The Traveller's Tale

The Traveller's Tale

Start date:	March 21st, 1965
End date:	August 22th, 1965
# of strips:	23 (23 weeks)
Writer:	Lee Falk
Artist:	Martha Davis and Fred Fredericks
Preceded by:	"The Mole"
Followed by:	"The Cobra Returns"

"The Traveller's Tale" is the 96th Mandrake Sunday story. The story was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Martha Davis and Fred Fredericks.

Plot Summary

In Greenland a minor earthquake tumbeling ancient ice into the cold sea, inside an ancient man. Our friends are up at the Newfoundlands banks on Barton's new boat. While fishing they rescue a mysterious castaway, telling a strange story.

Opolo was from the city Cromanga in tropical Yorkdon, now under tree miles of ice at the North Pole. He have been sleeping for 60 000 years.

Appearances

Recurring characters

One-time characters

Opolo, 60 000 years old man.
Adrana, girlfriend of Opolo.
Natas, friend of Opolo and wizard of chemical arts.

Locations

New York City
Greenland
Newfoundlands banks
North Pole
Second moon of Saturn, new home of Opolo and Adrana.

Vehicles

S.S.Argos II, Colonel Barton's yacht.

Behind the scenes

The story title is from the strip of March 21, 1965 (Beginning: The Traveler's Tale).
According to Peter van der Krogt there are 95 statues of Christopher Columbus in USA (in 2002). It is unknown which statue Martha Davis drew in the first panel of this story.
Fred Fredericks new artist from the strip of June 27, 1965.

strip of June 27, 1965
by Fred Fredericks

Signifiant covers

Argentina
Brazil
Italy
Italy
Yugoslavia

Reprints

This story has been published in the following publications:

Argentina

"??", Libro de Oro - Mandrake el Mago #21 (1966)
"??", Fantasía Anuario #9 (1970)

Brazil

"O Homem do Passado", Mandrake #108 (1965)

Finland

"Kasvot jäässä", Taika-Jim #3 (1971)

France

"L’étrange Viking", Les héros du mystère #17 & "Le sommeil liquide", Les héros du mystère #18 (1968)
"L’étrange Viking", & "Le sommeil liquide", Les héros du mystère Album #6 (1968)
"L’étrange Viking", Mandrake #412 (1973)
"L'étranger venu de la mer", Le Journal de Mickey #1127-#1138 (1973)
"L'étranger venu de la mer", Le Journal de Mickey #1 (2001) note: one page only (first Sunday page).

Italy

"Lo strano "vichingo"", Mandrake #114 & "Il sonno liquido"", Mandrake #115(1966)
"Lo strano "vichingo"", Mandrake #58 (1973)
"La storia di un viaggiatore", Tavole domenicali 1965–1969 (2022)