When several brutal murders take place involving the use of strangling and pick axes, the Phantom consults his ancestors' chronicles for background material about the deadly sect responsible (momentarily forgetting that he has faced them himself in S024 The Thuggees and D036 The Thuggees)

Before long he starts the long trek to the sect's isolated castle, where it transpires that President Luaga is next on the list. The Phantom has to rush back to Bangalla to thwart the attempt and discover the disturbing truth behind the coup plotters' identities...

Watch out for:

The longest running Phantom Sunday story (65 weeks)

The return of Loka (see D124 The Curse of the Sacred Image)

Old arch enemies