The Crybaby (daily story)

The Crybaby
Start date:	August 25th, 1958
End date:	November 1st, 1958
# of strips:	60 strips (10 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Wilson McCoy
Original colorist:	N/A
Preceded by:	"The Two Signs"
Followed by:	"The Underwater Diamond Thieves"

"The Crybaby" is the 71st Phantom daily story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Wilson McCoy.

Plot synopsis

In a school near the jungle, a boy named Cecil Riggs is bullied by taller and stronger Mike for being a "wise guy". Mike vows to fight Cecil everyday after school, and specifically waits for him with this intent. Mike initially breaks Cecil's glasses; telling his mother that he broke them after he fell. Cecil's mother earns a meagre living delivering laundry, and instructs Cecil to deliver a basket to a customer called Ms Murphy. While Cecil is delivering the laundry, he is confronted by Mike who trips him and muddies the clothes delivery. Cecil attempts to clean them, but the basket is still rejected by Ms Murphy, who tells Cecil his mother's service won't be required any more. Despondent, Cecil wanders into the jungle, unable to face Mike or his mother. Meanwhile the phantom is hunting for food, and comes across sleeping Cecil in the jungle. The Phantom spears a prowling tiger threatening Cecil, and questions the boy. After hearing the story, the Phantom proposes that Cecil stays with him a short while to learn how to defend himself. He informs Mrs Riggs that the boy is happy and well via a message delivered by Doctor Lamb. Cecil adapts quickly to the jungle climate, learning with the native boys. He learns archery, fighting and climbing, including have a play-boxing match with the Phantom. The Phantom shows how he delivers justice by fighting Zork, an exiled criminal in the Wambesi village. The Phantom sends Cecil home, where he reconciles with his mother and he stands up to Mike knocking him out in three punches.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Devil
• Hero
• Guran

One-time characters

• Michael
• Cecil
• Mrs. Riggs
• Mrs. Murphy
• Doc. Lamb
• Zork

Locations

• Bengali
  • Deep Woods
    • The Skull Cave
  • Wambesi village
  • Unnamed town

Tribes

• Bandar
• Wambesi

Old jungle sayings

Behind the scenes

• In fourth panel the current Phantom is said to be the 16th phantom in line

Related stories

Remade as

• "The Crybaby" by Lee Falk, Bill Harris, and Bill Lignante.

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Argentina

• Libro de Oro #11 (1963)

Australia

• "The Crybaby", The Phantom #141 (1959)
• "The Crybaby", The Phantom #241 (1963)
• "The Crybaby", The Phantom #374 (1968)
• "The Crybaby", The Phantom #533 (1974)
• "The Crybaby", The Phantom #1063 (1994)
• "The Crybaby", The Phantom #1559 (2010)
• "The Crybaby", The Phantom #1843 (2019)

Brazil

• "O Valentão", Fantasma #37 (1959)
• "O Bebê Chorão", O Fantasma Extra Seleção #2 (1971)
• "O Bebê Chorão", O Fantasma Edição Extra #2 (1972)

Canada

• Le Nouvelliste August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• "Le bébé", L'Action catholique May 11, 1959 – July 21, 1959

Denmark

• Aalborg Stiftstidende October 24, 1959 – January 5, 1960
• Horsens Folkeblad August 10, 1960 – October 17, 1960
• Hejmdal September 24, 1960 – December 6, 1960 (last strip missing)
• "Sejrherren", Serie-pocket #26 (1979)

Finland

• "Voittaja", Mustanaamio 12/1968
• "Voittaja", Sarjakirja #48 (1979)
• "Voittaja", Mustanaamio 1968 (2012)
• "Itkupilli", Ilta-Sanomat January 22, 2014 – February 4, 2014

France

• "L'éleve de l'Ombre", Le Fantôme Spécial #41 (1967)

Germany

• Phantom #3 (1997)

Greece

• "Σεσιλ, ο κλαψιαρης" (romanized as "Sesil, o klapsiaris"), Fantom #61 (1976)

Italy

• "L'allievo dell'Ombra", L'Uomo Mascherato Super Albo #179 (1966)
• "L'allievo dell'Ombra", Phantom #47 (1995)
• "L'allievo dell'Ombra", Phantom #256
• Le Avventure di Phantom (1996)

Jamaica

• The Daily Gleaner January 3, 1959 – February 25, 1959

Mexico

• El Informador November 3, 1958 – January 17, 1959

New Zealand

• The Phantom #312 – #314

Norway

• Aftenposten December 16, 1959 – February 25, 1960 (first strip missing)
• "Seierherren", Fantomet 12/1968
• "Seierherren", Serie-pocket #37 (1979)
• "Seierherren", Krønikebok #23 (2005)
• "Seierherren", Fantomet Kronologisk #8 (2018)

South Africa

• Die Burger ?, 1958 – February ?, 1959

Spain

• "El Llorón", El Hombre Enmascarado #43 (1958)
• "El Llorón", El Hombre Enmascarado - Album de Lujo #9 (1961)
• "El Llorón", Libro de Oro II (1962)
• "El lloron", El Hombre Enmascarado #37A (1964)
• "El lloron", Album de El Hombre Enmascarado (1965)
• "El lloron", El Hombre Enmascarado Biblioteca Eterna #5 (1970)
• "El niño llorón", El Hombre Enmascarado #30 (1976)
• "El niño llorón", El Hombre Enmascarado #33 (1976)
• "El niño llorón", Phantom, El Hombre Enmascarado #16 (1997?)

Sweden

• Svenska Dagbladet January 20, 1960 – March 29, 1960
• Göteborgs-Tidningen 1960 – October 1960
• Nerikes Allehanda December 3, 1960 – February 13, 1961
• "Segraren", Fantomen 3/1962
• "Segraren", Serie-pocket #79 (1979)

Turkey

• "Ormanın Gücü", Kızılmaske #195 – #196 (1977)
• "Ormanın Gücü", Kızılmaske Albüm #61 (197?)

United Arab Republic

• Samir #178 – #189 (1959)

United Kingdom

• "The Cry Baby", The Phantom Illustrated Comic #5 (1959)

USA

• The Beaver County Times August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• The Birmingham News August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Bradford Era August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• The Bristol Daily Courier August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Charleston Daily Mail August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• The Charlotte News August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Chester Times August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Courier-Post August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• The Daily Item August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Denton Record-Chronicle August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• The Evening News August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Green Bay Press-Gazette August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Herald News August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Laurel Leader-Call August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Morristown Gazette Mail August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• The Oneonta Star August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Oxnard Press-Courier August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• The Plattsburgh Press-Republican August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• The Pocono Record August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Reading Eagle August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Richmond Times-Dispatch August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• The Rome Daily Sentinel August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Rome News-Tribune August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Sandusky Register Star News August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Syracuse Herald Journal August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• The Times Recorder August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• Uniontown Morning Herald August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• The Washington Reporter August 25, 1958 – November 1, 1958
• The Miami News September 29, 1958 – November 1, 1958 - without the first five weeks, but with intro text
• "The Crybaby", Comics Revue #379-380 (2017)
• "The Crybaby", The Complete Newspaper Dailies: Volume Fifteen 1957–1959 (2019)

West Germany

• "Der Sieger", Phantom #24 (1968)

Yugoslavia

• "Mamina maza", Denis #240 (1980)