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Sy Barry - legendarisk Fantomet-tegner
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Sy Barry hos aftenposten.no
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Den legendariske Fantomet-tegneren Seymour (Sy) Barry forsynte sammen med Fantomet-skaper Lee Falk på 1960, 70- og 80-tallet blant andre Aftenpostens lesere med et utall klassiske og sjeldent veltegnede historier. Sammen foretok de to en dyptgripende modernisering av tegneserien om Ånden som går.
Moderniseringen endte opp med bryllup mellom Fantomet og Sala, sikring av arverekkefølgen med tvillingene Kit og Heloise og en delvis adresseforandring fra hodeskallegrotten til huset i trekronene.
Sy Barry (f. 1928), fra små kår på Manhattan, fikk fart på karrièren da han assisterte storebror Dan på 1950-tallet. Dan Barry tegnet i sin tid Tarzan, men er mer kjent for sine Lyn Gordon-historier.
Sy Barry kom inn som tusjer og medhjelper, inntil syndikatet King Features tilbød ham å bli Fantomet-tegner. Han trakk seg tilbake i 1994, etter nesten 30 år som Fantomet-tegner. I dag bor Barry på Coney Island i New York.
Mandag 10. september var han her hos aftenposten.no for å svare på spørsmål fra lesere og Fantomet-tilhengere. Svarene finner du nedenfor.
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Since the beginning of your career as The Phantom artist, "our Phantom" has been the 21st. He has since then seemed to adjust to time to a certain degree. For the future, do you consider this should continue, or do you see him "fixed" in time? Thank you very much for your contribution to more than three decades of thrills and excitement!
Odd Einar Rindarøy, Sandnes
Sy Barry: Somehow, he was fixed in time throughout those 400 years by virtue of the Phantom legend. We don't want that to change, do we? The success of the strip has hinged on this legend, in order for it to continue it will have to remain fixed in time. I have to finish up now. I deeply appreciate the interest my fans have shown me throughout the years and particularly on the Internet. Hope to return to Norway very soon. Good-bye everybody.
Do You or the Phantom have a website for the fans?
ingalill b, Aurskog i Akershus
Sy Barry: These website links are ones I can recommend and ones that have been recommended to me! http://www.digital-link.net/rhoades/ http://home.no.net/kwalker/ http://www.deepwoods.org/ http://www.kingfeatures.com/features/comics/phantom/about.htm
Do you still read comics?
Jenny, Oslo
Sy Barry: Oh, sure. I'll never stop reading comics. Doonsbury, and mostly other humourous strips such as The Lockhorns and Hagar. However, I'm doing more reading of novels these days.
What happened to the Civil War cartoon you were working on in the early 60's?
Stig O., Bodø
Sy Barry: Unfortunately, that went by the wayside when I acquired the Phantom strip. I have no regrets since I enjoyed doing the Phantom so much. I don't know what happened to those Civil War strips, I'd like to find out though.
Why did Bill Ligante attempt to give The Phantom eyes? And what do you think of George Olesens efforts to bring on your legacy?
P. I. Johansen, Oslo
Sy Barry: I totally disagreed with that (the eyes) and I have no idea why he did so. George did a very faithfull job.
What do you think of the direction The Phantom has evolved into in the US today?
Andreas, Trondheim
Sy Barry: I think the concept today coincides with the changes that are going on in American society. He hasn't yet gotten into rock music, but perhaps his children will. I think it's a good thing that the story reflects the present.
How does The Phantom hide his hair under his suit ? Is he bald, or just very good at hiding his hair ? If he is bald, where you afraid that you could not compete with Connan`s enourmous hairdo ?
Donald Duck, Andeby
Sy Barry: He is not bald! His costume is designed with a skintight cap to create the effect of a smooth head that gives him a spectral appearance.
What were your own favorite comics when you were a kid?
Yngve, Oslo
Sy Barry: The first one was "Prince Valiant" and "Flash Gordon". Then it was "Terry and the Pirates".
Hi Dad, This is David. Love from all of the Barry's in New Hampshire. Please make sure you bring home copies of the local papers! Also, can your friends at Aftenposten provide you with a transcript of this question and answer session?? Love to Mom too!!
New Hampshire, USA
Sy Barry: Hi D. Just caught your message and was so surprised and happy to hear from you. We'll be bringing everything home with us. Give our love to all the family and we'll see you next week. Love Mom and Dad.
I wonder why you retired from drawing the Phantom?
Kristian Kamben, Drøbak
Sy Barry: I retired from the Phantom because I had other interests that I wanted to follow, such as painting and sculpture. My wife and I wanted to pursue many hobbies together, including one of our big passions, bridge!
Is any of the work you do now going to be published/sold? Thanks for everything!
Anders Hauge Engebretsen, Høvik, Bærum
Sy Barry: Not at this point since I am painting right now and haven't yet put any of my work on exhibition. But in the future, I do hope to sell my paintings.
Did you like the movie-version of the Phantom?
Sindre Y. K , Sandnes
Sy Barry: I thought the movie was handled very well. I'd hope there would be a sequel to it. I thought Billy Zane played the Phantom role very effectively and Diana was perfect. The effects were brilliant - the airplane in particular. My only disapppointment was the characterization of the villian.
Due to the nature of the legend, the current Phantom, the 21st, should soon face retirement. Should he be allowed the luxury of being the first in the line to pass the rings over to his son whilst remaining alive? The idea of the 22nd Phantom having his father as a guide and mentor is an appealing thought, and could infuse the legend with a new direction. Best regards.
Jon Berger, Oslo
Sy Barry: In the movie, the Phantom had a mentor - the ghost of his father. I think a very young Phantom needs the guidance of an experienced father. I don't know if it would work though - him staying alive. Most of the stories have shown the Phantom about to die or already dead - and then the son has taken over. I think this is the best way for things to continue.
Why is the Phantom so seldom in Norway? Haven't we got crooks enough?
Yngve Larssén, Berkåk
Sy Barry: He was in Norway a couple of times. I'd have thought the reason why the Phantom hasn't been here more often is that the people are too nice and he's not needed. He's got a lot to do all over the world!
Is the Phantom such a passionate milk drinker in the USA too? Or is he sponsored by the norwegian dairies here?
Ingvald Horgheim, Rauma, pt Oslo
Sy Barry: We have never written any stories showing the Phantom being a big milk drinker, or encouraging his children to drink milk - nor did Diana. I know nothing about the Norwegian dairies!!!!! But it's a good idea.
Have you ever refused to draw a story, or do you create images of whatever story is presented to you?
Yngve Larssén, Berkåk
Sy Barry: I must accept the story. I have no say-so over that. I tried to change a few lines now and again, but Lee wouldn't have any of that. "Don't touch my dialogue," he'd tell me.
Is Norway the only country where the Phantom wears blue?
Caritha, Nesjestranda
Sy Barry: Scandinavia and Finland show him in blue, but I know that in Italy he appears in red. In the USA he's in purple. He's the same colour in Australia as in the USA.
Many Phantom-fans in Norway were very disappointed when the editors decided to print the comic in colors. What do you think about the fact that other people add new colors to your old black and white work? And what do you prefer - b/w or colors?
Robbie, Fredrikstad
Sy Barry: I'd have preferred that it stayed black and white, because I planned my artwork for black and white reproduction.
How do you get Fantomet looking so tough? And why is his suit/trikot designed the way it is?
Richard Øiestad, Oslo
Sy Barry: I think there was an actor, his name was Larry Buster Crabbe - he played Flash Gordon many years ago in serialised movie shorts we used to have back in those days. I had some pictures of him, which I thought portrayed the best image of the Phantom. His skintight costume was to promote the eerie appearance of the ghost - the most important thing to Lee Falk was this spectral, ghost-like look of the Phantom and that's why we made him this way. It also showed his muscular shape as well.
In Norway the phrase "gammelt jungelord" (old jungle proverb/expression) is now a common phrase. Which such expression is your favorite? "When hhe Phantom asks, he gets answers?" og "The Phantom's voice turns the blood to ice?" Or any other?
Distant, Norway
Sy Barry: "The Phantom's voice... " is probably my fabourite. Also, Lee Falk would alway preceed a new sequence by saying, "For those who came in late... ", I always got a kick out of that. He always used that phrase. Another good one is "Phantom is rough on rough necks."
Hi Sy! You are the greatest! When you were drawing a Phantom story, what parts did you enjoy most to draw? And what did you hate? It can't be that much fun to draw all that jungle all the time, can it?
Dogai Singh, Morristown
Sy Barry: There wasn't anything I hated drawing. Some things were challenging than others, which I enjoyed. The sequence I enjoyed drawing most that the early jungle patrol. Also I enjoyed the birth of the two children, I enjoyed drawing that and the construction of the tree house - that too was a challenge. And the sequence that took place in London, showing London's buildings in the fog, that was fun to draw. I didn't find that I was drawing only jungle material. Phantom's experiences ran throughout history, which took my artwork to many different countries and many different surroundings.
OK - trick question Mr Barry! Will the next Phantom be Kit or Heloise? As far as I know the 21. Phantom only has one set of rings, so who will take over the responsibility of keeping the legend going? Kind Regards, Stephen
Stephen Løken, Oslo
Sy Barry: Wouldn't it be a young Kit when he grows up. That's the usual format that Lee Faulk has maintained. But Heloise may have something to say about that, she may want those rings and she can't be left out of this. It would be interesting to see how this is handled.
How old do you estimate the current Phantom to be? How old, generally, have the previous Phantoms been when they became parents? And finally: In Norway the Phantom's bride is called Sala (in English: Diana, right?). Is it true that Sala in the original language was a pirate princess?
Markus Lømo, Fredrikstad
Sy Barry: Let's say the current Phantom is 39. Probably in their late 20s or early 30s. Most of them died at a young age too, so that the new Phantom could begin his role. You are right, there was a princess called Sala in the past, but I'm not quite sure where she originally came from or which sequence that was.
Is there any other country with so many Fantomet-followers as Norway? (The Fan Club has more than 100.000 members in a nation with 4 million inhabitants...)
Ingvald Horgheim, Rauma, pt Oslo
Sy Barry: That's an amazing number. Australia has a very large number of Phantom followers. But not nearly as much per capita as Norway. I'd love to know why I have so many fans in Norway. Perhaps I added more mystique to the appearance of the strip and Norwegians liked that. I gave villian or the victim more emotion and that went down well.
Hello Mr. Barry! Welcome to a true Phantom-country! How have the reactions from your fans in Norway been? Thank you for 30 years filled with thrills and chills!
Svein, Tønsberg
Sy Barry: I thought there'd be quite a few Phantom fans, but I didn't think there would be this many. I arrived in Norway and found people very warm and receptive and gracous to my wife Simmy and I. I love the sights of this beautiful country. I've been trying to get to Norway for many years and finally succeeded. I loved portraying those thrills and chills. I thought I'd miss it, but I don't any more. However, thank you for thinking of me.
Will the Phantom survive in the future the way he is today, or is he too old fashioned? I for myself cannot see how he can be changed, because that would create a totally different cartoon. I hope he won't, but maybe new readers will find him out of date? What do you think will happen in the future? And good luck with your retirement!
Morgan Stenmark, Horten
Sy Barry: I hope he doesn't change too much. I hope the future will allow for the main theme of the strip "his constant fight against evil and upholding justice" to continue. I hope that he never runs out of date. If he went out to space he would still be seeking justice. Thank you for your kind thoughts.
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