Mandrake the Magician (Miller): Difference between revisions

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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.  
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.  


One clue is that Arnold Miller left his fathers company in 1959 and Leonard Miller then changed the company name from "L. Miller & Son" to "L. Miller & Co".  
===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'''".  


Looking at the covers of "Hopalong Cassidy Western Comic Annual" one can see the ''Miller & Son'' on the 1959 issue and the ''Miller & co'' on the cover of the 1960 issue. These issues were sold in December 1959 and December 1960, so sometime between November 1959 and November 1960 the publisher changed the name.
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..  


As mentioned, the first three issues with Mandrkae have the ''Miller & Son'' logo on the covers. Interesting the first three issues of the similar series with the Phantom also have the ''Miller & Son'' logo on the covers. Also the ''Miller & co'' logo is first seen on the covers of "Kid Montana" #56, "Maverick Marshal" #52 and "Front-Line Combat" #3, to mentione a few.  
<gallery>
Image:HC-WCA-59-60.jpg|Annuals<br>1959 and 1960
Image:HC-WCA-59-60-T.jpg|''Miller triangle<br>1950 vs 1960
</gallery>
 
As mentioned, the first three issues with Mandrkae have the "Miller & '''Son'''" triangle on the covers. Interesting the first three issues of the similar series with the Phantom also have the "Miller & '''Son'''" logo on the covers.  
 
One 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.  





Revision as of 08:55, 27 July 2021

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".

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..

As mentioned, the first three issues with Mandrkae have the "Miller & Son" triangle on the covers. Interesting the first three issues of the similar series with the Phantom also have the "Miller & Son" logo on the covers.

One 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.