Trouble in the Twelve Nations: Story by Tony DePaul and art by Terry Beatty.

The Wiseguy: Story by Tony DePaul and art by Terry Beatty.

The Stamp: Story by Tony DePaul and art by Mike Manley.

I always enjoy putting these Sundays and Dailies together. I find it a much more satisfying way to read the Phantom once the story is finished and presented in its totality. This is a sentiment that I know many of you share!
Contained within this festive issue are 3 stories that have graced the pages of newspapers in the US and across the globe.

The first of them being, Trouble in the Twelve Nations which was the 183rd Sunday story written by Tony DePaul with art by Terry Beatty. There is a small crossover and a cameo appearance made by Mandrake the Magician in this story which also features Lothar, his cousin Monar and the menacing presence of Otanko in a plot full of political intruque with a twist in the tale!

The second story in this publication is The Wiseguy, also by Tony DePaul and Terry
Beatty. It is the 184th Sunday story which is centred around a classic Mafioso style gang, the D’Moda crime family.
Our final story is The Phantom Stamp, this is a daily strip written by Tony DePaul but with art by Mike Manley, who was brought in to fill the void after the untimely passing of Paul Ryan. This is the 246th Phantom daily story but it is Mike Manley’s third and he
would appear to be very capable and comfortable in the job. I was particularly delighted to see the elegant gentleman resplendantly attired in bowler hat with walking cane functioning as a narrator in the early stages of the story.

It is a great idea to have Lee Falk enter as a character and lay out the landscape of the story. It brings a sense of history and acknowledgment to the origin of the Phantom.