The Prisoner in Venice

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The Prisoner in Venice
Produced for: Fantomen 2/1975
# of pgs: 22
Writer: Janne Lundström &
Jaime Vallvé
Artist: Jaime Vallvé
Original colorist: N/A
Producer: Semic Press


"The Prisoner in Venice" is a 1975 Team Fantomen story, written by Janne Lundström and Jaime Vallvé, with art by Jaime Vallvé.

Plot summary

Rex and Tom-Tom are fishing near the skull cave. They ask the Phantom to hear a story from the chronicles. The Phantom read from the diary of the 11th Phantom who arrived in Venice in March 1757 to attend the carnival and to practice fencing.

Claudio di Mascarelli, member of the republic's Great council is jailed by Messer Grande of the inquisition, in order to force him to sign a false confession that the Great Council is planning a coup against the ruler, the Doge. Despite torture he has so far been able to refuse to sign the document. Messer Grande is certain that a full confession will be made if di Mascarelli's daughter can be jailed as well. That same night the Phantom is attacked by the bodyguards of Renata di Mascarelli who mistakingly believe that the Phantom is a member of the police force. After a short fight the bodyguards run off and the Phantom take Renata to his palace after discovering that she is wearing a necklace of the Good Mark.

The sbirri police force is also looking for Renata and see for themselves that the foreign merchant Walker has taken Renata to his palace. Chief of police Roca advises that caution must be exercised when arresting Renata. In the palace, Renata explains that the necklace of the good mark was given to her grandfather, captain of a Venetian ship who helped out an English ship who was once attacked by pirates. Renata also explains that it was her intention to travel to Bengali to ask the mysterious Phantom for help. Walker the merchant ask if he can help her instead. When the sbirri police force arrive to the palace to search for Renata, she is hidden in a secret room.

The Phantom plan to free Renata's father from the prison. He arranges for the both of them to be invited to a masquerade at the Doge's palace. Messer Grande and the chief of police plan to use a female police spy to make the Phantom drink a sleeping potion. Renata hear of this however and she and the Phantom tie her up and then she switches clothes with her. Renata and the Phantom get into Roca's office and force him to show them the way to the prison.

After a short fight with Roca's men, Claudio di Mascarelli is freed. With Roca as hostage they are allowed to speak with the doge. Claudio explain how Messer Grande has tried to force him to sign a false confession. At that moment Messer Grande pull a knife to stab Claudio di Mascarelli but the Phantom stop him by throwing chief of police Roca at him.

A few days later the Phantom ask Renata to be his wife. They leave Venice together on a ship.

Appearances

Recurring characters

One-time characters

  • Maestro Petrini, fencing instructor
  • Giorgio, bodyguard
  • Giuseppe, member of the sbirri police force
  • Roca, chief of the sbirri police force
  • Grandfather di Mascarelli
  • Countess, police spy
  • Maestro Morte, chief torturer

Real-life characters


Locations


Trivia

  • At the beginning of the story the Phantom say that he will read from the diary of the 11th Phantom, although he is clearly reading from one of the large chronicle books.

Related stories

Followed by

Referenced in

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

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