The Strange Girl

The Strange Girl
Produced for:	L'Uomo Mascherato #218 (1967)
# of pgs:	24
Writer:	Germano Ferri
Artist:	Germano Ferri
Original colorist:	unknown
Producer:	Fratelli Spada

"The Strange Girl" is a 1967 Fratelli Spada story by Germano Ferri.

Plot synopsis

Tobo, a Tongosta child, comes across a strange animal on the hill and asks the 21st Phantom to help him investigate. The Phantom discovers a lifeless young woman in a blue evening gown who wakes up with amnesia. Sister Moira of the Jungle Hospital helps treat the woman who turns out to be Barbara Benson, the ex financée of her brother Alan.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Hero
• Fraka
• Dr Axel
• Barbara Benson
• Alan Birdie
• Moira, nurse in the Jungle Hospital

One-time characters

• Tobo, Tongosta child
• Tamboto, Tobo's papa
• Aunt Taito, Tobo's aunt
• unnamed light plane pilot
• unnamed helicopter pilot
• William Benson, Barbara's father, American industrial magnate

Locations

• Bangalla
  • The Jungle Hospital
  • Tongosta Village
• USA
  • Pennsylvania
    • University of Philadelphia
    • The Park Theatre

Tribes

• Tongosta

Organizations

• the (Bengalla?) Flying Club

Aircraft

• Wreck of light plane
• Helicopter

Items

• Blue piece of cloth from an evening gown
• A small flower bouquet with a ribbon

Behind the scenes

• The story was first published in Italy under the title "La donna addormentata" ("The Sleeping Woman"). However, Germano Ferri originally wanted the title to be "La bella addormentata" ("The Sleeping Beauty") to remind of the fairy tale of the same name. The editors disagreed and changed the title. When the story was published in France, it was given the title "La belle au bois dormant" which is the same name as the fairy tale in French. The titles used in Norway and Sweden in 2012 also translate to "The Sleeping Beauty", but this title does not remind readers of the fairy tale which has a completely different name in Norwegian and Swedish.

• When the story was made, Fratelli Spada stories were usually 32 pages long, but they decided to change that to 24 pages during the production of this story. For this reason, some pages were combined into one page and therefore contain many more panels than the other pages.

• The version published in 2012 includes additional editing and art provided by Germano Ferri himself.

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Australia

• "The Strange Girl", The Phantom #1629 (2012)

France

• "La belle au bois dormant", Le Fantôme #134 (1966)

Italy

• "La donna addormentata", L'Uomo Mascherato #218 (1967)

Norway

• "Den sovende skjønnheten", Fantomet 9-10/2012

Sweden

• "Den mystiska kvinnan", Fantomen 13/1968
• "Den sovande skönheten", Fantomen 10-11/2012
• "Den mystiska kvinnan", Fantomen - Den inbundna årgången 1968, Del 3 (2018)

Turkey

• "Esrarengiz Kadın", Kızılmaske Albüm #47
• "Esrarengiz Kadın", Kızılmaske Süper Albüm #31