The Challenge
| The Callenge | |
| |
| Start date: | May 11th, 2015 |
|---|---|
| End date: | September 12th, 2015 |
| # of strips: | 108 (18 weeks) |
| Writer: | Tony DePaul |
| Artist: | Paul Ryan |
| Original colorist: | KFS staff |
| Preceded by: | "Patrolman X" |
| Followed by: | "The Twins' Futures" |
"The Challenge" is the 242nd Phantom daily story. The story was written by Tony DePaul and drawn by Paul Ryan.
Plot synopsis
Kipawa, son of Guran's old friend Babudan, challenges Guran for the leadership of the Bandar tribe. Previously, the leadership has been inherited, but since Guran has disowned his son Timo, he has converted it to a total democracy where every member of the tribe has a vote on who is to be leader.
There is to be a contest where Guran and Kipawa is going to compete in various tasks for the leadership of the Bandars, then here will be a vote for the leadership.
Although Kipawa wins or makes a tie technically all the times, Guran wins by complementing him and being a true leader. Eventually Guran wins a rope climb when Kipawa lets him win, having picked up on Guran what it is to really be a leader.
In the final test, they are to first collect ingredients and then make jungle medicine. Kipawa is in big trouble as he cannot find the Ghost Orchid, which only Guran knows the location of. He tries to ask his father for help, but Babudan refuses as he prefers Guran.
In the morning of the day when Kipawa has to present the ingredients, he finds a piece of paper with instructions of how to find the Ghost Orchid. This results in another tie.
When the vote is to be conducted, Guran and Kipawa whisper to each other and Kipawa realizes that it was Guran who left the paper with instructions. Kipawa then understands that Guran has been training him to be a leader. With this revelation, he asks his father (who otherwise would have voted for Kipawa out of family loyalty) to vote for Guran. In the end Guran continues to be the leader and Kipawa is quite relieved when he realizes the enormous responsibility and all the times when the tribe has depended solely on Guran. Guran, however, assures him that he one day will become the leader.
Appearances
Recurring characters
One-time characters
- Unnamed bad guy
- Mrs Minton
Locations
Tribes
- The Phantom has a thousand eyes and a thousand ears
- When two Bandar face danger together, lions tremble
Related stories
References
- "The Phantom's Treasure" by Lee Falk and Ray Moore
Reprints
This story has been published in the following publications:
Australia
- The Sunshine Coast Daily May 11, 2015 – September 12, 2015
- The Northern Star June 22, 2015 – October 24, 2015
- Fraser Coast Chronicle ?, 2015 – October 31, 2015
- Big Rigs ?, 2016 – October 21, 2016 (incomplete) and April 7, 2017 – ?
- "The Challenge", The Phantom #1778 (2017)
The Bahamas
- The Freeport News May 11, 2015 – September 12, 2015
Finland
- Ilkka ?, 2017 – March ?, 2018
India
- The New Indian Express (Chennai edition) August 14, 2015 – December 17, 2015
- The New Indian Express (Bangalore edition) August 17, 2015 – December 21, 2015
- Anandabazar Patrika March 24, 2016 – July 28, 2016
- "The Challenge", The Phantom #18 (2021)
Jamaica
- The Daily Gleaner May 11, 2015 – September 12, 2015
Mexico
- "El Desafío", El Informador July 3, 2015 – November 4, 2015
Norway
- "Utfordringen", Nordlys August 11, 2016 – September 14, 2016 (shortened, missing all of daily strips from May 21, 2015 to August 20, 2015)
- Lindesnes September 1, 2016 – October 1, 2016 - the last three weeks only
- "Utfordringen", Agderposten October 6, 2016 – February 9, 2017
- "Utfordringen", Fædrelandsvennen October 10, 2016 – February 13, 2017
- "Utfordringen", Romsdals Budstikke November 11, 2016 – March 17, 2017
- "Utfordringen", Grimstad Adressetidene December 22, 2016 – ?, 2017
- "Utfordringen", Gudbrandsdølen Dagningen January 14, 2017 – February 17, 2017 (shortened)
- "Utfordringen", Varden February 27, 2017 – July 10, 2017
- "Bandarutfordringen", Fantomet 4/2017
The Philippines
- The Philippine Star July 22, 2016 – November 24, 2016
El Salvador
- "El Desafío", La Prensa Gráfica December 7, 2015 – March 19, 2016 - without the last three weeks
Sweden
- "Utmaningen", Svenska Dagbladet February 6, 2016 – May 29, 2016
- "Bandarutmaningen", Fantomen 6-7/2017
- Jönköpings-Posten June 5, 2018 – October 9, 2018
- Bohusläningen December 27, 2018 – May 4, 2019
- Hallandsposten December 27, 2018 – May 4, 2019
USA
- Boston Herald May 11, 2015 – September 12, 2015
- The Citizens' Voice May 11, 2015 – September 12, 2015
- Delaware County Daily Times May 11, 2015 – September 12, 2015
- Houston Chronicle May 11, 2015 – September 12, 2015
- The News Item May 11, 2015 – September 12, 2015
- Reading Eagle May 11, 2015 – September 12, 2015