The Failure of PHANTOM 2040: The Future Sucks & No One Cares

[@SecretGalaxyTV]

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[@scottcampbell9515]

I’m not sure what’s worse: This show debuting 30 years ago, or us being 16 years from this timeline.

[@erikmoore433]

I'll go with the fact that this was 30 years ago and I'm now 50. Making me feel old😂

[@spoonimefan]

Oof.

[@RichGilly]

We're right on track too.

[@cinnabarsin4288]

@@RichGilly I mean surely no one would destroy the world for profit. You'd have to be a real Koch.

[@strokeraceventura2550]

@@cinnabarsin4288lame.

[@batmanbear]

"Listen to your friend Billy Zane. He's a cool dude, and he's trying to help you out."

[@cheaptoons]

He truly was the ghost who walked !!!

[@goranisacson2502]

Ho, Swedish person here! We are practically the country who adopted the Phantom and took over creative duties for it. We have made a ton of different stories over the years, and it is no surprise to say this show was a big deal in my country. Learning it petered out because of crass commercial reasons explains why a show I loved just disappeared... but I certainly can't say I'm happy to learn why that is. This was such a different world from so many other cartoons I'd seen, it deserved so much more. Graft truly deserved better, and Rebecca deserved SO much worse. Stypid no-killing rule.

[@LoganWood121]

Criminally underrated show. Batman Beyond owes so much to this.

[@LUVBOTZ]

When I was going to college in Providence RI back in the early '90s, there was a local psychobilly band callec The Phantom Creepers who would wear masks like the Phantom onstage. I bought a little package of mech from them once that had a cassette of their music, a hand drawn Phantom comic, and a screen printed poster that glows in the dark. They were fun.

[@MrPalp]

Ah yes. Mark Hamill, that guy from The Guyver. Surely the high point of his career.

[@RippahRooJizah]

I mean, it's kinda obvious his biggest role was being Hobgoblin in Spider-Man: The Animated Series, but that was months after this series debuted.

[@sdelmonte]

That and playing the Trickster in four different TV shows.

[@GScottActing]

He got to play a roach thing!

[@RigasTelRuun]

What are you talking about? He was on not one but TWO episodes of SeaQuest DSV.

[@Getwright-]

Is her that character actor from Jay and Silent bob strike back? I wondered what else he had been in

[@arashimiyazawa8165]

The Phantom did have an actual minor superpower. He had indestructible rings that left an unremovable mark on the chin of anyone he punched with it. There were plenty of scenes where a recurring villain or an enemy of one of the previous Phantoms is revealed by pulling a bandage off their chin to reveal the Skull Mark imprinted there. Also the rings could make any fire burn brighter and hotter if you put them in it. I think they originally belonged to Emperor Nero too.

[@versebuchanan512]

You've done it Dan. You've delved so deep, you have gone beyond the light. You've found an animated series from the early 90s that I have no memory of.

[@dennisrounds1996]

Nah we’re only just a little below the surface of that iceberg

[@michaelrlomax1977]

Saw the cartoon the first time around on good old analog TV here in the UK on CBBC. Having watched and loved Batman The Animated Series. Experiencing the crazy animation of Neon Flux and I like that too. These set me up well for Phantom 2040. Everything about it as a cartoon was well thought-out. A great history to work with which gives it a solid back story. It had romance, danger, manipulation and backstabbing. Things that are a part of life especially the last two. What really caught my eye was the detail. One of my favourites being people born in zero gravity. Wouldn't have the same bodies. So they look different to people on Earth. Also for these people to survive in any gravity. They had to have an exo skeleton to support their bodies. That I really liked and meant they could bring in more of the designs from Neo Flux. Then there is the appearance of Mandrake the Magician. Voiced by the same actor who did the voice of the character in Defenders Of The Earth. So to anyone I recommend watching the series. Thanks for reading my comment.

[@maxwelljudd4133]

I watched this show as it was coming out. I honnestly think the thing that hurt it most was that it wasnt part of any major networks "block" of cartoons. It was aired at like 6AM on a Sunday. I must have been the only teenager that got up that early to watch this cartoon. This show really stood out to me, not just for the social commentary, but the attention to current "theoretical" science aka commercial jump-jets and flexable screens. So ahead of its time.

[@FearlessSon]

Hey, you weren't the only teenager up early on Sunday to watch it. :)

[@calvinkatt662]

I also watched it on Sunday mornings. Where I lived, the show was on a small local station that wasn't carried by the cable company. I had to switch over to antenna to watch it.

[@Healthy_Toki]

I used to comb the tv guide and set the vcr because it was on at absurd times. Great sci fi show with strong action, themes, and a thoughtful streak.

[@OneDollarWilliam]

Dan had me really confused for a second there when he said Liquid Television didn't necessarily have Adult content. I was like "Dan, I know what every millimeter of Aeon Flux's tongue looks like." and as soon as that thought finished crossing my mind he clarified.

[@darkcloudXIV]

Phantom 2040 is also considered to be a soft sequel to the “Defenders of the Earth,” cartoon with an aged Mandrake guest starring in an episode and having a past history with aunt Eloise.

[@KeldorTheWhite]

This is news to me and I was sure I watched them all. Any idea what episode it was?

[@darkcloudXIV]

@@KeldorTheWhite it was episode 15, “The Magician,”

[@momosgarage]

In a way, all the Phantom successor are “in continuity” because the ring is passed onto an heir. This concept should really be revived as a multiverse with flashbacks to all the previous Phantom stories that have been published

[@darkcloudXIV]

@@momosgarage I agree with the concept except for the “multiversal” part; one of the main features of The Phantom is that he’s immortal in lore, and everything that has happened throughout history involving him all happened to a singular Phantom: “He” was present at all of these events, not “They/multiple Phantoms.” If even one more Phantom were to show up, standing side-by-side with the character, it could potentially destroy the illusion. Even if these series don’t occur in the same universe, having the same singular Phantom character at every single series would deepen the mythology surrounding him.

[@banonKING]

Hell Yeah. The lessons we DIDN'T learn from 90s cartoons.

[@MarcDonders]

I remember watching it at the time. The more mature themes of those 90'ies shows really spoke to me growing up. Also: I love your shirt Dan.

[@A-Muse-U]

8:30 and that’s Ninja Turtles AND Cops, two separate shows. Can you imagine?

[@leorblumenthal5239]

The Phantom movie, starring Billy Zane, is an underappreciated gem. It had the unfortunate fate of a bad marketing campaign, namely "Slam Evil!", which didn't make me inclined to see it, until I heard second hand reviews of how good it was.

[@freddogrosso9835]

It's better than The Shadow, with Alec Baldwin.

[@intiblade]

@@freddogrosso9835 Oddly enough, I prefer The Shadow movie than the Phantom one. It felt really forced and had bad acting.

[@mytruepower2]

The movie actually borrows a lot from the first run of the comics, including some of the dialogue, though certain lines are re-worded, and not always for the better, sadly.

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

I loved Phantom 2040 when it was shown on the BBC over here in the UK

[@desiladygamer2076]

I loved the art style - same guy who did Aeon Flux? It's definitely a change from watching Defenders of the Earth on BBC.

[@dangerotterisrea]

it was really good from what I remember, I am going to give it a rewatch at some point. The Highlander Cartoon and Pirates of Darkwater were up there as well.

[@blahlbinoa]

This show actually got me into the Cyperpunk genre. I watched this when I was getting into middle school, and I already saw Aeon Flux when I was grossly underage to watch it but I recognized the animation style. And Ironically, this got me into The Phantom because my local paper started putting the newspaper comics in their rotation, and the movie was about to come out, which I was hyped for and still enjoyed!

[@Dynaman21]

Between Phantom 2040, Spider Man 2099, and Batman Beyond, I’m curious just how much overlap there was of writers aware of the others.

[@nolantaylor656]

You mean Spiderman Unlimited?

[@wstine79]

And Sonic the Hedgehog (the good one).

[@Dynaman21]

@@nolantaylor656No, the Peter David comic from 1993.

[@nolantaylor656]

@@Dynaman21 ah cause you lumped the three together but they didn’t exist in animated form at the same time and there was no 2099 show for Spiderman. Besides, Spidey 2099 came three years earlier, came in 99 so there was significant gap.

[@joshuaDstarks]

Didn’t Sherlock Holmes get sent to the future too? Watson was part robot I think.

[@Maverick842]

My brother and I loved Phantom 2040 and the Billy Zane movie. Also I remember 7-Eleven had a promo when the movie came out where you’d get a free ring like the Phantom’s when you bought any fountain drink or Slurpee. My brother and I got several of them. They were only made of cheap diecast metal and we kept breaking the bands when trying to adjust the size of it to fit our fingers. It wasn’t like we were big either, I was only 12 and he was only 10.

[@Captain_Subpar]

All I remember from Phantom 2040 is all I remember from Aeon Flux: why everyone in these worlds are so spindly and gangly with their long limbs? I had no idea they were made by the same guy but it totally makes sense in retrospect.

[@seanwieland9763]

Peter Cheung borrowed heavily from Egon Schiele.

[@ancianoanciano1242]

that guy, peter chung used to work in rugrats get tired of draw fat chubby midgets, and uses his influences from german expresionism, primarly egon shiele to make characters whit very long limbs

[@dennisrounds1996]

Yeah it was a weird aesthetic time in animao

[@Healthy_Toki]

He did a lot of less out there stuff too. He designed all the cartoon looks for the ninja turtles and storyboarded the iconic 1987 TMNT opening for example. He's really a legend.

[@RPGTherapist]

The Phantom was my favourite character in 'Defenders of the Earth' (I always loved helicopters, and the Skull Copter was just cool), and I was *so* excited when 'Phantom 2040' came along. The dark tone, the one-against-many narrative, and all the sci-fi gimmicks had me enthralled. I also really enjoyed the Billy Zane movie!

[@joshuaDstarks]

“Oh, you mean the guy in purple?” - local comic merchant when asked about “Phantom” comics

[@cypherneticgaming3281]

Sucks? I just re-watched this last week. The ghost that walks was awesome!😅

[@Getwright-]

You secret galaxy uses spicy thumbnails I guess to get more people to watch. They didn’t use to and there vids are usually super wholesome and celebratory of their subjects

[@yowatchie]

Does it end on a decent note? Or a cliffhanger since it was cancelled?

[@cypherneticgaming3281]

@yowatchie Decent note

[@km_9]

They're not saying the show sucked, it was the future that sucked...or will suck?

[@TerryTurner]

I knew I recognized the art style, Peter Chung Aeon Flux art style easily recognized by fans.😁👍

[@TerryTurner]

@@kennyboggs3676 lol, I remember that back when I was in high school. It was pretty good IMO.😁👍

[@whymihere86]

I love the fact that for Mark Hammill you bring up the 91 Guyver movie. So glad I'm buying that at the end of the month and thanks for bringing up 2040. I don't remember much of it, but I enjoyed what I saw.

[@ShinySephiroth1]

No one I know remembers this show. I watched it all of the time and this show made me hyped for the Billy Zane film at the time.

[@CommanderBohn]

I do.

[@RyanRead]

Same

[@RippahRooJizah]

I don't recall watching it but I do remember this show and the movie.

[@vinesauceobscurities]

I do too. It's hard to forget its lanky art style, the alien futurism and that cool flying Ford Mustang.

[@IronLungs01]

I actually still have the replica ring they gave out in the theaters for that movie.

[@FunkyM217]

The future is often predicted in the unlikeliest of places. The bother of Mobile/Cell phones ringing at inopportune moments was predicted in a humourous cartoon in a General interest magazine, perhaps a century before the reality that we live with today. And I would say that there's more than one person ready to keep Metropia from happening...

[@Terminalsanity]

Very underrated show cool cyber punk setting complex characters memorable villains. I don't think I've ever felt so bad for a jobber henchmen like Graft he was a hero once but the Madisons the very people running the corrupt cut throat company he was fighting against turned him into their personal cybernetic enforcer for decades and when he regained a modicum of self determination and tried to end it all going out a hero... the bastards still wouldn't let him die with Max swooping in coldly remarking "Graft, you can't die, you're company property." and the really screwed up thing is even Max's ultimate fate was pretty damn depressing 😐

[@Healthy_Toki]

Graft's story beats always had a real noir feel to them and gave the world a very legitimate tone for cyberpunk. Great voice acting too from Ron Perlman.

[@jordel2010]

To me, this animated series was pretty much criminally underrated (alongside Pirates of Dark Water, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs) back in the 1990's. Thanks to your video on Exo Squad, I've been seriously considering re-watching that series, which back in the day, quite honestly, really didn't pay attention to it; I'd really like that people who watched this video and either never saw Phantom 2040 or never really give it a chance back in the day consider revisiting it.

[@Voltopian]

I bought the Genesis/Mega Drive game, was one of my first games I had, it was tough but awesome for me as a 8? year old. Otherwise I would not know what the hell "Phantom 2040" was :P I do think the whole space born villain was part of turnin me into a sci-fi nerd somehow

[@kieronchick1663]

The use of the word smart gun in a show released in 1994 is interesting.

[@michaelgrosberg2665]

Smart gun is nothing new. 1995's Judge Dredd had one. But in general Phantom 2040 had a shitload of advanced concepts taken from the cyberpunk literature of the time. orbital cities, VR, anotechnology, smart cities, and lots and lots of cyber implants.

[@joshuaDstarks]

“Gremlins 2” used the term “smart building” in 1990.

[@jtoons99]

Yeah! Someone remembered the comic book series penciled by Steve Ditko and inked by Bill Reinhold who based the inking style on Ditko's own past work to produce an AMAZING 4-issue series. The Phantom 2040 comic book series is also notable in that it showcases the only known professional collaboration (a poster) by Ditko and fellow Spider-Man artist who took over when Ditko left -- John Romita!

[@MistaJonz]

This was my introduction to the Phantom and I was infatuated with this cartoon as a kid! Sad we never got a crossover with Space Precinct 2040 😂

[@Getwright-]

Yeah i wouldve love if they introduced a Flash Gordon 2040 or a Mandrake 2040

[@orinanime]

My mom introduced me to The Phantom as a kid. I loved Defenders of the Earth, Phantom 2040, and the Billy Zane movie. I found it very entertaining as a kid. Rewatching as an adult, I find it a little unnerving seeing the parallels/warnings of the possible future

[@profdmiranda]

I think I have always been a sucker for old heroes. I love the JSA for instance. When my dad told me that Defender of the Earth were really heroes he used to read about when he was a kid I was hooked. I loved Phantom 2040 even more so seeing some of it could be tied to the DotE cartoon and its Phantom.

[@orinanime]

@@profdmiranda agreed. On all counts. I also love retro Golden Age and Silver Age heroes, and lesser known underappreciated heroes.

[@Healthy_Toki]

@@orinanime Phantom has S tier OG hero aura. You really can't get more pure of a masked adventure hero.

[@orinanime]

@@Healthy_Toki VERY true

[@geardog24]

So in the future we’ll all be 7 feet tall and weigh 106lbs? That sounds great.

[@seanwieland9763]

If you’re Sean One and part of the Free Orbital movement.

[@IronLungs01]

Yeah if you're into having bad knees and back pain. 😆

[@freddogrosso9835]

Strong winds will blow you away.

[@SpideySensei72]

Debbie Harry used to do VO work for animation??? How did I never know this?

[@kadosho02]

Indeed 😊 a multi talented badass legend

[@CantankerousDave]

She did the singing parts for the character Angel in the animated movie Rock & Rule back in 1985. The closing duet with her and Robin Zander of Cheap Trick was/is awesome.

[@kamenanew9867]

​@@CantankerousDaveit is a dope song for sure

[@Sephiroth144]

Still waiting for the crossover with Batman Beyond...

[@ranwolf7650]

I haven't seen the Phantom movie in years. I completely forgot Jason Voorhees made a cameo...

[@starflier]

Another of the old ones that modern me thought was some kind of fever dream.

[@starflier]

Still watching, but one oddly vivid memory that comes to mind is him being able to mark anything with his ring... and one person getting mad at him for messing up her stuff with the phantom mark.

[@timidwolf]

I did actually see a few episodes back in the day, but it was weird as I would always remember it in a "Surely that wasn't a thing, I must have imagined it in a fever-dream or something" kind of way!

[@cinnabarsin4288]

As the target demo at the time this had very little chance. I vaugely remember seeing a little of this and my mom tried to introduce me to the old stuff at some point, but that wasn't competing with Batman or X-Men or whatever at that point. Now I'm actually really impressed by the black and white comic panels' art and how well it was rendered and the 2040 concept sounds so good, would totally watch that if it was being made today (even with all the irony of an Amazon or Disney or Netflix doing it). That solid purple jumpsuit though, that's never going to do it any favors for first impressions though.

[@gonzalogca4907]

Phantom 2040 was amazing. One of my favorite shows growing up. I was so disappointed it never got any toys. I had no idea the show was canceled. I remember the finale ending the story almost perfectly.

[@Lexen_Rapier]

The story was completed - but I think they jumped to the ending faster than they'd intended

[@freddogrosso9835]

I watched this a LOT as a teen. I always loved Aeon Flux, so this felt really familiar. One of the things I remember most, is Max's cat, Baudelaire. A name both pretentious and sweet.

[@zevadprime]

I was aware of the Phantom because of Defenders of the Earth. So when Phantom 2040 came out I was very familiar with the character and I did watch the show. And I did see the Phantom movie with Billy Zane but on cable

[@JacobSchantz]

This was a Sunday morning cartoon in my area. I had to catch it early before church.

[@freddyvidz]

Yep!!!

[@MisterFloZeke]

"TV38" Man, I half expected to see a commercial for The Movie Loft with Dana Hersey too.

[@TwinRiver100]

It's too bad The Live action Phantom movie didn't do well. I loved that movie. Re-watched it all the time as a kid. And was my intro to the character. and was kind of nice to have as a Batman alternate.

[@lacrartezorok4975]

For what I remember, here in Mexico they only aired the first season.

[@DavidRomigJr]

I watched Phantom 2040 when it was originally airing and loved it. I did not know it was based on a comic at that point. It’s been long enough that I no longer remember the original stories, however, I remember when the movie came out that I thought it was just okay. My biggest let down was it seemed only superficially related to the show I enjoyed.

[@Jason_Bryant]

"Yo!" Yes, that did 100% jog my memory.

[@Getwright-]

Loved everything about this show. Such good writing. Up there with BTAS and Gargoyles. (I just wish they had found a way to have a Flash Gordan 2040 and Mandrake 2040 somehow guest star)

[@jonathanchavez7333]

I remember watching it now and then since it wasn’t in the usual rotation of cartoons for me and my brother

[@MightyMurloc]

"a single season of 35 episodes" seems so alien in this, massively disrespectful age, towards animation

[@marctoad]

the actual quality of those 35 episodes was drastically lower than a 13 show season now.

[@bernardocoto8519]

I'm starting to realize how awesome were the 90s animation, Ion Flux, Beavis and Butthead, Phantom 2040, Batman, Exo Squad...

[@teknomax7883]

I frikkin LOVED Phantom 2040!!! The song, the atmosphere... I even have a very similar ring on my fingers. Btw, the videogame is an extremely underrated metroidvania, and an excellent adaptation!

[@AndrewDasilvaPLT]

Second grade, got a TRS-80 at a yard sale and was so excited to use it on weekends (only time I was allowed to play it), I would plug in the video cord every commercial during this and whatever else was on saturday mornings.

[@WhispyWoods.]

I remember seeing this on Sunday mornings. Weird attempts at computer animations, ugly character faces and art style (I’m surprised but also not at the connection to Aeon Flux) and not a hero I connected with.

[@ABoyNamedArt]

Fun fact, the Phantom was also the visual inspiration for one of Mexico's longest-running luchadores, El Fantasma. His legit son, known as Santos Escobar, currently works in WWE and heads up the Legado Del Fantasma group further honoring that legacy.

[@BaqTalk]

Watched it as a kid. Loved the Intro, I really liked the movie, even had it on VHS.

[@danlance2867]

I had a VHS with some episodes on it growing up. I absolutely loved it as a kid. And now 29 years later here I am discovering there were more than 5 episodes...

[@popculturehero]

The games are kind of regarded as hidden gems in the retro gaming community.. I would not have looked up the cartoon if not for finding the genesis game. Phantom was clearly missing something to make him a fitting 90s super hero. Maybe he needed more pouches or a cyborg arm.

[@kadosho02]

Also they were tough, platformer, search action, and shmup. All rolled into one. I remember playing it at a video game store, in Eastridge Mall. It stuck with me, even though you explored a level, there were so many pathways to find.

[@Kewrock]

OMG. We're already there.

[@seanswader7425]

I really loved the cartoon when it came on. It had a style that felt different from most others and it had a creepy sense of humor to things like technology and evolution. I remember those odd astronaut guys with elongated limbs due to a lack of gravity and that was a concept I never really thought about until then. The movie was good as well. Lots of fun and kinda the total opposite due to a lack of technology

[@JoeNayDoh]

Anyone remember The Phantom reboot from the 2000s that aired on Sci Fi Channel? Never saw it, but all I remember is somehow they made the costume worse than the full body purple suit.

[@jonathanwright8025]

Have seen it. Pretty mediocre with some hilarious scenes.

[@bdboricua3128]

The "Yo!" Sincerely is what helped me remember that character Thanks for that

[@Raz3-x9c]

Yes! A Guyver reference! 🎉🍻

[@SC1ENCEP1E]

Your videos are always so informative. I love them

[@DanielleBaum]

oh man! this was a great cartoon! I wish there had been more of it.

[@leeball4]

Phantom 2040 was my introduction to the character. I didn't catch it until it was in late night reruns in '97 or '98 and skipped out on the movie because Billy Zane and Treat Williams as headliners didn't inspire much confidence (I've since become a fan of the film and have come to appreciate it). As someone who has dealt with long bouts of insomnia through my life I've watched a lot of late night television. Stumbling onto this show was a treat, with the Aeon Flux aesthetic and the more 'grown-up' story it was way more intriguing than infomercials and Morton Downey, Jr reruns 😆 Thanks for mentioning that its on YT, I'm gonna give it a rewatch at 2 am!

[@partywolf85]

I loved this show as a kid. It's how I learned about the character. Imagine my confusion when the movie came out and it was set in the 1930s lol but then that's how I learned about the generational tradition of passing the mantle of The Phantom down from parent to child (The Phantom has been a woman several times over the centuries btw, so it's not always a strictly male heir passed from the father). I should rewatch this sometime. Thanks for the video!

[@michaellocke3327]

it's currently free with amazon prime. I remember the original movie/pilot so I have started watching it recently. And I still say the Phantom movie with Billy Zane is one of the best comics to movie adaptations ever made.

[@asrexproductions]

Was a big fan, but then, I knew who The Phantom was since my trip to India at age nine. There, they only knew two superheroes -- Superman, and the Phantom.

[@ceno10101]

12:05 I see you there Jason!! Love looking for him (good work editor).

[@mrbuckley84]

I remember watching it after seeing the movie as a kid.

[@nolantaylor656]

One of my all time favorite shows

[@yotaruvegeta]

I never caught on as a kid that this was Peter Chung animation, (I had the attention span of…a child) but the moment I saw that dude with the cyborg body, it is unmistakable.

[@TravisFebruary]

Thankfully there wasn’t a train containing toxic chemicals crashing into Penn Central Station in NYC. That was supposed to happen this year (2024). It crashed in Ohio instead.

[@slipshodaverage844]

I was also a fan of the movie, all of the "wrong lesson" movies, and don't remember this. I knew The Phantom from Defenders of the Earth, kind of, so was excited for more The Phantom, but this just never appeared on my radar as a kid who was voraciously consuming this kind of content at the time.

[@spoonimefan]

My personal pathway on the character of The Phantom? Defenders of the Earth, the Phantom 2040 video game on SNES, the *paperback novel adaptation* of The Phantom movie, and then eventually the actual movie. That last link is the first time I was disappointed by a movie after reading the book. Even if the movie came first.

[@bazanime]

I saw the cartoon, I was into those obscure heroes like Spawn, The Mask, Darkman, The Phantom, The Shadow, and even Dick Tracy. I was drawn in by their live-action movies and followed the animation or comics I could get a hold of. Fun times.

[@zedek_]

Wow, totally forgot about this show. When I was young I caught a few episodes, and it disappeared... I thought it seemed really cool at the time. Time to enjoy watching it -- one of the benefits of our dystopian future!

[@sombrashibe]

The first time I saw this cartoon was as a kid in Puerto Rico. It was another cartoon I loved, but it was definitely weird hearing the English voices the first time when living on the mainland. I do remember the dollar store toys too 😂

[@evanescapades2513]

Goodness… am i the only one who sees endless things in this amazingly good series that are fast coming to fruition? Ahead of its time and the makers of this show had so much love, insight AND foresight making this fine show!!! 10/10

[@thefilthyrhombus3856]

The Guyver! Thank you! That's where I know Mark Hamil from. Did he ever do any other voice work? I distinctly remember the videogame but had no idea it was ever a TV show until literally right now. Shame given that the art design, story, and setting could have led it to a much more prolonged run. Possibly matching Batman or X-Men. Probably should have gone with the breakfast cereal and toy line. Lastly, bit off topic, but does anyone else ever think about how much unsold Captain Planet merchandise made from cheap plastics and toxic chemicals is currently sitting at the bottom of numerous landfills? I'm sure Gaia would be devastated if she only knew.

[@MarJay1980]

Phantom 2040 was shown on BBC TV in the UK and I watched it there as a kid. I'd have been about 14 and it was perfect for me. Edgy, a little violent but also unlike anything else in so many ways. I adored it, and I still do.

[@st1ka]

Phantom 2040 for the SNES and Mega Drive are super underrated games imo. They're hidden gems for their systems

[@Singularityseries]

Thank you Dan and team for doing this. I’m superhumanly grateful that there are other fans of this classic like I was when this aired!

[@younghannibal7434]

Liquid tv was the early version of adult swim

[@kellychuang8373]

Also used to see this show back when it was in a time of not just Saturday Morning cartoons but also can catch Sunday times as well. Along with weekday afternoons real different and also it was the era of Cable Tv when it was still in.

[@GameFactsSpecial]

Didn't this show crossover with Sherlock Holms in the 21st Century?

[@tiercel5561]

Nope, I think that was Bravestarr that did.

[@forcedfeedbackclassicgamer5499]

I loved Phantom 2040 as a kid, and even then I was all about the Peter Chung influence. I came to love Aeon Flux not long after that and still adore it to this day.

[@Xanderall]

Watched a couple of episodes back in the day, and I liked it a lot, but the problem with scheduled television is that it was hard to follow. Back then I knew about the Aeon Flux connection (that Peter Chung character design is unmistakeable), but alas, it was not to last. Years later, I remember feeling a "Phantom 040 vibe" when I saw Batman Beyond for the first time.

[@paulware4701]

First saw the Phantom in TV Tornado in the mid-Sixties, drawn by Sy Barry and was instantly hooked. He's very big in Australia, with Frew Comics running his adventures in a series that is currently numbering in the thousands. I only recently got to read his very first adventure, and it's amazing how advanced it was in very many ways, not least its depiction of women. Lee Falk was a terrific storyteller.

[@moreartthantime]

I feel like I was the perfect target audience for this show- just old enough that I was starting to watch Liquid Television (quietly so my parents wouldn't notice), but still young enough to be willing to watch Saturday morning cartoons, and with a niche interest in 1930's pulp heroes (I adore The Shadow). I loved this show! It was just gritty enough to appeal to a teenager starting to be more interested in gritty stuff. It's a shame it didn't last longer, but also stuff that really hits my own particular niche interests tend to be short lived because, well, my interests are pretty niche.

[@RoboJandro]

Man I wouldn't mind a revival of the Phantom as a live action series that builds up a shared King universe eventually leading up to Flash and Ming the Merciless. I know there are some Flash projects in the works, but it would be a shame for the Phantom to keep being ignored.

[@martinrobert6709]

Remember this when it first aired the body designs freaked me out, and it always reminded me of the Sherlock Holmes animated series that aired at the same time.

[@F1ghtGam3r]

I remember watching a VHS containing the first 3 episodes, one of my older sisters rented it from Blockbuster. She assumed I would like it, I did not

[@JacobsenBros]

The Gray Ghost was a Batman The Animated Series character voiced by Adam West. YES! I watched this show and loved how dark it was and how it dealt with environmental issues. It was one of those cartoons that was here and gone so quick that I didn't know if I had just dreamed the whole thing. Still love that 90's version of the future that was seen in other things like Batman Beyond and Spiderman 2099. I also liked the movie but wanted more action with it. Although it still has very impressive stunts without using CGI.