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[[File:Mandrake_and_Lothar_3724.jpg|frame|Mandrake and Lothar.]]
[[File:Mandrake_and_Lothar_3724.jpg|frame|Mandrake and Lothar.]]


⚫
Lee Falk's (''[[The Phantom (comic strip)|The Phantom]]'') first comic series, ''[[Mandrake the Magician]]'' is his other contender for "first costumed [[superhero]] in the comics". It all depends on if you want to count a tuxedo, with top hat and cape no less, as a costume.<ref>And why wouldn't you? It was accepted as a costume a half-century later in ''[[Sailor Moon]]'', after all.</ref>


⚫
''Mandrake'' started publication in 1934, and continued until 2013. The first story ''The Cobra'' introduced Mandrake's [[Bash Brothers|bash brother]], Lothar, an African prince who preferred fighting evil to his princely duties. Oh, yeah, Lothar is black. And perhaps the earliest black character portrayed seriously in comics. The second story ''The Hawk'' introduced Narda, who would become Mandrake's romantic interest. After [[Comic Book Time|sixty years]] they finally married in 1998.
⚫
Lee Falk's (''[[The Phantom (Comic Strip)|The Phantom]]'') first comic series, ''Mandrake the Magician'' is his other contender for "first costumed [[Superhero|superhero]] in the comics". It all depends on if you want to count a tuxedo, with top hat and cape no less, as a costume.

⚫
''Mandrake'' started publication in 1934, and is still going. The first story ''The Cobra'' introduced Mandrake's [[Bash Brothers|bash brother]], Lothar, an African prince who preferred fighting evil to his princely duties. Oh, yeah, Lothar is black. And perhaps the earliest black character portrayed seriously in comics. The second story ''The Hawk'' introduced Narda, who would become Mandrake's romantic interest. After [[Comic Book Time|sixty years]] they finally married in 1998.


Educated in the mysterious ''Collegium Magikos'' in the Himalayas, Mandrake's main ability is the power to [[Master of Illusion|create any illusion]] he can think of in a target's mind, just by "gesturing hypnotically." He also has some [[Psychic Powers|telepathic abilities.]] Naturally, his illusion-casting powers make him the [[Magicians Are Wizards|world's greatest stage magician,]] and that is how he earns his living when he's not busy fighting the forces of evil.
Educated in the mysterious ''Collegium Magikos'' in the Himalayas, Mandrake's main ability is the power to [[Master of Illusion|create any illusion]] he can think of in a target's mind, just by "gesturing hypnotically." He also has some [[Psychic Powers|telepathic abilities.]] Naturally, his illusion-casting powers make him the [[Magicians Are Wizards|world's greatest stage magician,]] and that is how he earns his living when he's not busy fighting the forces of evil.


Art on the series was done by Phil Davis, and later by Fred Fredericks. Following Lee Falk's death, Fredericks took over writing the series as well.
Art on the series was done by Phil Davis, and later by Fred Fredericks. Following Lee Falk's death, Fredericks took over writing the series as well.
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=== Mandrake's adventures provide examples of: ===


{{tropelist}}
* [[Animated Adaptation]]: Mandrake has been animated twice, in the 1972 special ''[[The Man Who Hated Laughter (Animation)|The Man Who Hated Laughter]]'' and the 1986 series ''[[Defenders of the Earth (Animation)|Defenders of the Earth]]''. He co-starred with other King Features characters in both projects.
* [[Animated Adaptation]]: Mandrake has been animated twice, in the 1972 special ''[[The Man Who Hated Laughter]]'' and the 1986 series ''[[Defenders of the Earth]]''. He co-starred with other King Features characters in both projects.
* [[Badass Moustache]]: Of the pencil-thin variety, which [[Zorro|few good guys]] can pull off so well.
* [[Badass Moustache]]: Of the pencil-thin variety, which [[Zorro|few good guys]] can pull off so well.
* [[Bald of Awesome]]: Lothar
* [[Bald of Awesome]]: Lothar
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* [[The Big Guy]]: Lothar
* [[The Big Guy]]: Lothar
* [[Calling Card]]: The Clay Camel would always leave a small clay camel figurine at the scene of a crime, and whenever he escaped capture. His daughter, The Brass Monkey, did a similar thing.
* [[Calling Card]]: The Clay Camel would always leave a small clay camel figurine at the scene of a crime, and whenever he escaped capture. His daughter, The Brass Monkey, did a similar thing.
* [[Captain Ersatz]]: Mandrake had ''many'' imitators in [[The Golden Age of Comic Books]], most of them with an almost identical costume and moustache. The one that is best remembered today is [[DC Comics]]'s Zatara, father of [[Justice League of America|Justice League]] member Zatanna. Another who pops up once in a while in current [[DC Comics]] is [[Shazam|Fawcett Comics's]] Ibis the Invincible, a [[Sealed Good in A Can|revived Ancient Egyptian]] who wears a turban instead of a top hat.
* [[Captain Ersatz]]: Mandrake had ''many'' imitators in [[The Golden Age of Comic Books]], most of them with an almost identical costume and moustache. The one that is best remembered today is [[DC Comics]]'s Zatara, father of [[Justice League of America|Justice League]] member Zatanna. Another who pops up once in a while in current [[DC Comics]] is [[Shazam|Fawcett Comics's]] Ibis the Invincible, a [[Sealed Good in a Can|revived Ancient Egyptian]] who wears a turban instead of a top hat.
* [[Comic Book Time]]
* [[Comic Book Time]]
* [[Cool Old Guy]]: Mandrake's dad Theron.
* [[Cool Old Guy]]: Mandrake's dad Theron.
* [[Crossover]]: As an African prince, Lothar is invited to [[The Phantom (Comic Strip)|The Phantom]]'s wedding. Mandrake gets to tag along.
* [[Crossover]]: As an African prince, Lothar is invited to [[The Phantom (comic strip)|The Phantom]]'s wedding. Mandrake gets to tag along.
* [[Everything's Better With Princesses]]: Princess Narda
* [[Everything's Better with Princesses]]: Princess Narda
* [[Evil Twin]]: Derek
* [[Evil Twin]]: Derek
* [[Fair for Its Day]]: Lothar being an African prince as well as the team muscle may seem very stereotypical. But compared to almost any other black characters in the forties and fifties, he was portrayed with much respect and dignity.
* [[Fair for Its Day]]: Lothar being an African prince as well as the team muscle may seem very stereotypical. But compared to almost any other black characters in the forties and fifties, he was portrayed with much respect and dignity.
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* [[Rebellious Princess|Rebellious Prince]]: Lothar
* [[Rebellious Princess|Rebellious Prince]]: Lothar
* [[Scary Black Man]]: Lothar, again
* [[Scary Black Man]]: Lothar, again
* [[Shamgri La]]: ''Collegium Magikos,'' the College of Magic in the Himalayas
* [[Shangri La]]: ''Collegium Magikos,'' the College of Magic in the Himalayas
* [[Stage Magician]]
* [[Stage Magician]]
* [[The Syndicate]]: The "8" Gang, led by Octon {{spoiler|who is finally revealed as Cobra.}}
* [[The Syndicate]]: The "8" Gang, led by Octon {{spoiler|who is finally revealed as Cobra.}}
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:Mandrake the Magician]]
[[Category:Newspaper Comics]]
[[Category:Newspaper Comics]]
[[Category:Newspaper Comics of the 1930s]]
[[Category:Newspaper Comics of the 1940s]]
[[Category:Newspaper Comics of the 1950s]]
[[Category:Newspaper Comics of the 1960s]]
[[Category:Newspaper Comics of the 1970s]]
[[Category:Newspaper Comics of the 1980s]]
[[Category:Newspaper Comics of the 1990s]]
[[Category:Newspaper Comics of the 2000s]]
[[Category:Newspaper Comics of the 2010s]]
[[Category:Print Long Runners]]
[[Category:Print Long Runners]]
⚫
[[Category:Mandrake The Magician]]
[[Category:Comic Strip]]

Latest revision as of 18:23, 23 January 2021

Mandrake and Lothar.

Lee Falk's (The Phantom) first comic series, Mandrake the Magician is his other contender for "first costumed superhero in the comics". It all depends on if you want to count a tuxedo, with top hat and cape no less, as a costume.[1]

Mandrake started publication in 1934, and continued until 2013. The first story The Cobra introduced Mandrake's bash brother, Lothar, an African prince who preferred fighting evil to his princely duties. Oh, yeah, Lothar is black. And perhaps the earliest black character portrayed seriously in comics. The second story The Hawk introduced Narda, who would become Mandrake's romantic interest. After sixty years they finally married in 1998.

Educated in the mysterious Collegium Magikos in the Himalayas, Mandrake's main ability is the power to create any illusion he can think of in a target's mind, just by "gesturing hypnotically." He also has some telepathic abilities. Naturally, his illusion-casting powers make him the world's greatest stage magician, and that is how he earns his living when he's not busy fighting the forces of evil.

Art on the series was done by Phil Davis, and later by Fred Fredericks. Following Lee Falk's death, Fredericks took over writing the series as well.

Tropes used in Mandrake the Magician include:
  1. ↑ And why wouldn't you? It was accepted as a costume a half-century later in Sailor Moon, after all.
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