The Flame Pearls Pt.1: Attempted Assassination

The Flame Pearls Pt.1: Attempted Assassination
Start date:	April 21th, 1940
End date:	May 26th, 1940
# of strips:	6 (6 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Phil Davis
Preceded by:	"The Theatre Mysteries"
Followed by:	"The Flame Pearls Pt.2: Magnetic Island"

"The Flame Pearls Pt.1: Attempted Assassination" is the 14th Mandrake Sunday story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Phil Davis.

Plot Summary

At a houseparty in the home of the wealthy Colonel Barton, Mandrake entertains the guests. The Colonel tells Mandrake that he soon will be leaving on a scientific expedition to the South Pacific, looking for flame colored pearls, and he wants Mandrake to join him. Mandrake cannot say no to an adventure and soon he finds himself on the yacht Argos and the search for the Flame Pearls begins.

But Captain Beeker and First Mate Sims are making plans on how they can get their hands on the Flame Pearls themselves.

Mandrake and Colonel Barton feel like some underwater exploring. Underwater, Mandrake is attacked by a gigantic octopus and at the same time Beeker and Sims knots Mandrake's air-line...

Appearances

Recurring characters

• Mandrake
• Lothar
• Colonel Barton
• June, daughter of Colonel Barton.

One-time characters

• Captain Beeker, on Argos.
• First Mate Sims, on Argos.

Locations

• South Pacific

Vehicles

• S.S.Argos, Colonel Barton's yacht.

Behind the scenes

• The main title for this story is taken from the strip of April 14th, 1940 (Next Week: "The Flame Pearls"), while the sub title is lifted from the plot.
• The "Flame Pearls" story is a retelling of an ancient Greek myth; "Jason and the Golden Fleece".

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Finland

• "Tulihelmien mysteeri (I); Attentaatti", Mustanaamio #3 (1992)

France

• "Les perles de flamme", Mandrake #327 (1971)
• "Les perles de flamme", L'âge d'or Mandrake #3 (1980)

Italy

• "L’isola magnetica", Mandrake #1 (1971)
• "Le perle di fiamma", L'epoca d'oro di Mandrake #3 (1980)

Norway

• "Ildperlene I, Attentatet", Fantomet #4 (1992)

Spain

• "La Isla Magnetica", Merlin el Mago Moderno #15 (194?)
• ("no title"), Album Roja #4 (1944)

Sweden

• "Eldpärlorna", Allers Familj-Journal
• "Mysteriet med eldpärlorna del 1: Attentatet", Fantomen #23 (1991)

USA

• "(no title)", King Comics #61, King Comics #62 and King Comics #63 (1941)

Yugoslavia

• "Plameni biseri", Biblioteka Nostalgija #8 (1988)