Hermes Press

Creative Team

Description

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.

Creative Team

Description

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.  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 support cast.  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. So, starting with Volume One we present the complete adventures of Mandrake the Magician This second volume of the series presents six stories: “Return of the Clay Camel”; “The Slave Traders of Tygandi”; “Mandrake in the Lost World”: “In the Cobra's Grip”; and “Mandrake in America.”

Creative Team

Description

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.  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 support cast.  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. So, starting with Volume One we present the complete adventures of Mandrake the Magician 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.”

Creative Team

Description

The critically acclaimed, best selling complete reprint of The Phantom continues! Referred to by comic strip historian Maurice Horn as the “granddaddy of all costumed superheroes,” The Phantom was created in 1936 by Lee Falk. The strip hit the funny pages of newspapers well before the Dark Knight or Superman made their first appearances and has been acknowledged as an influence on every “masked man of mystery” since. The Phantom set the standard for action, adventure, intrigue, and romance in adventure comic strips and comic books - it has frequently been copied but never equaled. This exciting 24th volume continues the SY BARRY YEARS! Reprinted in all its black and white glory, journey with Hermes Press as we bring you six complete continuities drawn by Sy himself: ""The Keeper of the Peace,"" and ""The Giant of Kaluga,"" ""The Trial of Patrolman Zokko,"" ""The Things,"" ""Vandal-Looters,""and ""The Pampered Princess."" Strips from this issue are taken directly from King Feature’s proofs. Included in the volume is a comprehensive essay and documentary materials.

Creative Team

Description

The critically acclaimed, best selling complete reprint of The Phantom continues! Referred to by comic strip historian Maurice Horn as the “granddaddy of all costumed superheroes,” The Phantom was created in 1936 by Lee Falk. The strip hit the funny pages of newspapers well before the Dark Knight or Superman made their first appearances and has been acknowledged as an influence on every “masked man of mystery” since. The Phantom set the standard for action, adventure, intrigue, and romance in adventure comic strips and comic books - it has frequently been copied but never equaled. This exciting 25th volume continues the SY BARRY YEARS! Reprinted in all its black and white glory, journey with Hermes Press as we bring you three complete continuities drawn by Sy himself: ""The Curse of the Sacred Image,"" and ""The Normal Life,"" and ""The Cavelands."" Strips from this issue are taken directly from King Feature’s proofs. Included in the volume is a comprehensive essay and documentary materials.

Creative Team

Description

Referred to by comic strip historian Maurice Horn as the “granddaddy of all costumed superheroes,” The Phantom was created in 1936 by Lee Falk. The strip hit the funny pages of newspapers well before the Dark Knight or Superman made their first appearances and has been acknowledged as an influence on every “masked man of mystery” since. The Phantom set the standard for action, adventure, intrigue, and romance in adventure comic strips and comic books - it has frequently been copied but never equaled. This exciting 26th volume continues the SY BARRY YEARS! Reprinted in all its black and white glory, journey with Hermes Press as we bring you five complete continuities drawn by Sy himself: “Hzzz,” “Star of Bangalla,” “Mystery of Kula-Ku,” “S.S. Blitz,” and “Return of the Terrorists.” Strips from this issue are taken directly from King Feature’s proofs. Included in the volume is a comprehensive essay and documentary materials.

Creative Team

Description

Volume #27 features one of the most important stories in The Phantom canon, “The Phantom Wedding” ranked among the best tales of the Ghost Who Walks ever written. Referred to by comic strip historian Maurice Horn as the “granddaddy of all costumed superheroes,” The Phantom was created in 1936 by Lee Falk. The strip hit the funny pages of newspapers well before the Dark Knight or Superman made their first appearances and has been acknowledged as an influence on every “masked man of mystery” since. The Phantom set the standard for action, adventure, intrigue, and romance in adventure comic strips and comic books - it has frequently been copied but never equaled.

Creative Team

Description

Referred to by comic strip historian Maurice Horn as the “granddaddy of all costumed superheroes,” The Phantom was created in 1936 by Lee Falk. The strip hit the funny pages of newspapers well before the Dark Knight or Superman made their first appearances and has been acknowledged as an influence on every “masked man of mystery” since. The Phantom set the standard for action, adventure, intrigue, and romance in adventure comic strips and comic books - it has frequently been copied but never equaled. This exciting 28th volume continues the SY BARRY YEARS! Reprinted in all its black and white glory, journey with Hermes Press as we bring you five complete continuities drawn by Sy himself: “The Heirs,” “Jungle Gold,” “The Return of General Bababu,” “The Tree House,” and “The Poachers.” Strips from this issue are taken directly from King Feature’s proofs. Included in the volume is a comprehensive essay and documentary materials.