Tony DePaul

Tony DePaul is best known as the writer who succeeded Lee Falk on the classic adventure strip *The Phantom*, taking over the daily newspaper feature after Falk’s death in 1999. Born in the United States, DePaul spent more than two decades as a journalist before turning to freelance writing. His path into comics began in 1993, when he started scripting *Phantom* stories for the Scandinavian publisher Egmont, contributing to their long-running comic books *Fantomen* and *Fantomet*. After Falk’s passing, DePaul became the primary writer for the newspaper strip, maintaining the globe-trotting, jungle-set legacy of the Ghost Who Walks. His collaborators on the strip have included artists Mike Manley and Jeff Weigel. DePaul has also written for *The Green Hornet* and contributed to special projects such as *Fantomets krønike* and *Phantom Spezial*. His work has helped sustain the character’s popularity in Europe and beyond, bridging the classic serialized storytelling of Falk with a modern sensibility. DePaul’s career reflects a steady, craftsman-like dedication to a single iconic property, earning him a lasting place among the keepers of the Phantom mythos.