Dangerous Escape
| Dangerous Escape | |
| Produced for: | Fantomen 15/2011 |
|---|---|
| # of pgs: | 32 |
| Writer: | Claes Reimerthi |
| Artist: | Felmang, Germano Ferri |
| Original colorist: | Reprostugan |
| Producer: | Egmont Kärnan |
"Dangerous Escape" is a 2011 Team Fantomen story, written by Claes Reimerthi, with art by Felmang and Germano Ferri.
Plot synopsis
In the civil war of Rodia, government forces are fighting several rebel groups. The largest rebel group, Rodian Liberation Army, controls the border to Bengali. RLA forces attack the Chibu village on the Bengali side of the border and round up the inhabitants to work in the Rodian diamond mines.
In the RLA jungle headquarters RLA general Aaron Chunka has a meeting with Igor Popov, an arms dealer. The production in the diamond mines is necessary for the RLA to pay for weapons and Popov insists on being paid in advance, although he is happy to accept blood diamonds.
The Phantom has fallen asleep on the Skull Throne where he has a vision of Diana, who is believed to have died (The Death of Diana Palmer Walker). When he wakes up he has a visitor, old Bautuzi, who tells him that her village has been attacked by evil men. The Phantom rides off to stop RLA attacks on Bengali border villages. At the RLA jungle headquarters, he tells general Chunka to pull out of Bengali and release all Bengali captives. Before leaving, the Phantom tells him that he only warns once. The next time, RLA troops are about to attack a Bengali border village, they are stopped by the Phantom and bandars.
In Morristown, president Singh has a meeting with her cabinet ministers about the border incursions. She decides that it is too early to pick sides in the Rodian civil war and to tell the public that the border guard will be increased while actually doing nothing. She also decides to make a state visit to Rodia.
In his hiding place in Sotuland, Dogai Singh has a meeting with Darkfire Corporation about selling weapons to the RLA. Although the RLA are paying with diamonds from their own mines, Dogai Singh can arrange for President Habare of Sotuland to certify that the diamonds comes from Sotuland. In exchange Dogai Singh needs Darkfire Corporation to finance a hostile take over of Sing Corporation, whose current chairwoman (his own daughter Sandal Singh) is expected to soon have a fatal accident.
The Phantom secretly sneaks into a Rodian labor camp where Bengali captives are forced to work in the diamond mines. After setting fire to a munitions building he sets the captives free and they escape in a caravan of army trucks. The RLA asks Popov to help them to stop the caravan with his helicopter and a grenade launcher. In a final showdown, Popov is about the shoot the Phantom when a mysterious sniper on the Bengali side of the border river kills Popov.
Without a supplier of weapons, the RLA is offered a contract with Darkfire Corporation.
Appearances
Recurring characters
- The 21st Phantom
- Guran
- Devil
- Hero
- Dogai Singh
- Sandal Singh
- Kevin
- Ilja Lusjin
- Aaron Chunka, RLA general
One-time characters
- Igor Popov, weapons dealer
- Old Batuzi, Chibu woman
- Foreign Minister Baluba
- Defence Minister Katanga
- President Habare of Sotuland (mentioned)
- Sal, RLA soldier
Related stories
Preceded by
- "The Skull Murders" by Claes Reimerthi and Sal Velluto
Followed by
- "Fateful Meeting" by Claes Reimerthi and Hans Lindahl
- "Encounter With Murder" by Claes Reimerthi and Joan Boix
Reprints
This story has been published in the following publications:
Australia
- "Dangerous Escape", The Phantom #1604 (2011)
Norway
- "Farlig flukt", Fantomet 14/2011
Sweden
- "Farlig flykt", Fantomen 15/2011