The Ape Idol of the Durugu

The Ape Idol of the Durugu
Start date:	February 26th, 1950
End date:	May 7th, 1950
# of strips:	60 daily strips & 11 sundays
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Wilson McCoy
Original colorist:	KFS staff (sundays)
Preceded by:	"The Thuggees"
Followed by:	"The Movie Stars" (dalies) "The Mysterious Passenger" (sundays)

"The Ape Idol of the Durugu" is the 37th Phantom daily story and the 25th Phantom Sunday story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Wilson McCoy.

Plot synopsis

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Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Devil
• Guran
• Hero
• Diana Palmer
• Lily Palmer

One-time characters

• Chief Wobu of the Durugu
• The Llongo Chief
• Chief Duru of Durugu
• "The Gorilla"

Locations

• Bengali
  • Deep Woods
    • The Skull Cave
      • The Skull Throne
  • The Durugu Village
  • The Llongo Village
  • The Valley of Lions

Tribes

• Durugu
• Bandar
• Oblu
• Llongo

Behind the scenes

• Starting in February 1949 the Phantom Sundays and the Phantom daily strips featured the same stories. Unlike in the 1970's – when the stories "The Wedding of the Phantom", "The Three Bandits" and "The Heirs" ran both as dailies and Sundays – these adventures did not feature parallel stories but rather one story spanning over both weekdays and Sundays. However - since several newspapers only included either the Phantom dailies or the Phantom Sundays, the stories also had to be written in such way that the readers who didn't get both still were able to understand and appreciate the plot. As a result, the stories became quite repetitive when reading both Sundays and dailies, while the readers who only had access to either one of the two were left with some notable jumps in the storytelling. This practice was abandoned in May 1950, after four stories – "The Ape Idol of the Durugu" being the last.
• Guran is referred to by The Phantom as "the wisest man in the jungle".
• As he is about to fight the Ape Idol, The Phantom reveals to Duru that he is mortal – "I can only die once, Duru."

Related stories

Follows

• "The Thuggees" by Lee Falk and Wilson McCoy

Remade as

• "Return of the Irregulars" by Özcan Eralp

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Argentina

• "El ídolo Durugu", Tit-Bits #2199 – #2210 (1951) - dailies only
• El Fantasma #57 (1963) - dailies only
• "Contra el Ídolo Mono", Fantasma #1 (2003) - dailies only

Australia

• The Phantom #93 (1956) - dailies only
• The Phantom #983 (1991) - Sundays only
• The Phantom #1026 (1992) - dailies only
• The Phantom #1248 (1999) - Sundays only
• Giantsize Phantom #1 (2017) - Sundays only
• The Phantom #1951 (2023) - dailies only

Barbados

• Barbados Advocate April 27, 1950 – July 7, 1950 - dailies only

Brazil

• "O Fantasma Voador contra “O Ídolo-Macaco”" Novo O Globo Juvenil #2006 (1950) - dailies only
• "O Deus Gorila", Novo O Globo Juvenil #2045 (1952) - Sundays only
• "O Ídolo Ape", Fantasma #84 (1963) - Sundays only
• "A Lenda do Durugu", O Fantasma #28 (1972) - dailies only
• "O Deus Gorila", Fantasma #230 (1975)- Sundays only
• "O Deus Gorila", Fantasma #267 (1978) - dailies only
• "O Deus Gorila", Fantasma #339 (1984) - dailies only
• "A Lenda de Durugu", Fantasma - Edição Histórica #10 (1995) - dailies only
• "O Deus-Gorila", Os Tugues e Outras Histórias (2025) - dailies only

Canada

• Le Nouvelliste February 25, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - Sundays only
• Le Soleil February 26, 1950 – May 7, 1950 - Sundays only
• La Patrie February 26, 1950 – May 7, 1950 - both Sundays and dailies
• The Moncton Transcript February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• L'Action catholique May 1, 1950 – July 12, 1950 - dailies only

Denmark

• Aalborg Stiftstidende January 28, 1951 – April 8, 1951 - dailies only
• Horsens Folkeblad November 10, 1951 – January 16, 1952 - dailies only
• Hejmdal December 6, 1951 – February 16, 1952 - dailies only
• "Abeguden", Fantom-hefte #9 (1953) - Sundays only
• "Mysteriet med abeguden", Serie-pocket #2 (1973) - dailies only
• Klassisk Album 1 (1985) - Sundays only
• Tegneserien 100 år - Sundays only

Finland

• "Apinajumala", Sarjakuvalehti 13 - 23/1952 - Sundays only
• "Outo apinavaltias", Sarjakirja #5 (1973) - dailies only
• "Apinajumalan arvoitus", Mustanaamio 4/1984 - dailies only
• Historiallisia Seikkailuja #1 (1984) - Sundays only
• "Outo apinavaltias", Sarjakirja #110 (1985) - dailies only
• Ilta-Sanomat January 18, 2019 – February 8, 2019 - both Sundays and dailies

France

• "La légende des Durugus", L'Aurore August 19, 1950 – October 27, 1950 - dailies only
• "L'idole de pierre", Le Fantôme du Bengale #37 (1952) - dailies only
• "Durugu, l'idole-singe", Le Fantôme #306 (1970) - dailies only
• "L'idole singe des Durugus", Le Fantôme #454 (1974) - Sundays only

India

• "The Legend of Durugu", Indrajal Comics #87 (1969) - dailies only

Ireland

• Sunday Independent July 9, 1950 – September 10, 1950 - Sundays only

Italy

• "Durugu l'idolo scimmia", L'Avventura Nuova serie #13 (1951) - dailies only
• "Durugu l'idolo scimmia" and "La grande sfida", L'Uomo Mascherato #21 (1959) - dailies only
• "Durugu l'idolo scimmia" and "La grande sfida", I Classici dell'Avventura #44 (1963) - dailies only
• "Durugu l'idolo scimmia", L'Uomo Mascherato #152 (1970) - dailies only
• "Durugu l'idolo scimmia", Phantom – L'Uomo Mascherato #68 (1974) - Sundays only
• "Durugu, l'idolo scimmia", Phantom #26 (1993) - both Sundays and dailies

Mexico

• El Informador April 23, 1949 – July 2, 1950 - both Sundays and dailies
• Paquito #10006 and "Vence al Hombre mono", #10007 (1953) - dailies only

New Zealand

• The Phantom #33 – #34 - dailies only
• The Phantom #250 – #253 - dailies only
• The Phantom #525 – #526 - dailies only

Norway

• "Apeguden", Fantom-hefte #9 (1953) - Sundays only
• Skippern 49/1957 – 16/1958 - dailies only
• "Mysteriet med apeguden", Serie-pocket #1 (1973) - dailies only
• "Mysteriet med apeguden", Fantomet 5/1984 - dailies only
• "Apeguden", Klassisk Album 1 (1985) - Sundays only
• "Mysteriet med apeguden", Comics - 100 år med tegneserier - Sundays only

Portugal

• "A Lenda de Durugu", Fantasma #1 (1979) - dailies only

Spain

• "El idolo viviente", El Hombre Enmascarado #36 and "Combate por el poder", #37 (19??) - dailies only
• "El hombre enmascarado destronado", El Hombre Enmascarado #29A and "Duelo a muerte", #30A (1964) - dailies only
• "Durugu, el ídolo viviente", Phantom, El Hombre Enmascarado #29 - both Sundays and dailies

Sweden

• Svenska Dagbladet April 24, 1951 – July 5, 1951 - dailies only
• Halland June 19, 1951 – August 28, 1951 - dailies only
• Katrineholmskuriren November 3, 1951 – January 15, 1952 - dailies only
• Nerikes Allehanda April 5, 1952 – June 25, 1952 - dailies only
• "Apguden", Vecko-Revyn 47/1952 – 6/1953 - Sundays only
• Fantomen 1 – 5/1954 - dailies only
• "Dödens gudinna", Fantomen Christmas Album 1957 - Sundays only
• "Durugustammens legend", Östhammars Tidning September 12, 1961 – January 22, 1962 - dailies only
• "Durugustammens legend", Tierps-Posten September 12, 1961 – January 23, 1962 - dailies only
• "Mysteriet med ap-guden", Fantomen 11/1962 - dailies only
• "Mysteriet med ap-guden", Seriepocket 8 (1973) - dailies only
• "Mysteriet med apguden", Fantomen 21/1983 - dailies only
• "Apguden", Fantomen Christmas Album 1985 - Sundays only
• "Mysteriet med apguden", Comics - Serierna 100 år (1996) - Sundays only
• Fantomen - Den inbundna årgången 1954, Del 1 (2006) - dailies only
• "Dödens gudinna", Fantomen Christmas Album 2007 - Sundays only - facsimile reprint of 1957 Christmas Album
• "Mysteriet med apguden", Fantomen - Den inbundna årgången 1962, Del 3 (2013) - dailies only

Switzerland

• La tribune de Genève April 24, 1954 – May 28, 1954 - dailies only
• L'Impartial August 31, 1955 – November 9, 1955 - dailies only

Turkey

• "Afrikada İsyan", Haftalık Albüm #15 – #16 - dailies only

United Kingdom

• Birmingham Evening Despatch May 4, 1950 – July 5, 1950 - dailies only
• "The Living Ape Idol", The Phantom Illustrated Comic #10 (1960) - dailies only

USA

• The Alabama Journal February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Bangor Daily News February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies and the last four Sundays
• Bradford Era February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Carthage Evening Press February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Charleston Daily Mail February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Chester Times February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• The Daily Item February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• The Daily Record February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• The Daily Standard February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• The Decatur Daily February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Dziennik dla Wszystkich February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• The Evening News February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Gloucester County Times February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Hanford Morning Journal February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Hanford Sentinel February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Herald News February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Johnson City Press February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Ledger-Enquirer February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Morning Press February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Morning Sentinel February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Morristown Gazette Mail February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• The Nassau Daily Review-Star February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• The Oneonta Star February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Oxnard Press-Courier February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• The Progress February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• The Rome Daily Sentinel February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• Sandusky Register Star News February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• San Francisco Examiner February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• The Winchester Sun February 27, 1950 – May 6, 1950 - dailies only
• The Atlanta Constitution February 26, 1950 – May 7, 1950 - both Sundays and dailies
• The Birmingham News February 26, 1950 – May 7, 1950 - both Sundays and dailies
• The Democrat February 26, 1950 – May 7, 1950 - Sundays only
• Cumberland Sunday Times February 26, 1950 – May 7, 1950 - Sundays only
• The Greensboro Record February 26, 1950 – May 7, 1950 - both Sundays and dailies
• The Milwaukee Sentinel February 26, 1950 – May 7, 1950 - Sundays only
• The Montgomery Advertiser February 26, 1950 – May 7, 1950 - Sundays only
• La Opinión February 26, 1950 – May 7, 1950 - Sundays only
• The Owensboro Messenger February 26, 1950 – May 7, 1950 - Sundays only
• Richmond Times-Dispatch February 26, 1950 – May 7, 1950 - both Sundays and dailies
• San Antonio Light February 26, 1950 – May 7, 1950 - both Sundays and dailies
• St. Petersburg Times February 26, 1950 – May 7, 1950 - Sundays only
• Times Herald February 26, 1950 – May 7, 1950 - both Sundays and dailies
• The Virginian Pilot February 26, 1950 – May 7, 1950 - Sundays only
• The Phantom Sundays #3 (1989) - Sundays only
• "The Ape Idol of the Durugu", Comics Revue #361-362 – #369-370 (2016-17; colored by Ivan Pedersen) - both Sundays and dailies
• "The Ape Idol of the Durugu", The Complete Newspaper Dailies and Sundays: Volume Ten 1950–1951 (2016) - both Sundays and dailies

West Germany

• "Der Affengott", Phantom-Heft 10/1952 - Sundays only
• "Die Nacht des großen Zaubers", Phantom #2 (ca 1976) - dailies only