Every year, I try to create at least one Christmas gift that’s more than just a present—something personal, handmade, and steeped in meaning. This past holiday season, I went full pulp-hero nostalgia and designed a custom gift inspired by one of the longest-running comic book legends: The Phantom. The result? A set of 3D printed Phantom rings housed in a laser-cut case that pays tribute to the mythos of The Ghost Who Walks.
Why the Phantom?
The Phantom has always held a special place in comic book history—and in my heart. Created by Lee Falk in 1936, the Phantom is often credited as one of the first superheroes to wear the iconic skintight costume and mask combo that would define the genre. But what really sets the Phantom apart is his lore.
Unlike most heroes, the Phantom isn’t just one man. He’s a lineage, a generational mantle passed from father to son, creating the illusion of an immortal, undying warrior for justice. The world believes he’s lived for over 400 years, known only as “The Ghost Who Walks.” That deep sense of legacy is at the core of this project.
The rings and and presentation
The Rings: Symbols of Justice and Vengeance
In the comics, the Phantom wears two rings—each with a distinct purpose.
The Skull Ring is worn on his right hand and is used to leave a permanent skull-shaped mark on enemies. It’s a symbol of judgment and a warning to wrongdoers that the Phantom is watching
The Good Mark Ring, worn on his left hand, is a symbol of protection. It’s given to allies and those under the Phantom’s protection, branding them as safe from harm and connected to his cause.
For this project, I 3D printed both rings, modeling them as faithful replicas of their comic counterparts. The Skull Ring has a bold, raised skull emblem, while the Good Mark Ring features its iconic circular seal. I printed them in a durable resin, then painted and finished them to give a metallic, aged appearance—like they’ve been passed down through generations.
The Case: A Heirloom of the Jungle Hero
The rings needed a home that matched their story. I designed a laser-cut wooden case that looks like something you’d find hidden deep in the Skull Cave. The graphics etched into the wood include direct phrases and stylized artwork pulled from classic Phantom comic panels.
Using EMA foam, I was able to make a slot withing the body of the box that allowed the rings to be held in the right position, adding to the mystic and presentation of both the rings and case
What makes the case truly special is the narrative it suggests: this isn’t just a display box—it’s a ritual object, meant to be handed down to the next Phantom. Inside the lid, I engraved a message written as if from a father to his son, preparing him to take on the mantle and carry the legacy forward:
“These rings are not just symbols—they are your duty. Let the Skull mark be a warning to those who bring evil, and let the Good Mark be a promise to those you protect. You are the next Ghost Who Walks.”
Designing the case this way gave the whole piece a mythical weight, like you’re holding a piece of a hero’s legacy, not just some fan-made prop.
Using EMA foam, I was able to make a slot withing the body of the box that allowed the rings to be held in the right position, adding to the mystic and presentation of both the rings and case
What makes the case truly special is the narrative it suggests: this isn’t just a display box—it’s a ritual object, meant to be handed down to the next Phantom. Inside the lid, I engraved a message written as if from a father to his son, preparing him to take on the mantle and carry the legacy forward:
“These rings are not just symbols—they are your duty. Let the Skull mark be a warning to those who bring evil, and let the Good Mark be a promise to those you protect. You are the next Ghost Who Walks.”
Designing the case this way gave the whole piece a mythical weight, like you’re holding a piece of a hero’s legacy, not just some fan-made prop.
Reflections on the Process
This project was one of the most satisfying I’ve worked on in a while. It brought together several of my favorite making techniques—3D modeling, resin printing, laser cutting—and wrapped them all in a story I’ve loved since I was a kid. More than that, it gave me a way to gift someone a little slice of that legend.
As makers, we often get caught up in the technical side of what we do: the specs, the tolerances, the tools. But every now and then, a project reminds you that what we’re really doing is storytelling. Whether it’s through a comic book character or a handcrafted gift, it’s all about sharing something meaningful. And while the design work is fun, the finishing is where the real storytelling happens.
Creating the Look of Aged Metal
After the rings came off the printer, I cleaned them before diving into the paintwork. The goal was to make them look like they’d been forged from ancient metal—not just plastic props. Enter silver Rub ‘n Buff.
This wax-based metallic finish is one of my secret weapons. It’s easy to apply and gives that perfect slightly worn shimmer that looks real. I rubbed it into the high points of the design and left the crevices darker, creating contrast and depth. The result? The rings looked less like cosplay props and more like heirlooms passed down through generations of jungle justice.
Building the Box: A Hero’s Legacy
To house the rings, I designed a custom case in Fusion 360 with a flip-up lid, creating the feel of a ceremonial relic container—something you might find hidden in the Skull Cave beneath the Phantom’s ancestral home.
The case was laser-cut and engraved using the Emblaser 2, which handled both the precision cuts and the intricate comic-inspired graphics. I pulled iconography and phrases directly from Phantom lore—things that felt timeless, tribal, and powerful. This included symbols, borders, and stylized text that tied the whole piece to its fictional roots.
Inside the lid, I engraved a message as if the current Phantom were passing this legacy on to his son:
“These rings are not just symbols—they are your duty. Let the Skull mark be a warning to those who bring evil, and let the Good Mark be a promise to those you protect. You are the next Ghost Who Walks.”
The Art of Ageing: Giving the Box a Story
Nothing pulls a viewer into a prop like believable weathering. After the case was assembled, I distressed it using washes, light sanding, and strategic smudging. I wanted the box to look like it had been through something—as if it had been carried through the jungles of Bangalla, hidden from enemies, and opened only in moments of solemn inheritance.
I used watered-down acrylic paints and dirt itself to “dirty down” the wood, focusing on corners, edges, and engraved lines. The effect gave the case a patina of time, making it feel like an object that had survived for centuries—because in the Phantom universe, it would have.
Reflections on the Process
This project was one of the most satisfying I’ve worked on in a while. It brought together several of my favorite making techniques—3D modeling, FDM printing, laser cutting, weathering—and wrapped them all in a story I’ve loved since I was a kid. More than that, it gave me a way to gift someone a little slice of that legend.
As makers, we often get caught up in the technical side of what we do: the specs, the tolerances, the tools. But every now and then, a project reminds you that what we’re really doing is storytelling. Whether it’s through a comic book character or a handcrafted gift, it’s all about sharing something meaningful.