The Ratmen of Rodencia

The Ratmen of Rodencia
Start date:	January 15, 1973
End date:	May 5, 1973
# of strips:	96 (16 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Fred Fredericks
Preceded by:	"Dr Xoz Prof. of Smells"
Followed by:	"The Incredible Thief"

"The Ratmen of Rodencia" is the 153rd Mandrake daily story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Fred Fredericks.

Plot Summary

A gigantic flaming object from the sky landed in mid-ocean. Then a mysterious sound rings from the "galactic watch" given to Mandrake by emperor Magnon. This sound is followed by a tri-dimensional image of Magnon. A starship from outer space has been hijacked by 12 Ratmen who threaten to destroy the space-vessel and its 5.000 passengers. The starship finally landed on Earth and, hidden at the bottom of the sea, they await the payment of the ransom : 50 billion credits and the planet Earth.

Magnon's fleet ships arrive near the Earth but, at first, Magnon want Mandrake to negotiate with the Ratmen. He sends a transporter and a translator. Mandrake and Lothar go inside a soap bubble like space dinghy and dived to the sea bottom. Inside the hijacked space ship, there is an amazing variety of non-human passengers and four humans. One of them is Nardraka.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• Mandrake
• Lothar
• Narda, at Xanadu.
• Karma, at Xanadu.

• Magnon
• Nardraka
• The Ratmen

One-time characters

• 34XCY1/2x27*, the name/number of the translator.
• Vultose, alian race breathe air and are radioactive.
• Francie, name of a small boat.
• Marma, nurse of Nardraka.

Locations

• Xanadu
• Bottom of the ocean.
• Our solar system.

Behind the scenes

Title

• This story have no given title. It is lifted from the strip of January 31, 1973 (Magnon: "By Ratmen of Rodencia").

Easter Eggs – Cameos

• Francie, likely named after Fred's wife Frances.

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Brazil

• "Os Piratas do Espaço", Mandrake #206 (1973)

Finland

• "Rottamiehet", Mustanaamio #22 (1986)

France

• "Sur un navire sidéral", Spécial Mandrake #9 (1977)
• "Les pirates du cosmos", Le Journal de Mickey #1819 (1987)
• "Les pirates du cosmos", Donald Magazine #87-18 (1987)

India

• "The Ratmen of Rodencia" Indrajal Comics #200 (1974)
• "Encounter with Space Creatures", Indrajal Comics Vol. 24 No. 45 (1987)

Italy

• "L'astronave in fondo al mare", Mandrake Selezione #6 (1977)

Portugal

• "Os Homens-ratos", Quadradinhos #94, #95, #96, #98, #99 and #100 (1973-1974)

Spain

• "Secuestro sideral", Supercomics Garbo #11 (1976)

Sweden

• "Råttmännen", Fantomen #9 (1986)

Turkey

• "Uzayda Tehdit", Mandrake #28 & #29 & #30 (1975)
• "Uzayda Tehdit", Mandrake Albüm #10
• "Uzayda Tehdit", Mandrake Albüm #220
• "Uzayda Tehdit", Mandrake #44 & #45
• "Uzayda Tehdit", Mandrake Süper Albüm #13
• "Uzayda Tehdit", Mandrake Süper Albüm #57 & #58
• "?", Yeni Mandrake #1 (2011)

USA

• (no title), The Menomonee Falls Gazette from #59 to #74 (1973)
• "The Ratmen of Rodencia", The Daily Strips Mandrake Series / Episode: "The Ratmen of Rodencia" (Pacific Comics Club) (2018)

Yugoslavia

• "Pacoliki napadaju", Super EKS Almanah #16 (1981)