The Art Thieves

The Art Thieves
Start date:	October 14th, 1968
End date:	February 8th, 1969
# of strips:	102 strips (17 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Sy Barry
Original colorist:	N/A
Preceded by:	"The Hydra"
Followed by:	"The Masked Ball"

"The Art Thieves" is the 103rd Phantom daily story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Sy Barry.

Plot synopsis

The Phantom has promised to show Walker's Table to Diana. But just recently a criminal gang led by Clyde has begun to use it to hide stolen artwork and jewellery. The Phantom and Diana arrive there to discover that somebody has destroyed the exterior rope and pulley system to go from the ground level to the top of the mesa. The Phantom rock climbs to the top, then helps Diana to go up through the inside well. Inside the cabin on top they find boxes with jewellery and artwork. At that time the thieves return by helicopter.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Unspecified past Phantom (mentioned)
• Diana Palmer

One-time characters

• Clyde
• Toff
• Max
• Bud
• Muggs

Locations

• USA
  • New Mexico
    • Walker's Table

Tribes

Organizations

Vehicles

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Australia

• "The Art Thieves", The Phantom #394 (1969)
• "The Art Thieves", The Phantom #557 (1975)
• "The Art Thieves", The Phantom #748 (1982)
• "The Art Thieves", The Phantom #1108 (1995)
• "The Art Thieves", The Phantom #1715 (2015)

Brazil

• "O Ninho do Fantasma", Fantasma #163 (1970)
• "O Tesouro Misterioso", O Fantasma #4 (1970)
• "A Mesa Walker", Fantasma #289 (1979)
• "O Ninho do Fantasma", Hiperalmanaque Fantasma #3 (1982)
• "O Tesouro Misterioso", Fantasma - Edição Histórica #5 (1994)
• "O Tesouro Misterioso", Almanaque do Fantasma #3 (1997)
• "Os Ladrões de Arte", O Deus Marinho e Outras Histórias (2024)

Canada

• Le Nouvelliste October 21, 1968 – February 15, 1969
• L'Action March 13, 1969 – July 12, 1969

Denmark

• Aalborg Stiftstidende February 25, 1970 – June 27, 1970
• Horsens Folkeblad November 18, 1970 – March 18, 1971
• Hejmdal December 1, 1970 – April 2, 1971
• "Klippefæstningen", Fantomet #17 (1972)
• "Klippefæstningen", Fantomet Krønike #5 (1995)
• "Klippefæstningen", Fantomet #367 (1999)

Finland

• "Luja linnoitus", Mustanaamio 10/1978
• "Outo linnake", Mustanaamio 4/1999
• "Taidevarkaat", Ilta-Sanomat March 21, 2012 – April 16, 2012

France

• "Le nid de l'aigle", Le Fantôme #375 – #377 (1971)

Germany

• "Die Kunstdiebe", Phantom #103 (2026)

Greece

• "Οι ληστες στο τραπεζι του Γουωκερ" (romanized as "Oi listes sto trapezi tou Gouoker"), Fantom #50 (1976)

Iceland

• Tíminn March 27, 1969 – July 30, 1969

India

• "Walker's Table", Indrajal Comics #122 (1970)
• "The Vindictive Ghost", Indrajal Comics Vol. 23 No. 3 (1986)
• "Phantom's Eyrie", Phantom #20
• "கோட்டைக்குள் வேட்டை" (romanized as "Kottaikul vettai"), Rani Comics #224 (1993)
• "Phantom's Eyrie", Phantom #80 (1998)
• "துப்பாக்கி முனையில் டயானா" (romanized as "Tuppakki munaiyil tayana"), Rani Comics #480 (2004)
• "வேதாளரின் மேடை" (romanized as "Vethalarin Medai"), Muthu Comics #459 (2022)

Ireland

• Irish Independent July 30, 1969 – November 25, 1969

Italy

• "Il nido dell'acquila", L'Uomo Mascherato #143 – #145 (1969)
• "Il nido del falco", Phantom Selezione #1 (1976)
• "Il Fantasma che cammina", Superfumetti in Film #7 (1977)

Jamaica

• The Daily Gleaner October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969

Mexico

• El Informador March 12, 1969 – July 8, 1969

Norway

• Aftenposten May 28, 1970 – September 22, 1970 (first strip missing)
• "Klippefestningen", Fantomet 24/1970
• "Klippefestningen", Fantomet 13/1978
• "Klippefestningen", Fantomet Spesialalbum #10 (1991)
• "Klippefestningen", Fantomet 6/1999
• "Klippefestningen", Krønikebok #27 (2006)
• "Klippefestningen", Fantomet Kronologisk #19 (2021)

Portugal

• "O Esconderijo", Mundo de Aventuras #1084 (1970)

Spain

• "El Misterio de la Mesa de Walker", El Hombre Enmascarado #5 (1974)
• "El Misterio de la Mesa de Walker", El Hombre Enmascarado #43 (1981; incomplete story)
• "Los ladrones de arte", The Phantom - El Hombre Enmascarado #12 (2021)

Sweden

• "Klippfästet", Fantomen 16/1969
• Svenska Dagbladet September 19, 1969 – January 21, 1970
• Göteborgs-Tidningen January 9, 1970 – May 12, 1970
• Nerikes Allehanda October 13, 1970 – December 11, 1970
• "Klippfästet", Fantomen 1/1978
• "Örnnästet", Upsala Nya Tidning January 12, 1982 – May 13, 1982
• "Klippfästet", Fantomen 6/1999
• "Klippfästet", Fantomen - Den inbundna årgången 1969, Del 3 (2020)

Turkey

• "Kartal Yuvası", Kızılmaske #26 – #28 (1974)
• "Kartal Yuvası", Kızılmaske Albüm #7 (197?)
• "Kartal Yuvası", Kızılmaske #9 – #10
• "Kartal Yuvası", Kızılmaske Albüm #55
• "Kartal Yuvası", Kızılmaske #15 – #16 (198?)
• "Kartal Yuvası", Kızılmaske Süper Albüm #4
• "Kartal Yuvası", Kızılmaske Süper Albüm #61
• "Kartal Yuvası", Yeni Kızılmaske #2 (2011)
• "Kartal Yuvası", Kızılmaske #4 (2013)

United Kingdom

• Birmingham Evening Mail January 27, 1969 – May 26, 1969

USA

• The Milwaukee Sentinel October 14, 1968 – December ?, 1968 (incomplete story)
• The Alabama Journal October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Alliance Times-Herald October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Appleton Post-Crescent‎ October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Asheville Times October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Atlanta Constitution October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Bangor Daily News October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Beckley Post Herald October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Beaver County Times October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Birmingham News October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Bradford Era October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Bucks County Courier Times October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Buffalo Courier-Express October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Charleston Daily Mail October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Charlotte News October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Courier-Post October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Daily Advance October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Daily Item October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Daily Journal October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Daily Standard October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Delaware County Daily Times October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Evening News October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Gadsden Times October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Gloucester County Times October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Green Bay Press-Gazette October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Greensboro Record October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Herald News October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Indianapolis News October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Jersey Journal October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Johnson City Press October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Laurel Leader-Call October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Lima News October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Leaf-Chronicle October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Ledger-Enquirer October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Lima News October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Morning Press October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Morning Sentinel October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The News Item October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The News Journal October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• News-Press October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Oneonta Star October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Orlando Sentinel October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Plattsburgh Press-Republican October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Pocono Record October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Portage Daily Register October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Reading Eagle October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Record American October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Red Bank Register October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Republican Herald October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Rome Daily Sentinel October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Rome News-Tribune October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Sandusky Register Star News October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The State October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Tampa Times October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Uniontown Morning Herald October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Washington Reporter October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• The Winchester Sun October 14, 1968 – February 8, 1969
• Suffolk News-Herald October 14, 1968 – February 9, 1969
• Chippewa Herald January 6, 1969 – February 8, 1969 - the last five weeks only
• "The Art Thieves", Comics Revue #417-418 (2021)
• "The Art Thieves", The Complete Newspaper Dailies: Volume Twenty-One 1967–1969 (2021)

West Germany

• "Die Gefangene der Goldbanditen", Phantom #34 (1975)
• "Die Gefangene der Großbanditen", Phantom Das große Album #6
• "Das Falkennest", Phantom #9 (ca 1980)

Yugoslavia

• Večernje novine May 26, 1969 – September 23, 1969
• "Orlovsko gnezdo", Denis #103 – #105 (1978)