The Fence

The Fence
Start date:	February 15th, 1971
End date:	May 8th, 1971
# of strips:	72 strips (12 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Sy Barry
Original colorist:	N/A
Preceded by:	"Yes"
Followed by:	"The Mysterious Passenger"

"The Fence" is the 112th Phantom daily story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Sy Barry.

Plot synopsis

The Phantom is sitting in the radio control room, listening to the radio news. All over the world, famous people have disappeared in various accidents. He shuts off the radio and ask Rex if he wants to go to Keela-Wee. They go there with Kateena and Joomba. On the shore Rex finds a bottle with a note in inside. The note is from two men who claim that they are held as prisoners on an island shaped like a ring, signed by Vargo, a famous nuclear scientist, and Giusepp, a famous violin player.

The Phantom knows that both Vargo and Giusepp have recently been reported as dead and decides to investigate. The fishermen of the Mori take him in a canoe to a ring shaped island off the coast. As the Phantom is about to swim ashore, the ghostly images of evil spirits can be seen, accompanied by a frightening moan. After going ashore he discovers that the sound and images come from a film projector.

Continuing on foot, the Phantom discovers a cave complex with cells holding two prisoners, Vargo and Giusepp. The Phantom is forced to let go of his pistols and is interrogated by an elderly gentlemen who is in charge. He calls himself The Fence and explain that he kidnaps famous skilled people and sells them. The Phantom forces himself out of the interrogation room, forces The Fence to surrender and to order the guards to release the prisoners. They then use The Fence's airplane to leave the island and the crooks are handed over to the Jungle Patrol.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Rex
• Hero
• Devil
• Kateena
• Joomba
• Fraka
• Colonel Worubu
• Tom-Tom

One-time characters

• The Fence
• Vargo, nuclear scientist
• Giusepp, violinist
• Antone, architect
• Javagga, heart surgeon

Locations

• Bengali
  • Deep Woods
    • The Skull Cave
      • The Radio Control Room
    • Keela-Wee
  • The Isle of Demons

Tribes

• Mora

Organizations

• The Jungle Patrol

Old Jungle Sayings

• The steel fists of the Phantom can break men like straws of grass.

Behind the scenes

• At least seven people are seen heading for The Fence's small one- or two-seater airplane to leave the island. (However, it is not shown that they all leave at once, nor that this is the only plane on the island.)

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Argentina

• "El comerciante", Fantasía #190 (1972)

Australia

• "The Fence", The Phantom #462 (1971)
• "The Fence", The Phantom #636 (1978)
• "The Island of Demons", The Phantom #845 (1986)
• "The Fence", The Phantom #1312 (2002)
• "The Fence", The Phantom #1566 (2010)

Brazil

• "A Ilha dos Demônios", Fantasma #190 (1972)
• "A Ilha dos Demônios", Fantasma #306 (1981)
• "A Ilha dos Demônios", Fantasma Extra #1 (1987)

Canada

• Le Nouvelliste May 19, 1971 – July 27, 1971
• L'Action February 25, 1971 – May 22, 1971

Denmark

• Horsens Folkeblad August 18, 1972 – November 10, 1972
• Aalborg Stiftstidende August 21, 1972 – November 11, 1972
• Hejmdal November 1, 1972 – November 27, 1972 (interrupted after the strip of March 12, 1971)
• "Dæmonernes ø", Fantomet #172 (1981)

Finland

• "Elävät kuolleet", Mustanaamio 7/1972
• "Paholaissaari", Mustanaamio 7/1980
• "Paholaissaari", Sarjakirja 1/1990
• "Paholaissaari", Mustanaamio 14/2000
• "Elävät kuolleet", Mustanaamio 1972 (2015)
• Ilta-Sanomat September 6, 2019 – September 25, 2019

France

• "L'île des démons", Le Fantôme Spécial #2 (1973)

Greece

• "Στο νησι του διαβολου" (romanized as "Sto nisi tou diavolou"), Fantom #55 (1976)

Iceland

• Tíminn September 1, 1971 – November 21, 1971

India

• "The Brain Seller", Indrajal Comics #184 (1973)
• "Return of the Dead Geniuses", Indrajal Comics Vol. 24 No. 51 (1987)
• "பேய் தீவு" (romanized as "Pei theevu"), Rani Comics #234
• "The Fence", The Phantom #33 (2023; colored by Ivan Pedersen)

Italy

• "L'isola degli spettri", I Quaderni del Fumetto #5 (1973)
• "Il ricettatore", Phantom #358

Jamaica

• The Daily Gleaner February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971

Mexico

• El Informador June 16, 1971 – September 7, 1971

The Netherlands

• "Het eiland van de demonen", Fantoom #1 (1984)

Norway

• Aftenposten October 18, 1972 – January 12, 1973
• "Demonenes øy", Fantomet 10/1980
• "Demonenes øy", Serie-pocket #152 (1990)
• "Demonenes øy", Fantomet 14/2000
• "Demonenes øy", Fantomet Year Album 2023

Portugal

• "Os Sábios Desaparecidos", Mundo de Aventuras #1252 (1973)

Spain

• "La Playa de Keela-Wee", El Hombre Enmascarado #2 (1973)
• "La Playa de Keela-Wee", El Hombre Enmascarado #2 (1979)
• "La isla de los demonios", Phantom, El Hombre Enmascarado #61 (1999)
• "El perista", The Phantom - El Hombre Enmascarado #14 (2022)

Sweden

• "De levande döda", Fantomen 26/1971
• Svenska Dagbladet February 15, 1972 – May 12, 1972
• Göteborgs-Tidningen May 17, 1972 – August 12, 1972
• Nerikes Allehanda January 9, 1973 – April 2, 1973
• "Demonernas ö", Fantomen 1/1980
• "Demonernas ö", Fantomen 14/2000
• "De levande döda", Fantomen - Den inbundna årgången 1971, Del 5 (2023)

Turkey

• "Hortlaklar Adası", Kızılmaske #1 (1973)
• "Hortlaklar Adası", Kızılmaske Albüm #1 (197?)
• "Hortlaklar Adası", Kızılmaske Albüm #101
• "Hortlaklar Adası", Kızılmaske Albüm #69
• "Hortlaklar Adası", Kızılmaske Süper Albüm #24
• "Hortlaklar Adası", Kızılmaske Süper Albüm #27
• "Hortlaklar Adası", Kızılmaske Büyük Albüm #9
• "Hayaletler Adası", Yeni Kızılmaske #2 (2011)
• "Aracı", Kızılmaske #5 (2013)

United Kingdom

• Birmingham Evening Mail June 7, 1971 – August 28, 1971

USA

• Appleton Post-Crescent February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Bangor Daily News February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• The Beaver County Times February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971 (to at least March 31, 1971)
• Beckley Post Herald February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Bradford Era February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Bucks County Courier Times February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Charleston Daily Mail February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• The Charlotte News February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Chippewa Herald February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Courier-Post February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• The Daily American February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• The Daily Item February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• The Daily Journal February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Delaware County Daily Times February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• The Gadsden Times February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Green Bay Press-Gazette February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Herald News February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• The Indianapolis News February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Laurel Leader-Call February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• The News Item February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• The News Journal February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Observer-Reporter February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• The Oneonta Star February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Orlando Sentinel February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• The Plattsburgh Press-Republican February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Reading Eagle February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Red Bank Register February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Republican Herald February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• The Rome Daily Sentinel February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Rome News-Tribune February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• The Tampa Times February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• Uniontown Morning Herald February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• The Washington Reporter February 15, 1971 – May 8, 1971
• "The Fence", The Complete Newspaper Dailies: Volume Twenty-Three 1971–1972 (2021)

West Germany

• "Das Geheimnis der tanzenden Geister", Phantom #55 (1976)
• "Das Geheimnis der tanzenden Geister", Phantom Super-band #4
• "Der Herr des verfluchten Eilands", Phantom #173 (1981)
• "Der Herr des verfluchten Eilands", Phantom Super-band #43

Yugoslavia

• Večernje novine February 1, 1972 – May 15, 1972
• "Ostrvo demona", Denis #125 – #126 (1978)