The Crystal Cube
| The Crystal Cube | |
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| First appearance: | "Master of Magic" and The Cobra Strikes (The College of Magic) |
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| Created by: | Lee Falk and Phil Davis/Fred Fredericks |
The Crystal Cubes were a gift of the ancient gods to the people at the College of Magic.
History
First time the the crystal ball is mentioned is in the daily story "Master of Magic", where Mandrake keep it in a safe in his house. The crystal ball has a tiny replica of the College of Magic inside and Mandrake using it for a long-distance-call. Sitting in front of it and focusing he is able to enter the crystal end mentally visit the College and speack with Theron.
When Mandrake graduated from the College of Magic the crystal ball was a gift from Theron, so Mandrake could reach him anywhere on Earth. Theron said that the crystal could be older than the pyramides, and was the only one in the world. The College was build as a copy of the tiny replica inside the crystal ball. The legend said it was left by men from the sky, and inspired an ancient architect to build the first Greek temple.
Second time Lee Falk mentioned the rarest treasure of all is in the daily story "The Cobra Strikes". Now it is described as an ancient crystal cube, a mysterious object that amplifies and transmits throught around the Earth - or to the stars. The cube is under Theron's protection at the College, and only one other cube exists - under Mandrake's protection at Xanadu. Mandrake keeps his cube behind a hidden panel, protected by laser beams, in his study. When Theron calls him, a violet light is lit on the outside of the panel. Mandrake uses his cube to mentally visit Theron at the College.
Theron reveals that in addition to being a thought transmitter, the cubes also amplify mental power to the Nth degree. The cube at the College is actually the power generator for their city, and it could provide power to light the entire Earth. The cubes were a gift from visitors from another star when the ancient founded the Collegium Magikos 4.000 years ago. Although the cubes were in the possession of College for a long time, it was only two centuries ago that Therons father (then the grand master) learned the secret of their power.
In the daily story "Karma's Adventure" Theron elaborates that the cubes amplify mental power - the greatest power in the Universe - strong enough to split the Earth. He and Mandrake now using the cubes to create a mental net to find the Cobra.
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Theron believe that the reason for that he have reach the age 300 is due to his daily meditations in front of the cube, it expiation him for waves from the cubes.
The cubes amplify and transmit thoughts around the earth (or even the stars), it even infinite power to light the earth - or split it.
The usual use for the cubes is that meditation in front of the cube make it creating a kind of power station for the College of Magic so they can survive inside the mountain, and it is a way for Theron at the College of Magic and Mandrake at Xanadu to keep close contact.
The cubes have terrifying power and it would be a disaster if they fall in the hands of the wrong people. For the Cobra it would make him to the master of the earth, no wonder that he was after one of the cubes for a long time.
Theron and Mandrake discover that it was to dangerous for Mandrake to have one of the cubes at Xanadu and decided that both of the cubes must stay at the College of Magic under Theron's protection.
Notable appearances
Some of the stories where the Crystal Cube has featured most prominently are:
| Year | Daily/Sundays | Title | Artist | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | daily | "Master of Magic" | Davis | The Crystal Ball |
| 1969 | daily | "The Cobra Strikes (The College of Magic)" | Fredericks | |
| 1970 | daily | "Karma's Adventure" | Fredericks | |
| 1970 | daily | "Hojo's Tale" | Fredericks | |
| 1971 | daily | "The Rogues" | Fredericks | |
| 1973 | daily | "Tale of Aleena" | Fredericks | |
| 1974 | daily | "The Cobra and the Cube" | Fredericks | |
| 1974 | daily | "The Search for the Cobra" | Fredericks | |
| 1975 | daily | "The Thieves" | Fredericks | The Crystal Cube was broght to the College of Magic |
| 1997 | daily | "Mandrake's Wedding at Cockaigne" | Fredericks | Theron brought the Crystal Cube to Xanadu |
| 2002 | daily | "Mountain of Mystery" | Fredericks | The Crystal Cube is at Xanadu |