Terror at the Opera

Terror at the Opera
Start date:	March 15th, 1999
End date:	July 10th, 1999
# of strips:	102 (17 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk & Elizabeth Falk
Artist:	George Olesen & Keith Williams
Original colorist:	KFS staff
Preceded by:	"The Albee"
Followed by:	"The Ghost Wall"

"Terror at the Opera" is the 195th Phantom daily story. The story was written by Lee Falk and Elizabeth Falk and drawn by George Olesen and Keith Williams. Along with "The Kidnappers", it's the last story that Lee Falk ever made.

Plot Summary

This article, or section of an article, is very short. You can help PhantomWiki by expanding it.

Behind the scenes

• Lee Falk was hospitalised while writing the script for this story, and was assisted by his wife Elizabeth Falk. When he passed away, she finished the script based on his plot.
• Almost an entire week of strips (from April 27 to May 1) consisted only of one-panel strips, to give more time to finish the script after Lee Falk passed away. This was the first time ever that the Phantom daily strip used only one panel for an entire strip.
• The daily strip changed to computer lettering with this story.
• The code to disarm the bomb is 1870 which is supposed to be the year the opera Aida premiered. However, it was actually first performed late in 1871.

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Australia

• "Terror at the Opera", The Phantom #1239 (1999)
• "Terror at the Opera", The Phantom #1910 (2022)

Denmark

• Nordjyske Stiftstidende April 27, 2002 – August 7, 2002
• Horsens Folkeblad June 7, 2004 – October 2, 2004

India

• Anandabazar Patrika ? – ?
• "வெடி குண்டு" (romanized as "Vedi Gundu"), Rani Comics #391 and "தீவிரவாதிகள்" (romanized as "Theeviravaathigal"), #421 (2000-02)
• "The Dakk Pirates", Valley of the Gorilla Man (2011; excerpt)
• "The Dakk Pirates", The Dakk Pirates (2011)
• "The Dakk Pirates", Crime Avenger (2011; excerpt)
• "The Dakk Pirates", Justice for All (2011)
• "The Dakk Pirates", The Connoisseurs / The Dakk Pirates (2014)
• "The Dakk Pirates", The Locust God and other stories (2014)
• "Terror at the Opera", The Phantom #12 (2021)

Jamaica

• The Daily Gleaner March 15, 1999 – July 10, 1999

Mexico

• El Informador January 28, 2002 – August 25, 2002

Norway

• "Terror i operaen", Fantomets Krønike 3/2010

Sweden

• "Terrorister", Svenska Dagbladet November 12, 1999 – March 14, 2000
• "Terror på operan", Fantomen 13/2022

Turkey

• "Dakk'tan gelen teröristler", Kızılmaske (2009)
• "Operada Dehşet", Kızılmaske #32 (2016)

USA

• The Baltimore Sun March 15, 1999 – July 10, 1999
• Bangor Daily News March 15, 1999 – July 10, 1999
• The Daily American March 15, 1999 – July 10, 1999
• The Daily Item March 15, 1999 – July 10, 1999
• The Daily Journal March 15, 1999 – July 10, 1999
• Herald News March 15, 1999 – July 10, 1999
• The Indianapolis News March 15, 1999 – July 10, 1999
• Observer-Reporter March 15, 1999 – July 10, 1999
• The Plattsburgh Press-Republican March 15, 1999 – July 10, 1999
• Reading Eagle March 15, 1999 – July 10, 1999
• Republican Herald March 15, 1999 – July 10, 1999
• "Terrorists of Dakk", Comics Revue #162 – #165 (1999)