The Hydra (story)

The Hydra
Start date:	July 8th, 1968
End date:	October 12th, 1968
# of strips:	84 strips (14 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Sy Barry
Original colorist:	N/A
Preceded by:	"The Frame-Up"
Followed by:	"The Art Thieves"

"The Hydra" is the 102nd Phantom daily story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Sy Barry.

Plot synopsis

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Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Unspecified past Phantom (mentioned)
• Diana
• Devil
• Dave Palmer
• Lily Palmer

One-time characters

• Old Joey
• Hackie
• Police Chief
• Mac
• Zed
• Mum
• Bull
• Jak

Locations

• USA
  • New Mexico
    • The Eyrie
  • Death house of Hydra a.k.a. Station 13
  • Hydra H.Q.
  • Palmer residence

Organizations

• Hydra

Old Jungle Sayings

• A whisper can go around the earth.
• Phantom moves faster than lightning flash.
• Phantom is rough with roughnecks.

Related stories

Remade as

• "The Hydra Monster" by Frank S. Shawn

Referenced in

• "The Nuclear Pirates" by Norman Worker and Georges Bess

Trivia

• First published story about Walker's Table. Diana Palmer's first visit to Walker's Table.

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Argentina

• "La leyenda de Hydra", Fantasía #180 (1971)

Australia

• "Return of the Hydra", The Phantom #391 (1969)
• "The Hydra", The Phantom #551 (1975)
• "The Hydra", The Phantom #735 (1981)
• "The Hydra", The Phantom #1071 (1994)
• "The Hydra", The Phantom #1591 (2011)

Brazil

• "O Fantasma enfrenta a Hidra", Fantasma #155 (1969)
• "A Hidra", Fantasma #290 (1980)
• "A Hidra", O Deus Marinho e Outras Histórias (2024)

Canada

• Le Nouvelliste July 8, 1968 – October 19, 1968
• L'Action December 2, 1968 – March 12, 1969

Denmark

• Aalborg Stiftstidende November 14, 1969 – February 24, 1970
• Horsens Folkeblad August 12, 1970 – November 17, 1970
• Hejmdal August 27, 1970 – November 30, 1970

Finland

• "Hydra", Mustanaamio 6/1978
• "Hydra", Sarjakirja 2/1988
• "Hydra", Ilta-Sanomat September 7, 2011 – September 26, 2011
• "Hydra", Mies, joka ei kuole koskaan (2016)

France

• "Le mystère de l'Hydre", Le Fantôme #373 – #374 (1971)

Germany

• "Die Hydra", Phantom #102 (2026)

Greece

• "“Ύδρα” η τρομερή οργάνωση" (romanized as "“Ydra” I tromeri organosi"), Fantom #56 (1976)

India

• "The Death House of Hydra", Indrajal Comics #133 (1971)
• "The Death House", Phantom #54
• "ஹைட்ரா படலம்" (romanized as "Haitra padalam"), Muthu Comics #472 (2023)

Ireland

• Irish Independent April 23, 1969 – July 29, 1969

Italy

• "Il mistero dell'Idra", L'Uomo Mascherato #138 – #139 (1969)
• "Il mistero dell'Idra", Phantom Selezione #1 (1976)

Jamaica

• The Daily Gleaner July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968

Mexico

• El Informador December 4, 1968 – March 11, 1969

Norway

• Aftenposten February 12, 1970 – May 27, 1970
• "Hydra", Fantomet 7/1978
• "Hydra", Serie-pocket #140 (1988)
• "Hydra", Fantomet 2/1999
• "Hydra", Krønikebok #43 (2008)
• "Hydra", Mannen som ikke kan dø (2016)

Portugal

• "A Hidra", Mundo de Aventuras #1137 (1971)

Spain

• "Hydra", El Hombre Enmascarado #5 (1974)
• "Hydra", El Hombre Enmascarado #43 (1981)
• "El misterio de la Hydra", Pocket de Ases #39 (1985)
• "La Hidra", The Phantom - El Hombre Enmascarado #12 (2021)

Sweden

• "Dödens hus", Fantomen 12/1969
• Svenska Dagbladet June 13, 1969 – September 18, 1969
• Göteborgs-Tidningen October 1, 1969 – January 8, 1970
• Nerikes Allehanda May 5, 1970 – October 12, 1970
• "Hydra", Fantomen 23/1977
• "Hydran", Upsala Nya Tidning September 30, 1981 – January 11, 1982
• Norrtelje Tidning June 18, 1987 – October 13, 1987
• "Dödens hus", Fantomen 2/1999
• "Hydra", Mannen som inte kan dö (2016)
• "Dödens hus", Fantomen - Den inbundna årgången 1969, Del 3 (2020)
• "Dödens hus", Fantomens Skattkammare #15 (2026)

Turkey

• "Zorlu Düşman", Kızılmaske #30 – #32 (1974)
• "Zorlu Düşman", Kızılmaske Albüm #8 (197?)
• "Zorlu Düşman", Kızılmaske #10 – #11 (19??)
• "Zorlu Düşman", Kızılmaske Albüm #55 – #56
• "Zorlu Düşman", Kızılmaske #37 – #38 (198?)
• "Zorlu Düşman", Kızılmaske Süper Albüm #10 – #11
• "Zorlu Düşman", Kızılmaske Süper Albüm #10
• "Zorlu Düşman", Kızılmaske Büyük Albüm #4
• "Zorlu Düşman", Kızılmaske #4 (2013)

United Kingdom

• Birmingham Evening Mail October 18, 1968 – January 25, 1969

USA

• The Miami News July 8, 1968 – September 24, 1968 (incomplete story)
• The Alabama Journal July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Alliance Times-Herald July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Appleton Post-Crescent July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Asheville Times July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Atlanta Constitution July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Bangor Daily News July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Beaver County Times July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Beckley Post Herald July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Birmingham News July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Bradford Era July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Bucks County Courier Times July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Buffalo Courier-Express July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Charleston Daily Mail July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Charlotte News July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Courier-Post July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Daily Advance July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Daily Item July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Daily Journal July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Daily Standard July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Delaware County Daily Times July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Evening News July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Gadsden Times July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Gloucester County Times July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Green Bay Press-Gazette July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Greensboro Record July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Herald News July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Indianapolis News July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Jersey Journal July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Johnson City Press July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Laurel Leader-Call July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Leaf-Chronicle July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Ledger-Enquirer July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Lima News July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Milwaukee Sentinel July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Morning Press July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Morning Sentinel July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The News Journal July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• News-Press July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Observer-Reporter July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Oneonta Star July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Orlando Sentinel July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Philadelphia Daily News July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Plain Dealer July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Plattsburgh Press-Republican July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Pocono Record July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Portage Daily Register July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Reading Eagle July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Record American July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Red Bank Register July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Republican Herald July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Rome Daily Sentinel July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Rome News-Tribune July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Sandusky Register Star News July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The State July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Tampa Times July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Uniontown Morning Herald July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Washington Reporter July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• The Winchester Sun July 8, 1968 – October 12, 1968
• Suffolk News-Herald July 8, 1968 – October 13, 1968
• "The Hydra", Comics Revue #415-416 (2020)
• "The Hydra", The Complete Newspaper Dailies: Volume Twenty-One 1967–1969 (2021)

West Germany

• "Die Hydra schlägt zu", Phantom #30 (1975)
• "Die Hydra schlägt zu", Phantom Das große Album #5

Yugoslavia

• Večernje novine February 14, 1969 – May 23, 1969
• "Hidra", Denis #102 – #103 (1978)