PHANTOM THE BEST OF SY BARRY YEARS 1961-1994

The Phantom The Best of the Sy Barry Years 1961-1994; contains twelve complete Phantom stories — nine daily continuities and three Sunday continuities — hand picked by Phantom aficionados;Finally a collection of some of the most memorable stories by master Phantom artist Sy Barry. The Phantom, referred to by comic strip historian Maurice Horn as the “granddaddy of all costumed superheroes,” was created in 1936 by Lee Falk and in 1961 Sy Barry added his superlative talents pencilling and inking the feature which took it to new heights. It should be remembered that the Ghost Who Walks came to newspapers well before the Dark Knight or Superman made their first appearances and has been acknowledged as an influence on every “masked man of mystery” since. The Phantom set the standard for action, adventure, intrigue, and romance in comic strips and comic books — it has frequently been copied but never equaled. To celebrate Sy Barry's 97the birthday as well as the end of his tenure on the daily version of the strip with Volume #36 of Hermes Press' complete reprint of the Phantom dailies (with still more to come from Sy with our reprints of his Sundays), we have collected twelve stories displaying his best work on the strip — dailies and Sundays. Collected in this deluxe volume, with special cover art created by Sy exclusively for Hermes Press are: (daily continuities) “Adventures of Lucy Cary,” 6-29-64 – 12-12-64; “The Cavelands,” 12-30-74 – 4-19-75; “Guardian of the Eastern Dark,” 4-4-77 – 8-13-77; “Tyrant of Tarakimo,” 8-15-77 – 10-29-77; “Phantom Wedding,”10-31-77; “Jungle City,” 9-18-78 – 12-18-78; “The Heirs,” 12.18.78 – 5-19-79; “Gooro's Jungle Muggers,” 11-3-80 – 4-4-81; “Tale of Rex,” 1-18-82 – 9-11-82; (Sunday continuities) “Founding of the Jungle Patrol,” 7-5-64 – 1-24-65; “The Name,” 9-9-79 – 6-1-80; and “The Third Phantom,” 8-26-84 – 2-17-85. Also included is a lengthy interview with Sy Barry, a biographical essay, and original comic art spanning Barry's career. This title is limited to 1000 copies.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs