Luciphor

Luciphor aka The Cobra
First appearance:	"The Cobra"
Created by:	Lee Falk and Phil Davis

Luciphor aka The Cobra is a character from the Mandrake the Magician comic strip that first appeared in "The Cobra", the very first Mandrake story.

Fictional Character Biography

The Cobra is Mandrake's most evil and dangerous foe. In a story from 1937, the Cobra was apparently defeated; however, he returned with a vengeance in a story from 1965. This time hiding his face (scarred and disfigured in battle with Mandrake) behind a menacing silver mask.

The Cobra's main goal is to acquire one of the two powerful Crystal Cubes which increase mental energy. These are guarded by Mandrake and Theron.

In later years, the Cobra abandoned his silver mask as his face had been reconstructed through surgery. The Cobra is sometimes accompanied by his assistant Udd.

Family

Mandrake learned that The Cobra's true identity was Luciphor, Theron's oldest son — thus making The Cobra Mandrake's half-brother.

Notable appearances

The Cobra has appeared in these stories:

Year	Daily/Sunday	Title	Comments
1934	Daily	"The Cobra"
1937	Daily	"In the Cobra's Grip"
1965	Sunday	"The Cobra Returns"	with a silver mask and real name Luciphor
1967	Daily	"The Return of Evil - The Cobra"
1969	Daily	"The Cobra Strikes (The College of Magic)"
1971	Daily	"The Rogues"
1974	Daily	"The Cobra and the Cube"
1974	Daily	"The Search for the Cobra"
1975	Daily	"The Frame-Up"	just a glimpse at the end
1979	Daily	"Mandrake's Gangster Gallery"
1981	Daily	"Mandrake's Family"	Mandrake's half brother
1984	Daily	"Behind Death's Door"	without the silver mask
1989	Daily	"King Kered"
1992	Daily	"The Book of Criminals"
1995	Daily	"Pursuit of the Cobra"
1999	Daily	"Siege at Xanadu"	first time in the strips, Luciphor and Derek meet each other as adults
2007	Daily	"Dangerous Music"
2012	Daily	"Melody of Doom"
2013	Phantom Sunday	"Mandrake's Bon Voyage"