The Phantom was quickly overshadowed by Superman in the States, but in Papua New Guinea he became a cultural icon and a symbol for the best warriors, painted on shields by artist Kaipel Ka.
While the Phantom may have never reached the American icon status of contemporaries like Batman and Superman, in the Independent State of Papua New Guinea , he is the most popular superhero by far, and his influence is felt throughout the culture. Debuting in a comic strip by Lee Falk in 1936, the Phantom is considered by many to be the first costumed superhero.
Introduced to the Highlands of Papua New Guinea during World War II, The Phantom comics had a setting and subject matter that mirrored the country's environment, setting them apart from the other superhero books available to the people there. The fictional tropical country of Bangalla, where the Phantom resides, is not unlike the PNG’s Highlands.
In battle, The Phantom's image was reserved for only the best warriors in a tribe. According to Kaipel Ka, “The Phantom design was for those who led the battle, because those that led the battle are the toughest fighters, just like the Phantom.” However, as the warfare continued into the 1980s, firearms — both homemade and manufactured — were introduced to the battlefield.
While the PNG war shields may have lost their viability on the battlefield, they remain an important part of the culture, and are still used for ceremonial display to this day. The shields have also become hotly sought after by art collectors and historians, featured in museum exhibitions across the globe. Kaipel Ka continued to paint shields until he passed away from cancer in 2008, though another painter from his village named John Wahgi now does shield artwork, Phantom and all.
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