About this season
Phantom 2040 is a French-American 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 35 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.
Episodes (15)
1. Rite of Passage
Aired 16 September 1995 • 23 min
A ""retrospective"" show, bringing you up-to-date on the goings-on in season 1.
2. The World Is My Jungle
Aired 23 September 1995 • 23 min
A ""retrospective"" show, bringing you up-to-date on the goings-on in season 1
3. Sanctuary
Aired 30 September 1995 • 23 min
When the Egyptian Queen Nia returns to defeat the Phantom, she brings along ace marksman Gunnar to assist. However, while they hunt him in the Ghost Jungle, Gunnar cannot pass up the chance to hunt the rare, supposedly nonexistent Shadow Panther. Meanwhile, Max, Jr. remains blissfully trapped in VR - and Rebecca schemes to coax him out of his reverie by giving Baudelaire the boot...
4. The Ties That Bind
Aired 7 October 1995 • 23 min
Rebecca launches what may be the first physical attack in her bid to begin the Maximum Era by destroying Dykstra Platform, home of Sean 1. Meanwhile, Max finally is lured out of VR and Pavlova cannot take working for Dr. Jak anymore, exercising her free will to resign. Vaingloria joins the Maximum security force as Sagan is knocked into a coma.
5. The Woman In The Moon
Aired 14 October 1995 • 23 min
An intercepted shipment of cloned hands being sent to the orbital platform has the Phantom intrigued and sends him on a space-hunt as the orbital platforms vote on whether to form their Free Orbital Nation.
6. Matter Over Mind
Aired 21 October 1995 • 23 min
The truth behind the origins of Cairo and the contents of the train wreck that destroyed Sector Zero may destroy the Phantom and his friends -- one way, or another.
7. The Sins of the Father, Part 1
Aired 28 October 1995 • 23 min
Many major plots reach a crescendo pitch as Sagan regains consciousness and her relationship with Kit is finally resolved, more truth behind the Sector Zero crash and many of its ramifications is revealed, and the Maximum Era counts down to launch.
8. The Sins of the Father, Part 2
Aired 4 November 1995 • 23 min
Having been convinced by his friend Guran to go to Africa, his ancestral home, Kit finds deeper truth than even he imagined in the Phantom's fight for justice through the ages. Meanwhile, the truth behind Max Madison, Sr.'s original plan and the cause of the train wreck are revealed and lead to a shocking conclusion -- and the beginning of the Maximum Era.
9. The Sacrifice, Part 1
Aired 11 November 1995 • 23 min
Kit and his friends return to his lair and find the mysterious message left by Kit's father, as the Madisons scheme to escape the dome with the assistance of Gorda (who may or may not be helping...). However, when Kit has to choose between the life of a person he loves and the life of Metropia itself, how does he decide?
10. The Sacrifice, Part 2
Aired 18 November 1995 • 23 min
Kit's continuing search for a way to save his father leads to some interesting revelations about Max Madison Sr., Mr. Cairo, and the 23rd Phantom, and puts Cairo in the worst danger he's ever encountered. Meanwhile, the Madisons and Gorda continue wreaking havoc while Rebecca attempts to put a ""positive spin"" on their scheming.
11. Rogue
Aired 25 November 1995 • 23 min
Heisenberg is branded a rogue biot after Dr. Jak records a secret gathering of his fellow self-aware biots and claims that they are planning a revolt. The Enforcers ask Maxwell Jr. to assist them in hunting Heisenberg down, unaware that he intends to retake control of the biot for himself.
12. The Second Time Around
Aired 11 February 1996 • 23 min
When the Phantom stops a crime in progress, the criminal surprises the Phantom with an unexpected sigil, and leads Kit into the first-ever ""Virtual Reality"" excursion into the Phantom Chronicles, where he enters and interacts with and changes an action-filled story of the 20th Phantom.
13. The Furies
Aired 18 February 1996 • 23 min
Fissures in Gorda and Rebecca's ""partnership"" provide an exploitable weakness - but who is exploiting it, and why?
14. Moments of Truth
Aired 25 February 1996 • 23 min
Gorda and Rebecca fight over Rebecca's smuggling of yellow roses. Why would the all-powerful head of Maximum, Inc smuggle in flowers that can be grown right here in Metropia? Meanwhile, Sparks' ignorance of geography leads Kit to enrolling him at the University.
15. The Whole Truth
Aired 3 March 1996 • 23 min
Once and for all we finally experience the whole truth about the night the train wreck ruined Grand Central Station and the Phantom and Max Madison Sr. were killed - from no less a source than Max Madison, Sr. himself.