The Drummer of Timpenni

The Drummer of Timpenni
Start date:	December 16th, 1963
End date:	March 21st, 1964
# of strips:	84 strips (14 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Sy Barry
Original colorist:	N/A
Preceded by:	"The Mystery of the Island of Dogs"
Followed by:	"The Reef"

"The Drummer of Timpenni" is the 87th Phantom daily story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Sy Barry.

Plot synopsis

Years ago, infuriated by the drummers of Timpenni, the jungle folk carried out a massacre and killed them all. A drummer and his son however survived, along with a single drum. Over the years he taught his son their art in preparation for revenge on the jungle folk. In the present day, the drummer comes out of his seclusion with the intent of revenge. He first uses his drumming to obtain a donkey and slave. He then takes over the Wambesi village. He commands them to attack the Llongo village and to loot, plunder and take slaves thus breaking the Phantom peace. The Phantom arrives to confront the drummer but too falls under his spell. He barely escapes with the help of Devil and Hero. The drummer then proclaims himself king of the jungle. The Bandar on hearing this set out to massacre the Wambesi village but are stopped by Phantom. He orders them to surround the village, while he goes in stealthily in the night. He captures the drummer and destroys his drum - the last drum from Timpenni.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Devil
• Hero
• The Drummer
• King of Wambesi
• Guran

One-time characters

• The Drummer's father
• Todi
• Todi's wife

Locations

• Bengali
  • Timpenni Island
  • Wambesi Village
    • The King's Hut
  • Village of Llongo
  • Otanbee Village (mentioned)
  • Deep Woods
    • The Skull Cave
      • The Skull Throne

Tribes

• Wambesi
• Timpenni
• Llongo
• Otanbee
• Bandar

Organizations

• The Council of Chiefs

Objects

• Great Drum of Timpenni

Old Jungle Sayings

• Don't count your chickens, etc.

Behind the scenes

• A timpani is a type of drum.

Related stories

Referenced in

• "Revenge of the Drummer" by Norman Worker and Knut Westad.
• "Revolt in the Jungle" by José Menezes, Walmir Amaral, and Wanderley Mayhé.
• "The Phantom Legend: Magicians" by Knut Westad.
• "Duel in Cyberspace" by Hans Lindahl.
• "The Vanished Village" by Lee Falk, George Olesen and Fred Fredericks

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Argentina

• "El tambor de Timpeni", Libro de Oro #23 (1965)
• "Tambor de Timpenni", Fantasía #150 (1970)

Australia

• "The Great Drums of Timpenni", The Phantom #273 (1964)
• "The Great Drums of Timpenni", The Phantom #417 (1970)
• "The Great Drums of Timpenni", The Phantom #578 (1973)
• "The Great Drums of Timpenni", The Phantom #766 (1983)
• "The Drummer of Timpenni", The Phantom #1166 (1997)
• "The Drummer of Timpenni", Supanova Sketch Cover (2017)
• "The Drummer of Timpenni", The Phantom #1895 (2021; colored by Ivan Pedersen)

Brazil

• "Os Tambores de Bongo", Fantasma #93 (1964)
• "Os Tambores de Bongo", Fantasma #244 (1976)
• "O Tamboreiro dos Timpenni", O Fantasma Omnibus: Os Ratos do Porto e Outras Histórias (2022)

Canada

• Le Nouvelliste December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• L'Action April 20, 1963 – July 22, 1964

Denmark

• Aalborg Stiftstidende March 23, 1965 – July 1, 1965
• Horsens Folkeblad December 28, 1965 – April 4, 1966
• Hejmdal February 14, 1966 – May 24, 1966
• "Trommens magi", Fantomet #42 (1974)

Finland

• "Timpennin rummut", Nastasarjat 8/1965
• "Timpennin rummut", Mustanaamio 12/1971
• "Taikarumpu", Sarjakirja #113 (1986)
• "Timpennin rummut", Mustanaamio 1971 (2014)
• "Timpennin rumpali", Ilta-Sanomat March 5, 2015 – March 24, 2015

France

• "Le tambour de Timpenni", Le Fantôme #156 and "La danse sauvage", #157 (1967)
• "Le batteur de Tempenni", Akim #726 and "Le combat", #727 (1989)

Germany

• "Der Trommler von Timpenni", Phantom #87 (2024)
• "Der Trommler von Timpanni", Phantom #3 (2026)

Greece

• "Τα τύμπανα των τραμπ" (romanized as "Ta tympana ton trab"), Velos #74 and "?" #75 (1969)
• "Το μαγικό τύμπανο" (romanized as "To magiko tympano"), Fantom #72 (1976)

Hungary

• "Timpenni dobjai", Fantom #5 (1989)
• "Timpenni dobosa", Fantom: A napilapcsík gyűjtemény (1963-1966) (2026)

Iceland

• Tíminn September 12, 1964 – January 5, 1965

India

• "The Drummer of Timpenni", Indrajal Comics #105 (1970)
• "Evil Drummers of Timpenni", Phantom #7 (1990)
• "மாய முரசு" (romanized as "Maya murasu"), Rani Comics #160 (1991)
• "Evil Drummers of Timpenni", Phantom #88 (199?)
• "டும்..டும். .டும்.. டும்" (romanized as "Dum dum dum"), Rani Comics #402 (2001)
• "The Drummer of Timpenni", The Phantom #31 (2023)

Ireland

• Irish Independent July 9, 1964 – October 14, 1964

Italy

• "Il tamburu di Timpenni", L'Uomo Mascherato #99 and "La ballata selvaggia" #100 (1964)

Jamaica

• The Daily Gleaner December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964

Mexico

• El Informador April 14, 1964 – July 22, 1964

The Netherlands

• Heintje #14 – #20 (1967)

New Zealand

• The Phantom #540 – #543

Norway

• Aftenposten June 8, 1965 – September 11, 1965
• "Timpennis trommer", Fantomet 13/1970
• "Trommens magi", Fantomet 21/1973
• "Trommens magi", Serie-pocket #117 (1986)
• "Trommens magi", Fantomet Spesialalbum #5 (1988)
• "Trommens magi", Serie-pocket #235 (2000)
• "Timpennis trommer", Krønikebok #26 (2006)
• "Timpennis trommer", Fantomet Year Album 2021

Panama

• The Star & Herald ?, 1964

Portugal

• "Os Tambores de Timpani", Mundo de Aventuras #828 – #829 (1965)
• "Os Tambores de Timpani", Heróis Inesquecíveis #13 (1998)

Spain

• Nueva Rioja March 4, 1964 – June 10, 1964
• El Correo June 10, 1964 – July 28, 1964
• "Los tambores de Timpani", El Hombre Enmascarado #16A and "El tabalero rey de la selva", #17A (1964)
• "Los tambores de Timpani" and "El tabalero rey de la selva", Album de El Hombre Enmascarado (1965)
• "Los tambores de Timpani" and "El tabalero rey de la selva, El Hombre Enmascarado Biblioteca Eterna #4 (1970)
• "El tambor de Timpenni", El Hombre Enmascarado #16 (1974)
• "El tambor de Timpenni", El Hombre Enmascarado #27 (1980)
• "El tambor de Timpenni", The Phantom - El Hombre Enmascarado #2 (2018)

Sweden

• Svenska Dagbladet July 6, 1965 – October 11, 1965
• Göteborgs-Tidningen November 25, 1965 – March 3, 1966
• Katrineholmskuriren January 17, 1966 – April 26, 1966 and March 11, 1968 – July 10, 1968
• "Timpennis trummor", Fantomen 1/1966
• Nerikes Allehanda May 21, 1966 – August 29, 1966
• "Trummans magi", Fantomen 8/1973
• Upsala Nya Tidning October 15, 1977 – January 24, 1978
• Norrtelje Tidning September 7, 1982 – January 5, 1983
• "Trumslagaren", Samlade Serierariteter: Revets hemlighet/Trumslagaren (1987)
• "Timpennis trummor", Den vandrande vålnaden 9/1996
• "Timpennis trummor", Fantomen - Den inbundna årgången 1966, Del 1 (2016)
• "Trummans magi", Fantomen - Den inbundna årgången 1973, Del 2 (2024)

Turkey

• "Sihirli Davul", Kızılmaske #8 – #9 (1973)
• "Sihirli Davul", Kızılmaske Albüm #2 (197?)
• "Sihirli Davul", Kızılmaske Albüm #100
• "Sihirli Davul", Kızılmaske Albüm #98
• "Sihirli Davul", Kızılmaske Süper Albüm #26
• "Sihirli Davul", Kızılmaske Süper Albüm #13
• "Sihirli Davul", Kızılmaske Büyük Albüm #5
• "Sihirli Davul", Kızılmaske #2 (2013)

United Arab Republic

• "الشبح و طبلة الساحر الشرير" (romanized as "Alshabah wa Tabblat Alsaher Alsherier"), Samir (1964)

United Kingdom

• Birmingham Evening Mail and Despatch April 18, 1964 – July 24, 1964
• "The Drummer of Timpenni", The Phantom - World Adventure Library #2 (1967)

USA

• The Alabama Journal December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Alliance Times-Herald December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Appleton Post-Crescent‎ December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Asheville Times December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Atlanta Constitution December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Bangor Daily News December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Beaver County Times December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Beckley Post Herald December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Birmingham News December 16, 1963 – ?
• Bradford Era December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Bucks County Courier Times December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Buffalo Courier-Express December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Charleston Daily Mail December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Charlotte News December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Chattanooga Daily Times December 16, 1963 – ?
• The Cincinatti Post December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Courier-Post December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Daily Advance‎ December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Daily Item‎ December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Daily Standard‎ December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Decatur Daily December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Delaware County Daily Times‎ December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Denton Record-Chronicle December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Evening News December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Gadsden Times December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Gloucester County Times December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Green Bay Press-Gazette December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Hanford Sentinel December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Herald News December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Indianapolis News December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Jersey Journal December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Johnson City Press December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Laurel Leader-Call December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Leaf-Chronicle December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Ledger-Enquirer December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Lima News December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Miami News December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Milwaukee Sentinel December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Morning Press December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Morning Sentinel December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Morristown Gazette Mail December 16, 1963 – ?
• News-Press December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Oneonta Star December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Orlando Sentinel December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Philadelphia Daily News December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Plain Dealer December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Plattsburgh Press-Republican December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Pocono Record December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Reading Eagle December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Record American December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Red Bank Register December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Richmond Times-Dispatch December 16, 1963 – ?
• The Rome Daily Sentinel December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Rome News-Tribune December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Sandusky Register Star News December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Shamokin News-Dispatch December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The State December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Syracuse Herald Journal December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Tampa Times December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Tonawanda News December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Uniontown Morning Herald December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Washington Reporter December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• The Winchester Sun December 16, 1963 – March 21, 1964
• Suffolk News-Herald December 16, 1963 – March 22, 1964
• La Opinión February 13, 1964 – June 2, 1964
• The Complete Newspaper Dailies: Volume Eighteen 1962–1964 (2020)

West Germany

• "Die Zaubertrommel von Tanga", Phantom #9 (1974)
• "Die Zaubertrommel von Tanga", Phantom Das große Album #2

Yugoslavia

• "Poslednji vrač Timpenija", Stripoteka #358/359 (1976)
• "Poslednji tam-tam Timpenija", Strip 81 #26 – #27 (1981)