HERE’S your Saturday morning report on making custom motorcycle parts in the backyard, tearing out walls, and scribbling the Phantom strip for King Features Syndicate in New York. There are two riding videos at the end. Skip to there if you like and I’ll hope to see you next time.
Let’s start with Lee Falk’s Phantom, only because I rarely write about the Phantom here at the Nickels. I don’t want to draw flies from the King Features site. I’m told the place is overrun with some rather nasty personalities. Wha? On the Internet? Really?
So just between us, here’s what’s going on in the strip published Mondays through Saturdays. It’s unlike any other story I’ve told in my 30 years of writing this character.
Mike Manley and I are 18 weeks into a story where readers are going to see how the 21st Phantom’s life ends.
We couldn’t tell this story without Old Man Mozz, an ascetic of indeterminate tribe who sits out in the weeds in East Africa somewhere and occasionally gets on the beam, picks up signals from a world that hasn’t happened yet.
The Phantom’s on his way to Rhodia to free Savarna Devi. She’s locked up in the regime’s most infamous prison. And there in the middle of the trail stands wily old Mozz. He tells the Phantom to leave Savarna where she is. Because if he frees her, he’ll set into motion events that will put him in an unmarked wilderness grave and destroy his son. We don’t know yet whether that means his son’s death or some other condition of personal destruction.
Moreover, freeing Savarna will end the legend itself, the succession of one Phantom after another since 1536. The Phantom’s son, Kit, won’t succeed him in the role, nor will his daughter, Heloise. There won’t be a 22nd Phantom at all.
Getting Savarna out of Gravelines Prison proves hazardous.
Plenty of armed men outside, too.
Savarna doesn’t know it yet but one of those bullets found its mark. The Phantom’s been shot in the lower-right back.
He finds the place where he left Hero…
This doesn’t feel like other wounds he’s had over the years. He steps out of the vehicle… and hangs up his guns.
It’s always fun to look for the little details the artists put into their work, Mike on the daily strip, Jeff Weigel on the Sundays. Mike keeps narrowing the eyes of the mask in this sequence, a visual cue to the fading life behind the mask.
This story was well under way when I had an email from a distraught reader in Illinois who said: Please tell me what we’re seeing happen hasn’t happened yet; that the Phantom’s sitting under a tree listening to Mozz tell this story; that he hasn’t brushed Mozz aside and gone to Rhodia to free Savarna.
Well, that’s exactly right. Not many readers picked up on a narrative sleight of hand we used at the end of June to step out of the present and into a future foretold by Mozz. Typically, readers don’t look closely enough to pick up the subtleties in the art.
So after 85 years of Phantom lore published daily in newspapers around the world, what’s really at stake here for the character? And what exactly is the nature of the narrative?
If Mozz is right and the 21st Phantom’s fated to die because he frees Savarna, is there anything he can do to amend that fate?
If there is, and he succeeds at it, will the foretold manner of death simply circle around on him and find another way to happen?
About the narrative itself: I leave it to readers to decide exactly what it is we’re seeing six days a week. Some say it’s the story Mozz is telling. Others say it’s the story as the Phantom interprets it.
To me, it’s neither. Mozz isn’t telling the tale of every thought and sensation the Phantom will experience in Rhodia. We never see the old man’s story. What we see is the future itself, exactly as it must unfold. It’s how the Phantom will in fact die one day, a tale untouched by the flawed human natures of storyteller and listener alike.
Okay, enough of that…
Dig the iron piggy, all geared up for long distance again.
Piggy’s hauled that Pelican top box across country a number of times but never with the Pelican side cases seen here.
The side cases are the ones I took to the Arctic Ocean two summers ago on the little bike, the 650 piglet.
Now I’m set up to carry them on both bikes.
I like these cases. They get all the heavy stuff down low where you want it, food, water, tools… Low center of gravity, better handling.
Started by stripping paint off the top rack I made years ago. Stripped it so I could weld to it.
Bought a factory rack for dual-sport bikes. Same rack I run on the piglet. First thing I did was cut out this middle part.
That left me with the two side assemblies. I welded them to my top rack, hit it with a coat of rattle-can flat.
Here’s the result.
Also made brackets to secure the bottom of the rack to the bike, one for each side. They bolt up to the main fender support.
Here she is wearing just the side cases. This is more than enough carrying capacity for a week or two on the road, short-haul travels. Lash down my tent, sleeping pad, bedroll… good to go.
The house is all torn apart. Jonny’s crew won’t start work here for another three weeks or so. I’ve been picking away at the preliminaries.
I re-framed parts of the bearing wall that runs along the back of the house. Built headers for doors we’re going to need when the new porches are up.
We practically live on the front porch in nice weather. When the two out back are finished we’ll have over 900 square feet of porch space.
The room on the southeast corner of the first floor. First if you’re looking at the house from the street. It’s the second floor if you’re standing in the backyard.
Snug up a couple of screw jacks under a temporary beam, take the load off the wall, start knocking things apart…
On the floor against the wall, that’s the new 2×10 header that’s going in.
There’s the header in position at the top of the wall now, carrying the weight of the floor joists in the bedroom above.
Same deal in the kitchen on the northeast corner of the house. I took out a window and framed a 2×8 header for a 30-inch door.
We don’t have a back porch to step out onto yet, but here are the drawings. One up, one down, each measuring 12′ x 28′.
When Jonny’s guys get here, they’ll build the porches, strip off our 35-year-old cedar shingles and clapboards, install new-construction windows throughout, new siding, central air…
Until then, mind that first step out through the kitchen. It’s just one step but the riser’s 11 feet tall, so, you know… it can be jarring if you don’t expect it.
In closing, here are two riding videos I made this week. Still trying to learn how to use the Gopro 8. No idea what I’m doing.
You’ll get the idea in any random 2 minutes. To watch from start to finish you really need to be on dialysis, or in jail.
This one’s 29 minutes of blue-sky riding with a wide lens on it.
And here are 11 minutes of gray-sky riding with a more narrow lens.
Tony DePaul, September 25, 2021, Cranston, Rhode Island, USA
Please don’t tell me the Phantom’s demise was foretold by an East African!
Old Man Mozz!
Mozz, of course, is well-intentioned. He foretells the Phantom’s death in an effort to prevent it. But will the Phantom listen? Maybe not. He’s already said he plans to free Savarna no matter what the prophecy says about the cost he’ll pay.
He always thinks there’s a work-around to whatever might lie in store.
I have been following the blog for a while. Not a big bike person, but enjoyed other things, like the family tree post. Having read The Phantom since the early 1970s, I have to comment I am not liking where the story is going. Or more accurately, has gone since it is already committed to pen and paper.
Hang in there and see what you think as the story develops into next spring and summer.
It’s not all down on paper yet. Next week I’ll start writing the strips that’ll be published from February through April.
I am still with the story.
Regarding the Comic Kingdom site, it isn’t as bad as you have heard. Above all, they are a loyal following. My newspaper doesn’t carry the strip, so I wake up, turn on my work computer, and as it warms up the email, see how the Phantom is doing.
On the other hand, imagine the story possibilities of having a Phantom that retires alive. Would enhance the legend to have him occasionally in two places as one time. You could mix and match, stories from the past of the 21st Phantom and stories of the 22nd.
I’ve been following the Phantom since the 1950’s. I’m hating the possible end the way its unfolding! Young Kit looks as if he hasn’t taken on anything his father imparted to him. He read through all the CHRONICLES and still he’s brushing it all away! Is there no-one out there who would be willing to take over writing and drawing the Phantom strips in the future?
While this storyline is coming to an unknown end my state newspaper has chosen to cease publishing ALL comic strips!
I’m bereft!
Good morning, Christelle. There is indeed a kind of meta-narrative going on: Mozz having a vision of the death of the Phantom at a time when newspaper comics are falling one by one, and even en masse, as in Australia. The Chronicle Chamber touched on this in a recent post.
https://www.chroniclechamber.com/post/has-news-corp-killed-the-comic-strip
And as I promised here https://www.tonydepaul.net/getting-around-a-bit-more/ I’ll say quite a bit more about what’s happening when the prophecy ends and we return to the Phantom’s present timeline.
Hang in there! Don’t give up on the Phantom yet.
And thanks for writing.
Tony
But I like Savarna. Heck I think maybe Kit should leave Diana for her.
She keeps trying to light that spark, doesn’t she? What she can’t see, maybe doesn’t want to see, is that the Phantom’s on her side mainly out of loyalty. If there’s another motive going on in the background he’s probably not aware of it himself.
Your house looks great! Can’t wait to see it when it is “finished”.
Thanks for allowing us to “ride with you”! I miss my Suzy!
Thanks for following the scribble, Beth. It’s pretty hard to visualize the place all put back together right now but… we’ll get there! By Thanksgiving, I hope.
hi, almost lost you due to not responding. Its great you’re feeling better, and very busy. soup can fell on my toe and broke it, now the whole foot is affected. it usually takes 10 weeks to heal (doc said) its already been 4.. not doing so good. A month ago( i can drive) cannot walk. i was recommended to a Dee Deli. While trying to find it I went by your street. and I said HI tony. not familiar with that end of Cranston… Its very good by the way MMMM.
Brenda! I was just thinking about you the other day. There’s a “meet Brenda for coffee” note in my overflowing to-do file.
Sorry to hear about the mishap but the mending is inevitable, just take it slow.
We love this part of Cranston. Now that Pam’s retired we could pull up stakes and go anywhere in the States, anywhere in the world, really. Just can’t think of a reason not to be right where we are. Eden Park is one of the best kept secrets in Cranston.
Lotsa turnover lately with the hot housing market. It’s nice to see young families moving in. The house next store is closing on Thursday, a young couple with three kids, oldest one might be 8. I saw them briefly on the day of the open house, just long enough to say hello. Their first language is Spanish, maybe they can teach me the basic travel version and I’ll finally go ride South America.
Thanks for being in touch, Brenda, always my favorite person at Warwick PD!
Hey Tony, from the drawings it appears your house is four stories high, including the basement? I like the sound of the Harley: not too loud and not like a vacuum sweeper:>)
By the way, I have the same issue with the GoPro. As long as I keep my head straight the sounds are fine; the minute I look sideways it’s a loud whoosh!
Greetings, Will. I had a helmet mount on my old bucket, this new Bell doesn’t have one. I’ve been putzing around with a chest mount just to try to minimize the wind blast.
The house would have four levels if the attic were a few feet higher. That’ll be the next project: raise the roof!
Somebody else’s project. I expect to be all done with this one.
Tony–
Brought back some memories of driving on rotten RI roads. I could almost SMELL the Port of Providence as you rode by. Lots quieter, greener and fewer cars up here!
I’ve got the iron piggy sprung fairly taut but, it’s true, the roads around here can be jarring. Thanks for reading, Linnea.
Well look at all that pavement rushing by under your wheels!! NICE!! Great sounding bike! Enjoy!!
Local rides will have to tide me over. Be safe out there on the wing, Tony.
Tony,
Sweet sound to the ride. What happened to the phone for the latter part of the ride?
Rhode Island roads – always construction. I’m still familiar with some of the roads you ride, although I haven’t been down in those areas in quite some time.
Good luck with the house construction. Big projects. Good that you’ve got the skills and the energy to get all the prep work done.
Hi, Dennis. Good powers of observation! Where I pulled a turn in that industrial lot and parked under a tree, that was a stop I made at my son-in-law’s shop on the Johnston/North Smithfield line. I stuck the phone in my pocket at that point.
I keep thinking I’m going to lose it off the handlebars anyway. Might have to mount it on the top of the tank somehow.
Lots of construction on that ride… Routes 37, 295, 146, 6, 10…
Hey Tony, Not sure why, but I sure do like to hear your bike shift through the gears. Nice job on the boxes! If you find yourself roaming around the South, I’d be glad to provide a dry place for you and your steed. Cheers! David
Thanks, David. I keep wondering how to get better audio. I think it might take two GoPros, one mounted up front, the other aft, closer to the mufflers. And well-protected from the wind.
I do have an older GoPro in addition to the newer 8. Maybe I could use the old one to record audio only, then, in editing, merge the forward camera’s video with the aft camera’s audio.
Dunno…
Nice bit of fabricating. All about the places to tuck this/that.
Piggy sounds good. She is ready for more road it appears.
Be safe.
Matt
Adel, IA
She sure is. In 2022, I would think. It’s tough to imagine an opportunity to scoot for distance this fall or winter.
Thanks for reading, Matt. Ride safe out there.
And send any GoPro tips you have my way.
A good porch is a wonderful thing. I’ve never had a second floor porch, but with your location, it seems like a real winner. For what it’s worth, 900 sq. ft. is more than the house I grew up in – a tiny house on a half acre lot. Of course, we had walls.
I’d say little house on the prairie, except I’m not sure I know whether you’re from Kansas originally, Jim.
Hi to Patty!
Born in Texas, but moved to Kansas at a very early age. So, yup, little house on the prairie, though it was suburban prairie.
Loved all of it, Tony. I prefer the wide angle GoPro as it seems more real life vision. As for your house, those porches will be a fantastic addition. Stay well, brother.
Cool, I’ll do another wide-angle & see what I get, Brad. Those videos were taken with a chest-mount harness. So far it’s the only way of mounting the camera I’ve found where you’re not just listening to wind noise. If the camera’s hanging out there in the breeze the audio is highly annoying.
900 square feet of porch sounds like heaven!! 😇
Way bigger than our first apartment.
Wow, your house is getting lots of changes. Wonderful that you can do so much to prepare for the doors and porches. Knowing you were getting porches didn’t prepare me for the drawing you showed today. Wonderful opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Then the AC. That’s helpful in a different way.
You are creative with metal, too, to make it what you want. I can take a pair of shorts and make a skirt; I’m realizing having the right tools makes a difference, too. Anyway, fun to see how you make things for your bikes.
Enjoy the changing temps these days.
Thanks for reading, Cynthia. Fall’s here! The sleeping weather is lovely. All the windows open, brisk air moving, cool enough to need a quilt but not so cool the crickets have stopped singing.