I have just received the sad news that Ed Rhoades passed away, today, as the result of a bicycling accident. (See the
news report from WNEP Channel 16 in Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre, PA)
Ed Rhoades was a great family man, musician, art teacher, a longtime Phantom fan, and friend of Lee Falk, Sy Barry and several other Phantom creators, editors, and fellow-fans all over the world.
Rhoades was editor and publisher of the newsletter for the Phantom fan club Friends of the Phantom. He has also contributed Phantom-related articles and interviews for several other publications. In addition, Rhoades was integral to the making of the A&E "The Phantom: Comic Book Crusader" special, created for the A&E Biography series in 2000.
As of 2006, Rhoades was a consultant for Moonstone Books and contributed articles under the title "Behind the Mask". Rhoades also co-wrote a story with Mike Bullock for the prose anthology The Phantom Chronicles.
My deepest condolences go to Ed's wife Kimberly and all the Rhoades family. Rest in Peace, Ed.