then he most likely missed out on a lot of Kit’s life. He apologizes to Kit for everything and that he wishes he could have been there. He continues to talk about how The Phantom is a gift and a curse. It is Kit’s legacy. The video goes into more detail about the Phantom and what it means. Kit closes the computer after the video ends. Guran walks in and the two discuss how Guran knew his parents. Guran says that Kit’s father grew up on this island by Kit’s grandfather. Guran was a local tribe boy who was chosen to serve the Phantom. And so he and Kit’s father grew up together. Guran also says that he was the one who brought Kit into this world. Guran says that he swore to Kit’s father that he would watch over Kit if anything were to ever happen to him.
One day Kit is out exploring the island in a jeep and Devil is sitting in the passenger seat enjoying the breeze. Kit hears gunfire and goes to investigate and finds that a group of pirates are attacking a village. Kit starts to head down to go help. Somalia pirates are ransacking the village. Kit comes sneaking in and is able to knock out one of the pirates. He calls out to the other pirates and they all turn to look at him. He says he is the Phantom and shows off the ring. The pirates laugh to themselves and then they aim their guns at him. Kit dives for cover and grabs the rifle off the guard from the pirate he knocked out. He fires back and is able to shoot one of the pirates in the kneecap. Kit checks the magazine for ammo and he is almost out. A pirate sneaks up around Kit and Kit frantically is able to shoot and kill him. Kit scrambles back up, but when he turns around he is met by the butt end of a rifle. Kit falls over and the pirate aims his rifle at Kit. Suddenly Devil comes and leaps onto the pirate. Devil snarls and growls and the pirate is scared shitless. Kit then gets up and dusts himself off as the tribe comes and takes revenge on the pirates. Kit notices a symbol tattooed on the neck of the pirates. Kit leaves with Devil and they head back to Skull Cave. Guran tells Kit he should’ve worn the suit and Kit says he’ll remember next time as Guran stitches up one of Kit’s wounds. Kit mentions the symbol and finds the symbol in one of his father’s books. Guran says that it is the mark of the Singh Brotherhood. What doesn’t make any sense is why they would show up now. The men were not ordinary pirates so that means someone knows who the Phantom is and was coming to kill him. Someone knows Kit is to be the next Phantom.
Kit begins packing and says that he needs to head back to New York. Guran tells Kit that he has one last thing to do before he must take the mantle of The Phantom. Guran and Kit drive to a local village and there seems to be some sort of ritual happening. The village people meet Kit and begin to take his shirt off. They then begin to put paint over his body. Kit is given a bowl and he drinks from it. Kit then walks through the group of villagers and enters a cave. He walks through it and he then enters a cavern with a giant stone chair. Moonlight is beaming through the ceiling. He walks up and Guran appears before him. Guran tells him that he must take the oath. Kit kneels before Guran who is also all painted up. Kit then holds up a skull and recites the oath as Guran speaks it to him, “I swear to devote my life to the destruction of all forms of piracy, greed, and cruelty. My sons, and my sons’ sons, shall follow me.” Guran then takes black paint and rubs it over Kits eyes, forming a makeshift mask. Kit then stands and sits down in the stone chair. Guran then says, “You are the Ghost Who Walks, the Man That Cannot Die, The Phantom.”
Kit heads back to New York as the villagers wish him a goodbye. When Kit gets back he goes to see Heloise. She is out of the hospital by this point. She apologizes for all of this and he says that he is happier than he ever has been. He says he feels fulfilled. She tells him that he should call Diana. He reluctantly agrees.
Kit meets with Diana the next night and they talk over dinner. He tells her he did some philanthropy work and that’s why he’s been gone. She is curious and notices the skull ring, but he blows off the question and switches to another topic. They talk all through the night and end up being the last people in the restaurant. They eventually leave and Kit walks Diana home. When they walk up to her door she invites him to come inside, but then police cars race by and Kit says that he has to go. Diana goes inside and Kit runs off into the night.
A group of bank robbers are holding a group of people hostage. One criminal hacks into a computer system when suddenly the lights go out. The backup generators start to kick in and the lights begin to flicker on. One criminal turns and is met by the Phantom’s fist. Gunfire ensues and the police are stunned at what is going on inside. Suddenly the gunfire stops and one of the criminals is tossed through the glass door out in front of the police. The hostages come running out and right behind them a dark figure appears, the Phantom. He is dragging the other two men out with him. The police yell out for him to freeze and the Phantom puts his hands up. One of the hostages says that the masked man saved them and then suddenly the press start taking pictures and rush towards the Phantom through the police line. They begin asking him who he is and all he says is, “I’m the Phantom.” Mr. Singh is watching the news at this point and tosses his glass at the TV screen, breaking it. Graft walks up behind him. Graft says that the job failed. Mr. Singh yells at Graft because since he failed to kill Guran and Kit the Phantom has returned. He tells Graft do whatever it takes to finish the job. Graft accepts and leaves.
Kit gets up the following morning and when he walks out into his living room Guran is sitting on the couch reading the paper. Kit is startled by him and asks how he got in. Guran says he has his secrets. Guran and Kit talk about what the Phantom did the previous night and Guran tells him that the Phantom is not a public figure, but “The Ghost Who Walks”. Kit agrees and then Guran gives Kit a ring. This ring is for Kit to give to those that he deems worthy allies and who are under the Phantom’s protection. Kit then asks why he only gets one and then Guran pulls out a bag full of rings. Kit gets a call and the person on the other end wants to meet him. Kit agrees to the meeting and hangs up. Kit turns back around to talk to Guran, but he is gone.
Later that day Kit enters the Walker Industries building. He gets on an elevator and enters Mr. Singh’s office. Kit greets the man, but calls him another name, Mr. Maxwell Madison. Singh tells Kit that he wants Kit to take some part in the company. He says it is something that Kit’s father would want. They talk awhile and when Kit begins to leave they shake hands. Kit notices a ring on one of Singh’s fingers is just like the one Guran gave him. Kit asks about it and Mr. Singh says that Kit’s father gave it to him when they started the company. Mr. Singh says that the company Christmas party is coming up and says that Kit should come. Kit accepts the invitation and leaves.
The night of the party comes and it is a huge event. There are cameras everywhere and the press is all over the event, including Diana Palmer. A limo pulls up and Kit gets out. He enters the party and it is extremely extravagant. The press asks him about why he is at the party and he says that he wants to get more involved in the company his father built. Kit sees Diana and the eventually dance and above them on the ceiling is the mistletoe. They are about to kiss when suddenly a group of armed men come in. They hold everyone hostage and start collecting all of partygoers money and valuables. Diana turns to Kit, but he is gone. One of the armed men walks up to Diana and asks for her valuables, but she doesn’t give them up. The man raises his fist, but before he can hit her, the Phantom grabs his arm. The Phantom turns to Diana and says, “Excuse me miss.” The Phantom then takes out the thug and the others turn and Graft yells out to open fire. The Phantom dispatches of all the thugs by shooting them in the hands and kneecaps, but when he turns to face the last one he has Diana at gunpoint. The thug is Graft and he carries Diana out the front door and into an awaiting car. Graft thinks he has gotten away when suddenly the Phantom shows up in his mirror on a motorcycle, Kit’s motorcycle. Graft yells at another man to open fire and the other thug starts shooting at the Phantom. The Phantom dodges most of the gunfire. And is able to shoot the gun out of the thug’s hands. Kit then pulls up alongside the car and pulls the thug out of the window. Graft tries to smash the Phantom and swerves all over the road. The Phantom shoots out the tires on the car and graft eventually loses control of the car. The car slides sideways and slams into mound of dirt that was part of a construction site. Graft is disorientated and gets out of the car, but the Phantom grabs him and knocks him out with a single punch. The Phantom goes to help Diana out of the car and he asks if she’s alright. She says she’s a tough girl and will be fine. She asks him a question and he almost tells her he is really Kit, but catches himself. Police cars are heard in the distance and the Phantom runs off and rides away on his motorcycle.
Later that night Diana gets out of a taxi in front of her house and when she walks to the door a voice calls out to her. She is startled and turns and the Phantom is standing just a ways from her. He says he just wanted to make sure she got home safe. She says she never got to thank her hero properly and then she looks up and above them is mistletoe. She then calls him Kit and they start to kiss while standing on the porch.
The next morning Kit wakes up in Diana’s bed. He gets up and walks out and she is in the kitchen cooking. She says, “Rough night?” Kit smirks and says, “You have no idea.” She slides him a plate of food and then he asks how she knew who he was. They talk about it for awhile and after they are done Kit pulls out one of the rings Guran gave him. Kit tells her that the ring is to symbolize that she is under the protection of the Phantom and that he will always protect her. Kit suddenly gets a call from Heloise. He answers and the voice on the other end is Graft’s. Graft gives Kit clues as to where they took his aunt. Kit tells Diana what has happened and she insists on going with him, but he tells her no and that it is too dangerous. She already is walking out the door as he says this and he has no other choice but to take her with him. Kit and Diana travel back to Bangalla. The first village he sees after coming to Bangalla is completely burned down and most of the villagers are dead. Diana says she will stay and help and Kit gets on a horse and rides off into the jungle. Kit arrives at Skull cave, but it is too guarded. He then goes around and climbs up into the entrance he used before. Before he enters he pulls his costume out of his bag.
Graft and Mr. Singh and a group of armed men are holding Guran and Heloise hostage. Heloise asks Mr. Singh why he betrayed her brother and then he finally comes clean. He reveals to them that he is the leader of the Singh Brotherhood and that at first he merely wanted to kill Kit’s parents for control of the company, but then getting to kill the Phantom was merely a bonus. He then reveals that his full name is Rama Singh. He then opens his coat and around his waist is Kit’s father’s belt. The Phantom suddenly appears and Rama yells at his men to chase after him. The men scour the tunnel and cave system and are picked off one by one by the Phantom. Guran seizes the opportunity and is able to free himself and attack Graft. The two men start fighting. The Phantom comes running in and Rama runs out of the cave. Guran yells at Kit to follow him and the Phantom follows after Rama. Guran continues to fight Graft. Rama gets into a jeep and flees the scene. The Phantom comes out and attacks the guards that are left. One of them pulls a gun on the Phantom’s back, but before he can shoot he is shot himself. The Phantom turns around and standing in front of him is Diana. She tells him to go and the Phantom whistles for his horse. He jumps up on the horse as they ride through the jungle. The Phantom follows Rama and his two other men in the jeep. Guran is still battling Graft and Guran is finally able to throw a knife that sticks in Graft’s forehead. Guran says that they need to go help Kit. They meet Diana outside and they all hop in her jeep and drive off.
The Phantom catches up and one of Rama’s men starts firing shots off into the jungle while standing in the back. The Phantom then turns his horse and heads towards the jeep. The horse jumps over the road and The Phantom leaps off and jumps onto the jeep. The Phantom kicks the gunner off the jeep. The Phantom then tries to go after Rama and the other guard. Rama tries to shoot the Phantom, but the Phantom pushes his gun and Rama shoots the driver of the jeep. Rama tries to take control, but the jeep is heading for a drop off. The Phantom grabs a vine just as the jeep goes off the incline and launches out of the jungle and into an old wrecked pirate ship on the beach. The Phantom goes over to the boat and checks the jeep, but Rama is gone. Rama appears behind him and takes a machete to the Phantom’s back. The Phantom jumps away in pain and sees an old pirate sword next to him. He picks it up and the two start sword fighting. They eventually make their way on to the upper deck of the wreck and the Phantom eventually gets the upper hand. Over the course of the fight the Phantom loses his mask. Eventually Kit is able to disarm Rama and hold him at sword point. Kit has a hold of his father’s belt and says, “You have something that belongs to me.” Kit then releases the belt and Rama falls off the side of the wreck and falls onto a broken piece of mast that impales him. Diana, Guran, and Heloise eventually make it to the wreck and Kit is sitting down with his father’s belt in one hand and his mask in the other.
Back at Skull Cave Kit puts his father’s belt up along with all the others. Later on Kit and Diana standing on the docks as the ship starts to set off. Kit says that the people here need the Phantom for awhile more, but that he will come back to New York as soon as he can. Kit then tells her that there is only one person that must know The Phantom’s secret identity: The person he intends to marry. Diana jokes about it being Guran and they laugh, but then they look at each other and kiss. As Diana sets off on the boat Kit puts on the mask. She watches as he hops on the horse and rides off into the jungle.
END
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