Mystery of the Golden Rune, Part 3: Count of the Darkness

Mystery of the Golden Rune, Part 3: Count of the Darkness
Produced for:	Fantomen 18/1988
# of pgs:	28
Writer:	Norman Worker
Artist:	Felmang & Claudio Waldrag
Original colorist:	N/A
Producer:	Semic Press

"Mystery of the Golden Rune, Part 3: Count of the Darkness" is a 1988 Team Fantomen story, written by Norman Worker, with art by Felmang and Claudio Waldrag.

Plot summary

A few years after the 9th Phantom had ended the Zaal worship Guardian of the Eastern Dark, a mysterious man called Alib appeared to the people of Zaal. Alib made it appear that he had a plan to kill the Phantom, making the citizens build a huge idol of the Phantom at the side of the fallen image of Zaal. The idol was made of hay and other flammable materials. Alib then kidnapped Kit, the Phantom's son, and left traces that pointed towards Zaal. The 9th Phantom showed up at Zaal, and found that Alib held Kit hostage at the top of the several storeys high Phantom idol. He then rode up to the top on the laid path, while fire arrows were fired at the idol. At the top Alib gave the Phantom his son and a clay tablet and then vanished. The Phantom idol was by now in almost full ablaze and the Phantom let his horse Storm jump off it, sometimes sliding along it until they were down. The Phantom then escaped Zaal, Alib on the other hand turned out to still be alive and never having had the intentions of killing the Phantom (yet). By now, the Phantom idol had collapsed, causing an inferno to the horror of Zaal's citizens.

Appearances

Recurring Characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Guran
• Old man Mozz
• Devil
• The 9th Phantom
• The future 10th Phantom
• Flame Stanbury
• Storm
• Curan
• Zaal
• Alib
• Bure (mentioned)

One-time Characters

• Momo

Locations

• Bengali
  • The Deep Woods
    • The Skull Cave
      • The Chronicle Room
  • The Singing Sand near Kidder's Lake
  • Phantom Head Peak
  • The Eastern Dark
  • Keela-Wee

Objects

• The Golden Rune
• Zaal

Phantom Lore

• The Council of Chiefs
• Talking Drums

Behind the Scenes

• Claudio Waldrag is not officially credited, but his signature appears within the story.

Related stories

Preceded by

• "Mystery of the Golden Rune, Part 1: Pirates of the Arctic" by Norman Worker and Kari Leppänen
• "Mystery of the Golden Rune, Part 2: The Garden of Death" by Norman Worker and Kari Leppänen

Followed by

• "Mystery of the Golden Rune, Part 4: Cagliostro Mystery" by Norman Worker and Carlos Cruz
• "Mystery of the Golden Rune, Part 5: Solomon's Mines" by Norman Worker and Hans Lindahl

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Australia

• "The Mystery of the Golden Rune, Part 3: Count of the Darkness", The Phantom #942 (1989)
• "The Mystery of the Golden Rune, Part 3: Count of the Darkness", The Phantom #1730 (2015)

Brazil

• "O Mistério das Runas Douradas, Parte 3: Principe das Trevas", Fantasma Especial #35 (1989)

Finland

• "Kulta-Runanin arvoitus, osa 3: Pimeyden ruhtinas", Mustanaamio 4/1989

Norway

• "Den gylne runes gåte, del 3 - Mørkets fyrste", Fantomet 3/1989
• "Den gylne runes gåte, del 3 - Mørkets fyrste", Fantomet Spesial #4
• "Den gylne runes gåte, del 3 - Mørkets fyrste", Fantomets Krønike 6/2001
• "Den gylne runes gåte, del 3 - Mørkets fyrste", Krønikebok #9 (2003)

Sweden

• "Den gyllene runans gåta Del 3 - Mörkrets furste", Fantomen 18/1988
• "Den gyllene runans gåta Del 3 - Mörkrets furste", Fantomen Krönika 4/1997
• "Den gyllene runans gåta Del 3 - Mörkrets furste", Fantomen Krönika Band 5, del 2 (2003)