One Pulp Hero Is Being Given New Life Thanks To A Black Panther Writer

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The last ten years have been fantastic for live-action comic book TV shows, largely thanks to hits like Daredevil and Peacemaker. This trend shows no signs of stopping, and even older, less well-known comic book series are being revived for streaming services. Recently, in April 2026, it was revealed that a celebrated writer from Black Panther is secretly developing a show based on a classic comic book character.

We’ve seen Marvel and DC dominate the superhero scene for years, but it’s great to see independent comics getting their due on screen too. Shows like The Boys and The Walking Dead prove there’s so much potential beyond the big two. But honestly, I’m most excited about a classic character who’s been missing in live-action for three decades – they’re finally making a comeback, and it feels huge!

This Black Panther Writer is Bringing His Talents to a Beloved Comic Strip

In April 2026, King Features will bring the classic comic strip character, The Phantom, to life in a new TV series. The show will be produced by Reginald Hudlin, known for his work on Black Panther and, notably, for writing the popular wedding of Black Panther’s T’Challa and Storm from the X-Men. Considering most comic book writers don’t stay with a character for very long, fans remember this wedding as a particularly memorable moment in recent Black Panther stories.

Reginald Hudlin has a strong track record, having worked as a writer and producer on popular projects like Django Unchained, Marshall, and an animated Black Panther series. While the extent of his involvement in The Phantom is unknown, his participation is encouraging, especially since it seems to be a project he’s passionate about. His creative leadership is a positive sign for the series. Given his work with Black Panther, a pioneering jungle adventure hero, moving on to The Phantom‘s Kit Walker feels like a natural and exciting next step in his career.

The Phantom, created by Lee Falk in 1936, introduced Kit Walker – the 21st in a line of crimefighters descended from a shipwrecked ancestor in the made-up country of Bangalla. It clearly laid the groundwork for characters like Jack Kirby’s Black Panther, establishing a cornerstone of comic book history as both a unique creation and a model for the superhero genre. Over time, detailed origins, imaginative worlds, and family legacies became standard for superheroes. The Phantom’s iconic design also heavily influenced many others, including characters like Blue Beetle and Batman.

The Phantom holds the record for the longest-running continuous superhero comic strip, and it’s still being published today, as of 2026. This character was truly ahead of its time, and its influence can be seen in almost every superhero created since 1938 – it’s just as important as Superman. While everyone knows Superman’s secret identity, the Phantom has somehow faded into relative obscurity despite being a pioneering figure.

The Phantom Has an Underrated TV Legacy

Starting in 1986, The Phantom teamed up with Flash Gordon and Mandrake the Magician in the animated series Defenders of the Earth. This show brought together three popular heroes who all started as newspaper comic strips. It was similar in style to shows like Fantastic Four and X-Men, with each season featuring the heroes battling their classic enemies, including Ming the Merciless and the Singh Brotherhood. Though mainly a science fiction series, Defenders of the Earth was considered a high point for superhero animation before the 1990s brought hits like Batman: The Animated Series.

Just three years after the cancellation of Defenders of the Earth, The Phantom reappeared on television in the action-packed Phantom 2040. Similar to how Batman Beyond reinvented Batman, this series plunged The Phantom into a dark, futuristic world of cyberpunk and science fiction. Between the animated shows and the live-action movie, The Phantom had a surprisingly strong presence in ’90s adventure entertainment. If Reginald Hudlin successfully brings the hero back to life with a classic jungle setting, it could spark a revival of this type of adventure, especially with the return of Stephen Sommers’ Mummy franchise, which shares a similar adventurous spirit.

As a long-time comic fan, I’ve always loved The Phantom, and it’s so much more than just the old TV show! The comic books, especially, are packed with incredible adventures – some of the best in mainstream comics, really. I’m thrilled Hermes Press keeps reprinting the classic strips, letting us build complete collections. Stories like ‘Danger in the Forbidden City’ by Peter David and Sal Velluto, and Graham Nolan’s run on the Sunday strips, are must-reads for any Phantom enthusiast. And if you enjoyed Defenders of the Earth, you’ll be happy to know that team-up has been revisited in the Kings Watch and Kings Cross miniseries from Dynamite Entertainment – Jeff Parker, Marc Laming, and Jesse Hamm did a fantastic job. Honestly, when you look at everything, The Phantom has one of the most consistently strong presences among independent comic publishers today.

Why The Phantom Matters Today More Than Ever

I’ve noticed a real trend in superhero movies lately – they’re starting to look back at the classics. It feels like there’s a growing appreciation for the characters who originally defined the genre, and DC especially seems focused on celebrating that history. If you really want to understand where superheroes come from, you have to look at the very beginning. And honestly, The Phantom is a huge part of that! He was the first costumed hero, appearing two whole years before Superman even existed. He really laid the groundwork for everything we see in superhero stories today.

Since the start of the 21st century and the rise of Marvel movies, Hollywood hasn’t paid much attention to classic pulp magazine heroes. When studios have tried to bring them back to life, the results have often been disappointing, like the poorly received 2011 Green Hornet film. If Reginald Hudlin’s upcoming Phantom series does well, it could open the door for other long-desired adaptations, such as Doc Savage and Disney’s Rocketeer.

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2026-04-23 21:07