Andros

Andros
First appearance:	"The Double"
Created by:	Lee Falk and Phil Davis

Andros is a character from the Mandrake the Magician comic strip that first appeared in "The Double".

Fictional Character Biography

The Phil Davis Era

Andros was elected president of an unnamed country in Europe after the people revolted against the dictatorship that ruled the country four years ago. When Andros' health condition meant he had to have surgical treatment in the United States, Mandrake stepped in as his double, so that dictator-friendly coup plotters would not take advantage of the president's absence to usurp power again.

The country's system of government is democratic. It has a congress and an elected president, who lives in a presidential palace. The country has a diplomatic corps, and an ambassador to the United States as well as a U.N. representative. The country's armed forces consist of forces on both land and sea, since there are both generals and admirals. The assumption that the country is located on the coast is strengthened by the existence of a shipbuilding industry. The country also has a nobility and a countess is mentioned.

The Fred Fredericks Era

A few years later, Mandrake was approached by Ambassador Antone who took him on a road trip. Antone talked about the conversation they had about their dream houses on the flight when Mandrake doubled for President Andros and prevent a coup d'état.

Antone repeated Mandrake's description of his dream house, as they approach their destination. Xanadu with gates inspected by hidden eyes and opened by a certain signal. The road up the mountain with hidden obstacles like a deep chasm closing if driving the proper speed, a wall blocking the road the raises at the same speed, a dark tunnel that could be closed at either end. On top of the mountain a mansion with shining domes surrounded by a beautiful garden. A pool that goes inside the house, a lab, an observatory, a control room for all the obstacles.

On behalf of his country, Antone presented Mandrake the title deed to Xanadu, saying it was a gift from a grateful nation for what Mandrake had accomplished in his role as a double for the President.

One quiet day by the pool, Mandrake told the story behind his beautiful residence. It started with him being invited to an embassy for a small nation. The ambassador said that Mandrake looked exactly like their president, only a little younger, and wanted Mandrake to take over the role of their president for a month. The president was sick and needed surgery at an American hospital, but if he left the country, evil people would take over and destroy their democracy.

Mandrake learned about the history of the smal nation and who the most important people he would meet were. On the way to his new assignment, the ambassador and Mandrake talked about their dream houses - and Mandrake told him about his Xanadu.

Mandrake found out that there was a conspiracy to take over the government of the nation, and managed to prevent the coup. It turned out that the president was not really sick but that he had been poisoned by the coup plotters,

Two years later, Mandrake was contacted by the ambassador and invited on a road trip. As they approached their destination, the ambassador recounted their conversation about their dream homes - and showed Mandrake Xanadu. He handed Mandrake the deed, and by phone the president said it was a gift from a grateful nation.

The country is not described in more detail, but there is a general and an admiral, as well as a count. So this is probably a small country on the coast of Europe somewhere. Since there is a nobility, the country was probably once ruled by a kingdom, but is now a democracy with an elected president.