In the Shadow of the Guillotine

In the Shadow of the Guillotine
Produced for:	Fantomen 5/2011
# of pgs:	32
Writer:	Claes Reimerthi
Artist:	Heiner Bade
Original colorist:	Reprostugan
Producer:	Egmont Kärnan

"In the Shadow of the Guillotine" is a 2011 Team Fantomen story, written by Claes Reimerthi, with art by Heiner Bade.

Plot summary

In 1789 the 12th Phantom is travelling from England to Paris in a coach. He gives a lift to marquess de Saint-Antoine. Arriving to the marquess' castle, de Saint-Antoine stops a poacher from being flogged. Before leaving the poacher, Brissot, curses the marquess. The Phantom spends the night in the castle, meeting his wife and two daughters. That night somebody sets fire to a barn. The marquess belives that Brissot did it before going on the run.

In 1793 the Phantom and his son Kit are riding to Paris to pick up a box that the Phantom has hid in the secret room in the cathedral of Notre Dame. On the streets of Paris, terror reigns. The Phantom and his son save a publisher from being murdered by a group of revolutionaries. The Phantom suddenly discovers the marquess and his daughters in a cart being taken to prison, in fact just having been arrested by the former poacher Brissot, now superintendent of the police. The Phantom speaks with Brissot in his office, pleading to let the marquess free. Brissot flatly denies, instead telling the Phantom that the marquess will be executed shortly.

The Phantom arrives at the place of execution just in time for the marquess to ask him to help his two daughters. The marquess is then executed by guillotine. "Vive la revolution" the ecstatic crowd shouts. With the help of wax artist Marie Grossholtz the Phantom concocts a plan to get a fake order of release signed by Brissot. With the fake document the girls are released from prison.

But Brissot discovers what has happened and goes after the Phantom, Chris and the two girls with a troop of soldiers. In the scuffle Brissot shoots the Phantom in the back. Hiding in a building, Chris swears The Oath of the Skull and then leaves with the two girls. Brissot shoots the Phantom dead. Chris and the girls manage to leave Paris and go to their uncle who lives outside the city.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Guran
• The 12th Phantom
• The 13th Phantom
• Brissot

One-time characters

• Markis de Saint-Antoine
• The wife and two daughters of Saint-Antoine

Real-life characters

• Marie Grossholtz (later known as Madame Tussaud)
• Jacques-Louis David
• Maximilien Robespierre

Locations

• Bengali
  • The Deep Woods
    • The Skull Cave
• France
  • Paris
    • Notre-Dame
      • The secret room in Notre-Dame

Related stories

Refers to

• "The Escape from the Bastille" by Norman Worker and Jaime Vallvé

Followed by

• "Power of the Skull Mark" by Claes Reimerthi and Heiner Bade

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Australia

• "In the Shadow of the Guillotine", The Phantom #1594 (2011)

Finland

• "Giljotiinin varjossa", Mustanaamio Spesiaali 2/2013

Norway

• "I giljotinens skygge", Fantomet 4/2011

Sweden

• "I giljotinens skugga", Fantomen 5/2011