Great Raptor of Rhua

Great Raptor of Rhua
Start date:	May 23rd, 1988
End date:	September 3rd, 1988
# of strips:	90 (15 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Sy Barry
Original colorist:	N/A
Preceded by:	"The Man-Thing"
Followed by:	"Chasamba"

"Great Raptor of Rhua" is the 164th Phantom daily story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Sy Barry.

Plot Summary

Contains origin story. The Wambesi are losing cattle two at a time to a giant bird which picks up one in each claw at night. At the request of King Wambutto of Wambesi the Phantom stays watch and then hitches a ride on the giant bird to Rhua, where he helps the locals and the Wambesi solve their problems.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Hero
• Devil
• Guran
• Chief Wambutto

One-time characters

• Baby, a giant hawk
• Pretty, a giant housecat
• Nasty, a giant lizard

Locations

• Bangalla
  • The Waterfall
    • Deep Woods
      • The Skull Cave
        • The Skull Throne
  • Wambesi Village
  • Rhua

Tribes

• Bandar
• Wambesi

Vehicles

• Car hunted and returned by Baby

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Australia

• "Great Raptor of Rhua", The Phantom #930 (1989)
• "The Great Raptor of Rhua", The Phantom #1393 (2004)

Brazil

• "Terra de Gigantes", Fantasma Extra #17 (1989)

Canada

• "Le grand rapace Rua", Le Nouvelliste August 31, 1988 – December 6, 1988

Denmark

• "Jagtfalken fra Rhua", Fantomet #315 (1990)
• Horsens Folkeblad May 29, 1990 – September 12, 1990 and July 7, 1997 – October 18, 1997
• Djursland June 7, 1990 – September 20, 1990 and August 14, 1997 – November 26, 1997
• Aalborg Stiftstidende June 8, 1990 – September 20, 1990

Finland

• "Rhuan metsästyshaukka", Mustanaamio 13/1989
• "Jättiläisten maa", Ilta-Sanomat February 27, 2024 – March 22, 2024

Iceland

• "Óvættin mikla af Rua", Dagur May 3, 1994 – October 21, 1994

India

• "The Giant Raptor", Indrajal Comics Vol. 26 No. 10 – Vol. 26 No. 10 (1989)
• "Monster Creatures", Phantom #31
• "Monster Creatures", Phantom #85

Italy

• "Il segreto di Rhua", Phantom #251

Jamaica

• The Daily Gleaner May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988

Mexico

• El Informador September 28, 1988 – January 14, 1989

Norway

• "Jaktfalken fra Rhua", Fantomet 14/1989
• Aftenposten July 11, 1989 – October 21, 1989
• "Jaktfalken fra Rhua", Serie-pocket #227 (1998)
• "Jaktfalken fra Rhua", Fantomet 11-12/2011

Spain

• "Rhua, tierra de monstruos", El Hombre Enmascarado #29 (1990)
• "La gigantesca rapaz de Rhua", Phantom, El Hombre Enmascarado #35

Sweden

• "Rovfågeln från Rua", Svenska Dagbladet November 9, 1988 – February 26, 1989
• "Jaktfalken från Rhua", Fantomen 4/1989
• "Rovfågeln från Rua", Göteborgs-Tidningen July 13, 1989 – October 22, 1989
• Katrineholmskuriren November 20, 1992 – March 15, 1993
• "Jaktfalken från Rhua", Fantomen 12-13/2011
• "Jaktfalken från Rhua", Fantomens Skattkammare #16 (2026)

Turkey

• "Rhua'nın Büyük Yırtıcı Kuşu", Kızılmaske #22 (2015)

USA

• The Alabama Journal May 23, 1988 – August 5, 1988 - without the last four weeks (Saturday strips missing)
• Anchorage Daily News May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Anderson Independent-Mail May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• The Asheville Times May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Bangor Daily News May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Baraboo News Republic May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• The Birmingham News May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Chippewa Herald May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• The Citizens' Voice May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• The Clarksdale Press Register May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• The Daily American May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• The Daily Item May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• The Daily Journal May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• The Gadsden Times May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Green Bay Press-Gazette May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Herald News May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• The Indianapolis News May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Johnson City Press May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Ledger-Enquirer May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Morning Sentinel May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• The News Journal May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Observer-Reporter May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Philadelphia Daily News May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• The Plattsburgh Press-Republican May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Portage Daily Register May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Press Enterprise May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Reading Eagle May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Red Bank Register May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• The Rome Daily Sentinel May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• The Tuscaloosa News May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• The Winchester Sun May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Suffolk News-Herald May 23, 1988 – September 3, 1988
• Stars and Stripes June 13, 1988 – June 13, 1988 - without the first two weeks
• "Great Raptor of Rhua", Comics Revue #34 (1989)
• "Great Raptor of Rhua", The Complete Newspaper Dailies: Volume Thirty-Three 1988–1989 (2025)