Shakti Comics Announces Two Classic Releases: The Phantom #32 – Fluffy and Rip Kirby: Terror Rises on the Thames
Classic comic strip adventures are getting another outing as Shakti Comics brings readers two new English releases on November 9, 2026. Featuring Lee Falk’s legendary jungle hero The Phantom and Alex Raymond’s celebrated detective Rip Kirby, the two titles offer very different kinds of storytelling, from jungle adventures and an unusual animal companion to a mysterious disappearance in the heart of London.
The Phantom #32 – Fluffy
The Ghost Who Walks returns in another classic adventure with Fluffy, a story written by Lee Falk and illustrated by Wilson McCoy.
This time, the adventure revolves around a young boy named Conley and his unusual companion, a lion named Fluffy. Their friendship begins when Conley adopts the big cat, and as the boy grows older, the two become a formidable duo in the jungle. Their reputation spreads, with the pair earning rather extraordinary nicknames: a ghost lion and a boy demon.
Fluffy isn’t just an ordinary jungle predator either. Conley even manages to teach the lion an unusual skill and i.e. catching fish!
But when the unlikely pair find themselves in trouble, the Phantom steps in to help. The adventure eventually takes them to the Isle of Eden, where Fluffy’s rather unusual talent finds an unexpected audience among the island’s other predators.
Originally published as a Phantom Sunday newspaper story in 1961, Fluffy is the 57th Sunday story in the series. Its original run appeared between April 2 and August 13, 1961, making this another opportunity for readers to revisit a classic chapter from the Phantom’s newspaper comic strip legacy.
Edition Details:
- Title: The Phantom #32 – Fluffy
- Release Date: November 9, 2026
- Written By: Lee Falk
- Artwork: Wilson McCoy
- Colours: Subhagata
- Cover Art: Avishek Biswas
- Language: English
- Pages: 32
- Format: Glossy
- Regular Price: ₹299
- Sale Price: ₹270
Rip Kirby: Terror Rises on the Thames
From the jungles of Bangalla, we move to the fog-covered streets of London with another classic newspaper comic strip character – Rip Kirby.
In Terror Rises on the Thames, the sophisticated detective finds himself investigating the mysterious disappearance of fashion model Betya Bannister. When Betya vanishes, Rip decides to follow the trail, which takes him through London’s atmospheric streets, docks and pubs.
His investigation soon brings him closer to Carlo Winterbrook, a suspicious admirer of the missing model. But finding Betya is only part of the challenge. Rip must navigate a dangerous web of deception and hidden threats lurking beneath the surface of the British capital.
With a missing woman, suspicious characters and a trail of unanswered questions, the story promises the kind of classic detective mystery that made Rip Kirby a memorable name in newspaper comics.
Created by Alex Raymond and Ward Greene, Rip Kirby first appeared in newspapers on March 4, 1946. The character brought a different sensibility to detective comics, relying on intelligence, observation and methodical investigation rather than simply brute force. The strip continued for more than five decades, becoming an important part of the history of American newspaper comics.
The Thames setting also connects this release to one of the early Rip Kirby newspaper storylines, Terror on the Thames, originally published in 1948.
Edition Details:
- Title: Rip Kirby: Terror Rises on the Thames
- Release Date: November 9, 2026
- Language: English
- Regular Price: ₹299
- Sale Price: ₹270
Two Legends, Two Different Adventures
What makes these releases interesting is the contrast between their storytelling worlds.
The Phantom’s Fluffy takes readers into the wilderness of Bangalla, with an unusual friendship between a boy and a lion at the centre of its adventure. Meanwhile, Terror Rises on the Thames brings Rip Kirby into a classic detective mystery set against the atmospheric backdrop of London.
Both characters have enjoyed remarkable longevity through newspaper strips, comic books and generations of readers. Their continued availability in new editions gives classic comic strip enthusiasts an opportunity to revisit stories that helped shape the adventure and detective genres.
For collectors and readers who enjoy vintage international comics, these two releases are worth keeping an eye on.
Both the titles will be available through Shakti Comics and participating comic book sellers.
Two classic characters. Two very different worlds. And another reason to revisit the golden age of newspaper comics.
Cheers – Comics Byte!!
The Phantom the Complete Dailies 31: 1984-1986 (Phantom: the Complete Newspaper Dailies)
