The Secret of the Haunted Castle

The Secret of the Haunted Castle
Produced for:	Fantomen 4/1988
# of pgs:	28
Writer:	Michael Tierres
Artist:	Romano Felmang & Claudio Waldrag
Original colorist:	N/A
Producer:	Semic Press

"The Secret of the Haunted Castle" is a 1988 Team Fantomen story, written by Michael Tierres, with art by Romano Felmang and Claudio Waldrag.

Plot synopsis

At night a gang of burglars break into the Bengali National Bank in Morristown and steal millions of gold from the underground vault. Before leaving one of the burglars spray a large "B" on a wall as a signature. The same night a couple stop by an old castle outside Morristown for a romantic walk. They are scared off by a moaning headless ghost dressed in 16th century clothing.

When the staff arrive to the bank the next morning they discover that the Bengali gold reserve of 30 tons of gold has been stolen. The chief of police report to President Luaga who is very concerned.

Visting Dr. Axel's Jungle Hospital, the Phantom meet a father who has brought his son and the son's friend who have been injured while hunting for rabbits at the old castle ruin. After having seen ghosts at the old castle ruins and then being electrocuted when they trided to enter, they woke up hundreds of meters from there. The Phantom decides to visit the castle himself. The Phantom is attacked by the same headless ghost. After a brief struggle the ghost turn out to be a short man inside a costume. The Phantom is apprehended by three men in police style uniforms who take him to the man in charge, the Phantom's old nemesis general Bababu.

The general is happy to share all his secret plans before the Phantom is placed in a deep well with water to his knees. The general and his men leave the Phantom by himself and the Phantom manage to climb out of the well with some help from Devil. Moving around the old castle the Phantom deal with the general's henchmen one by one. The general himself try to get away on a yacht waiting in an underground cave under the castle but must finally give up after being bitten by Devil.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• The 21st Phantom
• General Bababu
• Lamanda Luaga
• Guran
• Dr Axel
• Hero
• Devil

One-time characters

• Jerry, burglar
• Bill, henchman
• Bull, henchman
• Croft
• Lon
• Tue

Locations

• Bengali
  • Morristown
    • Bengali National Bank
    • Morristown Presidential Palace
  • Deep Woods
    • The Skull Cave
      • The Radio Control Room
  • Unnamed castle ruin outside Morristown
  • Dr. Axel's Jungle Hospital

Behind the Scenes

• The artwork is credited to Romano Felmang. Claudio Waldrag is not officially credited, but he has been credited in later index lists.
• A reader mail published in Fantomen 14/1988 notes that the plot of this story has similarities to the 1951 novel "Biggles Works It Out" by W. E. Johns. The reply is that Michael Tierres had not read that book; however the story does include plot elements about gold smuggling inspired by the novel "Goldfinger" by Ian Fleming. The method of smuggling gold is briefly mentioned in the "Goldfinger" novel, but not used at all in the film version.

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Australia

• "The Secret of the Haunted Castle", The Phantom #926 (1989)
• "The Secret of the Haunted Castle", The Phantom 1517 (2008)

Brazil

• "O segredo do castelo mal-assombrado", Fantasma Especial #33 (1989)

Denmark

• "Spøglsesborgens hemmelighed", Fantomet #307 (1989)

Finland

• "Aavelinnan salaisuus", Mustanaamio 17/1988

Norway

• "Spøkelseborgen", Fantomet 16/1988
• "Spøkelseborgen", Fantomets Krønike 7/2005

Sweden

• "Spökborgens hemlighet", Fantomen 4/1988