The King of Beggars

The King of Beggars
Produced for:	Fantomen 8/1992
# of pgs:	32
Writer:	Per G. Hvidsten
Artist:	Carlos Cruz
Original colorist:	Times Graphics Singapore
Producer:	Semic Press

"The King of Beggars" is a 1992 Team Fantomen story, written by Per G. Hvidsten, with art by Carlos Cruz.

Plot synopsis

The 21st Phantom tells Kit and Heloise a story from 1840 in London while the 15th Phantom is visiting family. The Phantom helps uncover an intricate web of plots and schemes starting with a tontine in 1811 as he helps his friend Henry Clay find Mr Clay's cousin Sophie Clay-Peters.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• The 15th Phantom
• Kit and Heloise

Real-life characters

• Napoleon (mentioned)

One-time characters

• Henry Clay
• Sophie Clay-Peters
• Pastor Smith
• Mr George Hogham
• The King of Beggars
• Dr Alan Dodd, physician
• Buster, dog (mentioned)
• Mr De Porcil, on the tontine of 1811
• Mr Clay-Peters, on the tontine of 1811
• John Berry, on the tontine of 1811
• Mr Willis, on the tontine of 1811
• Mr Mercer, on the tontine of 1811

Locations

• Bengali
  • Deep Woods
    • The Skull Cave
      • The Chronicle Room
• England
  • London
    • The Thames
    • St Clauds
      • Sophia's childhood home
      • St Claud's Parish Office
    • The Albion Court (hotel)
      • Room 406
      • Room 408
    • Limehouse (mentioned)
    • Barge-Crow-Hogham's Legal Advisers office
      • Secret passage
    • Doctor Dodd's reception
    • The Imperial Eastern Company
  • Hoddesdon
    • Sunnydale Community Hospital

Objects

• Stuffed Rat

Behind the scenes

• Writer Per G. Hvidsten won a competition for best synopsis for a script in Fantomen 21/1987. In 1989 the final draft was still not finished but the Fantomen editor believed that it would be published in 1990. The story was finally published in 1992.

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Australia

• "The King of Beggars", The Phantom #1966 (2024)

Finland

• "Kerjäläiskuningas", Mustanaamio 12/1992

Norway

• "Tiggerkongen", Fantomet 12/1992
• "Tiggerkongen", Fantomets Krønike 4/1999
• "Tiggerkongen", Krønikebok #15 (2004)

Sweden

• "Tiggarkungen", Fantomen 8/1992
• "Tiggarkungen", Fantomen Krönika 4/1998