ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

The local Paper The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin has seen fit to remove The Phantom from it's comic strip.

The Ghost Who Walks will not be defeated by such insignificant beings.



The Ghost Who Walks

It was early in the morning and I just needed to chill
I grabbed my daily Bulletin from off the window sill.
Sat down in my favourite chair just to relax a bit
but when I got to the comics I let out a scream Oh S..T.

They’ve taken out The Phantom he was nowhere to be seen
The page was filled with puzzles where his story should have been.
I flicked all through the sections perhaps I missed him in my haste
But no they’ve given him the chop, “Oh what a bloody waste“.

He’s fought pirates, robbers, cutthroats been their nemesis for years
but now The Bullies got him it would bring a man to tears.
They say they did some sort of survey but all surveys can tell a lie
they don’t realise that we love him, this “Man Who Cannot Die”

He is history in the making that I’ve followed since a teen
Evil doers shake and tremble when he comes on the scene.
The Skull Cave and the Deep Woods familiar places to us all
and if we want his help in times of need we only have to call.

I could handle loosing Garfield, and The Swamp is not my style
Overboard is sort of so, so but it sometimes bring a smile.
Crosswords, puzzles, word games they are all right for some
but for the older generation the Ghost Who Walks is still the one.

His voice can chill you to the bone and freeze your blood to ice
He fights for justice and for freedom, his grip can crush you like a vice.
The Phantom has a thousand ears and under pressure will not crack
Hear our words now Bulletin “ We want our Phantom Back “.

Bob Pacey (C)

I'm laughing but I know IT'S NOT FUNNY! Bob, along with hordes of other kids I loved the phantom comics, but the little four or five frames that the newspapers print these days don't work for me. Did you see any of the movies? I didn't like the one I saw.Somehow the modern phantom stories and art work miss the boat as far as I'm concerned. Then again, it might have something to do with my age and a pair of rose coloured glasses.
Wazza

I'm with you Bob although I am a bit partial to Garfield too.

Regards. Jeff

I wasn't a big Phantom or any other superhero fan, but love this poem and can't imagine why such an icon would be removed. Hmm...I miss Gary Larsen's The Far Side most of all - clever lateral thinking at its best (and often sickest!)

Calvin and Hobes now that is a cracker of a comic strip and anyone who has had kids will love it.

But I digress I sent the poem to the paper and several radio stations and I will not rest until at least The Phantom is reinstated .

The best place to see the old comics is in the real barbers shops Wazza .I love it when there is a waiting line of patrons cause I get to read a few.

Bob

Gawd Strewth Bob! is nothing sacred! That paper should be called the Mourning Bulletin!!

Good one mate.

Ron

I think they are cracking they published my poem in Saturdays paper.

oh Catherine if you like a good laugh and have ever had kids then Calvin and Hobes is one of the funniest cartoons you will see.

Bob

Thanks Bob - never had kids but will look it up anyway... I still like Andy Capp for a laugh too!

Todays Bulletin states that the editor is sick of sleepless nights and the slow beat of drums as he tries to sleep, a small skull mark has started to appear on his jaw. The Ghost Who Walks Will Return.

The oath. "I swear to devote my life to the destruction of piracy, greed, cruelty, and injustice, in all their forms! My sons and their sons shall follow me."


Bit like me really except for the lycra suit ?

Bob

Congratulations ... the power of the poem.