Number 1341: Jungle Jive Week: The Phantom and the dragon breath death

We have a theme week to end March and begin April: Jungle Jive week. We'll feature four tales this week from the comic book Africa.

First up is the second and final story from Harvey Comic Hits #56 (1952) by Lee Falk and Ray Moore. The Phantom faces a dragon god, in an edited version of the Phantom’s Sunday newspaper continuity from July 6, 1947 to November 16, 1947. Thanks to reader Darci for pointing out where to find that information, and if you’re interested in the Phantom, you can find the website here. The site has not been updated since 2007, but for our purposes it is still a valuable resource.

In “The Dragon-god of Death!” the Phantom rides off alone to fight the dragon menace, telling his girlfriend, Diana, to stay home with the Bandar tribe. He gets himself in a mess so the pygmies and Diana have to ride to his rescue. But it takes the Phantom’s dog, Devil, to save the day. See? It pays to be prepared with back-up. I hope the Phantom learned a lesson.

There’s an ad in the back of the issue promoting one of the most iconic of the “drug menace” comics, Teen-Age Dope Slaves. It’s a very salacious title for a reprint of a sequence from the Rex Morgan, M.D. newspaper comic strip.

The other story from this issue; click on the picture:

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Number 1065


The Phantom's treasure


I've been a Phantom fan my whole life, as have a lot of other people. The character first showed up in newspaper comics in 1936. Created by Lee Falk, drawn by Ray Moore, The Phantom was a worldwide hit.

But, lots of things about the Phantom bother me: a line of fathers and sons for all those generations (400 years worth) that are capable of being the Phantom; running around the jungle wearing a tight, hooded costume in the heat and humidity; superstitious "natives" who think he is a ghost walking. I enjoy the Phantom for the Golden Age fun, and try not to think too much about it.

Falk was a good plotter and could keep the action going. Ray Moore captured the Phantom's environment, and had that mid-'30s art style that is still enjoyable. I think of the Phantom as being the Lone Ranger of the jungle. They're two-fisted and quick-witted, noble to the point of being unbelievable.

"Curse of The Phantom's Treasure" is from the first Harvey Comics Phantom reprint, Harvey Comics Hits #51, 1951. The cover is by Al Avison.

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