The Ghost Who Walks (novel)

The Ghost Who Walks

Produced for:	The Story of the Phantom #1 (1972)
# of pgs:	144
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	no illustrations
Original colorist:	N/A
Producer:	Avon Publications

"The Ghost Who Walks" is the first Avon novel, written by Lee Falk.

Plot synopsis

The book tells the story about Kit Walker, son of the 20th Phantom, who will one day grow up to take over the mantle from his father and become the 21st Phantom.

The book starts with Kit's birth in the Skull Cave. Several chapters are dedicated to him growing up in the Bangalla jungle, where the readers get to see events and lessons that shape him to the man he will once become.

When Kit reaches the age of 12, he travels to Clarksville, USA, to receive a proper education (it is a tradition in the Phantom family that the children are sent away to their mother's homeland for education). Kit lives with his mother's sister and her husband in Clarksville.

Kit is a brilliant student, and receives excellent grades in every subject. Kit proves to be a talented sportsman, and is predicted to become the world champion of a number of different genres (he even knocks out the boxing champion of the world in a match when the champion visits Clarksville.

Kit also meets his future wife-to-be, Diana Palmer, on a Christmas party on his school.

Despite being able to choose practically any career he wants, Kit faithfully returns to Bangalla to take over the role of the Phantom when he receives word from his childhood friend Guran that his father, the 20th Phantom, is dying from wounds he received in a battle with pirates trying to rob a jungle hospital.

Appearances

Recurring characters

One-time characters

Shaggy
Natala
Flap-ears
Slim
The Sultan of Pukmar (mentioned)

Real-life characters

Locations

Bangalla
- Mawitaan
- Deep Woods
  - The Skull Cave
    - The Major Treasure Room
    - The Chronicle Room
- Pheenix (mentioned)
Nyahpura
Adzahbadar (mentioned)
Pukmar (mentioned)
USA
- New York
- Clarksville
  - Clark Academy

Tribes

Organizations

Vehicles

Objects

Phantom lore

Deities and idols

Old Jungle Sayings

Behind the scenes

The retelling of "The Founding of the Jungle Patrol" renames Salla as Gillaim, and omits Big Bart completely.
The retelling of "The Rope People" changes it to be about how the 20th Phantom met his wife. This change was later introduced in the newspaper strip through the story "The Tree House".
The retelling of "The Chain" changes the setting so it takes place during the 21st Phantom's childhood when he runs away from his aunt and uncle in USA, and Guran tells the story. In the original, the old bandar Woru told the story to the 21st Phantom after he had taken over the Phantom duties.