The Rhodian Column

The Rhodian Column
Start date:	September 30th, 2019
End date:	February 22th, 2020
# of strips:	126 (21 weeks)
Writer:	Tony DePaul
Artist:	Mike Manley
Original colorist:	KFS staff
Preceded by:	"Heloise Comes Home"
Followed by:	"Unfinished Business"

"The Rhodian Column" is the 252nd Phantom daily story. The story was written by Tony DePaul and drawn by Mike Manley.

Plot Summary

A team of mercenaries has crossed the boarder from Rhodia into the Bangalla jungle with the plan to reach the Wambesi and releasing Chatu who has been imprisoned there. One of the group fires upon an Ogoru man who had been following them. The Ogoru tribe sends out a message on the jungle drums, alerting The Phantom. When he arrives at the waterfall which leads to the Skull Cave, the Phantom finds Babudan and Kipawa awaiting him. The two Bandar inform The Phantom of the situation and he sets out to find the team.

The Phantom finds that so as to not alert suspicions the mercenaries split up into groups of two, posing as simple photographers, artists, cyclists and so on. However, they are all following the same path through the jungle, in a form of column. This, along with concealed weapons, reveals the truth. The Phantom stealthily makes his way up the column, dispatching each group as he does so. Just before the heads of the column reaches the village, they are taken prisoner by Wambesi warriors.

The Phantom enters the village to discover if it was one of the Wambesi who leaked word of Chatu's location, and if Chatu himself knew about the rescue attempt. It is revealed that the Wambesi did not give away the information and that Chatu did know know of the column. Chatu takes this opportunity to threaten Diana's life, which earns him a punch from The Phantom. However, Chatu simply continues his mockery.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Hero
• Devil
• Babudan
• Kipawa
• Chatu

One-time characters

Locations

Tribes

• Bandar
• Wambesi
• Ogoru (mentioned only)
• Llongo (mentioned only)

Organizations

Vehicles

Items

Old jungle sayings

• Phantom moves as silently as a jungle cat.
• The biggest cat to prowl the night treads a wide path around the Phantom.
• Phantom walks in many forms.
• Phantom moves faster than lightning.

Behind the scenes

• Liang Zhao and Mimi Simon were uncredited background inking assistants on this story.

Related stories

Refers to

• "The Death of Diana Palmer Walker" by Tony De Paul and Paul Ryan
• "Terror Cells of New York" by Tony DePaul and Paul Ryan
• "The Trail to Gravelines Prison" by Tony DePaul and Paul Ryan
• "Chatu's Fate" by Tony DePaul and Paul Ryan

Referenced in

• "To Wrack and Ruin at Gravelines" by Tony De Paul and Mike Manley

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Australia

• The Advertiser September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• The Cairns Post September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• The Chronicle September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• The Courier-Mail September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• Daily Mercury September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• The Daily Telegraph September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• Fraser Coast Chronicle September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• Herald Sun September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• The Morning Bulletin September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• News-Mail September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• The Observer September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• The Sunshine Coast Daily September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• Townsville Bulletin September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• The Northern Star November 11, 2019 – April 4, 2020
• Shepparton News November 12, 2019 – May 7, 2020
• "The Rhodian Column", The Phantom #1894 (2021)

Colombia

• "La columna Rhodiana", El País January 13, 2020 – June 9, 2020

Ecuador

• "La columna Rhodiana", El Comercio December 16, 2019 – May 11, 2020

India

• The New Indian Express (Chennai edition) November 7, 2019 – April 1, 2020
• The New Indian Express (Bangalore edition) November 30, 2019 – April 25, 2020
• The Assam Tribune December 24, 2019 – May 25, 2020
• Anandabazar Patrika March 17, 2020 – July 21, 2020
• Hitavada April 13, 2020 – July 30, 2020

Jamaica

• The Daily Gleaner September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020

Mexico

• "La columna Rhodiana", El Informador November 16, 2019 – April 17, 2020

Norway

• "Den rhodiske kolonnen", Romsdals Budstikke February 1, 2021 – June 30, 2021 (first five strips missing)
• "Den rhodiske kolonnen", Fædrelandsvennen March 22, 2021 – August 25, 2021
• "Den rhodiske kolonnen", Gudbrandsdølen Dagningen March 24, 2021 – August 26, 2021
• "Den rhodiske kolonnen", Agderposten March 26, 2021 – August 27, 2021
• "Den rhodiske kolonnen", Varden April 23, 2021 – September 15, 2021 (first five strips missing)
• "Den rhodiske kolonnen", Grimstad Adressetidene May 11, 2021 – October 9, 2021
• "Den rhodiske kolonnen", Lofotposten October 12, 2021 – July 6, 2022

The Philippines

• The Philippine Star December 21, 2020 – May 18, 2021

El Salvador

• "La columna Rhodiana", La Prensa Gráfica April 5, 2021 – August 28, 2021

Sweden

• "Det rhodianska äventyret", Svenska Dagbladet April 16, 2020 – August 23, 2020
• "Kolonnen från Rhodia", Fantomen 10-11/2021
• "Det rhodianska äventyret", Jönköpings-Posten November 26, 2022 – April 26, 2023
• "Det rhodianska äventyret", Bohusläningen July 5, 2023 – December 1, 2023
• "Det rhodianska äventyret", Hallandsposten July 5, 2023 – December 1, 2023

USA

• Boston Herald September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• The Citizens' Voice September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• Delaware County Daily Times September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• Houston Chronicle September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• The Macomb Daily ? – February 22, 2020
• The News Item September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• Reading Eagle September 30, 2019 – February 22, 2020
• Royal Oak Tribune ? – February 21, 2020 (missing Monday and Tuesday strips)