The Hunters

The Hunters
Start date:	April 24th, 1977
End date:	August 7th, 1977
# of strips:	16 pages
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Sy Barry
Original colorist:	KFS staff
Preceded by:	"The Swamp Dragon"
Followed by:	"The Delta Pirates"

"The Hunters" is the 102nd Phantom Sunday story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Sy Barry.

Plot synopsis

Mr Marks and his friend arrive at Bengali Airport and are met by their guide Evans. Their purpose is game hunting. Visiting the Jungle Patrol's Morristown office to pay for a hunting license, they are instructed not to hunt for any endangered species. They fly off in a helicopter, staying away from the tribal lands of the Wambesi and the Llongo. As they fly across the jungle, they are spotted by the Phantom who wants to check if they are poachers.

As the group lands in Bandar land, they spot signs on the trees banning hunting. The helicopter pilot tells them that the Phantom has put up the signs. They use a rifle to shoot at the sign. After walking through the jungle they find the Phantom's island Eden. As they cross the water surrounding the island, the animals on the island look at the men without any fear. Meanwhile the Phantom is following the group, discovering the signs that have been shot at.

On the island the men start shooting at Hzz and the stegosaurus. The bullets richochet off their skins but injure an antilope. The Phantom arrives on the island and scare off the lions from the wounded antilope. He tell the group of hunters that this is his private island. When Evans threaten to shoot him, the Phantom gives the three men a punch in their face. The Phantom asks them politely to leave the island on the raft. Back on the other side, the three men tries to attack the Phantom but he gives each of them a punch in the face with the skull ring. The helicopter pilot is allowed to fly off but the other three men are instructed to walk back to Morristown without any weapon. A group of Bandars follow them secretly to make sure that no harm comes to them.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Devil
• Hero
• Hzz
• Stegy
• Baldy
• Solomon and Nefertiti

One-time characters

• Mr Marks
• Evans the guide
• Mr Mark's unnamed friend
• Unnamed helicopter pilot
• Unnamed sergeant of the Jungle Patrol
• Unnamed colonel of the Jungle Patrol

Locations

• Bengali
  • Morristown
    • Morristown office of the Jungle Patrol
  • Bengali Airport
  • Eden

Tribes

• Bandar
• Wambesi
• Llongo (mentioned)

Organizations

• The Jungle Patrol

Old jungle sayings

• Phantom moves faster than lightning flash.

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Australia

• The Phantom #624 (1977)
• The Phantom #836 (1985)
• The Phantom #1248 (1999)
• The Phantom #1413 (2005)

Brazil

• "Os Caçadores", O Fantasma Gold #2 (2002)

Colombia

• El Tiempo June 5, 1977 – September 18, 1977

Denmark

• "Jægerne", Fantomet #147 (1980)
• "Jægerne", Fantomet Samlealbum #8
• "Jægerne", Fantomet #319 (1990)

Finland

• Seura 14-30/1978
• "Metsästäjät", Mustanaamio 12/1978
• "Metsästäjät", Mustanaamio 3 – 6-7/2008

France

• "Safari à...Eden", Le Fantôme #475 (1979)

Iceland

• Vikan April 27, 1978 – August 10, 1978

India

• "வேதாளனின் சொர்க்கம்" (romanized as "Vethalanin Sorgam"), Muthu Comics #84 (1978)
• "The Phantom The Superhuman", Indrajal Comics #329 (1979)
• Phantom and the Trouble Shooter
• "வேட்டைக்காரன்" (romanized as "Vettai Karan"), Rani Comics #278 (1996)
• "The Trouble Shooter", Phantom #37
• "The Trouble Shooter", Phantom #90

Italy

• "Violenza sull'isola di Eden", Phantom – L'Uomo Mascherato #89 (1979)

Norway

• Vi menn 42/1977-5/1978
• "Jegerne", Fantomet 14/1978
• "Jegerne", Fantomet 2 – 5-6/2008
• "Jegerne", Krønikebok #44 (2008)

Portugal

• "Os Caçadores", Mundo de Aventuras #299 (1979)

Spain

• "El dragon del pantano", El Hombre Enmascarado #7 (1988)

Sweden

• "Jägarna", Fantomen 3/1978
• "Jägarna", Fantomen 3 – 6-7/2008
• "Jägarna", Den vandrande vålnaden (2024)

Turkey

• "Eden'de Tehlike", Kızılmaske #259 – #260 (1978)
• "Eden'de Tehlike", Kızılmaske Albüm #80 (197?)
• "Eden'de Tehlike", Kızılmaske Albüm #6
• "Eden'de Tehlike", Kızılmaske Albüm #81
• "Eden'de Tehlike", Kızılmaske #65
• "Eden'de Tehlike", Kızılmaske Süper Albüm #2
• "Eden'de Tehlike", Kızılmaske Büyük Albüm #1
• "Avcılar", Kızılmaske #12 (2014)

USA

• Anderson Herald April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• The Atlanta Constitution April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• Bluefield Daily Telegraph April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• Chicago Tribune April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• Cumberland Sunday Times April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• The Danville Register April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• The Gadsden Times April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• The Huntsville Times April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• The Kingsport Times-News April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• The Leaf-Chronicle April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• The Montgomery Advertiser April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• News-Press April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• The News Tribune April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• La Opinión April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• Orlando Sentinel April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• The Robesonian April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• Rome News-Tribune April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• San Antonio Light April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• Spartanburg Herald-Journal April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• St. Petersburg Times April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977
• The Tuscaloosa News April 24, 1977 – August 7, 1977

Yugoslavia

• "Lovci u raju", Mandrak magazin #2 (1989)