First published by Frew in 1987
First published by Fantomen 5/1984
First published by Fantomet 15/1984

Dai Darell
George Bess

Unsure why its been renamed to the Great Insurance Scam. Jim does not go into details why the title change, does anyone know why?

I would say that when it originally appeared in the late 1980s, Frew would have changed the name and are now reverting back to the oruginal for the reprint.

It is strange if Jim does not mention this, as he has on previous occasions when this has happened.

Commando 11 is closer to the original title. Below is the cover of the first printing in Sweden, in Fantomen 5/1984.

Guess the reason must be that the Great Insurance Scam describes the story better than what Commando does.

Perhaps, but Commando 11 is a far better title for a story, at least to be on the cover of a book. The cover art sells, but the title is also important.

I would choose a story called "Commando 11" over "The Great Insurance Scam" any day

Andreas:



Taste! Is it that simple?
"Commando 11"? ', What does it mean? Nothing!
Why not "Commando 10" or "12 Commando". or just "Commando", without any numbers behind!
A title should refer to the content, without the story should be read before you understand the title.
In this way "The Great Insurance Scam" is the best!

I am sure you are right "Sjefen", but Andreas and I did talk about best fore the sale. The book is seldom read before its sold.

The Great Insurance Scam is a better title as it has something to do with the story but I agree with Andreas and Ivan that Commando 11 is a better catchy name. In reading Jims MftP he does not indicate that it was the original title - he just comments that for some reason it was named as Commando 11.

I also get the feeling that Jim does not think much of George Bess's artwork.

Bess had some great art when he started on the Phantom, Flame and some other early stories were just plain good. Then he started to do it his own way, and we got a bit different art. I am not saying it is bad, only a bit different. I did like Bess all the way!

Ivan

Agree... Wilson McCoy, Ray Moore etc are all different. personally I like it, Jim made mention that the Phantom was slender in body shape, personally I think its more realistic than the US muscles on muscles body shape.