The Hunt for the Unknown Commander

The Hunt for the Unknown Commander
Start date:	April 27, 2009
End date:	August 22, 2009
# of strips:	102 (17 weeks)
Writer:	Tony DePaul
Artist:	Paul Ryan
Original colorist:	KFS staff
Preceded by:	"Crocco Island West"
Followed by:	"The Death of Diana Palmer Walker"

"The Hunt for the Unknown Commander" is the 226th Phantom daily story. The story was written by Tony DePaul and drawn by Paul Ryan.

Plot Summary

This was a story with two plots running together. One was the Phantom's arrest of four murderers who were planning a hit in Ivory Lana. Only one of them had a name and we were never quite sure what they were up to. All four villains ended up sore and sorry and on their way to prison in a Jungle Patrol helicopter.

The more dynamic plot concerned Hawa and Kay, the two young women who entered the Jungle Patrol in "The Patrolwomen" a year before. They are now uniformed officers and still obsessed (particularly Hawa) with learning the identity of their Unknown Commander.

We learn that Hawa is now one of the Patrol's helicopter pilots and that Kay is a paramedic and acknowledged as the Patrol's foremost equestrian.

Hawa catches a glimpse of The Phantom, but is constrained by the "Eyes Front!" nature of the flight.

The senior pilot, Officer Weeks, is noticeably disrespectful to Hawa, addressing her as "Recruit." Colonel Worubu displays his poor leadership by abusing his subordinates. It looks like Hawa and Kay are still finding the Jungle Patrol to be a difficult work environment.

A point of interest was the emerging jealousy of Diana, with reference to Captain Savarna and the Patrolwomen. Also, the name of Officer Weeks suggested a relationship with Colonel Weeks, the previous Commanding Officer before Worobu. 2014's Daily Story "Terror's Mutiny" has Officer Weeks recalling events from both "Hunt" and "The Return of Colonel Weeks", confirming him as Colonel Weeks' grandson and as Captain Weeks.

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Appearances

Recurring characters

• The Phantom
• Diana Palmer-Walker
• Hawa Aguda
• Kay Molloy
• Colonel Worubu
• Captain Weeks

One-time characters

Locations

• Bengali
• Mawitaan
  • The Jungle Patrol Headquarters
  • The Deep Woods
    • The Skull Cave
    • Bandar Village
• Ivory-Lana

Tribes

Trivia

• The other pilot that Hawa flies together is named Weeks, this was speculated possibly the same as Captain Weeks in the Sunday story "The Return of Colonel Weeks". "Terror's Mutiny" confirmed that in the May 27th and 29th strips.

Related stories

Refers to

• "The Patrolwomen" by Tony DePaul and Paul Ryan
• "Crocco Island West" by Tony DePaul and Paul Ryan

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Australia

• Townsville Bulletin April 27, 2009 – August 22, 2009
• The Courier-Mail May 16, 2009 – September 11, 2009
• The Advertiser June 1, 2009 – September 26, 2009
• The Cairns Post June 18, 2009 – October 14, 2009
• "The Unknown Commander", The Phantom #1558 (2009)

The Bahamas

• The Freeport News April 27, 2009 – August 22, 2009

Colombia

• El Colombiano July 10, 2009 – October 19, 2009

Croatia

• Večernji list July 25, 2009 – November 26, 2009

Finland

• "Salaperäinen ylipäällikkö", Mustanaamio 2/2010
• Aamulehti ? – ?
• Demokraatti November 29, 2012 – June 19, 2013
• Åbo Underrättelser April 25, 2018 – September 18, 2018

India

• Anandabazar Patrika January 27, 2010 – May 26, 2010

Jamaica

• The Daily Gleaner April 27, 2009 – August 22, 2009

Norway

• "Den mystiske kommandanten", Fantomet 1/2010
• Bergensavisen March 1, 2010 – June 18, 2010 and January 25, 2021 – May 6, 2021
• Nordlys June 3, 2010 – September 29, 2010
• Sandefjords Blad June 30, 2010 – October 26, 2010
• Østlendingen July 17, 2010 – November 13, 2010
• Tønsbergs Blad August 13, 2010 – December 9, 2010
• Gudbrandsdølen Dagningen September 11, 2010 – Janaury 10, 2011
• Østlandsposten October 1, 2010 – January 31, 2011
• Lofotposten October 18, 2010 – February 14, 2011
• Agderposten October 20, 2010 – February 17, 2011
• Fædrelandsvennen October 25, 2010 – February 21, 2011
• Romsdals Budstikke November 4, 2010 – March 3, 2011
• Grimstad Adressetidene November 4, 2010 – March 8, 2011
• Varden April 15, 2011 – August 22, 2011
• Oppland Arbeiderblad December 21, 2015 – April 25, 2016

El Salvador

• La Prensa Gráfica January 16, 2010 – April 17, 2010

Sweden

• "Den gäckande befälhavaren", Fantomen 2/2010
• Örnsköldsviks Allehanda May 5, 2010 – September 2, 2010
• Tidningen Ångermanland May 5, 2010 – September 2, 2010
• Svenska Dagbladet June 16, 2010 – September 26, 2010
• Bohusläningen July 8, 2013 – November 2, 2013
• LK. July 11, 2015 – November 7, 2015
• Västerviks-Posten July 11, 2015 – November 7, 2015
• Vimmerby Tidning July 11, 2015 – November 7, 2015

Turkey

• "Bilinmeyen Komutanın İzinde", Kızılmaske #41 (2017)

USA

• Boston Herald April 27, 2009 – August 22, 2009
• Houston Chronicle April 27, 2009 – August 22, 2009
• The Plattsburgh Press-Republican April 27, 2009 – August 22, 2009
• Reading Eagle April 27, 2009 – August 22, 2009

Venezuela

• El Nacional July 10, 2009 – October 19, 2009