The Unknown Commander, Part 1
| The Unknown Commander, Part 1 | |
| |
| Produced for: | Fantomen 18/1980 |
|---|---|
| # of pgs: | 32 |
| Writer: | Norman Worker |
| Artist: | Georges Bess |
| Original colorist: | N/A |
| Producer: | Semic Press |
"The Unknown Commander, Part 1" is a 1980 Team Fantomen story, written by Norman Worker, with art by Georges Bess.
Plot summary
A filming team has just visited the headquarter of the Jungle Patrol and colonel Worubu is somewhat annoyed that he cannot tell who is the Commander, nor details how it was founded, he therefore writes a letter to the Commander and asks for some answers. The Phantom gets a good laugh when he reads the letter, but then decides to tell a selected crowd in the Skull Cave the story, though not Worubu.
Kulai Singh, the leader of the Singh Brotherhood, appears to Chandra Sykharn, the lord of one of the countries in the Misty Mountains and offer him to join the Singh Brotherhood to help solve his financial problems. Chandra Sykharn agrees and is sworn in, he thereafter is sent to infiltrate the Jungle Patrol as a new colonel, since Kulai has arranged so that the old one, Lord Cardingham, has died in a "hunting accident" due to a malfunctioning weapon. The orders which is promoting Chandra Sykharn to colonel is in totally perfect order and unfortunately, the 14th Phantom is in Europe so there is no way thst the patrolmen are able to se the danger.
Colonel Sykharn drives the men so hard that the best of them chooses to leave the patrol. (They got the worst part) The replacements are Singh pirates and beats up a couple of natives in order to bring in some money for their services. This makes major Douglas Wild, the second in command when the Commander is gone, to uttering the words that he is discharging the colonel, though to no use; he and an other officer named Caution is imprisoned, but major Wild sees the seven circles on the inside of the wrist of "colonel" Sykharn and he realizes the whole Singh plan.
However, sergeant Tagga suddenly frees him and he is informed that when the rest of the real Patrol heard that he had been imprisoned, they rebelled. Major Wild is then taken out to a place in the jungle where the rest of the men are as they had not quitted as patrolmen in reality.
Meanwhile, the wife of the 14th Phantom, Marie Claire has become ill and is in Paris in France to get the best care that was to be given. However, she does not respond to the treatment, the symptoms indicate to the modern reader that she had malaria. Marie Claire dies and is buried in Paris. The 14th Phantom and his son are then leaving for Bangalla, unknowing of what is happening there.
When they arrive to Moribar, they are assaulted by thugs. The fight is quite hard since, the thugs are so many, but then some real patrolmen shows up and saves the day. They are then briefed on what has happened.
The 14th Phantom, his son, and major Wild uses a secret tunnel that goes from a poisoned well to the office of the Commander. They then heads for the ammunition store and blows it in the air. The real Jungle Patrol attacks the headquarters and Chandra Sykharn flees through the gates with the 14th Phantom pursuing him. Suddenly, Chandra Sykharn falls into a quicksand and when the 14th Phantom saves him, he shoots the 14th Phantom. Later, the 14th Phantom's son and major Wild finds the 14th Phantom, lying at his horseback. The 14th Phantom is immediately taken to the Skull Cave but he realizes that he will die and therefore the 15th Phantom swear the Oath of the Phantom shortly before the 14th Phantom dies.
Appearances
Recurring characters
- The 21st Phantom
- Devil
- Guran
- Hero
- Colonel Worubu
- The 14th Phantom
- The 15th Phantom
- Marie Claire
- Chandra Sykharn
- Douglas Wild
- Kulai Singh
- patrolman Caution
- Lord Cardingham
- Sergeant Tagga
One-time characters
Locations
Tribes
Organizations
Vehicles
Items
Behind the Scenes
- Colonel Worubu has signed a letter as M. Worubu. In later years, his first name was revealed to be Jonathan in the story "Worubu", also written by Norman Worker.
Related stories
Followed by
- The Unknown Commander, Part 2 by Norman Worker and Georges Bessis
Reprints
This story has been published in the following publications:
Australia
- "The Unknown Commander, Part 1", The Phantom #896 (1988)
- "The Unknown Commander, Part 1", The Phantom #1682 (2013)
Denmark
- "Den ukendte kommandant", Fantomet #184 (1982)
Finland
- "Tuntematon päällikkö, osa 1", Mustanaamio 24/1980
Norway
- "Den ukjente kommandanten, del 1", Fantomet 1/1981
- "Den ukjente kommandanten, del 1", Fantomets Krønike 3/1991
- "Den ukjente kommandanten, del 1", Fantomets Krønike 3/1999
- "Den ukjente kommandanten, del 1", Krønikebok #14 (2004)
- "Den ukjente kommandanten, del 1", Fantomet Gullalderen #10 (2012)
- "Den ukjente kommandanten, del 1", Fantomet 1/2018
Spain
- "La patrulla de la jungla", El Hombre Enmascarado #37 (1981)
Sweden
- "Den okände befälhavaren del 1", Fantomen 18/1980
- "Den okända befälhavaren del 1", Fantomen Krönika 3/1998
- "Den okände befälhavaren del 1", Fantomen 25-26/2017
West Germany
- "Die Seeteufel von Karunda", Phantom #177 (1981)
- "Die Seeteufel von Karunda", Phantom Super-band #45