Summary |
Jim Shepherd, publications director, speaks about his early family life and education, his various journalist positions including a period as a sporting director for Channel 10, how he became involved in the beginnings of Frew Publications and how he and Peter Forsythe attempted to attract a young audience of readers with their comic "The Phantom", how important the Phantom's pet companions Devil and Hero were in attracting children, the story "Phantom Goes to War" first published during the Korean War proved very popular and has since been reprinted, his own lack of interest in comics, describes people who are fans of the Phantom, his own interest in John F. Kennedy and history generally, techniques used to put the comic together, difficulty with American publisher such as King Features in accessing material sometimes using Frew Publications for assistance, how the Phantom is no longer published in the USA, the history of Frew Publications, other comics published, the comic industry in Australia, the influence of television on the sale of comics, Australian comic industry today, how he wrote three stories for The Phantom, his own interest in Kingsford-Smith, his reaction to Swedish based science fiction plots for the Phantom, how popular The Phantom has been with Australians, how he met Lee Falk (creator of The Phantom) and his eccentric personality, how much old issues of The Phantom are now worth, his own interest in speedway racing, motor sports and boxing, material still available for the further adventures of The Phantom for Falk was dictating up to 2 weeks before his death, his views on the movie The Phantom, what the comic needs in order to continue particularly the need for writers, how America is a stumbling block to the further success of The Phantom, his life after Frew Publications.
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