Phantom 2040
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Phantom 2040 | |
|---|---|
 Phantom 2040 logo |
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| Genre | animated science fiction |
| Starring | Scott Valentine, Mark Hamill, Ron Perlman, Margot Kidder |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 33 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | syndicated |
| Original run | September 18, 1994 – March 3, 1996 |
| Links | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
Phantom 2040 is an animated science fiction television series loosely based on the comic strip hero The Phantom, created by Lee Falk. The central character of the series is said to be the 24th Phantom. The unusual character designs are the work of Peter Chung, creator of Æon Flux.
The show debuted in 1994 to rave reviews, though it survived only 33 episodes before it was relegated to weekend repeats in 1996. Along with action sequences, stories focused on intelligent plotting and character development, winning the series praise for its subtle teaching of such values as individuality, freedom, and the volatility of humanity. It also spawned comic books tie-ins and other merchandise.
Featured voice actors included Scott Valentine, Margot Kidder, Ron Perlman, and Jeff Bennett, while Mark Hamill, Debbie Harry, Rob Paulsen, and Paul Williams had recurring roles.
Contents |
[edit] Story
In the year 2040, environmental disasters and the economic Resource Wars of the early 21st century have decimated the fragile ecological balance of an Earth once teeming with life. Everywhere, the privileged and wealthy continue to thrive in expensive real estate developments that tower above the suffering masses. The victims of Earth’s misfortune have been forced to subsist on scavenged refuse from the past on the mangled streets of forlorn city-states.
In Metropia, the largest and most powerful of the city-states, the powerful corporation Maximum Inc. has commandeered armies of robotic Biots to create a cold, steely urban center, consisting of huge, residential towers intertwined with TubeTrain tunnels. Maximum has plans to construct Cyberville, an immense survival shelter where only the wealthiest and most elite humans will retreat once Earth finally succumbs to its slowly deteriorating state.
The only hope for the survival of humanity is the Ghost Jungle — thousands of square miles of mutated vegetation that may be the planet's salvation. This secret source of life is submerged beneath Metropia where no one is aware of it, but fortunately, college student Kit Walker Jr. is chosen by fate to save the world, donning the black mask and purple suit of his people’s savior, the 24th Phantom.
The role of the Phantom has been passed on from father to son since the 1500s, leading the world to believe that the Phantom is a single immortal individual. Kit, the 24th in the line, is young, unsure, and inexperienced, but he finds within him the courage and might to battle the evil that threatens to destroy the Earth.
[edit] Characters
- Kit Walker — The 24th Phantom, Kit was not trained for the role like his ancestors were. His father died when he was still a baby, and he grew up not knowing about his heritage. When Guran tells him about the Phantom on his eighteenth birthday, he is initially disbelieving, but takes on the role. His equipment includes a stealth suit for invisibility, a wristband that contains a powerful computer ("analytical"), and another that contains a smart-rope. He also had a multi-purpose vehicle named "Hero", after the 21st Phantom's horse. Voiced by Scott Valentine.
- Guran — Kit's mentor, whose family have been aiding the Phantom for generations. Voiced by J.D. Hall.
- Jack Archer — A scientist and professor at Kit's school. One of the few who knows the Phantom's true identity. Voiced by Alan Oppenheimer.
- Tranh — A young cyber-surfer who also knows Kit is the Phantom. His real name is Daniel. Voiced by Dustin Nguyen.
- Sagan Cruz — A Metropia law-enforcement officer, who is attracted to Kit but is unaware of his duel identity, and is sceptical about the Phantom's motives. She has a cyborg police dog named D.V.L. (a reference to the 21st Phantom's wolf, Devil). Voiced by Leah Remini.
- Aunt Heloise — Kit's only living relative, Heloise is the daughter of the 21st Phantom. She kept the truth from Kit, hoping he could lead a normal life. Voiced by Carrie Snodgress.
- Rebecca Madison — The series villain, head of Maximum Inc. and widow of the 23rd Phantom's killer, Maxwell Maddison. Her plans to turn the whole of Metropia into her private kingdom are foiled by the Phantom. Voiced by Margot Kidder.
- Maxwell Madison Jr. — Rebecca's sociopathic son, whose intelligence is belied by his laziness and disinterest in almost everything. When he does have an opinion on something, he presents it as coming from his cat, Baudelaire. Voiced by Jeff Bennett.
- Graft — Rebecca Madison's main enforcer, a cyborg who blames the Phantom for his condition. He was formerly an environmentalist who fought against Maximum to protect the Amazonian rainforest. Voiced by Ron Perlman in the first season, and Richard Lynch in the second.
- Doctor Jak — A cynical TV journalist who reports the Phantom's activities with a flip spin. Voiced by Mark Hamill.
- Sean 1 — The first human born in an Orbital Plataform. Resorts to terrorist attacks in order to gain independence for his colonies. Voiced by Rob Paulsen.
- Heisenberg — A sentient "fractal" Biot built of nanites. Voiced by Rob Paulsen.
- Pavlova - A Biot and Jak's assistant, becomes a follower of Heisenberg. Voiced by Liz Georges.
- Vaingloria — A star singer with mirrors attached to her body. Voiced by Deborah Harry
[edit] Episode List
[edit] Season One
- Generation Unto Generation (part 1)
- Generation Unto Generation (part 2)
- The Sum of the Parts
- Fire and I.C.E.
- Reflections of Glory
- Shadows from the Past
- The Good Mark
- Ghost in the Machine
- Dark Orbit (part 1)
- Dark Orbit (part 2)
- The Biot In Red
- The Gauntlet
- Three Into One
- Life Lessons
- The Magician
- Swifter, Higher, Faster
- Lasers In The Jungle
- Down The Line
[edit] Season Two
- Control Group
- A Boy And His Cat
- Rite Of Passage
- The World Is My Jungle
- Sanctuary
- The Ties That Bind
- The Woman In The Moon
- Matter Over Mind
- The Sins Of The Father (part 1)
- The Sins Of The Father (part 2)
- The Sacrifice (part 1)
- The Sacrifice (part 2)
- Rogue
- The Second Time Around
- The Furies
- Moments Of Truth
- The Whole Truth
[edit] Video games
A Phantom 2040 video game was produced for Sega Genesis, Game Gear and Super NES, and like the animated series, it received very positive reviews. It is possible to play as both the Phantom and his alter-ego, Kit Walker. The game has over 20 different endings, depending on the choices the player makes while progressing through the story.
[edit] Comic books
Phantom 2040 was adapted into a comic book series by Marvel Comics in 1995. Only four issues were published. The stories were only loosely based on the TV series, and had a different tone than the dark, complicated animated show. The comic book was written by Peter Quinones, pencilled by Steve Ditko, and inked by Bill Reinhold. Each issue featured a free poster drawn by such artists as John Romita Sr.
[edit] VHS and DVD editions
Many episodes of the series have been released on VHS and DVD, but a definitive collection is yet to come. A DVD called Phantom 2040: The Ghost Who Walks was released in 2004, and includes the first five episodes of the series edited into a "movie". Many other episodes were released on VHS in the late 1990s.
[edit] Trivia
The second episode begins with a 'recorded' voiceover that is preceded by a sound effect originally created by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop for the UK radio series The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. It is the sound the Guide makes before responding to a question.
