The Birthday Party

The Birthday Party
Start date:	July 13, 1958
End date:	November 30, 1958
# of strips:	21 (21 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Phil Davis
Preceded by:	"The Mesa"
Followed by:	"The Invisible Thief"

"The Birthday Party" is the 76th Mandrake Sunday story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Phil Davis.

Plot Summary

Magnon and Carola are expecting an heir and discussed various names for him, and Carola realized that Nardrake would be an acceptable name for a future emperor. The name was a combination of Mandrake and Narda, the two who brought her and Magnon together. Magnon accepted the name and they decided to bring Mandrake and Nard so that they could be their guests for the big event.

Last time Mandrake and Narda visited Magna got all their memories of their visit erased from memory and stored on tape. On board the spaceship to Magna their memories of the galaxy was returned to them.

Magnon had prepared for that a son would be born so he was a little confused when the child turned out to be a girl. It was a giant celebration of the newborn girl, where the scientists moved blue stars to form a new constellation. That would spell Nardraka for all time.

When the time came for Mandrake and Narda to return home Magnon said they had to erase their memories once more. Since the planet Earth did not know the galaxy and no one there must be told. Carola asking if not the scientist could use the N9X process. A process where one did remember but was unable to tell anything about the galaxy, to someone who did not already know.

Appearances

Recurring characters

• Mandrake
• Lothar
• Narda
• The Police Chief

• Magnon
• Carola
• Nardraka

One-time characters

• Wynton, Magnons father. mention only
• Maxton, Magnons grand father. mention only
• Xaxon, Magnons ancester. mention only
• Plagon, Magnons ancester. mention only
• Zeuston, Magnons ancester. mention only
• Hubel, a scientist at Magna.

Locations

• New York City
• Magna

Objects

• A three dimentional photo of Nardraka, changing as the baby changes.
• A galactic watch operated by mind waves, think of any planet and it will show the correct time.

Behind the scenes

• The story title is taken from the strip of July 6 and 13, 1958 (Next Week: The Birthday Party & Beginning: The Birthday Party).

Signifiant covers

• 
  Brazil
• 
  Brazil
• 
  Italy
• 
  Italy
• 
  New Zealand
• 
  New Zealand
• 
  Portugal
• 
  Spain

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Brazil

• no title, Almanaque do Mandrake (1960)
• "De Volta a Magna", As Grandes Aventuras do Mandrake #2 (1986)
• "De Volta a Magna", Mandrake Coleção #29 (1992)

Finland

• "Synttärijuhlat", Mustanaamio #5 (1998)

France

• "Retour sur la planète Magna", Les héros du mystère #1 (1967)
• "Retour sur la planète Magna", Les héros du mystère Album #1 (1967)
• "Retour sur la planète Magna", Mandrake #407 (1973)

Italy

• "Ritorno sul pianeta Magno", Il Vascello #47 (1961)
• "Il ritorno sul pianeta Magno", I Classici dell'Avventura #19 (1962)
• "Ritorno sul pianeta Magno", Mandrake #53 (1973)
• "Ritorno sul pianeta Magno", Mandrake - New Comics Now #302 (1993)

New Zealand

• "The Birthday Party", Mandrake the Magician #215 and Mandrake the Magician #216 (1959)

Norway

• "Fødselsdagsfesten", Fantomet #4 (1998)

Portugal

• "O Regresso a Galáxia", Condor Popular Vol. 23 N.° 1 (1959)

Spain

• "La Fiesta del Natalicio", Mandrake el Mago: Sundays pages 1956–1959 (Dolmen Editorial) (2021)

Sweden

• "Födelsedagsfesten", Fantomen #4 (1998)

Turkey

• "Uzaya Davet", Mandrake #78 & #79 (1975-1976)
• "Uzaya Davet", Mandrake Albüm #26 & #27
• "Uzaya Davet", Mandrake Albüm #110

USA

• "The Birthday Party", The Missing Years #51 and The Missing Years #52 (2005)