The Delta Pirates

The Delta Pirates
Start date:	August 14th, 1977
End date:	October 23rd, 1977
# of strips:	11 pages
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Sy Barry
Original colorist:	KFS staff
Preceded by:	"The Hunters"
Followed by:	"The Wedding of the Phantom"

"The Delta Pirates" is the 103rd Phantom Sunday story. It was originally published in American newspapers from August 14th to October 23rd, 1977.

The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Sy Barry.

Plot Summary

In a harbour for freight ships, three sailors leave their ship to have a drink at the Blue Dragon. An elderly man is staying at the docks to guard the ships. From the nearby river delta comes four airboats, four men in each. The watchman is struck down and the men proceed to unload the most valuable cargo from the ships in the harbour. The watchman's torch sets fire to the pier, alerting the sailors at the Blue Dragon. The thieves drive off on their airboats. The Jungle Patrol's patrol boat is unable to follow the air boats into the delta. The captain of the Belle of Bangalla receive a cheque from the insurance company for the stolen goods. Colonel Worubu of the Jungle Patrol has sent out helicopters to search for the thieves but with no success.

Outside Morristown lies a harbour for luxury yachts. The thieves arrive there on their airboats to rob people on the boats. Colonel Worubu is on the phone with the Phantom when he receives a report of the ongoing robbery. The Phantom is near the harbour and go there on Hero. As the thieves leave again, they set fire to one of the yachts. As the last airboat leave the harbour, the Phantom jump on and take control of it. He follow the other airboats to the open sea, where they unload the stolen goods on the freigh ship Belle of Bangalla. A helicopter of the Jungle Patrol is searching for the thieves and the Phantom set fire to the airboat to alert the helicopter. The helicopter pilot discover the airboats around the freight ship and call for backup from the patrol boats. As the gang is arrested, the Phantom leave on one of the airboats.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Colonel Worubu
• Hero
• The 6th Phantom (mentioned)
• Redbeard (mentioned)
• The 7th Phantom (mentioned)
• Emperor Joonkar (mentioned)
• Joonkar's wife (mentioned)
• The 18th Phantom (mentioned)
• The 18th Phantom's twin sister (mentioned)
• The 18th Phantom's twin sister's husband (mentioned)

One-time characters

• Jocko
• Unnamed captain of the Belle of Bengalla
• Night Watchman
• Sala, dancer at the Blue Dragon
• Ed, JP
• Mike, JP

Locations

• Bengali
  • Morristown
    • Morristown harbour
    • Blue Dragon bar
  • Bengali River
    • River delta

Organizations

• The Jungle Patrol
• River pirates
• Barbary pirates
• Delta pirates

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Argentina

• "Los piratas del delta", Biblioteca Clarín de la Historieta #20 (2004)

Australia

• The Phantom #633 (1978)
• The Phantom #1061 (1993)
• The Phantom #1579 (2010)

Brazil

• "Piratas do Delta", O Fantasma Gold #2 (2002)

Colombia

• El Tiempo September 25, 1977 – December 4, 1977

Denmark

• "Deltapiraterne", Fantomet #147 (1980)
• "Deltapiraterne", Fantomet #323 (1990)

Finland

• Seura 31-41/1978
• "Suistomaan konnat", Mustanaamio 12/1978
• "Suistomaan konnat", Mustanaamio 4/1986
• "Delta-merirosvot", Mustanaamio 9/2008

France

• "Les pirates du delta", Le Fantôme #476 (1979)

Iceland

• Vikan August 17, 1978 – October 26, 1978

India

• "The Delta Pirates", Indrajal Comics #331 (1979)
• Comic World #6

Italy

• "I pirati del delta", Phantom – L'Uomo Mascherato #90 (1979)
• "I pirati del delta", Phantom #361

Norway

• Vi menn 17-30/1978
• "Deltapiratene", Fantomet 12/1978
• "Deltapiratene", Fantomet 9/1991
• "Deltapiratene", Fantomet 8/2008
• "Deltapiratene", Krønikebok #43 (2008)

Portugal

• "Os piratas do delta", Aventureiro #1 (1978)

Spain

• "¡Piratas", El Hombre Enmascarado #7 – #8 (1988)

Sweden

• "Deltapiraterna", Fantomen 3/1978
• "Deltapiraterna", Fantomen 20/1990
• "Deltapiraterna", Fantomen 9/2008

Turkey

• "Sahte Soygun", Kızılmaske #261 – #262 (1978)
• "Sahte Soygun", Kızılmaske #8
• "Sahte Soygun", Kızılmaske #56 – #57 (198?)
• "Sahte Soygun", Kızılmaske Albüm #54
• "Sahte Soygun", Kızılmaske Süper Albüm #17
• "Sahte Soygun", Kızılmaske Büyük Albüm #13
• "Delta Korsanları", Kızılmaske #12 (2014)

USA

• Anderson Herald August 14, 1977 – October 23, 1977
• Bluefield Daily Telegraph August 14, 1977 – October 23, 1977
• Cumberland Sunday Times August 14, 1977 – October 23, 1977
• The Danville Register August 14, 1977 – October 23, 1977
• The Gadsden Times August 14, 1977 – October 23, 1977
• The Kingsport Times-News August 14, 1977 – October 23, 1977
• The News Tribune August 14, 1977 – October 23, 1977
• La Opinión August 14, 1977 – October 23, 1977
• The Robesonian August 14, 1977 – October 23, 1977
• Rome News-Tribune August 14, 1977 – October 23, 1977
• San Antonio Light August 14, 1977 – October 23, 1977
• Spartanburg Herald-Journal August 14, 1977 – October 23, 1977
• The Tuscaloosa News August 14, 1977 – October 23, 1977

Yugoslavia

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