Rex, the Missing Heir

Rex, the Missing Heir
Start date:	June 23rd, 1969
End date:	October 4th, 1969
# of strips:	90 strips (15 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Sy Barry
Original colorist:	N/A
Preceded by:	"The Jungle Home"
Followed by:	"The Gladiator"

"Rex, the Missing Heir" is the 106th Phantom daily story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Sy Barry.

Plot synopsis

Rex, the Phantom's adoptive son, is 10 years old and wants to know how he came to live in the Skull Cave. He would like to find his parents and the Phantom tells him that every year he puts up an advert asking for information regarding a newborn boy who was left at a mission 10 years ago. So far there have been no replies.

Meanwhile, Gus and Elsie, a couple living in Morristown has noticed the advert. They write a letter to the Phantom, saying that they know who Rex is. The Phantom and Rex travel to Morristown, Rex wearing shoes for the first time. At a hotel they meet Gus and Elsie and tell the Phantom that Elsie's sister Martha was Rex' mother. Rex was taken by an unknown elderly lady and Martha died of grief after having searched for the missing baby. They verify the story with a birth certificate and information about what clothes Rex wore when he got lost and a description of the jade medal he wore. The Phantom is satisfied that the story is genuine and leaves Rex with the couple.

They leave Bengali and fly to London to initiate the adoption process. Gus insists that Rex is eleven years old, despite Rex' protests. At the family court they insist that Rex' father was Lord Rich who left a large fortune without any known heirs. As soon as the legal process is through, Rex will be a millionaire. Rex asks Gus what a millionaire is. Rex writes to the Phantom every day and asks Gus to mail the letters. The Phantom also writes letters but the letters start to be returned since the recipient is unknown. After some time Rex learns that Gus destroys the letters instead of sending them.

With the help of the Jungle Patrol, the Phantom soon learns that Gus and Elsie flew to London and goes after them. Rex goes to the airport to try to get on the plane to Bengali, attempting to get a free ride hiding in the wheel well. Luckily he is found before he dies from hypoxia and hypothermia. He is sent back to Gus and Elsie's apartment. Gus has hired two bodyguards who will keep an eye on him at all times.

As Gus, Elsie, Rex and the bodyguard leave the apartment for the court hearing to decide if Rex indeed is the son of Lord Rich, the Phantom arrives at the address just a bit too late. He runs after their car and give a punch in the face to the two bodyguards and Gus. At the court hearing the Phantom denies that Rex is the heir and tells the judge that the evidence is false.

The Phantom and Rex return to Bengali. Rex takes off his shoes and promises never to leave the Deep Woods again.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Rex
• Guran
• Hero
• Devil
• Colonel Worubu (first appearance)
• Toma
• Tom-Tom
• Joomba
• Kateena

One-time characters

• Gus
• Elsie
• Lord Rich (mentioned)

Locations

• Bengali
  • Deep Woods
    • The Skull Cave
      • The Throne Room
  • The Jungle Patrol Headquarters
  • The Abandoned Well
  • Morristown (unnamed)
    • Box 7
    • Grand Hotel
• England
  • London

Organizations

• The Jungle Patrol
• The Monkey Mail

Old Jungle Sayings

• There are times when the Phantom leaves the jungle and walks the streets of the town like an ordinary man.
• When the Phantom says sit, you sit.
• The voice of the Phantom turns the blood to ice.
• Phantom's cold fury chills even tiger's blood

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Argentina

• "La historia de Rex", Fantasía #184 (1971)

Australia

• "Rex, the Missing Heir", The Phantom #412 (1970)
• "Rex, the Missing Heir", The Phantom #571 (1975)
• "Rex, the Missing Heir", The Phantom #760 (1982)
• "The Missing Heir", The Phantom #1125 (1996)

Brazil

• "O Herdeiro", Fantasma #164 (1970)
• "O Herdeiro", O Fantasma #6 (1970)
• "O Golpe do Herdeiro", Fantasma #314 (1982)
• "O Herdeiro", Fantasma - Edição Histórica #6 (1994)

Canada

• Le Nouvelliste July 7, 1969 – October 17, 1969
• L'Action November 26, 1969 – February 27, 1970 - without the last two weeks

Denmark

• Aalborg Stiftstidende December 9, 1970 – March 26, 1971
• Horsens Folkeblad August 5, 1971 – November 17, 1971
• Hejmdal August 20, 1971 – December 4, 1971
• "Arvingen", Fantomet #155 (1981)

Finland

• "Perillinen", Mustanaamio 24/1978
• "Perillinen", Ilta-Sanomat April 16, 2012 – May 8, 2012

France

• "Rex le neveu du Fantôme", Le Fantôme Spécial #1 (1973)

Greece

• "Η καταρα της χαμενης πολιτειας" (romanized as "I katara tis chamenis politeias"), Fantom #48 (1976)

Iceland

• Tíminn December 19, 1969 – April 12, 1970

India

• "The Cruel Conspiracy", Indrajal Comics #136 (1971)
• "வாரிசைத் தேடி" (romanized as "Vaarisaith Thedi"), Muthu Comics #459 (2022)

Italy

• "Rex, il nipote dell'ombra", L'Uomo Mascherato #176 – #177 (1970)
• "Rex, il nipote dell'ombra", Phantom Selezione #2 (1976)

Jamaica

• The Daily Gleaner June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969

Mexico

• El Informador November 13, 1969 – February 19, 1970

Norway

• Aftenposten February 5, 1971 – May 27, 1971
• "Millionsvindlerne", Fantomet 19/1971
• "Arvingen", Fantomet 25/1978
• "Arvingen", Fantomet Spesialalbum #11 (1991)
• "Arvingen", Fantomet Jubileumskrønike 1936-1996 (1996)
• "Arvingen", Fantomet 18/1999
• "Millionsvindlerne", Krønikebok #29 (2006)
• "Millionsvindlerne", Fantomet Kronologisk #24 (2022)

Portugal

• "O Herdeiro de «Rich»", Selecções #125 (1971)

Spain

• "Rex, el joven heredero", El Hombre Enmascarado #6 (1974)
• "Rex, el joven heredero", El Hombre Enmascarado #14 (1980)
• "Rex, el heredero perdido", The Phantom - El Hombre Enmascarado #13 (2022)

Sweden

• Svenska Dagbladet June 10, 1970 – September 18, 1970
• "Miljonsvindlarna", Fantomen 17/1970
• Göteborgs-Tidningen September 24, 1970 – January 2, 1971
• Nerikes Allehanda May 3, 1971 – October 13, 1971
• "Arvingen", Fantomen 16/1978
• "Miljonsvindlarna", Fantomen 18/1999
• "Miljonsvindlarna", Fantomen - Den inbundna årgången 1970, Del 4 (2021)

Turkey

• "Sahtekârlar", Kızılmaske #18 – #20 (1973)
• "Sahtekârlar", Kızılmaske Albüm #5 (197?)
• "Sahtekârlar", Kızılmaske Albüm #99
• "Sahtekârlar", Kızılmaske Albüm #63
• "Sahtekârlar", Kızılmaske #27 – #28 (1987)
• "Sahtekârlar", Kızılmaske Süper Albüm #7 – #8
• "Sahtekârlar", Kızılmaske Süper Albüm #66
• "Reks'in Ailesi", Yeni Kızılmaske #2 (2011)
• "Rex, Kayıp Mirasçı", Kızılmaske #4 (2013)

United Kingdom

• Birmingham Evening Mail October 6, 1969 – January 20, 1970

USA

• Sandusky Register Star News June 23, 1969 – August 30, 1969, 1969 - without the last five weeks
• Appleton Post-Crescent June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• The Beaver County Times June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Beckley Post Herald June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Bucks County Courier Times June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Buffalo Courier-Express June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Bradford Era June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Charleston Daily Mail June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• The Charlotte News June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Chippewa Herald June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Courier-Post June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• The Daily American June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• The Daily Item June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• The Daily Journal June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Delaware County Daily Times June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• The Evening News June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• The Gadsden Times June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Green Bay Press-Gazette June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Herald News June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• The Indianapolis News June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Laurel Leader-Call June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• The News Item June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• The News Journal June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Observer-Reporter June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Orlando Sentinel June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• The Oneonta Star June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• The Plattsburgh Press-Republican June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• The Pocono Record June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Reading Eagle June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Red Bank Register June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Republican Herald June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• The Rome Daily Sentinel June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Rome News-Tribune June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• The Tampa Times June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• Uniontown Morning Herald June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• The Washington Reporter June 23, 1969 – October 4, 1969
• "Rex, The Missing Heir", The Complete Newspaper Dailies: Volume Twenty-Two 1969–1971 (2021)

West Germany

• "Die Menschenjäger von London", Phantom #39 (1975)
• "Die Menschenjäger von London", Phantom Das große Album #7
• "Der Dämon der grünen Hölle", Phantom #8 (ca 1980)

Yugoslavia

• Večernje novine February 9, 1970 – May 29, 1970
• "Nestali naslednik", Denis #117 – #118 (1978)