The Mystery of the Big Trees

The Mystery of the Big Trees
Start date:	May 8, 1949
End date:	August 7, 1949
# of strips:	14 (14 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Phil Davis
Preceded by:	"Fear Island"
Followed by:	"Jungle Adventure"

"The Mystery of the Big Trees" is the 43rd Mandrake Sunday story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Phil Davis.

Plot Summary

As the Argos stops at a West Africa port to take on fuel and supplies, Mandrake and Narda takes of in the small amphib to explore the near-by country. They see a small valley with an amazing forest, with the bigest trees they have ever seen. Back at the dock, they decide to make a safari to the giant forest, but when they question natives about it, the natives flee in terror: "Big trees ! Taboo !.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• Mandrake
• Lothar
• Narda

One-time characters

• A local trader
• Grant, a hunter who disappeared in the forest
• Squirrel" men, or tree people

Locations

• West Africa
  • A port
  • A village in the treetops

Vehicles

• S.S. Argus, Blaine's yacht.

Behind the scenes

• The title for this story is taken from the strip of May 8, 1949 (Beginning: The Mystery of the Big Trees !).

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Australia

• "The Mystery of the Big Trees", Mandrake Annual (1954)

Brazil

• "O Mistério das Grandes Árvores", O Globo Juvenil: #1940 & #1943 & #1946 & #1949 & #1952 & #1955 & #1958 & #1961 & #1964 & #1967 & #1970 & #1973 & #1976 (1949-1950)

Finland

• "Jättiläispuiden", Wanhat Sarjat #9 (1985)

France

• "La forêt des mystères", Mandrake #26 (1964)
• "La forêt des mystères", Mandrake #295 (1970)
• "Le mystères des grands arbres", Mandrake #425 (1975)
• "Le mystère des arbres géants", Mandrake le Magicien #4 (1982)
• "Le danger venu des arbres", Le Journal de Mickey #1897 (1988)
• "Le danger venu des arbres", Donald Magazine #88-44 (1988)

Italy

• "La foresta dagli arcani", Mandrake #40 (1964)
• "La foresta degli arcani", I Classici dell'Avventura #77 (1964)
• "La foresta dagli arcani", Mandrake #167 (1970)
• "La foresta degli arcani", Mandrake #71 (1975)
• "La foresta degli arcani", Mandrake - New Comics Now #132 (1985)
• "La foresta degli arcani", Mandrake #3 (1994)
• "no title", Mandrake - La rotta delle meraviglie (2004)

New Zealand

• "The Mystery of the Big Trees", Mandrake the Magician #47 and Mandrake the Magician #48 (1953)

Norway

• "Mandrake i kjempeskogen", Skippern (1953)

USA

• "The Mystery of the Big Trees", The Official Mandrake Sundays #3   #4 (1989)