Tag: The Maltese Falcon

What’s Going On In The Phantom (Sundays)? What is this John X business? January – April 2024


The past couple months in Tony DePaul and Jeff Weigel’s The Phantom (Sundays) has seen a lot of Jungle Patrol head Colonel Worubu looking over the Unknown Commander’s new office. This is justified by the import of the thing. Tony DePaul is trying to revise a big part of Phantom Pholklore. Up to now, The Phantom has given his orders to the Jungle Patrol by orders left in a safe, signalled by a light above the door. Now, The Phantom, and DePaul, want the Unknown Commander to have new ways to be “seen” by his forces. If the big change doesn’t get screen time to make an impression and show why this is more interesting it doesn’t get weight; compare the hilarious failure of the multicolored Daleks that one Doctor Who. The bigger panels and looser story of a Sunday continuity give time to luxuriate in this.

That’s my interpretation, anyway; you can have others and DePaul is certainly willing to discuss his own ideas of why he writes what he does. Anyway, if you’re looking for recaps of the weekday plot, or for a more up-to-date Sundays recap and it’s after about July 2024, try this link. If those don’t work try some other links. Something will turn up. Back to Jungle Patrol Headquarters, now:

The Phantom (Sundays).

28 January – 21 April 2024.

The Unknown Commander’s office renovations were freshly done, when I last checked in. And then we saw The Ghost Who Rehearses going over a script with Diana.

Back at Jungle Patrol Headquarters, Colonel Worubu and Captain Weeks can’t resist the temptation to see the Unknown Commander’s office. Especially now that there’s personal possessions in it. We spend a lot of time in this, examining things brought from the treasure rooms — sextants and battle flags and Maltese Falconses and such. It deeply impresses the Colonel and the Captain.

Captain Weeks, kneeling by the door: 'Colonel? About the chain of command? How nobody knocks on the Unknown Commander's door but you? ... Maybe this doorstop means he has a different idea, sir! --- An open-door policy!' Colonel Woruba: 'Doorstop? Where' Weeks, picking up a falcon statue: 'I found it on the floor by the door, Colonel ... the Unknown Commander was very specific. Isn't that what we were told?' They examine it, amazed, recognizing it as The Maltese Falcon, as in the Humphrey Bogart movie. We cut to The Phantom and his wife, watching over the computer. They hear Woruba say, 'Captain, would you ... ? P- put this item back where you found it?' Weeks: 'The floor by the door, colonel! Yes, sir!' Diana asks The Phantom: 'Wait a minute ... where did you get that?' The Phantom: 'I happened to run across it in the Minor Treasure Room. If you're asking me where the 11th Phantom got it ... that's a longer story.'
Tony DePaul and Jeff Weigel’s The Phantom for the 17th of March, 2024. DePaul really gives frustrated-lit-majors a treat with this Maltese Falcon which, of course, is a thing invented for the novel without basis in reality. This whole story has been about creating fictions; the opening and framing even had “Lee Falk” — a fictional version of the man, standing in for DePaul and (I read it) all creators of Phantom stories — addressing the audience and speaking of how even he doesn’t know what The Phantom is thinking. This reached its peak on the 11th of February, where “Lee Falk” peeks over The Phantom’s shoulder as he writes his Chronicles, and The Phantom notices. An actual critic would launch an essay about text and metatext on that.

Finally, The Phantom breaks silence, speaking over the hidden speakers to Worubu and Weeks. His declaration: when John X gets back, bring him to the Unknown Commander’s office. X’s most recent report is inadequate. Also, turn the lights out when you leave.

The Phantom then returns to Jungle Patrol headquarters, in his guise as John X. He had, as John X, spread the story he thought the Unknown Commander was dead and was supposedly checking the post office box in Mawitaan for orders. Worubu brings John X in and they hear … nothing.

Next Week!

After some of the indignities of age we swerve into dog medicine in Terry Beatty’s Rex Morgan, M.D., next week. Uh … there is pet endangerment in the current storyline but, c’mon, it’s Terry Beatty’s Rex Morgan. Everything’s going to be okay, and pretty fast.