Issue 1614 - Fortnightly, 2011

• "The Scapegoat" - story by Claes Reimerthi and art by Sal 

A little explanation is necessary to avoid any misunderstandings about the positioning of The Scapegoat story in Phantom history!

Firstly, you must understand the adventure is linked to two previous stories…. the recently completed American daily newspaper strip story about The Python masterminding a fiendish revenge plot from his prison cell (Frew No 1602) and prior to that, General Bababu plotting a takeover of Baronkhan (Frew No 1567).

In the first story, The Python organises a huge explosion in Morristown and for a long time, The Phantom is convinced Diana has died in the carnage.

In the second story—a Scandinavian comic book creation—Bababu, as usual, fails in his bid to stage a revolution.

Egmont, the Scandinavian publisher of Phantom comic book titles, published The Scapegoat before producing the final episode of The Python saga and for that reason, was able to project Diana’s predicament beyond what was shaping up in the daily newspaper strip.

Frew readers, of course, know she was never embroiled in any activities involving fraud, but that doesn’t detract from the excitement of The Scapegoat

Author Claes Reimerthi has injected so many great ideas….not only the return of General Bababu, but two villains who are identical twin brothers and thus able to cause mass confusion by pretending to be each other….some fast-moving courtroom scenes, a switched-on journalist whose talents also run to acting, the welcome return of old friends Caleb and Oona of Kagoda Enterprises and naturally enough, the traditional mind games played between Bababu and The Phantom!

Artist Sal Velluto has performed a few miracles mixing all the ingredients to achieve perfect balance and continuity!