The Secret City

The Secret City
Start date:	August 7th, 2000
End date:	November 11th, 2000
# of strips:	84 (14 weeks)
Writer:	Tony DePaul
Artist:	George Olesen & Keith Williams
Original colorist:	KFS staff
Preceded by:	"The Strange Robber"
Followed by:	"Valley of the Gorillaman"

"The Secret City" is the 200th Phantom daily story. The story was written by Tony DePaul and drawn by George Olesen and Keith Williams.

When this story was reprinted in Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish comic books, a different version was used where Kari Leppänen had inked over George Olesen's pencils.

Plot synopsis

A squad from The Jungle Patrol discovers at a distance a group of men dressed like Roman soldiers, with swords and leather armour. Colonel Worubu leave a report to the commander, The Phantom. The Phantom tells Guran about how The 5th Phantom found a hidden civilization in the jungle, a city populated by the survivors of Carthago, the city that was destroyed by the Romans in the year 146.

With the help of The Jungle Patrol, The Phantom manage to get inside the city and meet its leader, Chester Keating, a scientist who is held there against his will. He tells The Phantom that the Carthaginians are building a road through the jungle to the ocean to make an attack on Rome. The Phantom manage to get Keating out of there and the Carthaginians to abandon their plans of world domination. Guran uses Bandar Amnesia Powder to make sure Keating do not reveal the vulnerable Carthaginians to the world.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• Guran
• Hero
• Colonel Worubu
• The 5th Phantom

One-time characters

• Chester Keating
• Xinia
• General Barak
• Patrollman King

Locations

• Bangalla
  • The Abandoned Well
  • The Jungle Patrol Headquarters‏‎
  • Deep Woods
    • Carthaginian hidden city
    • The Skull Cave
      • The Chronicle Room

Tribes

• Bandar

Organizations

• The Jungle Patrol

Objects

• The Bandar Amnesia Powder
• The Carthaginian scroll

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Australia

• "The Secret City", The Phantom #1279 (2001)

Canada

• Le Nouvelliste April 2, 2001 – July 27, 2001

Denmark

• Nordjyske Stiftstidende July 15, 2003 – October 6, 2003
• Horsens Folkeblad November 10, 2005 – February 17, 2006

Finland

• "Salaperäinen kaupunki", Mustanaamio 21/2003 (inked by Kari Leppänen)

India

• Anandabazar Patrika ? – ?
• "போலி மன்னன்" (romanized as "Poli mannan"), Rani Comics #424 (2002)
• "The Secret City", The Ghost Wall (2011; excerpt)
• "The Secret City", The Secret City (2011)
• "The Secret City", Justice for All (2011; excerpt)
• "The Secret City", Enemy of Evil (2011)
• "The Secret City", The Secret City / Secret Temple on Eden (2014)
• "The Secret City", U-Boat Mystery and other stories (2014)

Jamaica

• The Daily Gleaner August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000

Mexico

• El Informador April 12, 2004 – July 22, 2004

Norway

• Aftenposten October 10, 2001 – February 8, 2002 (first strip is from original date October 2, 2000, first strip from original version missing)
• "Den gåtefulle byen", Fantomet 21/2003 (inked by Kari Leppänen)

Serbia

• "Tajni grad", Boomerang #78 – #80 (2010)

Sweden

• Svenska Dagbladet April 18, 2001 – July 26, 2001
• Upsala Nya Tidning May 28, 2001 – September 6, 2001 and December 18, 2002 – January 29, 2003 (interrupted after the strip of September 13, 2000)
• "Den gåtfulla staden", Fantomen 21/2003 (inked by Kari Leppänen)
• Gefle Dagblad February 28, 2007 – May 26, 2007
• "Den gåtfulla staden", Fantomen 20/2020
• "Den gåtfulla staden", Fantomens Skattkammare #9 (2025)

Turkey

• "Gizli Şehir", Kızılmaske #33 (2016)

USA

• Anderson Independent-Mail August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• The Baltimore Sun August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• Bangor Daily News August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• Baraboo News Republic August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• The Birmingham News August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• The Citizens' Voice August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• The Clarksdale Press Register August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• The Daily American August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• The Daily Item August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• The Daily Journal August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• Herald News August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• Johnson City Press August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• Morning Sentinel August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• Observer-Reporter August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• The Plattsburgh Press-Republican August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• Press Enterprise August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• Reading Eagle August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• Republican Herald August 7, 2000 – November 11, 2000
• The Winchester Sun August 7, 2000 – ?
• "Carthage", Comics Revue #187 – #191 (2000-2001)