Mandrake the Magician (Miller): Difference between revisions

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When the son ''(Arnold Miller)'' left his fathers company in 1959 Leonard Miller changed the company name from "L. Miller & '''Son'''" to "L. Miller & '''Co'''".  
When the son ''(Arnold Miller)'' left his fathers company in 1959 Leonard Miller changed the company name from "L. Miller & '''Son'''" to "L. Miller & '''Co'''".  


In UK there was a tradition with annual issues, released for the Christmas season. Although these annuals rarely had any release date printed inside several of these issues have a note inscribed, like: ''"From me to you – Christmas year"''. The first "Hopalong Cassidy - Western Comic Annual" was released in December 1959 and the second in December 1960. The 1959 issue has the "L. Miller & '''Son'''" ''triangle'' at the cover, while the 1960 issue has the "L. Miller & '''Co'''" ''triangle''. So, sometime between January and December 1960 the publisher name was changed at the ''Miller-triangle'' printed on the covers of their comics..  
Like the Mandrake series the first three issues of the similar "The Phantom" also have the "L. Miller & ''Son''" ''triangle'' on the covers. One can also see the ''triangle'' changes from '''Son''' to '''Co''' at other series like "Kid Montana" ''(issues 55 - 56)'', "Maverick Marshal" ''(issues 51 - 52)'' and "Front-Line Combat" ''( 2 -3)'', to mentione a few.  
 
For the Mandrake series the ''triangle'' layout changing from issue to issue: The first line. ''"Published by"'' can be written both in regular and italic; The second line can have ''"L. Miller"'' or ''"L. Miller & Co"''; some triangles have ''London'' or ''London E2'' at the bottom. A later research should include if the ''Miller-triangle'' was special made for each issue of their comics, or if it was ''re-used'' for issues from various series released the same month or period.


===Annuals===
In UK there was a tradition with annual issues, released for the Christmas season. Although these annuals rarely had any release date printed inside several of these issues have a note inscribed, like: ''"From me to you – Christmas year"''. In one issue of the first "Hopalong Cassidy" annual it is inscribed ''Christmas 1959''. It is possible that the gift-giver gave away a book that was a year old, but it is more likley that the first annual was released in Descember 1959 and the second one in December 1960. The 1959 issue has the "L. Miller & '''Son'''" ''triangle'' at the cover, while the 1960 issue has the "L. Miller & '''Co'''" ''triangle''.
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:HC-WCA-59-60.jpg|Annuals<br>1959 and 1960
Image:HC-WCA-59-60.jpg|Annuals<br>1959 and 1960
Image:HC-WCA-59-60-T.jpg|''Miller triangle<br>1950 vs 1960
Image:HC-WCA-59-60-T.jpg|''Miller triangle<br>1959 vs 1960
</gallery>
Looking at a few Miller comics like: issues 4 and 5 of "Detective Comics" and "Black Fury" #61 there is an ad for the annuals of the year. They are listed as: "Jolly Book Comic Album" #2, "Happy Boys and Girls Comic Album" #2, "Hopalong Cassidy Comic Annual" #1, "Cowboy Hero Comics Annual" #3, "Rocky Lane Comics Annual" #3, "Bill Boys Comic Annual" #4, "Six-Gun Heroes Comic Annual" #4, "Marvel Annual" and "Young Marvel Annual". The ad has b/w pictures of six annuals. Only the "Cowboy Hero" and the "Hopalong Cassidy" issues have the ''Miller-triangle'' on the covers - the '''Son''' variant. Interesting is that inside the "Cowboy Hero" issue is printet "L. Miller & '''Co'''", and perhaps also in the "Hopalong Cassidy" issue.
<Gallery>
Image:Miller-1959-Annual-01.jpg|
Image:Miller-1959-Annual-02.jpg|
Image:Miller-1959-Annual-03.jpg|
Image:Miller-1959-Annual-04.jpg|
Image:Miller-1959-Annual-05.jpg|
Image:Miller-1959-Annual-06.jpg|
</gallery>
</gallery>
The Annuals were produced to be sold at Christmas time, so the advertising for the books should be in comics and magazines from November, December and January. 


Like the Mandrake series the first three issues of the similar "The Phantom" also have the "L. Miller & ''Son''" ''triangle'' on the covers. One can also see the ''triangle'' changes from '''Son''' to '''Co''' at other series like "Kid Montana" ''(issues 55 - 56)'', "Maverick Marshal" ''(issues 51 - 52)'' and "Front-Line Combat" ''( 2 -3)'', to mentione a few.
The "Detective Comics" ''(GCD: 1959-1959)'' series did run for 9 issues, all with the '''& Co''' variant of the ''Miller-triangle''. If issue 4 was released i December 1959, counting back 5 months brings us to the first issue of this series - September 1959. In the "Black Fury" ''(GCD: 1957)'' series we see the '''& Co''' variant on the cover of #59, if #61 is from November then issue 59 was released in September 1959. So, September 1959 is likly the first month with the '''& Co''' ''triangle'' variant for the Miller comics.
 
For the Mandrake series the ''triangle'' layout changing from issue to issue: The first line. ''"Published by"'' can be written both in regular and italic; The second line can have ''"L. Miller"'' or ''"L. Miller & Co"''; some triangles have ''London'' or ''London E2'' at the bottom. A later research should include if the ''Miller-triangle'' was special made for each issue of their comics, or if it was ''re-used'' for issues from various series released the same month or period.


=== Ads inside the comics ===
=== Ads inside the comics ===
====The Jolly Books====
====The Jolly Books====
On the back cover of the first Mandrake issue there is an ad for the "Jolly Books" series by US Avon Publications released for the UK market by L. Miller.  
On the back cover of the first Mandrake issue there is an ad for the "Jolly Books" series by US Avon Publications released for the UK market by L. Miller. The same ad was used in other comic books from L. Miller, like: "Western Hero - Kid Montana" #53.


This ad promote the 4 new titles: "Moko the Circus Monkey", "Tuffy the Truck", "Up goes the House" and "Fun in the Firehouse" - strangly, all with the original US covers. When released in UK the original US copyright date written inside was keept.  
This ad promote the 4 new titles: "Moko the Circus Monkey", "Tuffy the Truck", "Up goes the House" and "Fun in the Firehouse" - strangly, all with the original US covers. When released in UK the original US copyright date written inside was keept.  


The ad also have pictures of the new "Jolly  Book - comics album" and "Happy Boys and Girls - comic album". Both the "Jolly Book" and the "Happy Boys and Girls" is the first issue of a series of 3 issues, believed to be annuals from 1958, 1959 and 1960. At GCD the publisher for the first "Happy Boys and Girls" is listed as "L. Miller & '''Son'''" and the two other as "L. Miller & '''Co'''". If the years for these series is correct at GCB the name change from '''Son''' to '''Co''' had happened in Desember 1959 - one year before what can be seen for the "Hopalong Cassidy" annuals. 
The ad also have pictures of the new "Jolly  Book - comics album" and "Happy Boys and Girls - comic album". Both the "Jolly Book" and the "Happy Boys and Girls" is the first issue of a series of 3 issues, believed to be annuals from 1958, 1959 and 1960. At GCD the publisher for the first "Happy Boys and Girls" is listed as "L. Miller & '''Son'''" and the two other as "L. Miller & '''Co'''".  


<gallery>
<gallery>
Line 75: Line 87:
</gallery>
</gallery>


===Water pistol===
====Water pistol====
It seems that L. Miller sold their own series of water pistols, manufactured by HR Production ''(England)''. The two first issues of Mandrake have an ad for the "Famous Atomatic Senior Water Pistol" and in issue 15 there is an ad for the "Famous Atomatic Minor Water Pistol".  
It seems that L. Miller sold their own series of water pistols, manufactured by HR Production ''(England)''. The two first issues of Mandrake have an ad for the "Famous Atomatic Senior Water Pistol" and in issue 15 there is an ad for the "Famous Atomatic Minor Water Pistol". The "Senior" ad can also been found in Marvelman #294 believed to be from April 1959 and the "Minor" ad can also be found in [https://ausreprints.net/issue/41882/0|"Young Marvelman" #369] believed to be from January 1963.  


<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Miller-WPS-ad.jpg|ad: the Senior
Image:Miller-WPS-ad.jpg|ad: the Senior
Image:Miller-WPS-red.jpg|the Senior
Image:Miller-WPS-red.jpg|the Senior<br><small>also in yellow, blue and clear green</small>
Image:Miller-WPM-ad.jpg|ad: the Minor
Image:Miller-WPM-ad.jpg|ad: the Minor
</gallery>
</gallery>


====Stamps====
====Stamps====
Some issues has an ad from [[Broadway Approvals]] for ''start packages'' for collecting stamps. In the first Mandrake issue with 120 different stamps and ''free gift'' like the book "Midget Encyclopedia of stamp collection" and the "Solar System souvenir sheet". The second Mandrake issue have stamps and ''free gifts'' like the book "Midget Encyclopedia of stamp collection", "Broadway Worldwide Stamp Album" and "1956 Olympic Seals" (Melbourne). The ''free gifts'' in Mandrake issue 14 including the souvenir sheets: "Boy Scout Jamboree 1957", "Planet Mail", "Flags of the World" and "Suez Chanal".
The "Suez Chanal" souvenir sheets is said to be a replica of the 91 year old stamps, issued in 1868. 1868 pluss 91 years brings us to the year 1959. The "Planet Mail" souvenir sheets is said to have been issued in 1961, but apparing in several ads in Miller comics believed issued in 1959.
<gallery>
Image:Miller-Stamps-M02.jpg|lot W1<br>from #2
Image:Miller-Stamps-M04.jpg|lot W5<br>from #4
Image:Miller-Stamps-M06.jpg|lot W7<br>from #6
Image:Miller-Stamps-M07.jpg|lot W7<br>from #7
Image:Miller-Stamps-M14.jpg|lot W14<br>from #14
Image:Miller-Stamps-M17.jpg|lot W19<br>from #17 & 18
Image:Miller-Stamps-M18.jpg|lot W21<br>from #19 & 20
Image:Miller-Stamps-M22.jpg|lot W24<br>from #22
Image:Broadway-Solar.jpg|''Planet Mail''
Image:Broadway-Suez.jpg|''Suez Chanal''
</gallery>
Although some ads look identical, the ''lot number'' (like W1, W14, and on) is changing with the issues. Comparing ads from Broadway Approvals it look like the letter '''"W"''' is used for comics from L. Miller in 1959 and the early 60s. Other publishers have different letters, like: letter '''"Y"''' - "Westworld Publications" and letter '''"C"''' - "World Distributors". In addition it also look like the number after the '''"W"''' increasing with each issue with the ad from  Broadway Approvals. Comics from different series from have the same lot number, like: lot '''W7''' in "Mandrake" #7, "Black Fury" #61, "Rocky Lane Western" #137 and "Young Marvelman" #312 - indicating these comics were issued at the same time.
====Other comics====
There are some ads for other L. Miller comics inside the Mandrake issues. The similar series with "the Phantom" is mentioned in most of the Mandrake issues before issue 18. There are illustrated ads in #15 ''("The Phantom")'', #18 ''("King of the Royal Mounted")'', #19 ''("Battleground")'', #24 ''("Flash Gordon")'', to mention a few. There is also two variants of an illustrated ad for the series, in #15 one find: "Marvelman", "Young Marvelman", "Mystic", "The Phantom", "Mandrake The Magician", "War", "Battleground", "Popeye", "Spellbound", "Space and Adventure Comics"; and issue 22 one find: "Marvelman", "Young Marvelman", "Mystic", "The Phantom", "Mandrake The Magician", "Battleground", "Popeye", "Spellbound".
<gallery>
Image:Miller-ad-FG.jpg|Flash Gordon
Image:Miller-ad-TP.jpg|The Phantom
Image:Miller-ad-King.jpg|King
Image:Miller-ad-BG.jpg|Battleground
Image:Miller-ad-All-01.jpg|all series
Image:Miller-ad-All-02.jpg|all series II
Image:Miller-ad-BVC-01.jpg|Big-Value Comics
Image:Miller-ad-BVC-02.jpg|without the Phantom
</gallery>
The ''all series II'' ad is found in several other comics by Miller, like: "Mystic" ''(issues 30-40)'', "Captain Midnight" ''(#12)'' and on.
===Stories inside===
====The Phantom====
The first issue of "the Phantom" series is said to have been released in June 1959, and the fourth issue ''(September 1959)'' have the '''& Co''' variant of the ''Miller-Triangle''. The series must have been released somewhat variable, because it does not fit with a regular monthly release. One of the stories inside #13, ''("The Jungle Olympics")'', was printed in US newspapers from August 8 to October 29, 1960. If the series was monthly #13 should have been released in June, 1960. But this ''release date'' is before [[Wilson McCoy]] even had drawn the "The Jungle Olympics" story. Issue 18 was the last issue from this series, and it printed the "The Epidemic" story ''(February 2 to June 10, 1962)''.
It is interesting that ads for the "Phantom" series is missing in Mandrake #18, and then ''return'' in #22.
====Mandrake the Magician====
Like the similar series with "The Phantom" the '''& Co''' variant of the ''Miller-triangle'' appearing on the covers from issue 4.
==Sources==
*[https://michaelowencarroll.wordpress.com/2017/08/04/marvelman-294/ Rusty Staples - Comics Blog: Marvelman #294]
*[https://ausreprints.net/series/2249 AusReprint: Young Marvelman]
*[https://alphadrome.net/data/thumbnails.php?album=23 Alphadrome Robot And Space Toy Database: Space Guns]


{{UK}}
{{UK}}
[[Category:Publications]]
[[Category:Publications]]
[[Category:Mandrake the Magician (Miller) issues| ]]
[[Category:Mandrake the Magician (Miller) issues| ]]

Latest revision as of 09:16, 24 April 2023

Mandrake the Magician
Miller-mtm-01.jpg
First issue
Country/language: Mini uk.gif United Kingdom / English
Publishing company: L. Miller & Son
Publishing years: 1959-1964 (?)
Issues: 24
Format: 18.5 × 24.5 cm, b/w


Issue overview

Regular series

The "Mandrake the Magician" series was released without any pubishing date on the covers or inside. The change in the triangle logo on the covers from issue 3 to 4 (L. Miller & Son vs L. Miller & Co) indicate that the series started in 1959.

Although it is printed published monthly inside there must have been variations in the release rate. The last issue has a daily story from 1963 inside, and is likely published in 1964. The series spanning about 4 years, but only with 24 issues.

Many of the covers of these comics were credited to Philip Wilding and Cashier.

Pubishing date

It is hard to figure out when the Mandrake series was released since almost all series published by L. Miller were released without the publishing date on the covers or inside.

The L. Miller triangle

When the son (Arnold Miller) left his fathers company in 1959 Leonard Miller changed the company name from "L. Miller & Son" to "L. Miller & Co".

Like the Mandrake series the first three issues of the similar "The Phantom" also have the "L. Miller & Son" triangle on the covers. One can also see the triangle changes from Son to Co at other series like "Kid Montana" (issues 55 - 56), "Maverick Marshal" (issues 51 - 52) and "Front-Line Combat" ( 2 -3), to mentione a few.

For the Mandrake series the triangle layout changing from issue to issue: The first line. "Published by" can be written both in regular and italic; The second line can have "L. Miller" or "L. Miller & Co"; some triangles have London or London E2 at the bottom. A later research should include if the Miller-triangle was special made for each issue of their comics, or if it was re-used for issues from various series released the same month or period.

Annuals

In UK there was a tradition with annual issues, released for the Christmas season. Although these annuals rarely had any release date printed inside several of these issues have a note inscribed, like: "From me to you – Christmas year". In one issue of the first "Hopalong Cassidy" annual it is inscribed Christmas 1959. It is possible that the gift-giver gave away a book that was a year old, but it is more likley that the first annual was released in Descember 1959 and the second one in December 1960. The 1959 issue has the "L. Miller & Son" triangle at the cover, while the 1960 issue has the "L. Miller & Co" triangle.

  • Annuals
    1959 and 1960

  • Miller triangle
    1959 vs 1960

Looking at a few Miller comics like: issues 4 and 5 of "Detective Comics" and "Black Fury" #61 there is an ad for the annuals of the year. They are listed as: "Jolly Book Comic Album" #2, "Happy Boys and Girls Comic Album" #2, "Hopalong Cassidy Comic Annual" #1, "Cowboy Hero Comics Annual" #3, "Rocky Lane Comics Annual" #3, "Bill Boys Comic Annual" #4, "Six-Gun Heroes Comic Annual" #4, "Marvel Annual" and "Young Marvel Annual". The ad has b/w pictures of six annuals. Only the "Cowboy Hero" and the "Hopalong Cassidy" issues have the Miller-triangle on the covers - the Son variant. Interesting is that inside the "Cowboy Hero" issue is printet "L. Miller & Co", and perhaps also in the "Hopalong Cassidy" issue.

  • Miller-1959-Annual-01.jpg
  • Miller-1959-Annual-02.jpg
  • Miller-1959-Annual-03.jpg
  • Miller-1959-Annual-04.jpg
  • Miller-1959-Annual-05.jpg
  • Miller-1959-Annual-06.jpg

The Annuals were produced to be sold at Christmas time, so the advertising for the books should be in comics and magazines from November, December and January.

The "Detective Comics" (GCD: 1959-1959) series did run for 9 issues, all with the & Co variant of the Miller-triangle. If issue 4 was released i December 1959, counting back 5 months brings us to the first issue of this series - September 1959. In the "Black Fury" (GCD: 1957) series we see the & Co variant on the cover of #59, if #61 is from November then issue 59 was released in September 1959. So, September 1959 is likly the first month with the & Co triangle variant for the Miller comics.

Ads inside the comics

The Jolly Books

On the back cover of the first Mandrake issue there is an ad for the "Jolly Books" series by US Avon Publications released for the UK market by L. Miller. The same ad was used in other comic books from L. Miller, like: "Western Hero - Kid Montana" #53.

This ad promote the 4 new titles: "Moko the Circus Monkey", "Tuffy the Truck", "Up goes the House" and "Fun in the Firehouse" - strangly, all with the original US covers. When released in UK the original US copyright date written inside was keept.

The ad also have pictures of the new "Jolly Book - comics album" and "Happy Boys and Girls - comic album". Both the "Jolly Book" and the "Happy Boys and Girls" is the first issue of a series of 3 issues, believed to be annuals from 1958, 1959 and 1960. At GCD the publisher for the first "Happy Boys and Girls" is listed as "L. Miller & Son" and the two other as "L. Miller & Co".

  • ad for the Jolly Books

  • US vs UK print

  • first issues

Water pistol

It seems that L. Miller sold their own series of water pistols, manufactured by HR Production (England). The two first issues of Mandrake have an ad for the "Famous Atomatic Senior Water Pistol" and in issue 15 there is an ad for the "Famous Atomatic Minor Water Pistol". The "Senior" ad can also been found in Marvelman #294 believed to be from April 1959 and the "Minor" ad can also be found in "Young Marvelman" #369 believed to be from January 1963.

  • ad: the Senior

  • the Senior
    also in yellow, blue and clear green

  • ad: the Minor

Stamps

Some issues has an ad from Broadway Approvals for start packages for collecting stamps. In the first Mandrake issue with 120 different stamps and free gift like the book "Midget Encyclopedia of stamp collection" and the "Solar System souvenir sheet". The second Mandrake issue have stamps and free gifts like the book "Midget Encyclopedia of stamp collection", "Broadway Worldwide Stamp Album" and "1956 Olympic Seals" (Melbourne). The free gifts in Mandrake issue 14 including the souvenir sheets: "Boy Scout Jamboree 1957", "Planet Mail", "Flags of the World" and "Suez Chanal".

The "Suez Chanal" souvenir sheets is said to be a replica of the 91 year old stamps, issued in 1868. 1868 pluss 91 years brings us to the year 1959. The "Planet Mail" souvenir sheets is said to have been issued in 1961, but apparing in several ads in Miller comics believed issued in 1959.

  • lot W1
    from #2

  • lot W5
    from #4

  • lot W7
    from #6

  • lot W7
    from #7

  • lot W14
    from #14

  • lot W19
    from #17 & 18

  • lot W21
    from #19 & 20

  • lot W24
    from #22

  • Planet Mail

  • Suez Chanal

Although some ads look identical, the lot number (like W1, W14, and on) is changing with the issues. Comparing ads from Broadway Approvals it look like the letter "W" is used for comics from L. Miller in 1959 and the early 60s. Other publishers have different letters, like: letter "Y" - "Westworld Publications" and letter "C" - "World Distributors". In addition it also look like the number after the "W" increasing with each issue with the ad from Broadway Approvals. Comics from different series from have the same lot number, like: lot W7 in "Mandrake" #7, "Black Fury" #61, "Rocky Lane Western" #137 and "Young Marvelman" #312 - indicating these comics were issued at the same time.

Other comics

There are some ads for other L. Miller comics inside the Mandrake issues. The similar series with "the Phantom" is mentioned in most of the Mandrake issues before issue 18. There are illustrated ads in #15 ("The Phantom"), #18 ("King of the Royal Mounted"), #19 ("Battleground"), #24 ("Flash Gordon"), to mention a few. There is also two variants of an illustrated ad for the series, in #15 one find: "Marvelman", "Young Marvelman", "Mystic", "The Phantom", "Mandrake The Magician", "War", "Battleground", "Popeye", "Spellbound", "Space and Adventure Comics"; and issue 22 one find: "Marvelman", "Young Marvelman", "Mystic", "The Phantom", "Mandrake The Magician", "Battleground", "Popeye", "Spellbound".

  • Flash Gordon

  • The Phantom

  • King

  • Battleground

  • all series

  • all series II

  • Big-Value Comics

  • without the Phantom

The all series II ad is found in several other comics by Miller, like: "Mystic" (issues 30-40), "Captain Midnight" (#12) and on.

Stories inside

The Phantom

The first issue of "the Phantom" series is said to have been released in June 1959, and the fourth issue (September 1959) have the & Co variant of the Miller-Triangle. The series must have been released somewhat variable, because it does not fit with a regular monthly release. One of the stories inside #13, ("The Jungle Olympics"), was printed in US newspapers from August 8 to October 29, 1960. If the series was monthly #13 should have been released in June, 1960. But this release date is before Wilson McCoy even had drawn the "The Jungle Olympics" story. Issue 18 was the last issue from this series, and it printed the "The Epidemic" story (February 2 to June 10, 1962).

It is interesting that ads for the "Phantom" series is missing in Mandrake #18, and then return in #22.

Mandrake the Magician

Like the similar series with "The Phantom" the & Co variant of the Miller-triangle appearing on the covers from issue 4.

Sources



Mini uk.gif Mandrake publications in the United Kingdom Mini uk.gif
Series

Mandrake the Magician • The Classic Comic Strip Library - Mandrake the Magician • World Adventure Library - Mandrake the Magician

One-shots

Defenders of the Earth • Defenders of the Earth Annual

Anthologies

Action Series • Comic Cartoon Annual • Creepy Worlds • Flash Gordon Annual • Four Aces Comic • King Comics • Sinister Tales • Secrets of the Unknown • Uncanny Tales

As back-up title
Publishers

Alan Class & Co. Ltd. • L.Miller & Son Ltd. • Purnell and Sons • Titan Comics • World Distributors • Young World Publications

Mandrake publications by country
Europe

Austria • Belgium • Bulgaria • Croatia • Denmark • Finland • France • Germany • Greece • Iceland • Italy • Ireland • Netherlands • Norway • Poland • Portugal • Serbia • Slovenia • Spain • Sweden • Turkey • United Kingdom • Yugoslavia

Americas

Argentina • Bahamas • Brazil • Canada • Chile • Colombia • Costa Rica • Cuba • Dominican Republic • Guatemala • Jamaica • Mexico • Panama • El Salvador • Uruguay • USA • Venezuela

Other

Angola • Australia • French Polynesia • Hong Kong • India • Indonesia • Israel • Lebanon • Malaysia • New Zealand • Papua New Guinea • Philippines • Singapore • South Africa • UAE

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