John X
John X | |
![]() | |
Start date: | August 25th, 2014 |
---|---|
End date: | December 27th, 2014 |
# of strips: | 108 (18 weeks) |
Writer: | Tony DePaul |
Artist: | Paul Ryan |
Original colorist: | KFS staff |
Preceded by: | "Terror's Mutiny" |
Followed by: | "Patrolman X" |
"John X" is the 240th Phantom daily story. The story was written by Tony DePaul and drawn by Paul Ryan.
Plot synopsis
The Phantom ends an evil man's murder spree, but is snake bitten. Burning with fever, he strips off his clothes and then removes his rings, hallucinating that he is giving them to Kit for him to continue the legacy. He then collapses. When he awakes, he has lost his memory, but together with Devil, he finds a house and clothes. He notices that he wears a mask and has a fear of showing people his face. He therefore picks up a pair of dark glasses and wears them instead of a mask. He takes a car and drives by instinct to the Jungle Patrol Headquarters together with Devil.
At first, he is thought to be a criminal as he has used the bad guy's car. His snakebite, however, soon convinces colonel Worubu of the genuiness of his amnesia, although the Puff Adder (as he identifies the snake as) is supposed to inject enough poison to kill five men. Until his identity has been established, he is called John X.
Through some tests, they come to the belief that John X is a Law Enforcing officer with his dog who was injured in the line of duty. For the time being, he works with the Jungle Patrol, awaiting the final order of approval from the unknown commander.
Appearances
Recurring characters
- The 21st Phantom
- Diana Palmer-Walker
- Devil
- Hero
- Colonel Worubu
- Captain Weeks
- Patrolwoman Hawa Aguda
- Patrolwoman Kay Molloy
- Lee Falk (as narrator)
- Kit and Heloise
- Guran
- Babudan, Bandar pathfinder
One-time characters
- Patrolman Stern
- Patrolman Wise
- Barker, hijacker and murderer
- Shotgun, hijacker
- Petersen, of Jungle Patrol
- Holmes, of Jungle Patrol
Locations
Tribes
Organizations
Phantom lore
- Rings passed to next Phantom when current Phantom dying
- The Good Mark
- Phantom with amnesia knows showing his face feels wrong
- "It is terror for an evil man to awake in darkness and see the Phantom."
- "Phantom rough on roughnecks."
- "When the Phantom asks, you answer!"
- "He who sees the Phantom's unmasked face will die a horrible death!"
Related stories
Referenced in
Reprints
This story has been published in the following publications:
Australia
- The Advertiser August 25, 2014 – December 27, 2014
- The Cairns Post August 25, 2014 – December 27, 2014
- The Courier-Mail August 25, 2014 – December 27, 2014
- The Daily Telegraph August 25, 2014 – December 27, 2014
- Shepparton News August 25, 2014 – December 27, 2014
- Townsville Bulletin August 25, 2014 – December 27, 2014
- The Chronicle August 27, 2014 – December 31, 2014
- Daily Mercury August 27, 2014 – December 31, 2014
- Fraser Coast Chronicle August 27, 2014 – December 31, 2014
- The Morning Bulletin August 27, 2014 – December 31, 2014
- The Northern Star August 27, 2014 – December 31, 2014
- News-Mail August 27, 2014 – December 31, 2014
- The Observer August 25, 2014 – December 31, 2014
- The Sunshine Coast Daily August 25, 2014 – December 31, 2014
- "John X", The Phantom #1744 (2015; edited together with "Patrolman X")
The Bahamas
- The Freeport News August 25, 2014 – December 27, 2014
Finland
- "John X", Åbo Underrättelser November 6, 2024 – April 4, 2025
India
- Hitavada October 22, 2014 – November 5, 2014 - the first two weeks only
- The New Indian Express (Chennai edition) December 1, 2014 – April 2, 2015
- The New Indian Express (Bangalore edition) December 3, 2014 – April 4, 2015
- "জন এক্স" (romanized as "John X"), Anandabazar Patrika July 2, 2015 – November 9, 2015
- "John X", The Phantom #23 (2022)
Jamaica
- The Daily Gleaner August 25, 2014 – December 27, 2014
Mexico
- "John X", El Informador October 22, 2014 – February 24, 2015
Norway
- Tønsbergs Blad October 7, 2015 – February 12, 2016
- Nordlys November 26, 2015 – March 22, 2016
- Agderposten January 14, 2016 – May 26, 2016
- Fædrelandsvennen January 19, 2016 – May 30, 2016
- Lofotposten January 20, 2016 – May 31, 2016
- Romsdals Budstikke February 19, 2016 – July 1, 2016
- Grimstad Adressetidene March 1, 2016 – July 12, 2016
- Gudbrandsdølen Dagningen April 28, 2016 – September 1, 2016
- Østlendingen May 10, 2016 – August 10, 2016 - without the last five weeks
- Varden June 13, 2016 – October 14, 2016 (first strip missing)
- Aftenposten November 3, 2016 – February 20, 2017
- "John X", Fantomet 12/2016 (edited together with "Patrolman X")
The Philippines
- The Philippine Star November 4, 2015 – March 8, 2016
El Salvador
- "John X", La Prensa Gráfica March 21, 2016 – July 23, 2016
Spain
- "John X", El Correo January 25, 2015 – May 13, 2015
- "John X", Las Provincias January 25, 2015 – May 13, 2015
Sweden
- "John X", Svenska Dagbladet June 24, 2015 – October 9, 2015
- "John X", Barometern January 28, 2016 – June 4, 2016
- "John X", Fantomen 22-23/2016 (edited together with "Patrolman X")
- "John X", Jönköpings-Posten September 9, 2017 – January 18, 2018
- "John X", Smålandsposten October 2, 2017 – February 8, 2018
- "John X", Bohusläningen April 5, 2018 – August 13, 2018
- "John X", Hallandsposten April 5, 2018 – August 13, 2018
- "John X", Smålands-Tidningen November 16, 2018 – March 25, 2019
- "John X", Svenska Dagbladet December 24, 2019 – April 15, 2020
USA
- Anderson Independent-Mail August 25, 2014 – December 27, 2014
- Boston Herald August 25, 2014 – December 27, 2014
- The Citizens' Voice August 25, 2014 – December 27, 2014
- Delaware County Daily Times August 25, 2014 – December 27, 2014
- Houston Chronicle August 25, 2014 – December 27, 2014
- The News Item August 25, 2014 – December 27, 2014
- Press Enterprise August 25, 2014 – December 27, 2014
- Reading Eagle August 25, 2014 – December 27, 2014
Awards