Nat Turner's Spirit, Part 1
| Nat Turner's Spirit, Part 1 | |
| |
| Produced for: | Fantomen 10-11/2015 |
|---|---|
| # of pgs: | 22 |
| Writer: | Claes Reimerthi |
| Artist: | Kari Leppänen |
| Original colorist: | Reprostugan |
| Producer: | Egmont Publishing AB |
"Nat Turner's Spirit, Part 1" is a 2015 Team Fantomen story, written by Claes Reimerthi, with art by Kari Leppänen.
Plot synopsis
In 1860 the 16th Phantom has attended a a trial in Boston where the court decides that a runaway slave must return to his owner. The Phantom is disgusted by the injustice served. A few days later the Phantom is traveling on a steamer downriver heading for New Orleans. Late at night he witnesses the attorney from the trial speaking with a gambler. They are silently followed by a man in beard, Pinkerton agent Forrest Wood. Suddenly a fourth man throws the agent overboard. The Phantom jumps overboard to rescue him. Before he dies Forrest Wood reveals that he is a Pinkerton Agent and asks the Phantom to find Bee in New Orleans and ask her to find Gloria Scott.
In New Orleans the Phantom manages to find Miss Amanda Bee, also a Pinkerton agent. The Phantom tells her what little he knows but she is not interested in any help from him. Their meeting is however witnessed by Sullivan who threw Wood overboard. The same evening Miss Bee is attacked by a group of thugs, working for the boxer Paddy Mahoon. After being saved, Miss Bee is more talkative and explains that the Pinkerton Agency is involved in investigating if there is a conspiracy to make the South secede from the Union. She also tells the Phantom that Gloria Scott may be the name of a ship.
Paddy Mahoon scolds his men for being cowards and orders them to kill Miss Bee. In another part of town a servant dressed in 18th century clothing tells his mistress Marie Laveau that the Phantom has arrived in town.
Appearances
Recurring characters
- The 16th Phantom
- Amanda Bee, Pinkerton agent
- John F. Scott, member of US congress
- Paddy Mahoon, boxer
- Sullivan
One-time characters
- Jesiah Burns, slave
- Salmon P. Cheatham, prosecutor
- Montgomery Stuart, gambler
- Steele, attorney
- Forrest Wood, Pinkerton agent
- Robert Pendleton, owner of Louisiana Herald
- James Seward, ship owner
- John Taylor Massey
- Hugo Lopez
- Mary, wife of Jesiah Burns
- Claude, servant
Real-life characters
Related stories
Followed by
- "Nat Turner's Spirit, Part 2" by Claes Reimerthi and Kari Leppänen
- "Nat Turner's Spirit, Part 3" by Claes Reimerthi and Kari Leppänen
- "Nat Turner's Spirit, Part 4: A Diabolical Plan" by Claes Reimerthi and Kari Leppänen
- "Nat Turner's Spirit, Part 5: Revolt" by Claes Reimerthi and Kari Leppänen
- "Nat Turner's Spirit, Part 6: The King of Louisiana" by Claes Reimerthi and Kari Leppänen
Behind the scenes
- Alex Saviuk was credited as artist by an editorial mistake.
- Nat Turner was a slave who led a two day rebellion against slave owners in 1831. The incident where John F. Scott, member of congress, beat up another congressman, is based on a true event in 1856 when US politician Preston Brookes attacked senator Charles Sumner. The trial against runaway slave Jesiah Burns is based on a famous court case in Boston 1854 where runaway slave Anthony Burns was sentenced to return to Virginia.
- The original Swedish story has a subtitle that was not translated into English by Frew; "The Eye That Never Sleeps" which is a reference to the Pinkerton Detective Agency
Reprints
This story has been published in the following publications:
Australia
- "Nat Turner's Spirit, Part 1", The Phantom #1735 (2015)
Brazil
- "O Espírito de Nat Turner, parte 1: Nós nunca dormimos", O Fantasma #6 (2020)
Norway
- "Nat Turners ånd, del 1: Øyet som aldri sover", Fantomet 7/2015
Sweden
- "Nat Turners ande, del 1: Ögat som aldrig sover", Fantomen 10-11/2015