Derek (Daily story 1948/49)

Derek
Start date:	December 27th, 1948
End date:	April 23th, 1949
# of strips:	84 (14 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Phil Davis
Preceded by:	"The Big Tyme"
Followed by:	"The Amazing Ray"

"Derek" is the 50th Mandrake daily story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Phil Davis. This story exists in three variants, one made to span three newspaper columns, one to span four and one to span five. Compared to the four-column variant the five-column variant is cropped in the lower part. The three column variant is cropped less in the lower part and the panels are made wider by adding extra ink. The copyright line is almost always placed differently in the strip, as is the date. In addition, the shape and placement of the speech bubble can be different.

Plot Summary

For the first time Mandrake tells Narda about his boyhood, that he have a twin brother. Their mother died shortly after the twins was born. Their father raised them, and as a greate stage magician he taught them all his tricks. When thay were about twelve years old their father took them to the College of Magic in Tibet. Sadly their father became ill and died shortly after they arrived. After their graduation the twins chose different careers. Derek devoted his powers to crime and evil things.

Now Derek in town, and he has been crush on Narda.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• Mandrake
• Lothar
• Narda
• Derek, Mandrake's twin brother
• Grando the Great, Mandrake's father.
• Theron
• The Police Chief

One-time characters

• The Police Chief's grand daughter.

Locations

• New York
• The College of Magic, flashback.

Behind the scenes

• The title for this story is taken from the strip of December 27, 1948 (Beginning: Derek)
• Theron was married when Mandrake arrived the CM. (January 26: The college head's wife took care of us like a mother hen)

Signifiant covers

• 

  Brazil

• 

  Brazil

• 

  France

• 

  Italy

• 

  Italy

• 

  Italy

• 

  Mexico

• 

  New Zealand

• 

  New Zealand

• 

  Sweden

• 

  Turkey

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Brazil

• "Derek", Mandrake, o Mágico #25 (1973)
• "O Outro", Mandrake #271 (1978)

Finland

• "Derek", Mustanaamio #9 (1976)

France

• "Les frères ennemis" & "La Joconde et la tiare", Aventures et Mystères #146 & #149 (1952)
• "Danger public" & "Derek le redoutable", Spécial Mandrake #53 & #54 (1968)
• "Danger public", Mandrake le Magicien - L'intégrale 2 (Soleil) & #3 (1993)

Italy

• "Il castello della magia", Avventura Club #6, #7 (1949) and ending in "Perocolo pubblico", L'Avventura Albo tascabile #1 (1950)
• "La fiamma magica", Super Albo - Mandrake #14 (1962)
• "Pericolo pubblico", Mandrake #21 (1962)
• "Pericolo pubblico", Super Albo - Mandrake #58 (1963)
• "Pericolo pubblico", Mandrake - New Comics Now #260 (1991)
• "Pericolo pubblico", Mandrake 42 (Comic Art) (1995)

Mexico

• "Contra Derek", Paquito #11003 (1952)

New Zealand

• "Derek", Mandrake the Magician #18, Mandrake the Magician #19 and Mandrake the Magician #20 (1951)
• "Derek", Mandrake the Magician #182, Mandrake the Magician #183 and Mandrake the Magician #184 (1958)

Norway

• "Derek", Serie-pocket #75 (1982)
• "Derek", Fantomet #24 (1987)

Sweden

• "Bror Derek", Mandrake #4 (1963)
• "Derek", Fantomen #2 (1976)

Turkey

• "Elmas Taç", Haftalık Albüm #4 (1952)
• "Mandrake ‘nin çocukluğu", Haftalık Albüm #36 (1953)

United Kingdom

• "Derek", Mandrake the Magician #9 (1960)

USA

• "Derek", The Classic Mandrake Series / Episode: "Derek" (Pacific Comics Club) (20??)