Wahgi Valley, PNG Highlands.

In the 1980s warfare re-established itself in the New Guinea Highlands, and this next generation of educated warriors looked for new motifs, beyond the traditional abstract designs, to decorate their shields. This shield is painted by a known artist, John Wahgi, who loved The Phantom comics, and his rendition echoes comic-like format. He depicts the Phantom’s head, the skull cave, the African chief, and Hero, the Phantom’s horse.

Published pp249, “Man Who Cannot Die”.