Lee Falk's comic strip character The Phantom has also appeared in several novels and short stories.
The novel was written by Dale Robertson and was based on a Sunday strip story called "The Childhood of the Phantom".
It was written by Rob MacGregor, whose former work with writing Indiana Jones novels suited the tone of the movie well.
The book also included many scenes which ended up on the cutting-room floor in the film version, and a more detailed presentation of the Phantom's origin.
In 2007, Moonstone Books released The Phantom Chronicles, a collection of short stories written by authors Mike Bullock, Ron Fortier, Jim Alexander, David Michelinie, Craig Shaw Gardner, CJ Henderson, Clay and Susan Griffith, Will Murray, Mike Oliveri, Nancy Kilpatrick, Ed Rhoades, David Bishop, Grant Suave, Trina Robbins, Richard Dean Starr, Dan Wickline and Martin Powell.