Couldn't find a topic about this story so I thought I'd use that as an oppurtunity to create my first poll

This story has just ended on the KFS website (but on Aman's site we could read the end two weeks ago ). In this story, Fred Fredericks brings back "The Tourist" from the daily story of the same name (D80). A time-traveller wiht great culinary interest, that now has ended up in the wild west of the 1880's, and Mandrake must bring him back to his own time.

Although Fredericks' art is getting even more "loose" these days (no wonder considering his age and time spent on the strip) and in don't really like to see the dailies in color, Mandrake remains as one of the best story strips around. Fred knows just how to tell a story for the daily format, with cliffhangers and surprises in just the right places. Tony De Paul who writes the current Phantom daily has a lot to learn, IMO. Every new Mandrake story is a treat well worth looking forward to.

I liked and enjoyed this story. Well, the artwork is becoming more and more "spartan", but the stories are still gripping. IMHO the only Phantom newspaper story by Tony De Paul to come remotely close to having any cliffhangers is "Terror in Mawitaan".

Fred Fredericks is still continuing with rendering the old characters he brings back in a "retro" fashion... nice touch too!

Space Glitch is the third Mandrake story involving The Tourist. In 1955 the original Tourist was seeking real steak and vegetables. In 2001, in the second last Sunday stary "Return of The Tourist", the Tourist was seeking tutti frutti ice cream. In "Space Glitch" the Tourist became enamored with Ma Jeebles sourdough biscuits. I think his meal is complete ... maybe in the next trip he'll be looking for a fine wine.

Lee Falk left a legacy of characters that Fred Fredericks could call upon. Even the new story "Blizzard of Crime" starts out reminiscent of the 1961 daily "Mystery of the Bikini Girl" although I'm guessing the new story will head in a different direction ... time will tell.

Excellent point about the cliffhangers. Almost every day the strip left off at a point that made the reader want more! Especially on Saturdays as there'd be a gap of anxiety on Sunday.

Regarding cliffhangers ... during the Phil Davis era, when a Mandrake story ended, the last panel usually listed the title of the new story beginning the following Monday. This would build anticipation as to what new adventure Mandrake and crew would become involved in. For whatever reason, this practice disappeared when Fred Fredericks took over.

Good story, poor art.

I think it is time Fred Fredericks (whom I respect enormously for his early Mandrake work (second half of the 60s and early 70s)) to zip up the pencil case and concentrate on the scripts á lá Lee Falk. Fredericks can still tell a good story, but the art has been far too fragmented for a long time now.

Lennart

I have not read "Return of the Tourist". You wouldn't happend to have it available and able to scan and share it with us?


I fear that the day Fredericks no longer can do both art and scripts, is the day Mandrake will be discontinued. The strip runs in too few papers nowadays to make it possible to hire a new artist to fill Fred's shoes. The only reason we still see new Mandrake strips I believe is due to Fred's affection for the character. We should be glad if the strip goes into reprints after Fred retires (like Flash Gordon, Tarzan, Popey dailes etc) but I don't know if even that is likely to happend.

Andreas wrote:

I acknowledge this sad fact which, if true, means that our only option is to witness a slow death of this once-great daily comic (which, admittedly, is better than a quick one).

Lennart

I don't have a scanner but I can send you a reprint of "Return of the Tourist" via snail mail if I knew where to send it. My e-mail is Rickhy1@aol.com.
Thanks for the info on the story "Narda's Adventure"