Sven

Sven
First appearance:	"The Tyrant of Tarakimo"
Created by:	Lee Falk and Sy Barry

Sven is a major supporting character in The Tyrant of Tarakimo, who accompanies Diana Palmer to Tarakimo on a fact-finding mission to expose dastardly dictator General Tara and his prison torture cartel.

Sven is an avowed chauvinist until Diana bests him at a number of physical competitions, in preparation for their mission. After the pair depart for Tarakimo. he presents a brave front, but quickly cowers when coming face to face with the imposing presense of General Tara and his henchmen, namely the merciless Major Isamu.

When Sven and Diana are sentenced to sadistic torture by the dictator, he pleads with Diana to give in to the megalomaniac and sign a false confession, which she adamantly refuses to do.

After Tara has given in to Diana's fetching appearance on his torture rack, the villain orders Sven's torture, hoping this will help to break Diana's spirit. Mere seconds from being treated to the bad end of a bullwhip, Sven is much relieved to be freed from the dictator's grasp as the Phantom arrives on the scene.

Sven is also on Lily Palmer's desired list of potential suitors for Diana prior to her marriage to the Phantom.

Notable appearances

• "The Tyrant of Tarakimo" by Lee Falk and Sy Barry.