A Proper Husband

A Proper Husband
Start date:	November 13th, 1955
End date:	February 12th, 1956
# of strips:	14 pages
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Wilson McCoy
Original colorist:	KFS staff
Preceded by:	"The Horned Star Demons"
Followed by:	"The Jungle Tourneys"

"A Proper Husband" is the 43rd Phantom Sunday story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Wilson McCoy.

Plot synopsis

Diana’s mother invites Diana’s grandfather to visit, but Diana is anxious because she knows he will pressure her into getting married. As soon as he arrives, Diana’s mother informs him of The Phantom, to Diana’s dismay. He is insulted that she would be interested in a man who “Lives with natives in a cave” and arranges that his company find a suitable husband for Diana by offering a “Top Secret” job application. Through trial, he introduces her to Mr Barton, who Diana becomes partially interested in. Mr Barton and Diana go out on a hunting expedition, while The Phantom arrives at the Palmer’s residence looking for her. Diana and Mr Barton become trapped by two grizzly bears. The Phantom arrives at the last moment, and fights them both with his bare hands. After the ordeal, the Phantom arrives at the Palmers residence to find crooks demanding money from Diana and her grandfather. He intervenes and knocks out the crooks. Diana’s grandfather sends Mr Barton away and is now proud of his granddaughter’s love of The Phantom.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Diana
• Devil
• Lily Palmer
• Dave Palmer

One-time characters

• H. H. Palmer
• Mr. Barton
• Mr. Abbott
• Mr. Brown
• Mr. Carter
• Mr. Martin
• Mr. Norton
• Mr. Zwicky

Locations

• USA
  • Diana's home
  • The Rocky Mountains
• Bengali (mentioned)
  • Deep Woods
    • The Skull Cave (mentioned)

Tribes

• Bandar (mentioned)

Organizations

• Palmer Industries Inc.

Vehicles

Related stories

Remade as

• "Grandpa" by Lee Falk and Bill Lignante

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Argentina

• "Los pretendientes de Diana", El Fantasma #50 (1963)

Australia

• "A Proper Husband", The Phantom #228 (1963)
• "A Proper Husband", The Phantom #378 (1968)
• "A Proper Husband", The Phantom #538 (1976)
• "A Proper Husband", The Phantom #719 (1981)
• "A Proper Husband", The Phantom #1094 (1995)
• "A Proper Husband", The Phantom #1684 (2014)

Brazil

• "Diana em Perigo!", Fantasma #22 (1956)

Canada

• La Patrie November 13, 1955 – February 12, 1956
• Le Soleil November 13, 1955 – February 12, 1956

Finland

• "...ja Dianan kosijat", Sarjakuvalehti 5/1961
• "...ja Dianan kosijat", Mustanaamio & Diana – Rubiinihäät (2017)

India

• The Illustrated Weekly of India July 29, 1956 – October 28, 1956
• "Diana's Dilemma", Indrajal Comics #139 (1971)

Ireland

• Sunday Independent December 4, 1955 – March 4, 1956

Italy

• "Il salvataggio di Diana", Il Vascello #4 (1958)
• "Il salvataggio di Diana", L'Uomo Mascherato #4 (1960)
• "Il salvataggio di Diana", I Classici dell'Avventura #28 (1963)
• "Il salvataggio di Diana", Phantom - L'Uomo Mascherato #3 (1994)
• "Il salvataggio di Diana", Phantom #173 – #174
• L'uomo mascherato – Il mito dell'Ombra che cammina (2005)

Mexico

• El Informador December 25, 1955 – March 25, 1956

New Zealand

• The Phantom #186 – #187
• The Phantom #428 – #429

Norway

• "Salas morfar", Rubinbryllupet (2017)

Spain

• "El rescate de Diana", Phantom #20 (1999)

Sweden

• "Dianas morfar söker arvinge", Vecko-Revyn 36 – 49/1958
• "Den farliga jakten", Fantomen Christmas Album 1966 (edited together with "Madcap Miriam")
• "Den farliga jakten", Fantomen Christmas Album 2016 (edited together with "Madcap Miriam") - facsimile reprint of 1966 Christmas Album
• "Dianas morfar", Rubinbröllopet (2017)

USA

• Anderson Herald November 13, 1955 – February 12, 1956
• Charleston Daily Mail November 13, 1955 – February 12, 1956
• Cumberland Sunday Times November 13, 1955 – February 12, 1956
• Denton Record-Chronicle November 13, 1955 – February 12, 1956
• The Honolulu Advertiser November 13, 1955 – February 12, 1956
• The Huntsville Times November 13, 1955 – February 12, 1956
• The Milwaukee Sentinel November 13, 1955 – February 12, 1956
• La Opinión November 13, 1955 – February 12, 1956
• San Antonio Light November 13, 1955 – February 12, 1956
• St. Petersburg Times November 13, 1955 – February 12, 1956
• The Virginian Pilot November 13, 1955 – February 12, 1956
• The Phantom Sundays #6 (1989)
• The Complete Sundays: Volume Five 1953–1956 (2018)