The Space Thing

The Space Thing
Start date:	June 4, 1961
End date:	September 24, 1961
# of strips:	17 (17 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Phil Davis
Preceded by:	"The Summit Conference"
Followed by:	"The Diversion"

"The Space Thing" is the 87th Mandrake Sunday story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Phil Davis.

Plot Summary

An astronomer reveals to Mandrake that the star "Crispus Tau", located 12 light years from Earth, has suddenly disappeared for an unknown reason. Mandrake comes into contact with Magnon, ruler of the Central Galaxy, who reveals that a similar "thing" now threatens his own home star; in fact, a blob of the size of a planet approaches in space. It is like an animal but also like a vegetable and like a mineral. The Magnon's Space Fleet tries to destroy it with nuclear weapons, an attempt without success. Fortunately Mandrake has an idea: destroy the star eater with insecticide, just like destroying an insect.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• Mandrake
• Narda, on Earth only.
• Magnon
• Nardraka

One-time characters

• An astronomer, on Earth.

Locations

• New York City
• Magna
• Crispus Tau, a star 12 light years from Earth.

Objects

• A galactic watch operated by mind waves, think of any planet and it will show the correct time. If Mandrake press the alarm, a signal reaches Magnon.
• The Galactic Medal of Honor.

Behind the scenes

• The story title is taken from the strip of June 4, 1961 (Beginning: "The Space Thing").
• The strip of August 8 is the first strip with the new Sunday strip layout, which made it possible to print Mandrake Sunday strips also as a third page.

Signifiant covers

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  Italy

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  Italy

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  Portugal

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Argentina

• "Devorador de estrellas", Anuario de Mandrake el mago (Impacto) (1967)

Brazil

• "A Célula do Espaço", Almanaque do Mandrake (1963)

Finland

• "Parasiitti", Mustanaamio #17 (2001)

France

• "Menace cosmique", Les héros du mystère #2 (1967)
• "Menace cosmique", Les héros du mystère Album #1 (1967)
• "Menace cosmique", Mandrake #410 (1973)

Italy

• "Minaccia cosmica", Mandrake #4 (1962)
• "Minaccia cosmica", I Classici dell'Avventura #45 (1963)
• "Minaccia cosmica", Mandrake #56 (1973)
• "Minaccia cosmica", Mandrake - New Comics Now #333 (1994)

Norway

• "Parasitten", Fantomet #17 (2001)

Portugal

• "O Monstro do Espaço", Condor Popular Vol. 39 N.° 9 (1962)

Spain

• "La cosa del espacio", Mandrake el Mago: Sundays pages 1959-1962 (Dolmen Editorial) (2021)

Sweden

• "Parasiten", Fantomen #17 (2001)

Turkey

• "Kaybolan Yildiz", Mandrake #163 & #164 & #165 (1977)
• "Kaybolan Yildiz", Mandrake Albüm #54 (1977) note: first part missing
• "Kaybolan Yildiz", Mandrake Albüm #147

United Kingdom

• "The Thing in Space", Mandrake the Magician #23 (1963)