Task Test

Task Test
Start date:	May 6th, 1962
End date:	September 9th, 1962
# of strips:	19 (19 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Phil Davis
Preceded by:	"The Collector"
Followed by:	"The Trade Commission"

"Task Test" is the 90th Mandrake Sunday story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Phil Davis.

Plot Summary

The Chief asking Mandrake to visit him at the station, and introducing his friend Mr Briggs. Then a series of odd things happend to Mandrake, almost like a series of test's.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• Mandrake
• Narda
• Lothar
• The Police Chief

One-time characters

• Mr Briggs, a special agent. Chief of ?
• Miss Ramsdell, a special agent.
• Prof. John, a kidnapped scientist, working with anti-anti-missile-missile-missile

Locations

• New York City
• A neutral nation, unfriendly to US.
  • The Universe, a hotel.

Behind the scenes

• The story title is taken from the strip of April 29 and May 6, 1962 (Next Week: "Task Test" and Beginning: Task Test).
• In the first panel in the strip of June 10 there is a poster at the Chief's office: Defend freedom buy U.S. savings bonds.

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Brazil

• "O Rapto do Professor", Mandrake #79 (1963)
• "Missão Especial", Mandrake #308 (1981)
• "Missão Especial", Mandrake Coleção #36 (1992)

Finland

• "Professori John", Taika-Jim #1 (1971)

France

• "La nuit des héros", Mandrake #125 (1967)

Italy

• "La notte degli eroi", Mandrake #27 (1963)
• "La notte degli eroi", I Classici dell'Avventura #63 (1964)
• "La notte degli eroi", Mandrake - New Comics Now #334 (1994)

Portugal

• "A Prova", Selecções #24 (1963)

Spain

• "Pruebas de habilidad", Mandrake el Mago: Sundays pages 1962-1965 (Dolmen Editorial) (2021)

Turkey

• "Gizli Görev", Mandrake #184 & #185 & #186 (1978)
• "Gizli Görev", Mandrake Albüm #59 & #60 (1978)
• "Gizli Görev", Mandrake Albüm #180 & #181