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Before Marvel Comics' "Spider-Man" made his debut in "Amazing Fantasy" #15 (1962), the first 'Spider' crime-fighter in pop fiction debuted in 1933, according to Steeger Properties, LLC who have amassed thousands of pulp magazine stories for licensing in all media, including film and TV adaptations:

Cover artists for "The Spider" magazine, publishing monthly from 1933 to 1943, included Walter M. Baumhofer, John Newton Howitt and Rafael De Soto.

'The Spider' was millionaire playboy 'Richard Wentworth', a former military 'Major' living in New York City, as the last surviving member of a filthy rich family.

His first costume was a black domino mask, hat and cape. Later he added vampire-like makeup, followed by a face mask with grizzled hair to terrorize the criminal underworld with The Spider's brand of vigilante justice.

Wentworth went undercover as an informant in the underworld, disguised as 'Blinky McQuade' to gain needed information.

'Scotland Yard'...

Red 5 Comics' "Legacy Of Mandrake The Magician" #1 is written by Erica Schultz and illustrated by Diego Giribaldi, Juan Pablo Massa, with a cover by Amelia Vidal:

"...'Mandy Paz' is by all appearances an ordinary teenager just trying to make her way through high school. If she seems like she's going out of her way to avoid attention, that's because she's hiding a big secret -- she has powerful magical talents. So, when strange and sinister things start happening in her small town, Mandy decides to take action. And on her quest to chase down the root of the town's trouble she just might discover the truth about her own legacy..."

The inspiration for Marvel Comics "Doctor Strange", the original 'Mandrake The Magician' was created by Lee Falk as a newspaper comic strip character. Created in 1934, 'Mandrake' was an illusionist whose work was based on hypnotic technique. When Mandrake "...gestured hypnotically.

Before Marvel Comics' "Spider-Man" made his debut in "Amazing Fantasy" #15 (1962), the first masked 'Spider' crime-fighter was 'The Spider', created in 1933 by Harry Steeger at Popular Publications now controlled by Steeger Properties, LLC amassing thousands of pulp magazine stories for licensing in all media, including film and TV adaptations:

Cover artists for "The Spider" magazine, publishing monthly from 1933 to 1943, included Walter M. Baumhofer for the debut issue, followed by John Newton Howitt and Rafael De Soto.

'The Spider' was millionaire playboy 'Richard Wentworth', a former 'Major' now living in New York City, as the last surviving member of a rich family.

His earliest costume was a black domino mask, black hat and cape. Later he added vampire-like makeup, followed by a face mask with grizzled hair and a 'hunchback' added to terrorize the criminal underworld with The Spider's brand of violent vigilante justice.

At times, Wentworth ventured into the underworld disguised...

Red 5 Comics' "Legacy Of Mandrake The Magician" #2, available November 4, 2020 is written by Erica Schultz and illustrated by Diego Giribaldi, Juan Pablo Massa, with a cover by Amelia Vidal:

"...after taking over the mantle of the great 'Mandrake The Magician', 'Mandy' finally has control over her mystical abilities. Her life is great, her confidence is boosting... but something seems off. Why can't she enjoy her new life? Why is it that everything good must come with a price?..."

"...'Mandy Paz' is by all appearances an ordinary teenager just trying to make her way through high school. If she seems like she's going out of her way to avoid attention, that's because she's hiding a big secret -- she has powerful magical talents. So, when strange and sinister things start happening in her small town, Mandy decides to take action. And on her quest to chase down the root...

Red 5 Comics' "Legacy of Mandrake the Magician", available October 2020, is written by Erica Schultz and illustrated by Diego Giribaldi:

"...'Mandy Paz' is by all appearances an ordinary teenager just trying to make her way through high school. If she seems like she's going out of her way to avoid attention, that's because she's hiding a big secret -- she has powerful magical talents. So, when strange and sinister things start happening in her small town, Mandy decides to take action. And on her quest to chase down the root of the town's trouble she just might discover the truth about her own legacy..."

The inspiration for Marvel Comics "Doctor Strange", the original 'Mandrake The Magician' was created by Lee Falk  as a newspaper comic strip character.

Created in 1934, 'Mandrake' was an illusionist whose work was based on hypnotic technique. When Mandrake "...gestured hypnotically..." he could induce anyone to hallucinate.

Dust off your fedora and domino mask and make sure there’s gas in the Black Beauty, because the Green Hornet and Kato will once again return to the screen. Despite the fact that the masked vigilantes pre-date Batman and Robin by several years (having first leaped into action on The Green Hornet radio show in 1936), these legendary pop culture figures haven’t had much luck on the screen recently. That’s about to change with Amasia Entertainment partnering with Universal Pictures for The Green Hornet and Kato, the latest attempt to update the pair for a new generation. Michael Helfant and Bradley Gallo are producing.

“The Green Hornet is one of the most iconic and beloved superhero tales ever created, and it has entertained generations of fans in every form of storytelling,” Universal Pictures president Peter Cramer said in a statement (via Variety). “We are thrilled to be partnering with Michael,...

Before "Spider-Man" debuted in Marvel Comics' "Amazing Fantasy" #15 (1962), pulp magazine crime-fighter "The Spider" was published in 1933, now controlled by Steeger Properties, LLC offering thousands of pulp magazine stories for licensing in all media, including film and TV:

Cover artists for "The Spider" magazine, publishing monthly from 1933 to 1943, included Walter M. Baumhofer for the debut issue, followed by John Newton Howitt and Rafael De Soto.

'The Spider' was millionaire playboy 'Richard Wentworth', a former 'Major' now living in New York City, as the last surviving member of a rich family.

His earliest costume was a black domino mask, black hat and cape. Later he added vampire-like makeup, followed by a face mask with grizzled hair and a 'hunchback' added to terrorize the criminal underworld with The Spider's brand of violent vigilante justice.

At times, Wentworth ventured into the underworld disguised as small-time hood 'Blinky McQuade' in order to gain needed information.

Before Marvel Comics' "Spider-Man" made his debut in "Amazing Fantasy" #15 (1962), the first masked 'Spider' crime-fighter was 'The Spider', created in 1933 by Harry Steeger at Popular Publications now controlled by Steeger Properties, LLC who have amassed thousands of pulp magazine stories and covers, for licensing in all media, including film and TV adaptations:

Cover artists for "The Spider" magazine, publishing monthly from 1933 to 1943, included Walter M. Baumhofer for the debut issue, followed by John Newton Howitt and Rafael De Soto.

'The Spider' was millionaire playboy 'Richard Wentworth', a former 'Major' now living in New York City, as the last surviving member of a rich family.

His earliest costume was a black domino mask, black hat and cape. Later he added vampire-like makeup, followed by a face mask with grizzled hair and a 'hunchback' added to terrorize the criminal underworld with The Spider's brand of violent vigilante justice.

At times, Wentworth...

Before Marvel Comics' "Spider-Man" made his debut in "Amazing Fantasy" #15 (1962), the first 'Spider' crime-fighter in pop fiction debuted in 1933, according to Steeger Properties, LLC who have amassed thousands of pulp magazine stories for licensing in all media, including film and TV adaptations:

Cover artists for "The Spider" magazine, publishing monthly from 1933 to 1943, included Walter M. Baumhofer, John Newton Howitt and Rafael De Soto.

'The Spider' was millionaire playboy 'Richard Wentworth', a former military 'Major' living in New York City, as the last surviving member of a filthy rich family.

His first costume was a black domino mask, hat and cape. Later he added vampire-like makeup, followed by a face mask with grizzled hair to terrorize the criminal underworld with The Spider's brand of vigilante justice.

Wentworth went undercover as an informant in the underworld, disguised as 'Blinky McQuade' to gain needed information.

'Scotland Yard' also knew Wentworth as 'Rupert Barton',...

Before Marvel Comics' "Spider-Man" made his debut in "Amazing Fantasy" #15 (1962), the first masked 'Spider' crime-fighter was 'The Spider', created in 1933 by Harry Steeger at Popular Publications now controlled by Steeger Properties, LLC who have amassed thousands of pulp magazine stories and covers, for licensing in all media, including film and TV adaptations:

Cover artists for "The Spider" magazine, publishing monthly from 1933 to 1943, included Walter M. Baumhofer for the debut issue, followed by John Newton Howitt and Rafael De Soto.

'The Spider' was millionaire playboy 'Richard Wentworth', a former 'Major' now living in New York City, as the last surviving member of a rich family.

His earliest costume was a black domino mask, black hat and cape. Later he added vampire-like makeup, followed by a face mask with grizzled hair and a 'hunchback' added to terrorize the criminal underworld with The Spider's brand of violent vigilante justice.

Sneak Peek the origins of "Mandrake The Magician", currently in development as a 'contemporary adventure' feature, based on creator Lee Falk's 1930's newspaper comic strip character:

Created in 1934, 'Mandrake' was an illusionist whose work was based on hypnotic technique. When Mandrake "...gestured hypnotically..." he could induce anyone to hallucinate.

In 1939, Columbia produced a 12-part "Mandrake the Magician" movie serial, starring actor Warren Hull as Mandrake and Al Kikume as his sidekick 'Lothar'.

NBC produced a "Mandrake" TV pilot in 1954, starring stage magician Coe Norton as Mandrake and Woody Strode ("Spartacus") as Lothar.

Actor Anthony Herrera starred in the 1979 TV movie "Mandrake" with Ji-Tu Cumbuka as Lothar.

In the animated TV series "Defenders of the Earth", Mandrake teamed up with fellow King Features characters 'Flash Gordon' and 'The Phantom'.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Mandrake The Magician"...

Last week, I taunted you with visions of ancient superhero movies – serials, as they were called back then. Today we’d call them really low-budget webcasts. Here’s a few more worthy of your consideration, and this time we’re delving into a trio of iconic heroes from the pulps and newspaper strips – and now, of course, comic books.

The Shadow is the best-known of all the classic pulp heroes, and for a very good reason: many of the more than 300 stories published were quite good. Walter B. Gibson created something magical – a series with a lead character who had plenty of secrets but no secret identity, aided and abetted by a slew of agents who had no idea who their master was. The character’s popularity was enhanced massively by a highly successful radio series, one that gave The Shadow an alter-ego and a female companion and took away most of his agents.

In development since Sneak Peek first reported on it in 2007, Warner Brothers have now acquired King Features' "Mandrake The Magician", to adapt as a 'contemporary adventure' feature, based on creator Lee Falk's 1930's newspaper comic strip character.

The film will be in direct competition with Disney's developing "Dr. Strange" ("Master Of The Mystic Arts') feature, based on the Marvel Comics character (which in turn was based on "Mandrake").

Created in 1934, 'Mandrake' was an illusionist whose work was based on hypnotic technique. When Mandrake "...gestured hypnotically..." he could induce anyone to hallucinate.

In 1939, Columbia produced a 12-part "Mandrake the Magician" movie serial, starring actor Warren Hull as Mandrake and Al Kikume as his sidekick 'Lothar'.

NBC produced a "Mandrake" TV pilot in 1954, starring stage magician Coe Norton as Mandrake and Woody Strode ("Spartacus") as Lothar.

Actor Anthony Herrera starred in the 1979 TV movie "Mandrake" with Ji-Tu Cumbuka as Lothar.

Classic comic strip Mandrake the Magician is being turned into a feature film. THR reports that Warner Bros. is developing a film based on the character that first arrived in comics in 1934. Lee Falk (The Phantom) created the character that is "a specialist in hypnosis and illusion who uses his magical abilities to fight crime alongside Lothar, an African Prince and one of the strongest men in the world."

This property has been made into a movie before. In 1939, Warren Hull starred as Mandrake and Al Kikume played Lother. This new version is planned as a contemporary adventure. 

I like how Mandrake uses magic to foil crime--that is a cool concept. I am interested in seeing this come to the screen and would love to see Ryan Gosling in the lead. What are your thoughts?

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Source: THR (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/warner-bros-plots-mandrake-magician-...

Warner Bros. has plans to bring Mandrake the Magician to the big screen, says a story at The Hollywood Reporter . The studio is developing a feature based on the comic strip character, whose origins date back to 1934. Created by Lee Falk (who would go on to create "The Phantom"), Mandrake is a specialist in hypnosis and illusion who uses his magical abilities to fight crime alongside Lothar, an African Prince and one of the strongest men in the world. Mandrake the Magician has been adapted before, originally as a theatrical serial in 1939 with Warren Hull as Mandrake and Al Kikume as Lothar. In recent years, a new version of Mandrake has made its way around Hollywood, but the new take on the material is said to be wholly separate and planned as a contemporary...

Talk about a hot mess. On last night's live semifinal episode of America's Got Talent, we witnessed Warren Hull, a member of Gymkana, a gymnastic stunt team, crash into a ring of fire while flipping through it, causing the flames to land on top of him while he laid onstage. Scary! So, is he Ok?! And yes, we heard Hull reassure judges Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, Howie Mandel and show host Nick Cannon that he was, but seriously, is he really Ok? Well, a FremantleMedia spokesperson tells E! News that yes, he really is. "A medical team, along with a fire-safety team were on standby and they were prepared to step in if necessary, but they did not need to intercede because the...

Tuesday's episode of "America's Got Talent" took a scary turn when one of the Gymkana members, Warren Hull, jumped through a ring of fire, catching some of the flames on his suit and causing the flaming ring to come crashing to the stage.

"Extra's" Terri Seymour was backstage when the incident happened and tweeted, "Very dramatic night on Agt! Warren Hull from Gymkana assured me he's not hurt even though it burnt through his suit.

Howdy fellow movie geeks. With all the interest in bringing classic heroes to the big screen, I thought I’d begin this column dedicated to discussing classic movie serials available on DVD. And since this masked crime buster is the focus of a brand new feature film this weekend, I thought I’d start with a look at the 1940 Universal thirteen chapter movie serial The Green Hornet.

First a little history of movie serials. You younger film fans may wonder what I’m talking about. First it’s serials with an “s”, not a “c”, so I’m not talking about something you pour out of a box into a bowl and douse with milk in the mornings. Film serials started appearing in 1913. Theatre owners and studios thought this new story telling format would be a great way to get patrons returning week after week. Serials were big, thrilling, adventure...

Kudos to Vci Entertainment for once again making some rare serials available. Their latest DVDs are the Universal serials The Green Hornet (1940) and The Green Hornet Strikes Again (1941). Although the movies were released less than a year apart, the role of Britt Reid—the crusading publisher of the Daily Sentinel and secretly the masked crime fighter, the Green Hornet—was played by different actors. The first starred Gordon Jones, usually seen in comedy roles and who would later play Mike the Cop on the Abbott & Costello TV show. For the second serial, Universal brought in Warren Hull, who was no stranger to costumed heroes, having portrayed Mandrake the Magician in a serial and the pulp favorite character the Spider in another chapterplay; Hull would also star in The Spider Returns that same year. Jones speaks as Reid, but in a clever move, whenever the Hornet puts on his mask, the...