Theron
| Theron | |
| |
| First appearance: | "Derek" |
|---|---|
| Created by: | Lee Falk and Phil Davis |
Theron is a character from the Mandrake the Magician comic strip that first appeared in "Derek". Theron is the grand master of the College of Magic somewhere in the Himalayas. Theron is hundreds of years old, probably due to the energy of the powerful Crystal Cube of which he is the guardian.
Fictional Character Biography
The Phil Davis Era
First time Mandrake told Narda about his childhood he said[1] when he was twelve years old his father brought him to the "College of Magic". It was located in a hidden valley in mystery shrouded Tibet, and Theron was the head of the college. He was a master of illusions and taught the students mental magic like: mind reading, telepathy, instant hypnosis and other great secrets. Therons wife took care of Mandrake and his twin brother Derek while they lived and studied at the campus. Shortly after Mandrake graduated (at the age of eighteen) he read that a hill tribe attacced the college, looting and burning it. A few of the instructers had escaped, but Mandrake did not know what happened to Theron.
A few years later, while Mandrake is looking through a photo album from his college years, he makes[2] mental contact with Theron. Theron needs Mandrake's help to stop an evil man with their powers loose in the world, a man graduated from the College of Magic. Theron says that he now is old and weak and cannot maintain mental contact for much longer, but that he has sent Mandrake a letter[footnotes 1] with a photo and more information.
After Mandrake had managed to capture the evil Swami, Theron personally appears in the courtroom[footnotes 2] and persuades the judge to hand over the prisoner to him so that he can be sentenced by the court of the College of Magic.
The Fred Fredericks Era
Family
Theron has been married twelve times and said to had 30 - 40 children, only four of them are alive today; Luciphor, Derek, Mandrake and Lenore.
Story References
Note
Notable appearances
Some of the stories where Theron has featured most prominently are:
| Year | Title | Daily/Sunday | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Daily | "Derek" | |
| 1950 | Daily | "Swami" | |
| 1953 | Daily | "The Mysterious Mr Beam" | |
| 1963 | Daily | "Master of Magic" | |
| 1969 | Daily | "The Cobra Strikes (The College of Magic)" | |
| 1971 | Sunday | "The Hidden College of Magic" | |
| 1980 | Daily | "Derek" | |
| 1981 | Daily | "Mandrake's Family" | Theron reveals that he is the father of Mandrake |
| 1984 | Daily | "Behind Death's Door" | |
| 1989 | Daily | "King Kered" | |
| 1997 | Daily | "Mandrake's Wedding at the College of Magic" |
| Characters | |
|---|---|
| Supporting |
Mandrake the Magician • Chief Bradley • Hojo • Jed • Karma • Lothar • Magnon • Narda • Theron |
| Villains |
Aleena • Derek • Luciphor aka The Cobra • The Mole • The Octon • Saki aka The Clay Camel |