Rex: Prince of Baronkhan

Rex: Prince of Baronkhan
Start date:	February 6th, 1989
End date:	August 5th, 1989
# of strips:	156 (26 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Sy Barry
Original colorist:	N/A
Preceded by:	"Chasamba"
Followed by:	"Massacre at Walker's Table"

"Rex: Prince of Baronkhan" is the 166th Phantom daily story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Sy Barry.

Plot synopsis

The Duke of Shambad has ruined his country and visit his rich neighbor Baronkhan, where Prince Rex rules, to borrow money. Rex refuses, and angered, the Duke attack Rex, only to be thrown down to the floor. Angry, the Duke leaves.

Later, while Rex is planning to make a visit to Eden, he receives a messenger from Shambad that explain that the Duke felt insulted and now want to restore his honor in a duel. Rex manages to get his uncle Walker to Baronkhan to get his advice. Then he receives a new message, the Duke has taken Rex' youth into consideration and now feels that his honor can be restored if Rex pay 5 million in gold. Taking some advice from uncle Walker, Rex refuses to pay any money and accepts the challenge.

Rex and the Duke then duels, using slingshots to the great disdain of the Duke. When the Duke misses his shot and Rex shoots his slingshots out of his hand, he loses his temper and pull a revolver, trying to shoot Rex, but is stopped by the Phantom who then makes the Duke apologize to Rex for his bad behavior.

Rex then travels to Eden with only one security guard, sergeant John. However, he turns out to be a murderer, sent by the Duke to kill Rex. It is only due to the fact that the Phantom has grown suspicious that saves Rex. It turns out that the chief of security, major Conann, is the father of sergeant John, although he had nothing to do with the attempted murder.

Back in Baronkhan, the Phantom decides to try and bring the Duke to Baronkhan in order that he may be sentenced there. He arranges a pardoning of sergeant John, who has been sentenced to hang, in exchange for some services that would make it easier for the Phantom to get the Duke; informing the Duke that he has succeeded and will soon arrive to Shambad.

The Phantom then sneaks into Shambad and finds out that the Duke of Shambad is only a temporary regent until the true ruler, Princess Alicia, has come of age. However, it turns out that the Duke has locked her up in the dungeons and finally stopped to feed her and her nurse, planning to starving her to death. The attempt fails when the Phantom breaks into the dungeon and free her. When it becomes known to some of the higher militaries and rulers that the Duke has attempted to murder Alicia, they have nothing against the Phantom taking him with him to Baronkhan to face trial of attempted murder of the ruler. The Duke is pardoned from hanging since the crime was not committed in Baronkhan, but in the jungle, hence they were sentenced to serve their crime with the Dukassh-tribe. They are informed that the Dukassh-tribe is the last cannibals in the jungle but have promised not to eat them, while in fact, the Dukassh-tribe are vegetarians.

Rex and Alicia then came to meet for the first time during a diplomatic visit made by Alicia in the aftermath of the attempted murder of both of them.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Rex
• Diana Palmer-Walker
• Kit and Heloise
• Devil
• Baldy
• Hzz
• Alicia of Shambad
• Colonel Petra

One-time characters

• The Duke of Shambad
• Sergeant John
• Major Conann

Locations

• Bengali
  • The Deep Woods
  • Eden
  • The Misty Mountains
    • Baronkhan
    • Shambad

Tribes

• Bandar
• Dukassh

Old Jungle Sayings

• When the Phantom moves, lightning stands still.

Trivia

• First meeting between Rex and Princess Alicia.

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Australia

• The Phantom #948A (1990)
• The Phantom #1436 (2006)

Brazil

• "O Atentado", Fantasma Especial #1 (1997)

Canada

• Le Nouvelliste May 12, 1989 – November 9, 1989

Denmark

• "Prins Rex", Fantomet #325 – #326 (1991)
• Djursland February 23, 1991 – September 5, 1991 and May 14, 1998 – September 30, 1998 (interrupted after the strip of June 21, 1989)

Finland

• "Prinssi Rex", Mustanaamio 10/1990

India

• "The Fearless Avenger", Indrajal Comics Vol. 26 No. 37 and "The Hired Assassin", Vol. 27 No. 2 (1990)
• "ரவுடி ராஜா" (romanized as "Rowdy raja"), Rani Comics #342

Italy

• "Fionde", Phantom #251 and "Il reggente" #273

Jamaica

• The Daily Gleaner February 6, 1989 – August 5, 1989

Mexico

• El Informador June 14, 1989 – December 29, 1989

Norway

• Aftenposten March 27, 1990 – October 6, 1990
• "Rex myrdet", Fantomet 11/1990
• "Rex myrdet", Serie-pocket #203 (1995)
• "Fyrst Rex", Fantomet 20-21/2011

Spain

• "Duelo desigual", El Hombre Enmascarado #31 – #32 (1990)
• "Rex, Príncipe de Baronkhan", Phantom, El Hombre Enmascarado #18

Sweden

• Svenska Dagbladet August 24, 1989 – February 19, 1990
• Göteborgs-Posten March 31, 1990 – August 19, 1990
• "Prins Rex", Fantomen 26/1989
• "Prins Rex", Fantomen 21-22/2011

Turkey

• "Baronkhan Prensi", Kızılmaske #23 (2015)

USA

• Anchorage Daily News February 6, 1989 – August 5, 1989
• Bangor Daily News February 6, 1989 – August 5, 1989
• Chippewa Herald February 6, 1989 – August 5, 1989
• The Daily American February 6, 1989 – August 5, 1989
• The Daily Item February 6, 1989 – August 5, 1989
• The Daily Journal February 6, 1989 – August 5, 1989
• The Gadsden Times February 6, 1989 – August 5, 1989
• Green Bay Press-Gazette February 6, 1989 – August 5, 1989
• Herald News February 6, 1989 – August 5, 1989
• The Indianapolis News February 6, 1989 – August 5, 1989
• Observer-Reporter February 6, 1989 – August 5, 1989
• The Plattsburgh Press-Republican February 6, 1989 – August 5, 1989
• Reading Eagle February 6, 1989 – August 5, 1989
• The Tuscaloosa News February 6, 1989 – August 5, 1989
• Stars and Stripes February 13, 1989 – August 12, 1989
• "The Richest Teen on Earth", Comics Revue #40 – #47 (1989-90)