The Ratmen of Rodencia
| The Ratmen of Rodencia | |
| |
| Start date: | January 15, 1973 |
|---|---|
| End date: | May 5, 1973 |
| # of strips: | 96 (16 weeks) |
| Writer: | Lee Falk |
| Artist: | Fred Fredericks |
| Preceded by: | "Dr Xoz Prof. of Smells" |
| Followed by: | "The Incredible Thief" |
"The Ratmen of Rodencia" is the 153rd Mandrake daily story.
The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Fred Fredericks.
Plot Summary
A gigantic flaming object from the sky landed in mid-ocean. Then a mysterious sound rings from the "galactic watch" given to Mandrake by emperor Magnon. This sound is followed by a tri-dimensional image of Magnon. A starship from outer space has been hijacked by 12 Ratmen who threaten to destroy the space-vessel and its 5.000 passengers. The starship finally landed on Earth and, hidden at the bottom of the sea, they await the payment of the ransom : 50 billion credits and the planet Earth.
Magnon's fleet ships arrive near the Earth but, at first, Magnon want Mandrake to negotiate with the Ratmen. He sends a transporter and a translator. Mandrake and Lothar go inside a soap bubble like space dinghy and dived to the sea bottom. Inside the hijacked space ship, there is an amazing variety of non-human passengers and four humans. One of them is Nardraka.
Appearances
Recurring characters
One-time characters
- 34XCY1/2x27*, the name/number of the translator.
- Vultose, alian race breathe air and are radioactive.
- Francie, name of a small boat.
- Marma, nurse of Nardraka.
Locations
- Xanadu
- Bottom of the ocean.
- Our solar system.
Behind the scenes
- This story have no given title. It is lifted from the strip of January 31, 1973 (Magnon: "By Ratmen of Rodencia").
Reprints
This story has been published in the following publications:
Brazil
- "Os Piratas do Espaço", Mandrake #206 (1973)"
France
- "Sur un navire sidéral",Spécial Mandrake (mondes mystérieux) - Nouvelle Série #9 (1977)
India
- "The Ratmen of Rodencia" Indrajal Comics #200 (1974)
- "Encounter with Space Creatures", Indrajal Comics Vol. 24 No. 45 (1987)
Italy
- "L'astronove in fondo al mare", Mandrake Selezione #6 (1977)
Spain
- "Secuestro sideral", Supercomics Garbo #11 (1976)
Turkey
- "Uzayda Tehdit", Mandrake #28 #29 #30 (1975)
- "Uzayda Tehdit", Mandrake Albüm #10
- "Uzayda Tehdit", Mandrake #44 #45
- "Uzayda Tehdit", Mandrake Süper Albüm #13
- "Uzayda Tehdit", Mandrake Süper Albüm #57 #58
Yugoslavia
- "Pacoliki napadaju", Super EKS Almanah #16 (1981)