TheOriginOf.com

MANDRAKE

April 2, 2007 – 11:38 am

MANDRAKE

Mandrake the Magician is a creation of Lee Falk, creator of Phantom, and Phil Davis. Mandrake was published by King Features Syndicate for the first on June 11, 1934. After Falk became with phantom he gave Phil the job of sketching the comic strip while he himself provided the storyline. After Davis died in 1964, Fred Fredericks took over the job of Davis. After death of Falk, Fred took over writing the strip in addition to providing sketches for it.

Mandrake is portrayed as an illusionist. His hypnotic techniques are unbelievingly fast and very persuasive. Mandrake fights crime in his spare time. Mandrake the comic character is very similar in appearance to Leon Mandrake who was a well known stage magician. Leon was already performing for around ten years when Falk came out with the comic strip. It is assumed that the comic character was intentionally drawn to resemble Leon as both had pencil line moustache, wore similar hat and scarlet-lined cape. Eventually Leon and Davis met and became good friends.

Lothar who also debuted along with Mandrake in the daily comic strip met Mandrake in Africa. Lothar who was a prince in Africa follows Mandrake around the world in his travels instead of becoming king. It is shown that Lothar is physically very strong. Together he and Mandrake fight crime and criminals in the world. Lothar is one of the first black heroes in comics. Mandrake’s love interest is Princess Narda who debuted in second Mandrake story. In 1997, Mandrake and Narda get married. The marriage ceremonies are held at three places, Mandrake’s home in Xanadu, Cockaigne which is Narda’s home country and at College of Magic (“Collegium Magikos”) which is run in the Himalayas by Mandrake’s father Theron.

Theron is the headmaster of the college. He is said to be hundreds of years old which is due to his being a guardian of “Mind Crystal”. Mandrake’s mother died after giving birth to Mandrake and Derek, twin brother of Mandrake. For a long time Mandrake didn’t know who his father was.

Mandrake has many enemies like The Cobra, who is his most dangerous enemy and his half brother, Derek, his own twin brother who is similar in appearance to Mandrake but totally opposite in actions. Some more enemies of Mandrake are The Clay Camel, The Brass Monkey, Aleena the Enchantress, 8 and Ekardnam. Mandrake was schooled in tibet where Cobra was his teacher then using his real name Luciphor.

King Comics published some issues of “Mandrake the Magician” in 1960’s before Marvel released Mandrake mini series in 1995. Mandrake is popular in several European countries and in India.