Luciphor: Difference between revisions
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===The Fred Fredericks Era=== | ===The Fred Fredericks Era=== | ||
When Mandrake was asked<ref name="MS-097">1965, the Sunday story no. 97: "[[The Cobra Returns|'''The Cobra Returns''']]"</ref> who the Cobra was, he told that he had met the Cobra when he was a young boy. He had spent a few years at the [[Collegium Magikos|College of Magic]] and Luciphor was one of the teachers there, a brilliant magician. One day Luciphor robbed the college, fled and turned his vast powers to criminal use. By the time Mandrake had grown up and left the college, Luciphor had become the Cobra - Mandrake's first and most deadly opponent. Mandrake battled the Cobra for several years before the Cobra died in a fire in his own lab. | |||
This time hiding his face (scarred and disfigured in battle with Mandrake) behind a menacing silver mask. | |||
The Cobra's main goal is to acquire one of the two powerful [[The Crystal Cube|Crystal Cubes]] which increase mental energy. These are guarded by Mandrake and [[Theron]]. | The Cobra's main goal is to acquire one of the two powerful [[The Crystal Cube|Crystal Cubes]] which increase mental energy. These are guarded by Mandrake and [[Theron]]. | ||
Revision as of 16:33, 15 September 2025
| Luciphor aka The Cobra | |
| |
| First appearance: | "The Cobra" |
|---|---|
| Created by: | Lee Falk and Phil Davis |
Luciphor aka The Cobra is a character from the Mandrake the Magician comic strip that first appeared in "The Cobra", the very first Mandrake story.
Fictional Character Biography
The Phil Davis Era
The Cobra was a fanatical leader of a powerful secret society that sought control of the world. The first time Mandrake talks[1] about the Cobra, he describes him as his archenemy - and a powerful magician as well.
When Mandrake came face to face with the Cobra, he learned that the Cobra had enslaved thousands of men to work in his gold and diamond mines. The slaves appeared faceless as the Cobra had mentally erased the faces of his slaves and controlled them mentally and physically. The gold and diamonds he used for his inventions, powerful weapons of mass destruction such as; explosives, deadly gases and death rays.
Mandrake put an end to the Cobra's plans to rule the world when he destroyed his hideout and laboratory and magically transformed the Cobra into a real cobra.
The Cobra had managed to become[2] himself again and returned powerful and strong, with a new hideout and laboratory.
This time he had developed a method for producing gold using lead, zinc and copper. And a deadly gas that lowered the oxygen level in the air so that the victims suffocated. With the help of these two powerful weapons, he aimed to become emperor of the world. With the gold he could bribe most people, and those who would not be bribed he could use the deadly gas on.
Mandrake managed to find the Cobra in his hiding place and during the fight that followed, the Cobra fell off a high cliff - a fall no one could survive.
The Fred Fredericks Era
When Mandrake was asked[3] who the Cobra was, he told that he had met the Cobra when he was a young boy. He had spent a few years at the College of Magic and Luciphor was one of the teachers there, a brilliant magician. One day Luciphor robbed the college, fled and turned his vast powers to criminal use. By the time Mandrake had grown up and left the college, Luciphor had become the Cobra - Mandrake's first and most deadly opponent. Mandrake battled the Cobra for several years before the Cobra died in a fire in his own lab.
This time hiding his face (scarred and disfigured in battle with Mandrake) behind a menacing silver mask.
The Cobra's main goal is to acquire one of the two powerful Crystal Cubes which increase mental energy. These are guarded by Mandrake and Theron.
In later years, the Cobra abandoned his silver mask as his face had been reconstructed through surgery. The Cobra is sometimes accompanied by his assistant Udd.
Story References
- ↑ 1934, the daily story no. 1: "The Cobra"
- ↑ 1934, the daily story no. 9: "In the Cobra's Grip"
- ↑ 1965, the Sunday story no. 97: "The Cobra Returns"
Family
Mandrake learned that The Cobra's true identity was Luciphor, Theron's oldest son — thus making The Cobra Mandrake's half-brother.
Notable appearances
The Cobra has appeared in these stories:
| Year | Daily/Sunday | Title | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Sunday | "The Cobra Returns" | with a silver mask and real name Luciphor |
| 1967 | Daily | "The Return of Evil - The Cobra" | |
| 1969 | Daily | "The Cobra Strikes (The College of Magic)" | |
| 1971 | Daily | "The Rogues" | |
| 1974 | Daily | "The Cobra and the Cube" | |
| 1974 | Daily | "The Search for the Cobra" | |
| 1975 | Daily | "The Frame-Up" | just a glimpse at the end |
| 1979 | Daily | "Mandrake's Gangster Gallery" | |
| 1981 | Daily | "Mandrake's Family" | Mandrake's half brother |
| 1984 | Daily | "Behind Death's Door" | without the silver mask |
| 1989 | Daily | "King Kered" | |
| 1992 | Daily | "The Book of Criminals" | |
| 1995 | Daily | "Pursuit of the Cobra" | |
| 1997 | Sunday | "Mandrake Marries Narda" | |
| 1997 | Daily | "Mandrake's Wedding at the College of Magic" | |
| 1998 | Daily | "Mandrake's Wedding at Xanadu" | |
| 1999 | Daily | "Siege at Xanadu" | first time in the strips, Luciphor and Derek meet each other as adults |
| 2007 | Daily | "Dangerous Music" | |
| 2012 | Daily | "Melody of Doom" | |
| 2013 | Phantom Sunday | "Mandrake's Bon Voyage" |
| 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 |