The Blue Gang

The Blue Gang
Start date:	March 26th, 1945
End date:	May 26th, 1945
# of strips:	54 strips (9 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Wilson McCoy
Original colorist:	N/A
Preceded by:	"The Maharajah's Daughter"
Followed by:	"Lago the Lake God"

"The Blue Gang" is the 23rd Phantom daily story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Wilson McCoy.

Plot synopsis

Two millionaires argue if The Phantom really exists. They make a bet for one million dollars. One of them however, is the leader of a smuggler gang called The Blue Gang and he decides to kidnap Diana to make the Phantom come out of his hiding. Meanwhile Diana and Lily Palmer who have been visiting the Phantom are giving their farewells before they enter their boatride home.

Appearances

Recurring characters

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

One-time characters

• Cal
• John
• Trigger
• Fatso
• Slim
• Sparks

Locations

• Bangalla
  • Morristown
    • Cliffside house
    • P.O.Box 14
  • Deep Woods
    • The Skull Cave

Organizations

• The Blue Gang
• Coast Guards

Vehicles

Old jungle sayings

Behind the scenes

Title panel.

• The title "The Blue Gang" appears in the first strip of the story.
• For the first time we come across the postal address for the Phantom : Mr. Walker, P.O.Box 14, Morristown.

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Argentina

• Tit-Bits #1988 – #1997 (1947)
• La Sombra #2 (1958; edited together with part of "The Maharajah's Daughter")
• "El Club", Libro de Oro #26 (1966)

Australia

• Super Yank Comics #8 – #10
• Giantsize Phantom #6 (1958)
• The Phantom #986 (1991)
• The Phantom #1467 (2007)
• Super Yank Comics Collection #1 (2025)

Brazil

• "A Quadrilha Azul", O Globo Juvenil #1294 – #1319 (1945)
• "A Quadrilha Azul", Fantasma #88 (1964)
• "A Quadrilha Azul", O Fantasma #29 (1972)
• "O Rapto de Diana", Fantasma #323 (1982)
• "A Quadrilha Azul", Fantasma - Edição Histórica #4 (1994)
• "A Gangue Anil", A Filha do Marajá e Outras Histórias (2024)

Canada

• The Vancouver Sun March 24, 1945 – May 28, 1945
• The Daily Colonist March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• The Moncton Transcript March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• La Patrie March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• L'Action catholique April 21, 1945 – June 29, 1945

Denmark

• "Den blaa bande", Aalborg Stiftstidende February 3, 1946 – April 5, 1946
• "Den blaa bande", Horsens Folkeblad November 4, 1946 – January 8, 1947
• "Den blaa bande", Hejmdal January 21, 1947 – March 24, 1947

Finland

• "Siniliiga", Mustanaamio 16/1980
• "Siniliiga", Ilta-Sanomat September 8, 2017 – September 25, 2017

France

• "La bande bleue", Le Fantôme Spécial #14 (1964)

Italy

• "La banda azzurra", L'Avventura 32-39/1946
• "La banda azzurra", L'Uomo Mascherato #61 (1961; redrawn by unknown local artist)
• "La banda azzurra", I Classici dell'Avventura #18 (1962; redrawn by unknown local artist)
• "La banda azzurra", Phantom #21 (1993)
• "La banda azzurra", Phantom #39

Mexico

• "La banda azul", El Informador May 14, 1945 – July 14, 1945

New Zealand

• The Phantom #1 – #2
• The Phantom #199 – #201
• The Phantom #495 – #497

Norway

• Aftenposten October 21, 1946 – December 16, 1946
• "Den blå liga", Fantomet 19/1980
• "Den blå liga", Serie-pocket #230 (1999)

Portugal

• "A Quadrilha Azul", Fantasma #11 (1979)
• "A Quadrilha Azul", Fantasma Especial Férias #4 (ca 1982)

Spain

• "La cuadrilla azul", El Hombre Enmascarado #77 and "El Hombre Enmascarado en acción", #78 (194?)
• "La banda azul", El Hombre Enmascarado #56 (1978)
• "La banda azul", El Hombre Enmascarado #62 – #63 (1991)
• "La banda azul", The Phantom - El Hombre Enmascarado #17 (2024)

Sweden

• "Blå gänget", Svenska Dagbladet April 9, 1946 – June 13, 1946
• "Blå gänget", Katrineholmskuriren October 9, 1946 – December 10, 1946
• Halland 1946 – 1946
• "Blå gänget", Nerikes Allehanda March 17, 1947 – May 26, 1947
• "Blå gänget", Tierps-Posten April 10, 1951 – August 21, 1951
• "Blå gänget", Östhammars Tidning April 10, 1951 – August 21, 1951
• "Blå ligan", Fantomen 10/1980

USA

• The Alabama Journal March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• The Birmingham News March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Carthage Evening Press March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Charleston Daily Mail March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Chester Times March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• The Coos Bay Times March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• The Daily Item March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• The Decatur Daily March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Detroit Evening Times March 31, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Dziennik dla Wszystkich March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• The Evening News March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Gloucester County Times March 31, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• The Greensboro Record March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Hanford Morning Journal March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Hanford Sentinel March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Herald News March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Johnson City Press March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Ledger-Enquirer March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• The Monessen Daily Independent March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• The Nassau Daily Review-Star March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Oxnard Press-Courier March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Richmond Times-Dispatch March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• The Rome Daily Sentinel March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• San Antonio Light March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Sandusky Register Star News March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Syracuse Herald Journal March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Times Herald March 31, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• The Washington Reporter March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• The Winchester Sun March 26, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• The World March 31, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• Bangor Daily News March 31, 1945 – May 26, 1945
• The Hawaii Times November 21, 1945 – ?
• "The Phantom and The Blue Gang", Feature Book #57 (1949)
• "The Blue Gang", Comics Revue #301-302 – #303-304 (2011)
• "The Blue Gang", The Complete Newspaper Dailies: Volume Six 1944–1946‎ (2013)

West Germany

• "Die blaue Bande", Phantom-Heft 25/1953

Yugoslavia

• "Plava banda" Biblioteka Nostalgija #12 (1991)