The Jungle Patrol
From PhantomWiki
| The Jungle Patrol | |
| First appearance: | "The Professor" |
|---|---|
| Created by: | Lee Falk and Wilson McCoy |
The Jungle Patrol is a paramilitary law enforcement organisation, formed by the 6th Phantom in 1664.
Contents |
History
According to Lee Falk
The formation took part after the Phantom had defeated the pirate leader Redbeard and his three lieutenants, Black Bart, Salla, and Crusher in their pirate city, Sanloi. After his victory, the Phantom became the leader of all pirates of Sanloi (the position previously held by Redbeard). His first orders were that Redbeard should pick out 100 loyal men, to help imprison the other pirates. The plan succeeded, and the reformed pirates became the foundation force for the Jungle Patrol.
The Phantom was always the leader of the patrol, though from the beginning he was known to the patrolmen, which he is not now.
According to Team Fantomen
For some time-frame during the 18th century, the second in command did not have the rank of colonel, but that of Captain. It is unknown when this started and when it ended but the patrol was lead by a colonel in 1717 The Avenger from the Sea and by a captain in 1770 Dangerous Inheritance, then there was a colonel again sometimes during the 13th Phantom (1793-1811) The Ghost Pirates. In 1735, the 9th Phantom tells a captain that if he (the Phantom) dies tonight, the captain will take over The Treasure of the Barracuda. It is not entirely clear if the captain is to take over the command of the entire patrol or just the force that they have, but the entire command is implicated.
Team Fantomen has produced a double story ("The Unknown Commander Part 1" and "Part 2" by Norman Worker and Georges Bess) in which the 14th Phantom was murdered by a Singh Pirate that infiltrated the Patrol. That made the 15th Phantom realize how vulnerable the patrol was when it was known that the Phantom was the commander. Therefore, the Phantom has been the unknown commander of the Patrol, rarely seen by the patrolmen ever since.
The motto of the patrol is "We stand against evil" (sometimes "We serve against evil"), rendered in latin as "Stamus Contra Malum" or more frequently as "Stamus Contra Malo" (which is gramatically incorrect).
Known Colonels
According to Lee Falk
Lee Falk has only mentioned Colonel Weeks, Colonel Worubu, Colonel Redbeard and Colonel Smythe.
According to Team Fantomen
Since Team Fantomen has focused more on historical stories, the number of historical colonels in Team Fantomen stories is far greater.
| Name | Service period | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Redbeard | 1664–? | Probably featured in a story taking place in 1688, though not identified |
| Black Carver | Colonel 1717 | Former pirate captain |
| Captain Boismann | Leader of the Patrol in 1771 | |
| Ben Oakes | Colonel sometime around 1787–1811 | Became a patrolman earliest 1787 |
| Quartermain | Colonel 1811 | |
| Lord Cardingham | ?–1831 | |
| Chandra Sykharn | 1831 | The traitor that killed the 14th Phantom |
| Douglas Wild | 1831–51 | Last colonel to know the identity of the Unknown Commander |
| Balfour | ca 1902–? | Celebrated 10 years as colonel 1912 |
| Markham | ca 1920s to 30s, perhaps 40s | Colonel in the late 20s and during the 30s |
| Smythe | Never appeared in a Team Fantomen story, but is considered part of canon, due to his appearance in the Falk story. | |
| William Weeks | ||
| Jonathan Worubu | In office |
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Organization
The Jungle Patrol's jurisdiction is the jungle areas of Bangalla and its neighbouring countries.The Patrol is sponsored by the countries in which it operates. The Parol Headquarters are located in Bangalla.
The only privates are recruits under training. Every patrolman is a non-commicioned officer and he is his own squad. The Reporter
The current colonel (and thereby deputy head since the Phantom always is the head) is Colonel Worubu, who succeeded Colonel Weeks.
Notable appearances
Lee Falk stories
- "The Jungle Patrol" by Lee Falk and Wilson McCoy
- "The Super Apes" by Lee Falk and Wilson McCoy
- "The Founding of the Jungle Patrol" by Lee Falk and Sy Barry
- "The Trial of Patrolman Zokko" by Lee Falk and Sy Barry
- "The Jungle Patrol v The Drug Cartel" by Lee Falk and Sy Barry
Team Fantomen stories
- "Diana in the Jungle Patrol" by Magnus Knutsson and Jaime Vallvé
- "The Unknown Commander Part 1" and "Part 2" by Norman Worker and Georges Bess
- "The Bikie Gang" by Donne Avenell and Georges Bess
- "The Message" by Norman Worker and Kari Leppänen
- "Patrolman Mary" by Norman Worker and Heiner Bade
- "Death of a Patrolman, Part 1" and "Death of a Patrolman, Part 2: Tracking the Killers" by Donne Avenell and Kari Leppänen
- "Redbeard the Traitor" by Michael Tierres and George Olesen
- "The Invisible Phantom" by Ben Raab and Paul Ryan
