The Crime Apprentices
| The Crime Apprentices | |
| |
| Start date: | September 19th, 2005 |
|---|---|
| End date: | January 14th, 2006 |
| # of strips: | 102 (17 weeks) |
| Writer: | Tony De Paul |
| Artist: | Paul Ryan |
| Original colorist: | KFS staff |
| Preceded by: | "Temple of the Gods, Part 2: Return to Eden" |
| Followed by: | "The Jungle Trek" |
"The Crime Apprentices" is the 215th Phantom daily story. The story was written by Tony De Paul and drawn by Paul Ryan.
Plot synopsis
President Luaga makes a surprise visit to Boomsby Prison, where he meets an inmate named Knox who requests to speak with the president in private. Knox had attempted to steal diamonds from a minister, but was stopped by a "masked man" and now has a skull mark to show for it. Knox assumes the president knows who the masked man is, and wants to get in touch with him, but Luaga says that the masked man is just a myth. Nevertheless, the masked man appears in the prison late at night and Knox explains his problem.
The rest of his gang got away with the diamonds the night Knox was arrested. Knox has found out that his teenage children intend to rob his old gang, and fears for their safety. The Phantom travels to New York where the Knox kids live at a boarding school. Despite their young age, they appear to be criminal masterminds already, as the Phantom manages to learn their plan. They plan to follow their father's old gang when they rob diamond traders, and then take the diamonds and make sure the gang gets caught.
When the time comes for the robbery, the Phantom follows the Knox kids, whose plan seems to work until the diamond thieves bring guns into action. The Phantom steps in and eliminates the diamond thieves, one by one. The Knox kids recognize the skull mark, and the Phantom helps them get away from the police and gives them a lecture on right and wrong.
The diamond thieves are caught on the scene, while Knox is given a pardon from president Luaga for his assistance, and can reunite with his children.
Appearances
Recurring characters
One-time characters
- Chief
- Warden
- Mr. Owens
- Mike, from maintenance
- Mr. Brown
- Al
- Peg, from cateferia
Locations
- Bangalla
- USA
- New York
- Unnamed Elite Boarding School
- Near Campus, "Walker's" Hotel
- The Building, containing diamonds
- Fifteenth Floor
- Cafeteria
- Vault
- New York
- France
- Cannes
- Carlton Hotel
- Cannes
Tribes
Organizations
- Knox's Gang
- Interpol
- Phantom is rough on roughnecks.
- Phantom moves faster than lightning flash!
Behind the scenes
- The title "Crime Apprentices" was taken from Frew Publications. In Fantomen 3/2008 and Fantomen Christmas Album 2020 is mentioned another title "The Jewel Thieves".
- Boomsby Prison is misspelled as "Boomsbay" in the beginning of the story.
Reprints
This story has been published in the following publications:
Australia
- The Daily Telegraph September 19, 2005 – January 14, 2006
- "The Crime Apprentices", The Phantom #1445 (2006)
The Bahamas
- The Freeport News September 19, 2005 – January 14, 2006
Brazil
- "Os Aprendizes do Crime", O Fantasma #1 (2007)
Denmark
- Nordjyske Stiftstidende November 25, 2007 – March 10, 2008
- Horsens Folkeblad February 22, 2011 – June 27, 2011
Finland
- "Jalokivivarkaat", Mustanaamio 3/2008
- Uutispäivä Demari ?, 2008 – ?, 2008
- Åbo Underrättelser December 3, 2013 – May 7, 2014
Germany
- "Die Sünden des Vaters", Phantom #8 (2023)
India
- Anandabazar Patrika June 3, 2006 – September 30, 2006
- "The Crime Apprentices", Secret Temple on Eden (2011; excerpt)
- "The Crime Apprentices", The Crime Apprentices (2011)
- "The Crime Apprentices", The Ghost's Justice (2011; excerpt)
- "The Crime Apprentices", Justice for All (2011)
- "The Crime Apprentices", The Crime Apprentices / The Doorman (2014)
- "The Crime Apprentices", The Locust God and other stories (2014)
- "The Crime Apprentices", The Phantom #15 (2021)
Jamaica
- The Daily Gleaner September 19, 2005 – January 14, 2006
Mexico
- El Informador February 4, 2006 – May 12, 2006 - without the first six weeks
Norway
- Østlendingen October 26, 2006 – February 23, 2007
- Tønsbergs Blad November 13, 2006 – March 14, 2007
- Sandefjords Blad November 17, 2006 – March 17, 2007
- Varden December 5, 2006 – January 3, 2007 (missing the first strip and original strips from October 11 to November 17, 2005 and November 19, 2005 to January 10, 2006)
- Gudbrandsdølen Dagningen December 29, 2006 – May 4, 2007
- Lofotposten January 5, 2007 – May 8, 2007
- Østlandsposten January 10, 2007 – May 12, 2007
- Nordlys January 20, 2007 – May 19, 2007
- Finnmark Dagblad February 8, 2007 – June 13, 2007
- Romsdals Budstikke February 12, 2007 – June 16, 2007
- "Diamanttyvene", Fantomet 2/2008
- Telen April 27, 2007 – July 28, 2007 (part 1) and October 8, 2007 – November 3, 2007 (part 2)
- Haugesunds Avis June 16, 2007 – October 9, 2007
- Aftenposten ? – May 10, 2008
- Oppland Arbeiderblad May 2, 2012 – September 3, 2012
- Bergensavisen March 13, 2014 – July 26, 2014 (out of order, started from the strip of September 23, 2005) and December 2, 2017 – March 16, 2018
El Salvador
- La Prensa Gráfica June 27, 2006 – October 25, 2006
Sweden
- Svenska Dagbladet September 30, 2006 – January 30, 2007
- "Juveltjuvarna", Fantomen 3/2008
- Smålandsposten April 29, 2009 – ?, 2009
- "Juveltjuvarna", Fantomen Christmas Album 2020
Turkey
- "Acemi Suçlular", Kızılmaske #38 (2017)
USA
- The Baltimore Sun September 19, 2005 – January 14, 2006
- Bangor Daily News September 19, 2005 – January 14, 2006
- Boston Herald September 19, 2005 – January 14, 2006
- The Daily American September 19, 2005 – January 14, 2006
- The Daily Item September 19, 2005 – January 14, 2006
- Observer-Reporter September 19, 2005 – January 14, 2006
- The Plattsburgh Press-Republican September 19, 2005 – January 14, 2006
- Reading Eagle September 19, 2005 – January 14, 2006
- Republican Herald September 19, 2005 – January 14, 2006