The Flame Pearls Pt.4: The Amazons

The Flame Pearls Pt.4: The Amazons
Start date:	October 13th, 1940
End date:	December 22th, 1940
# of strips:	11 (11 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Phil Davis
Preceded by:	"The Swordfish"
Followed by:	"The Flame Pearls Pt.5: The Ghost Ship"

"The Flame Pearls Pt.4: The Amazons" is the 17th Mandrake Sunday story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Phil Davis.

Plot Summary

Mandrake is on a scientific expedition to the South Pacific, looking for flame colored pearls. Mandrake and Colonel Barton goes ashore Amoz island, and in the island village thy behold a strange sight. They see man at work, men doing the traditional task's of women: cooking, washing clothes, sweeping out the huts, feeding the children.

The queen of the amazons fell in love with Mandrake and would take him as the new king, but first she had to get rid of her current husband. The King, Mandrake and Colonel Barton managed to escape the amazones. Mandrake hypnotized the King to tell the queen that from now on, the King will wear the pants in the family. The men won the revolt, and for a short time the male parade their new power. But the revolt of the males ends as quickly as it started. "As a leopard cannot change its spots", remarks Mandrake, "So an amazon will always be an amazon".

Appearances

Recurring characters

• Mandrake
• Colonel Barton

One-time characters

• Roba, an amazone
• Queen of the amazones
• King of the amazones

Locations

• South Pacific.
• Amoz Island

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:

Brazil

• "A Ilha das Amazonas", Novo Gibi #1812 (1953)

Finland

• "Tulihelmien mysteeri (IV): Kuoleman salmi", Mustanaamio #13 (1992)

France

• "La reine des Amazones", Mandrake #328 (1971)
• "Les perles de flamme", L'âge d'or Mandrake #3 (1980)

Italy

• "La regina delle amazoni", Mandrake #2 (1971)
• "Le perle di fiamma", L'epoca d'oro di Mandrake #3 (1980)

Norway

• "Ildperlene IV, Amasonøya II", Fantomet #8 (1992)

Spain

• "El Navio Fantasma", Merlin el Mago Moderno #16 (194?)

Sweden

• "Eldpärlorna", Allers Familj-Journal
• "Mysteriet med eldpärlorna del 3: Amazonernas ö", Fantomen #7 (1992)

USA

• "(no title)", King Comics #67, King Comics #68, King Comics #69 and King Comics #70 (1941/1942)