The Mysterious Chief

The Mysterious Chief
Start date:	September 20th, 1976
End date:	December 11th, 1976
# of strips:	72 (12 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Fred Fredericks
Preceded by:	"Narda and the Sheik"
Followed by:	"The Pacific Circle"

"The Mysterious Chief" is the 165th Mandrake daily story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Fred Fredericks.

Plot Summary

Hojo is super-scholar, excels at higher math, fluent in 14 languages and reads 10 more. He is also 10th degree black belt, judo and karate. But why is he working as Mandrake's super-chef? And what does he do all day when he is gone, and where does he go?

Appearances

Recurring characters

• Mandrake
• Lothar
• Narda
• Hojo
• Jed

One-time characters

• Ms. Laurel, Jed's private secetary.

Locations

• New York
  • Xanadu
  • Asian quarter

Organizations

• Inter-Intel

Behind the scenes

• The title for the story is taken from the strip of September 20, 1976 (Beginning: Mysterious Chief).
• Mandrake have guessed that Hojo is the mysterious and secret Chief of Inter-Intel, and Hojo confirms it by inviting Mandrake into his private office behind behind the Chief office at Inter-Intel.
• Lothar asking Mandrake if Hojo is the mysterious and secret Chief of Inter-Intel, but Mandrake did not reply.
• Mystery: Hojo goes on a two week vacation. He stays in an apartment (?) in the Asian quarter and working at Inter-Intel as their secret chief. So, two week vacation from what? His job as Mandrake's chef?

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Brazil

• "Uma Voz Misteriosa", Almanaque do Mandrake #5 (1980)

Finland

• "Pomo", Mustanaamio #3 (1988)

France

• "Le chef mystérieux", Spécial Mandrake #15 (1978)
• "Le secret de Hojo", Le Journal de Mickey #1783 (1986)
• "Le secret de Hojo", Donald Magazine #86-34 (1986)
• "Le mystère d'Hojo", Janus Stark #133 and #134 (1990)

India

• "The Master Criminal", Indrajal Comics #298 (1978)
• "மர்மத் தலைவன்", Mutu Comics #71 (1977)

Italy

• "La fabbrica degli incubi", Mandrake Selezione #12 (1978)

Portugal

• "O Segredo de Jojo", Mundo de Aventuras #211 (1977)

Spain

• "El Secreto de Jojo", Mandrake - Merlin el Mago #11 (1981)

Sweden

• "Chefen", Fantomen #16 (1987)

Turkey

• "Şefin Sırrı", Mandrake #137 & #138 (1977)
• "Şefin Sırrı", Mandrake Albüm #136 and #137
• "Şefin Sırrı", Mandrake Süper Albüm #21
• "Şefin Sırrı", Mandrake Süper Albüm #76

Yugoslavia

• "Veliki šef", Super EKS Almanah #1 (1979)