Dr Griff's Invention

Dr Griff's Invention
Start date:	December 23rd, 1940
End date:	April 5th, 1941
# of strips:	90 (15 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Phil Davis
Preceded by:	"The Octopus Ring"
Followed by:	"The Mystery of the Striped Orchid"

"Dr Griff's Invention" is the 23rd Mandrake daily story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Phil Davis. This story exists in two variants, one made to span six newspaper columns, the other to span five.

Plot Summary

Dr. Griff has invented an eletrical-projection machine that will make all enemy airfleets obsolete. Mandrake is to take him to a secret laboratory, where he can complete his work. The night before they leave, Griff is captured by enemy agents. He refuses to give up his secret. An actor desguises himself as Griff, taking the doctor's place. Griff is drugged and the enemy agents decide to smuggle him out of the country.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• Mandrake
• Narda
• Lothar

One-time characters

• Dr. Griff, an inventer.
• Foote, at the War Department.
• The Chief, an enemy agent.
• Pug, an enemy agent.

Locations

• New York
  • The War Department.
• At sea and countryside.

Behind the scenes

Title

• The title for the story is taken from the strip of December 28, 1940 (Monday = Dr Griff's Invention).

Signifiant covers

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  Brazil

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  Brazil

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  Brazil

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  Italy

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  Italy

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  Italy

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  Italy

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  Italy

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  Italy

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  New Zealand

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  New Zealand

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  Spain

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Brazil

• "Na Pista dos Espiões", Mandrake #87 (1964)
• "O Rapto do Professor", Mandrake, o Mágico #6 (1971)
• "A Arma Secreta", Mandrake #252 (1977)

Denmark

• "Dødsstraalerne", Fantomhefte #8 (1953)

Finland

• "Maaron ja Kuolemansäteet", Kippari Kalle #2 (1954)

France

• "La machine mystèrieuse", Spécial Mandrake #8 (1964)

West Germany

• no title, Phantom-Heft #11 (1953)

Italy

• "La macchina che fulmina i motori", L'Avventura (1945)
• "Mandrake e la macchina che fulmina i motori" and "La rivincita di Mandrake", Albi delle grandi avventure Mandrake #2 and Mandrake #3 (1945)
• "La macchina misteriosa", Super Albo #12 (1961)
• "La macchina misteriosa", Super Albo - Mandrake #56 (1963)
• "L'invenzione del dottor Griff", Mandrake #5 (Comics Stars in the World 1976)
• "L’invenzione del dottor Griff", Mandrake - New Comics Now #150 (1985)
• "L’invenzione del dottor Griff", Mandrake 19 (Comic Art) (1993)
• "L'invenzione del dottor Griff", I fumetti del Giallo Mondadori #2 (2000)
• "L'invenzione del dottor Griff", Mandrake e il mistero dell'orchidea tigrata (2001)

French Polynesia

• "L'invenzione del dottor Griff", Mandrake #5 (Comics Stars in the World 1976) note: Italian text.

New Zealand

• "Dr Griff's Invention", Mandrake the Magician #81 (1954)

Norway

• "Dødstrålen", Fantom-hefte #8 (1953)
• "Dødstrålen", Fantom-hefte #1952-1953

Spain

• "El invento del dr. Griff", Grandes Clásicos de los Comics del Pasado #39 - Mandrake #13 (1992)

Sweden

• "Dödsstrålen", Stjärnbragder #6 (1953)

USA

• "no title", The Official Mandrake #13 (1989)
• "Dr Griff's Invention", Comics Revue #455-456 – Comics Revue #459-460 (2024)