The Thuggees

The Thuggees
Start date:	August 22nd, 1949
End date:	February 25th, 1950
# of strips:	162 daily strips & 26 sundays
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Wilson McCoy
Original colorist:	KFS staff (sundays)
Preceded by:	"The Flirtatious Princess"
Followed by:	"The Ape Idol of the Durugu"

"The Thuggees" is the 36th Phantom daily story and the 24th Phantom Sunday story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Wilson McCoy.

Plot synopsis

Part 1 - Dailies The Phantom and Diana separately have the idea to fly to the other. On her flight, Diana is taken for ransom by the Thuggees. The Phantom assists a police investigation which leads to Prince Tydore being the next Thuggee victim.

Part 2 - Dailies Diana is taken for ransom by the Thuggees. The Phantom is kidnapped in place of Prince Tydore so that he can be taken to Diana to rescue her. After the rescue, Prince Tydore plots to have the Phantom fall in love with and marry his daughter, Princess Tari, instead of Diana.

Contains origin story.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Devil
• Guran
• Hero
• Diana Palmer
• Lily Palmer
• Dave Palmer
• Hero's watcher

One-time characters

• Kali, Thuggee Leader
• Prince Tydore of Tydia
• Toto, the giant gorilla
• Princess Tari of Tydia, only child of Prince Tydore
• Count Boyar, Ambassador of Cirdan
• The Chief of Llongo
• The Chief of Osewey
• Don
• Tando

Locations

• Bengali
  • Morristown
  • Deep Woods
    • The Skull Cave
      • The Skull Throne
• USA
  • New York
    • Westford
      • The Palmer Home
• Tydia
  • Prince Tydor's Magnificent White palace of Gleaming Marble
  • Thuggee Island
    • Chamber of the Idol

Tribes

• Llongo
• Wobangu
• Osewey
• Durugu

Organizations

• Thuggees
• Prince Tydore's Marines

Vehicles

• Black Maria, police vehicle

Phantom Lore

• The Skull Mark

Deities and Idols

• Thuggee idol
• Ape Idol of the Durugu

Behind the scenes

• Starting in February 1949 the Phantom Sundays and the Phantom daily strips featured the same story. Unlike in the 1970's – where the stories "The Wedding of the Phantom", "The Three Bandits" and "The Heirs" ran both as dailies and Sundays – these adventures did not feature parallel stories but rather one story spanning over both weekdays and Sundays. However, since several newspapers only included either the Phantom dailies or the Phantom Sundays, the stories also had to be written in such way that the readers who didn't get both still were able to understand and appreciate the plot. As a result, the stories became quite repetitive when reading both Sundays and dailies, while the readers who only had access to either one of the two were left with some notable jumps in the storytelling. This practice was abandoned in May 1950, after four stories – "The Thuggees" being the third.
• Diana's address is given as "Diana Palmer, Westford, USA".
• The jungle chiefs know about The Phantom's mortality, and are worried about him not getting a son.
• The Phantom tells the chiefs, and later Princess Tari, that he'll marry Diana. Later on Prince Tydore commands The Phantom to marry Tari.
• Beginning with January 16th, 1950, the daily strip gets new lettering.
• Ossewey was spelled as Osewey.
• Call sign of Radio Tydia given as T678.

Related stories

Followed by

• "The Ape Idol of the Durugu" by Lee Falk and Wilson McCoy

Referenced in

• "Return of the Silken Noose" by Bertil Wilhelmsson

Remade as

• "The Assassins" by Carson Bingham
• "The Goddess of Death" by Özcan Eralp

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Argentina

• "El secuestro de Diana", Tit-Bits #2174 – #2198 (1951) - dailies only
• "Deben ser los Gorilas", Super Album de la Historieta #19 - Sundays only
• "Las garras de los Tugs", La Sombra #11 – #12 (1959) - dailies only

Australia

• The Phantom #86 – #87 (1953) - dailies only
• The Phantom #178 – #179 (1960) - dailies only
• The Phantom #286 – #287 (1965) - dailies only
• The Phantom #430 – #431 (1970) - dailies only
• The Phantom #600 – #601 (1977) - dailies only
• The Phantom #807 – #808 (1984) - dailies only
• The Phantom #982 (1991) - Sundays only
• The Phantom #1234 (1999) - dailies only
• The Phantom #1496 (2007) - Sundays only
• The Phantom #1760 and #1751 (2016) - dailies only
• The Phantom #1958 (2023) - dailies only

Barbados

• Barbados Advocate ?, 1949 – April 26, 1950 - dailies only

Brazil

• "O Fantasma Voador Contra os Agentes de Kali", Novo O Globo Juvenil #1998 and #2004 (1950) - dailies only
• Almanaque de O Globo Juvenil 1953 (1952) - Sundays only
• "Os Bandidos da Ilha", Fantasma #81 (1963) - Sundays only
• O Fantasma Edição Extra #3 (1972) - dailies only
• "A Princesa de Tydia", Super Almanaque Especial (1972; part 2) - Sundays only
• "Uma Mulher para Dois", Fantasma #222 (1974) - Sundays only
• "A Princesa de Tydia", Almanaque do Fantasma (1977; part 2) - Sundays only
• "O Rapto de Diana" and "Uma Esposa para o Fantasma", Fantasma - Edição Histórica #9 (1995) - dailies only

Canada

• La Patrie August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - both Sundays and dailies
• Le Nouvelliste August 27, 1949 – February 18, 1950 - Sundays only
• Le Soleil August 28, 1949 – February 19, 1950 - Sundays only
• L'Action catholique October 18, 1949 – April 29, 1950 - dailies only

Denmark

• Aalborg Stiftstidende July 22, 1950 – January 27, 1951 - dailies only
• Horsens Folkeblad May 4, 1951 – November 9, 1951 - dailies only
• Hejmdal May 30, 1951 – December 5, 1951 - dailies only
• "Mysteriet med silkesnøren", Fantomet pocket #1 (1981) - dailies only
• Klassisk Album #1 (1985) - Sundays only

Finland

• "Kuristajat", Sarjakuvalehti 13/1951 – 12/1952 - Sundays only
• "Naamio ja “Kuristajat”", Kippari Kalle 11/1955 - dailies only
• "Kuristajaliiga", Nastasarjat 1/1965 - Sundays only
• "Silkkinyörin salaisuus", Sarjakirja #69 (1982) - dailies only
• Historiallisia Seikkailuja #1 (1984) - Sundays only
• "Silkkinyörin salaisuus", Sarjakirja 1/1994 - dailies only
• "Silkkinyörin arvoitus", Ilta-Sanomat October 24, 2018 – December 21, 2018 - both Sundays and dailies (some strips from December 1949 out of order, 1st-3rd, 13th, and 23rd Sunday page missing, 8th Sunday page incomplete)

France

• L'Aurore February 6, 1950 – August 18, 1950 - dailies only
• "L'île de Kali", Le Fantôme du Bengale #34, "Le message lumineux", #35 and "La princesse Tari", #36 (1951-1952)
• "La secte des Tugsh", Le Fantôme Spécial #29 and "Le paradis de Tydore", #30 (1966) - dailies only
• "L'île des Thugs" and "Le paradis de Tydore", Le Fantôme #453 (1974) - Sundays only
• "L'île des Thugs" and "Le paradis de Tydore", Le Fantôme Album #53 (probably 1975) - Sundays only

Ireland

• Sunday Independent January 15, 1950 – July 2, 1950 - Sundays only, without the first week

Italy

• "Nel covo del Thugs", L'Uomo Mascherato #17 (1962; traced and with additional art by Domenico Mirabella) - Sundays only (part 1)
• "La Setta dei Tughs", L'Uomo Mascherato Super Albo #141 and "Il paradiso do Tydore", L'Uomo Mascherato Super Albo #143 (1965) - dailies only
• "L'isola dei Tughs" and "Il paradise di Tydore", Phantom – L'Uomo Mascherato #67 (1974) - Sundays only
• "L'isola dei Tughs", Raccolta Super Phantom #3 and "Il paradise di Tydore", #4 (1976)
• "L'isola dei Thugs", Phantom #24 and "Il paradise di Tydore", #25 (1993) - both Sundays and dailies
• "L'isola dei Thugs" and "Il paradise di Tydore", Phantom #250 and #263 - both Sundays and dailies

Mexico

• El Informador October 17, 1949 – April 22, 1950 - both Sundays and dailies
• "Contra los Thugs", Paquito #10005 – #10006 (1953) - dailies only
• "Un Golpe en el Corazon", El Fantasma #61 (1972) - Sundays only

New Zealand

• The Phantom #29 – #33 - dailies only
• The Phantom #244 – #250 - dailies only
• The Phantom #521 – #525 - dailies only

Norway

• Aftenposten March 30, 1951 – October 6, 1951 - dailies only
• "Mysteriet med silkesnoren", Serie-pocket #64 (1982) - dailies only
• "Den mystiske silkesnoren", Klassisk Album #1 (1985) - Sundays only
• "Prins Tydores datter", Fantomet 2/1993 (supplement) - dailies only
• "Mysteriet med silkesnoren", Fantomet 17-18/2013 - dailies only

Spain

• "Amaraje forzoso", El Hombre Enmascarado #31, "Contra los agentes de Kali", #32, "Assesinos fanáticos", #33, "El asesino mecánico", #34, and "La traicion del maharaja", #35 (194?) - dailies only
• EDICIONES M.A.S. #9 – #13 (1957) - the first eleven weeks of dailies only
• "La pista de los Tughes", El Hombre Enmascarado #59A, "Plan Tydore", #60A and "La diosa de Kali", #61A (1964) - dailies only
• "La secta de los Thugs", Phantom, El Hombre Enmascarado #27 and "El paraiso de Tydore", #28 - both Sundays and dailies

Sweden

• Svenska Dagbladet October 11, 1950 – April 23, 1951 - dailies only
• Halland ?, 1951 – June ?, 1951 - dailies only
• Nerikes Allehanda September 27, 1951 – April 4, 1952 - dailies only
• "Silkessnaran", Vecko-Revyn 21 – 37/1952 and "Tydors dotter Tari", 38 – 46/1952 - Sundays only
• Fantomen 16 – 26/1953 - dailies only
• "Silkessnaran", Fantomen Christmas Album 1957 - Sundays only
• "Mysteriet med Silkessnaran", Fantomen 10/1962 - dailies only
• "Mysteriet med Silkessnaran", Seriepocket #111 (1982) - dailies only
• "Silkessnaran" and "Prins Tydores dotter", Fantomen Christmas Album 1985 - Sundays only
• Fantomen - Den inbundna årgången 1953, Del 2 - Del 3 - dailies only
• "Silkessnaran", Fantomen Christmas Album 2007 - Sundays only - facsimile reprint of 1957 Christmas Album
• "Mysteriet med Silkessnaran", Fantomen 14-15/2013 - dailies only
• "Mysteriet med Silkessnaran", Fantomen - Den inbundna årgången 1962, Del 3 - dailies only

Switzerland

• L'Impartial February 17, 1955 – August 30, 1955 - dailies only

Turkey

• "Esrarlı Ada", Haftalık Albüm #19 – #20 - dailies only

United Kingdom

• Birmingham Evening Despatch October 24, 1949 – May 3, 1950 - dailies only

USA

• The Alabama Journal August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• The Birmingham News August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies and the last four Sundays
• Bradford Era August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• Carthage Evening Press August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• Charleston Daily Mail August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - both Sundays and dailies
• Chester Times August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• The Daily Item August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• The Daily Record August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• The Decatur Daily August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• Dziennik dla Wszystkich August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• The Evening News August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• Hanford Morning Journal August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• Herald News August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• The Nassau Daily Review-Star August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• The Oneonta Star August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• The Winchester Sun August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• The Atlanta Constitution August 28, 1949 – February 19, 1950 - Sundays only
• La Opinión August 28, 1949 – February 19, 1950 - Sundays only
• Oxnard Press-Courier August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• The Progress August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• The Rome Daily Sentinel August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• San Antonio Light August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - both Sundays and dailies
• San Francisco Examiner August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• Sandusky Register Star News August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• Syracuse Herald Journal August 22, 1949 – February 25, 1950 - dailies only
• Cumberland Sunday Times August 28, 1949 – February 19, 1950 - Sundays only
• The Milwaukee Sentinel August 28, 1949 – February 19, 1950 - Sundays only
• St. Petersburg Times August 28, 1949 – February 19, 1950 - Sundays only
• The Phantom Sundays #2 – #3 (1989) - Sundays only
• "The Thuggees", Comics Revue #333-334 – #359-360 (2014-16; colored by Ivan Pedersen) - both Sundays and dailies
• The Complete Newspaper Dailies and Sundays: Volume Nine 1949–1950 (2016) - both Sundays and dailies

West Germany

• "Phantom und die Würger", Phantom-Heft 2/1953 and "Liebe und Intrige", 19/1953 - Sundays only, without the first five weeks