SPACER
SPACER
The Phantom is one of three ships released in the original Pyrates toyline. By far the biggest of the three ships that were released (rip to The Avenger). This set came in Wave 1 and featured 100 pieces and five figures. Its set number is #3660.
The Phantom is a brigatine class ship (although the lore incorrectly refers to it as a galleon). The size of the ship more accurately reflects a two masted brigatine vessel, so its what I choose to refer to it as. At least the playset is. Perhaps in lore The Phantom is bigger.
The ship features two primary masts. The central mast has two sails, one of which bears the insignia of The Skeleton Crew. This mast also features a spacious crows nest at the top along with a flagpole. This mast also has a play feature where you can pull down on a section of the mast, and cause it to topple over from its midpoint. Resembling it being broken. The primary mast also features a sail connecting to the stern of the ship via the throne.
The ship also features an interesting figurehead. I can't really describe what it is. Some kind of ghoulish pirate, howling in terror. The way it connects seemlessly to the hull is amazing, I might add.
At the back of the hull, one of the balconies can break off, to simulate more damage to the ghostly ship.
The hull of The Phantom also featured a very interesting gimmick. The hull of the ship was able to light up with a ghostly blue when activated.
The ship features three cannons that sit in a below deck compartment. Although the set only comes with three cannons, there's space to add three more. Totaling the vessel at six guns. Other accessories include a treasure chest, an octopus, an anchor, and a zipline. Interesting thing to note, the octopus is shown as orange in most material. Aside from one promotional image of The Phantom, where it appears with a blue coloring.
The Phantom has a transformer similar to The Stormstalker, although the gimmick plays out less in this ship than the other. The Phantom features a gaping hole at the back of the ship. A figure can be thrown down this hole, and ejected out of the back of the ship through a trap door.
This play feature is meant to resemble how, in lore, The Phantom devours the souls of its victims to power the ship. They fall into the maw, their soul is devoured, and they're spit out the back of the ship as a skeleton. The Promotional Movie seems to suggest that the victims are still alive after this process as well.
The graphic shown here is from The Phantom's instruction manual. It shows Diggers Johanson being devoured by the ship's maw, and the hull of the ship glowing with his soulful energy in return.
Dread Eye's Phantom features five micro action figures. Of course, the titular Captain Dread Eye himself is featured front and center. The captain of The Skeleton Crew himself and former first mate of The Lord of The Pyrates. He dawns a tattered blue coat over his bony body and a blue captain's hat with a golden feather. One of his eyes glows a crimson red as well. He also has a pegleg and a hookhand.
The set also features four other figures. Three members of The Skeleton Crew and one Privateer.
Nautilasher - A member of The Skeleton Crew that dons a gray bandana and maroon colored pants. He also wields a skeleton spear in battle.
Barnaclops - A skeleton that serves with The Skeleton Crew. He wears a yellow strap around his head and wields a skeleton sickle.
Shoveltooth - The skeletal first mate of The Skeleton Crew. He wears brown pants, a brown tricorn hat, and a gray eyepatch. He also wields a skeleton axe.
Diggers Johanson - A Privateer sailor with a red bandana. He wields nothing but a dagger as he storms The Phantom. He's either very brave or very stupid.
After Dread Eye and the rest of the Lord Pyrate's crew broke their promise to him and recieved their curse, they were left stranded in the ocean. Unable to die and unable to rest, they roamed endlessly and without purpose. Until one skeleton rose above the rest and cemented himself as Captain. None other than Dread Eye.
But a crew needs a ship. That was Captain Dread Eye's first order of business. A crew as ghastly and immortal as the Skeleton Crew needed a vessel worthy of their undying power. Dread Eye would find the perfect materials for his new ship on the beaches of a foggy, dreary island.
From the skeletal corpse of a dead whale, the Skeleton Crew would construct their vessel. An undead ship for an undead crew.
"And from the whale's skeleton, the crew built a strange hull covered by an unlikely membrane.... The entire skeleton of a whale was maned by the fiercesome skeleton crew."
This vessel would carry on the properties of The Skeleton Crew. Just like her crew, the ship was immune to damage. Cannon balls would simply phase through its hull and leave it undamaged. Due to her ghostly nature, Captain Dread Eye named her The Phantom.
But to have a ship with such a powerful ability came with drawbacks. Due to her ghostly nature, The Phantom was unable to sail by the usual means. The wind would simply pass straight through her tattered sails, providing them with no propulsion. Instead the ship moved on its own accord, almost like a powered ship of today's standards.
But The Phantom had no engine. Instead... It had The Maw.
The Maw is an opening near the helm of the The Phantom. When living creatures are tossed into it, the ship absorbs their life force and spits them back out. Their lifeforce is then used to power the vessel and allow it to move. The Phantom also kept a hold of the souls of its victims. It trapped them within its belly and kept them locked there. These ghosts would later be released and come to be known as "The Lost Souls".
The Phantom was a horror to all who sailed the unknown seas in search of The Lord Pyrate's treasure. None who came within her terrifying sights would ever survive.
The Phantom would be present at many a battle for The Treasure of The Lord of The Pyrates. She fought against The Sea Marauders at The Battle At Skull Haven, as well as fighting in several skirmishes throughout the course of the war for the treasure.
The tables would be turned upon The Phantom once the Privateers and Sea Marauders learned of the Letter of Marque held by Captain Dread Eye. The race for the treasure would lead to a storming of The Phantom. Resulting in The Privateers stealing The Letter of Marque from them.
The Phantom would also devour a number of souls throughout the war. Most notable are the souls of Admiral Bluebeard (later known as Ghoullugger) and Captain Sabrehook (later known as Howlinger). It would also devour the souls of a Privateer and a Sea Marauder.
Dread Eye's Phantom was the second ship to recieve a reboot in the 2.0 Pyrates line. The 2.0 version has 143 pieces and was set #95524. The set now comes with six figures instead of five.
Unlike Captain Cutlass' Stormstalker Dread Eye's Phantom recieved only minor redesigns in the 2.0 reboot. The general shape of the hull remains largely the same. No real changes are apparent, although the ship has lost its ability to light up and glow.
The throne at the back of The Phantom's helm has been replaced with a small third mast. The sails are also now black instead of white/gray. The Skeleton Crew insignia has also been removed from them.
Notable is that the boxart and promotional images of Dread Eye's Phantom 2.0 shows the ship with a black hull instead of gray. However, when the product released it still just had a gray hull instead. Which is a shame. I actually think the black hull looks sick for this ship, and matches nicely with its black sails.
The ship still features most of the accessories from the original. Although now it also includes a rowboat as well. One of the rare instances of a 2.0 set adding more than it takes away.
The figures included with the set are largely the same as they were before. Captain Dread Eye, Shoveltooth, Barnaclops, and Nautilasher for The Skeleton Crew. They all now sport the new "rotten" tan color for their bones. Dread Eye also has green pants instead of gray now. Diggers Johanson still represents the Privateers, still sporting nothing but a dagger.
The set does however featured a new figure. A Sea Marauder named Brigadoon Blackburn who wields a pistol. He earlier appeared in the set Admiral Scathe's Predator. Funnily enough, they seem to have just completely lifted him from that set. Including his rowboat and treasure chest.
