Fan Question: When was the button & lamp light first used at the Jungle Patrol
- Jermayn Parker
- Jun 10
- 2 min read
Every so often we get a fan question about some random fact or first time something happened in a Phantom story. We explore a question about when the button and light were first used at the Jungle Patrol in a Phantom story.
Daily adventure story #74: The Swamp Rats
Written by Lee Falk and drawn by Wilson McCoy.
In this story, the button to light the lamp light was only used to signify an emergency. Before this, the Colonel would check the safe everyday if there was a message from the Unknown Commander. The other negative was that it could be weeks before the Phantom would check the safe for messages from the Jungle Patrol. Obviously, this had limitations, likely why Lee Falk introduced the lamp.
Daily adventure story #77: The Monkey Mail
Written by Lee Falk and drawn by Wilson McCoy.
Lee Falk changed the system slightly in the 1960 story where the lamp was used to signal any messages from the Unknown Commander instead of emergency messages, like shown in the "Swamp Rats" storyline. However, what about when the Jungle Patrol needs to communicate with the Unknown Commander?
Daily adventure story #82: The Slave Market of Mucar
Written by Lee Falk and drawn by Sy Barry.
Lee Falk obviously realised the potential problem, hence why he created an emergency solution with homing pigeons. It was just a temporary solution.
Daily adventure story #90: The Bad Ones
Written by Lee Falk and drawn by Sy Barry.
The first time that the lamp light and button were used on both ends of the Unknown Commander's safe was in 1965. Now, there is no delay of the Phantom checking the mail at Jungle Patrol headquarters. However, the problem is still there: if the Phantom is outside of Bangalla on a mission or a family holiday, what happens next?
This is a problem that is still not solved by Tony DePaul who has changed the Unknown Commanders office at headquarters. Does he still use the lamp trick with the renovations?
If you have any other Phantom related fan questions you would like to see explored and answered, please let us know. You can email us your question at ChronicleChamber@gmail.com or via our social media platforms (Facebook, YouTube, Reddit, Instagram, WhatsApp, or X).
