Mandrake the Magician

[@lancewhiteeagle3203]

Very interesting, will have to look into picking some of the collected works up.

[@ronnroxx]

There actually WAS a real Mandrake the Magician. His son Lon lives near me and I have made friends with him and gotten to speak with him many times. I once asked him about the question of who came first, Mandake the comic strip character or Mandrake the Magician. I figured that Lon would know the answer, but what he told me was that he didn't know, and that his dad had basically told him it was better left a mystery. But the truth is that both the cartoon strip and the real Mandrake the Magician were in newspapers and performing in venues around North America back in the 30's, both helping to promote the other.

[@DavidDellman]

I did not know that. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@deanallent4831]

I think Mandrake is a fascinating character in history. He was embraced all over the world and reprinted in 10 + languages and countries. You can see in his dress that he is influenced by the Golden Age of Magic, and of course we know that the mystery/sleuth genre was in full swing with Sherlock Holmes, The Shadow, etc. Mandrake even had a radio show for a year or two I think 🤔. As you said, Mandrake embodied both the magic and sleuth. I think the author was brilliant to capitalize on the sociological atmosphere. It’s also cool that our Magic heritage can claim the first superhero😎. Thank you for the presentation!

[@DavidDellman]

Great comments, Dean. I hope visitors to this video will scroll down and read this as it adds valuable detail to the presentation. Thanks so much.

[@martinsmagic]

Hi David, so I spent the first 27 years of my life growing up in England and so to be honest I don't think I ever encountered Mandrake as a kid. I was not really into comic books either and so even today I had heard of Mandrake but didn't know he wasn't the same as someone like Thurston or Carter the Great, etc. So thank-you for filling me on this sunny and warm Texas Friday. Have a great weekend, and looking forward your next installment!

[@DavidDellman]

Thanks for commenting Andy

[@garyfrancis6193]

Actually Mandrake the Magician was a real person before the comic book character. I talked to him on the phone in 1988.

[@DavidDellman]

Thanks for adding this Gary

[@Zheugma]

Is there any info about the man and the comic? Seems to be strange how the comic came around, who creates it and based on what? Did mandrake cleared some of this?

[@BlazeLeeDragon]

great video! Mandrake is a fun character :)

[@DavidDellman]

He is a fun character

[@wittvonwitt4403]

As a comic fan and a magician this was awesome! I wonder why I wasn't aware of him?

[@BlazeLeeDragon]

Now: Zatara Zatana Strange :)