The Swamp Rats was written by the late Ron Goulart under the pseudonym "Frank Shawn" for Avon 's "The Story of the Phantom" series of novels in 1974 and was based on the comic strip of the same name from 1959.
The Hermes edition also has an essay titled "With the Phantom Everything is Possible -- Except Boredom" by Francis Lacassin a lecturer at the Sorbonne. The essay was written in 1972 in connection with an exhibit which opened at the museum. It's a glowing analysis of Lee Falk's storytelling skills and compares him in many with Homer of all people.
The set-up gets going pretty quickly when a train goes off the rails near a deadly swamp and prisoners aboard that train escape into what is called "The Great Swamp". Later reports of raids in towns alongside the swamp by a gang calling themselves "The Swamp Rats" bring the Phantom to the case. I was struck how efficiently the story begins, drawing the reader in quickly.
The self-styled Swamp Rats have in their midst an older man whose daughter comes looking for him. It's one of the oldest gags in adventure yarns designed specifically to get a dame into the mix. She finds a great-white hunter type to lead her into the swamp, but he turns out to be less experienced than advertised. Another unfortunate hooks up with the Swamp Rats after he committed a crime out of desperation. Add to the mix to loyal members of the Jungle Patrol and you have a downright mob wandering the deadly swamp. The scenes switch quickly from group to group with the make-up of each changing constantly. The Phantom works tirelessly to try and keep everyone safe as he can and still bring the villains to justice.
Next month we'll take a look at The Vampires and the Witch. I'm very much looking forward to this one.
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