MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN COMP DAILIES HC (2025)

From the creative mind of Lee Falk comes Mandrake the Magician! Created in 1934 with the story "The Cobra." Comics historian Don Markstein wrote, "Some people say Mandrake the Magician, who started in 1934, was comics' first superhero." Hermes Press is proud to continue their legacy of complete Lee Falk comic reprints, starting with the very first years of Mandrake. This first volume includes five stories, "The Cobra" (June 11, 1934 - Nov. 24, 1934), "The Hawk (Mandrake Meets Narda)" (Nov. 26, 1934 - Feb. 23, 1935), "The Monster of Tanov Pass" (Feb. 25, 1935 - June 15, 1935), "Saki, the Clay Camel" (June 17, 1935 - Nov. 2, 1935), and "The Werewolf" (Nov. 4, 1935 - Feb. 1936). Strips from this issue are taken directly from King Feature's proofs. Included in the volume is a comprehensive essay and documentary materials.

Mandrake the Magician began as a daily strip on June 11, 1934, and whether Lee Falk knew it as a sophomore at the University of Illinois, he was making history. Mandrake the Magician whisked readers to exotic locales and immersed them in extended narratives with memorable villains and a colorful support cast. The strips presented in this series of reprints feature two staple characters in addition to the master magician: Lothar and Princess Narda, ruler of the mythical European kingdom, Cockaigne. This second volume of the series presents six stories: "Return of the Clay Camal," "The Slave Traders of Tygandi," "Mandrake in the Lost World," "In the Cobra's Grip," and "Mandrake in America."

Mandrake the Magician began as a daily strip on June 11, 1934, and whether Lee Falk knew it as a sophomore at the University of Illinois, he was making history. The strips presented in this series of reprints feature two staple characters in addition to the master magician: Lothar and Princess Narda (princess of the mythical European kingdom Cockaigne). Lothar appears within the first few days (June 14, 1934), and Narda is introduced in Mandrake's second adventure. Narda is similar to Flash Gordon's Dale Arden: beautiful, constantly in need of rescue, and the love interest of our hero. A Prince of the Seven Nations of Africa, Lothar is Mandrake's devoted servant, friend and companion. He is, "the strongest man in the world," and decked out in a fez, shorts, and a leopard shirt. This third volume of the series presents eight stories: "Mandrake in Hollywood"; "Sonny the Child Movie Star"; "Mandrake and the Haunted House": "Blozz the Chamption"; "Mandrake in Love"; "Visitors from Space"; "The Deep South"; and "Mandrake in Cockaigne."

Mandrake the Magician began as a daily strip on June 11, 1934, and whether Lee Falk knew it as a sophomore at the University of Illinois, he was making history. Mandrake the Magician whisked readers to exotic locales (often fictional amalgams of the Orient, the Middle East, India or Eastern Europe) and immersed them in extended narratives with memorable villains and a colorful supporting cast. Volume four presents: Mandrake in North Africa (September 4 - December 23, 1939); The Mountain Bandits (December 25, 1939 - January 20, 1940); The Museum Mystery (January 22 - May 4, 1940); The Octopus Ring (May 6 - December 21, 1940); and Dr. Griff's Invention (December 23, 1940 - April 5, 1941).

Mandrake the Magician began as a daily strip on June 11, 1934, and whether Lee Falk knew it as a sophomore at the University of Illinois, he was making history. The daily strip ended after a 79-year run, and the Sunday strip, which started in 1935, ran for 68 years. Any fan of comic strips is almost certainly familiar with Falk’s other creation, The Phantom, which started in 1936 and continues to this day. The strips presented in this series of reprints feature two staple characters in addition to the master magician: Lothar and Princess Narda (princess of the mythical European kingdom Cockaigne). Lothar appears within the first few days (June 14, 1934), and Narda is introduced in Mandrake’s second adventure. Narda is similar to Flash Gordon’s Dale Arden: beautiful, constantly in need of rescue, and the love interest of our hero. A Prince of the Seven Nations of Africa, Lothar is Mandrake’s devoted servant, friend and companion. He is, “the strongest man in the world,” and decked out in a fez, shorts, and a leopard shirt. Comics historian Don Markstein commented that, “Some people say Mandrake the Magician...was comics’ first superhero,” and we at Hermes Press couldn’t agree more. Volume five presents: “The Mystery of the Striped Orchid,” 4/7/1941 - 6/21/1941; “The Great Grando,” 6/23/1941 - 11/8/194; “Lothar The Champ,” 11/10/1941 - 7/11/194; “The Rumor Factory,” 7/13/1942 - 9/12/194; and “Baron Kord,” 9/14/1942 - 4/10/1943.