Customer Spotlight: Pete Klaus and the Friends of the Phantom

Are you familiar with The Phantom? The long-running comic strip has attracted fans since its debut in 1936. The story of a crime fighter who protects the innocent has faithful readers around the world.

For Pete Klaus, The Phantom is a timeless friend.

“I became enamored with the Phantom character  as a young boy because of the exotic jungle setting of the fictitious country of Bengalla,” he said.  “That is where the Phantom has his home called the ‘Skull Cave.’”

The mysterious hero created by author Lee Falk was a vital part of Klaus’s  education.

“When I was four years old, I learned to read using the Phantom comic strip. At first, my mother would assist me,” he said, “but having six children and a job, she said I would have to try very hard to learn the words found in the ‘word bubbles’ in the story. As days passed, I learned to sound out words, and I would occasionally ask about the definition of certain long words.”

In the 1990s, Klaus and some friends started a “Friends of the Phantom” fan club. The club published a newsletter featuring information about Falk, the artists who worked on the comic strip, Phantom collectibles and other information.

“The newsletter was the catalyst for many, many Phantom websites around the world,” Klaus said.  

One key to The Phantom’s appeal is his humanity. While he rides a white stallion named Hero and has a trained mountain wolf named Devil, Phantom is fully a human being, Klaus noted.

“The Phantom has no super powers, but his son takes over his role as protector if he gets old or injured,” he said. “Because the Phantom wears his same costume. a legend has built up over 400 years, that he is the man who cannot die — ‘The Ghost Who Walks.’”

We have had the privilege of providing Phantomabilia to Mr. Klaus and the Friends for several years. We have supplied custom challenge coins, pins, belt buckles and more.

Clubs around the world, including Australia, Sweden and other nations “promote their clubs and groups by use of challenge coins, which are collectible, durable, and interest-creating,” Klaus said.

 “Whether it is a coin, a pin or other promotional item, they are all designed to keep the groups together, and interested for years to come,” Klaus said. “In the words of the late Lee Falk, “The Phantom is Dead  -- Long Live The Phantom.”

We appreciate the opportunity Mr. Klaus has given TJM to provide custom coins and more to Phantom fans around the world!