It's a story about the first meeting of Mandrake & his best friend Lothar, the strongest man in the world.
Lothar is of Old German origin, and the meaning of Lothar is "famous warrior".
Probably Mandrake term was picked by Falk from the plant Mandragora officinarum (The mandrake). The (European) Mandrake plant has been used since ancient times as a medicinal plant and has a tradition associated with magical activities. According to the legend, when the root is dug up it screams and kills all who hear it. Same concept is used in "Harry Potter series" by J. K. Rowling. However only Falk could answer correctly.
Logically I guess, if wrong pls correct me, it's the Sunday strips #101 - The Meeting of Mandrake and Lothar (30 Apr 1967- 24 Sep 1967)
Reason: Under the artist Fred Fredericks (born Aug. 9, 1929, in Atlantic City, N.J.) who took over in 1965 (after original artist Phil Davis had died), Lothar was rebranded; he began to speak correct English, and slowly his clothing changed from shirts with leopard-skin patterns. After death of Lee Falk (April 28, 1911 - March 13, 1999), Fred took over writing the strip in addition to providing sketches for it. This indrajal was printed in 1971, none other strips title matches between this interval 1965-1971, I'm missing many strips along with S#101, so can't check.
Although Lothar made his first appearance alongside Mandrake in 1934 in the inaugural daily strip, he was little more than Mandrake's servant. He spoke poor English, wore a fez, short pants and a leopard skin. His muscles far exceeded his mental abilities.
Mandrake first met Lothar during his travels in Africa. Lothar was then "Prince of the twelve Nations", a mighty federation of jungle tribes. He passed on the chance to become king and followed Mandrake on his world travels (and the rest of the universe as well), fighting crime and villains.
Hoping you'll like this comics.
All credits go to Venkitachalam Subramanian who scanned, edited & uploaded himself.
