Magnus, Robot Fighter

The Gold Key MagnusReal Name: Magnus

Identity/Class: Harbinger (Mutant human) cyborg

Occupation: Robot Fighter

Affiliations: 1A, Tekla, Slagger, member of the Future Force

Enemies: Malev Emperor

Known Relatives: Kris Hathaway (mother), Torque (father), Leeja (wife), Torque (son)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: North Am

First Appearance: Magnus, Robot Fighter #1 (Gold Key, February 1963)

Powers/Abilities: Magnus is able to smash steel robots with his bare hands. In the Valiant version it turns out that Magnus is a second generation Harbinger, the child of two twentieth century Harbingers who was taken forward in time by Solar, and thus has superhuman strength and durability..

History: "No robot may harm a human, or allow a human to come to harm... This is the unbreakable law built into every robot, and the metal-men were created solely to ease man's tasks of life."

(Valiant version) Magnus was born in the twentieth century, during the Unity War, the child of Kris Hathaway and the super-strong Harbinger known as Torque. Sensing that the future had need of the young second-generation Harbinger, Geoff the Geomancer took the child forward in time to the thirty-ninth century with the help of Solar, Man of the Atom.

(Both Gold Key and Valiant versions) Magnus was raised in isolation from the rest of his humanity by the robot 1A, an almost unique emotional robot which foresaw a time when mankind's robot slaves would tire of their subservient role and rise up against their masters. Wishing to prepare a defense for man against such an eventuality, 1A trained Magnus to be a perfect human specimen, expert in martial arts and in destroying robots. To aid him when the time came to battle rogue robot, his mentor also implanted a receiver in Magnus' brain, enabling him to secretly listen in on robot-to-robot radio communications. Once he felt Magnus was ready, 1A introduced his protege to human society. Magnus made his home in the city of North Am, where he soon began his war on rogue robots.

The Valiant Magnus(Valiant version) Eventually Magnus began to question his mission. 1A was a rogue robot of sorts, after all. He started to wonder if he had the right to destroy a rogue when it wasn't threatening humanity, merely wishing to live free and not as a slave. After meeting and befriending the Freewill robot Tekla, Magnus eventually decided to end his enmity of the robots, allowing the Freewills to set up an independent city-state of Synchron, under the leadership of Tekla. Magnus, meanwhile, had grown disdainful of the North Am elite who lived in the city's Milespires, and moved to live among the "Gophs" who inhabited the city's poorer lower levels, where he made the acquaintance of Slagger, a Goph champion.

North Am was then invaded by the killer robots of the planet Malev 6, led by their Emperor and seeking to turn Earth in Malev 7, their new home. To this race of alien robots, makind was only useful as a fuel source, drained for the "ectothermic energy" of their brain waves. Joining a group known as the Future Force, Magnus led the fight against the invaders.

As time passed, Magnus learned of his twentieth century origins. He would marry and have a son, whom he named after his father. Following the Chaos Effect, Magnus was stranded for several years in the twentieth century, got elected President, and returned to his own time. When the Malevs returned, Magnus' wife was killed, and his son was forced to become a Psi-Lord to save his own life. Solar the Destroyer finally annihilated the Malevs, but Magnus vanished around the same time.

Comments: Created by Chase Craig and Russ Manning.

Vesa Lehtinen informs me that the original version of Magnus turned up in Finland in the 1970's, under the name "Markos".

Richard L.Anderson notes that Magnus' early training and isolated upbringing under 1A was "much like programing a robot and tossing him into a war. In fact I've always been fascinated by his early resemblance to a robot with an unwavering program. Eventually he learned to question the morality of what he did. In many ways his story is one of a human robot discovering his humanity. I've always liked the comparison between his nature and the robot menace he was sent to both fight, and preach-out against man's increasing reliance on their metal slaves. Lovely contradictions."

Richard has also done a lot of research into Magnus, and assembled an impressive list of the character's appearances. Rather than paraphrase his work, I'll let him explain it himself:

"THE MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER LIST

Compiled by Richard L. Anderson

Released April 2004

Updated May 2005

This is a list compiled for those who wish to read every Magnus story.  

Example - The U.K.'s 'TV Tornado'produced a handful of new Magnus stories in !967, that were never released in the States.

Not covered -- trading cards, card related posters, and TPB's

Magnus Robot Fighter --

Even before his series gets started, he's censored by flesh-phobes who add a tunic with high boots. Thereby turning his Tarzan loin cloth into a mini-skirt. Then we read as his robot master kicks him out of a moving sky car to free-fall into a perpetually menaced future (how the squeee did these people get by before he literally dropped from the sky?). But Magnus was ready. He'd been programed sense birth to battle robots (that, and preach against the over-indulgent use of robots). And by Pavlov, click, that's what he does, all in wonderful Manning glory. But, as the reprints were re-lived, Magnus pondered his programing. And he began to have doubts - doubts and Valiant questions arose about what was Rai and what was wrong. And before he realized it, he'd started questioning his software. Then suddenly some samurai pulls a knife on him, and it's BOOM, he's in the middle of an alien invasion. Finally after a long day of being Magnus, he finally returns, and before we know it, he's gophing off -- and much to Miss Clane's bile, he's no longer a robot, he's a man. But trouble always seems to seek-out Magnus, and he finds himself fighting deadly robots, keyed to his golden past. Then there's the whole zombie thing (dying heroes being all the rage), and finally, the proverbial walk into the sunset. Later an acclaimed Magnus from an alternate universe shows up. And, well, even having an inept Magnus is better than having none. Let's face it, fighting rabid robots is fraggin' GREAT entertainment. So now, without further delay, the Magnus list ------

Gold Key-Whitman comics by Russ Manning; 1 thru 21

note > Gold Key published EVERY issue of the silver age series, even after Whitman began releasing their copies.

Issue #1 story note > It is ironic, and perhaps fate, that Manning's first issue of Magnus Robot Fighter, would contain the seed of Malev and man's future existence. With the three Goldkey comics that introduce us to Malev-6, to Valiant's phenomenal story arc of invasion and war, to the final devastating action taken by 'Solar the Destroyer' to finally end the Malev threat. -- One can not discuss the life of Magnus without including the Malev machine and it's desire for ectothere energy. In Goldkey #1, the robot H-8's harnessing of "the one thousand" for this ectothere energy, is only a HINT of what it would mean for the future of all mankind.

#1 Feb. 1963 - "Magnus Robot Fighter"

#2 May 1963 - "Operation Disguise"

#3 Aug. 1963 - "Giant from Planet X"

#4 Nov. 1963 - "Menace from the Depths"

#5 Feb. 1964 - "The Immortal One"

#6 May 1964 - "Alone Against Talpa"

#7 Aug. 1964 - "The Power of the One Thousand"

#8 Nov. 1964 - "Havoc at Weather-Control

#9 Feb. 1965 - "Robot Ghost"

#10 May 1965 - "The Mysterious Octo-Rob"

#11 Aug. 1965 - "Beasts of Steel"

#12 Nov. 1965 - "The Volcano Makers"

#13 Feb. 1966 - "The Evil Ark of Doctor Noel"

#14 May 1966 - "The Monster Robs"

#15 Aug. 1966 - "The Weird World of Mogul Badur"

#16 Nov. 1966 - "Cloud-cloddie, Go Home!"

#17 Feb. 1967 - "The Deadly Peril from Sirius"

#18 May 1967 - "Magnus vs. North Am!"

#19 Aug. 1967 - "Fear Unlimited"

#20 Nov. 1967 - "Bunda, the Great"

#21 Feb. 1968 - "Space Specter"

Gold Key-Whitman

#22 May 1968 - (reprint #1) Gold Key - 12 cents

#23 Aug. 1968 - "Mission: Disaster!" - 12 cents (last 12 cent comic)

#24 1968 - "The Pied Piper of North Am" (note> price now 15 cents)

#25 Feb. 1969 - "The Micro Giants"

#26 May 1969 - "The Venomous Vapor"; "Journey to the End of the World"

#27 Aug. 1969 - "Panic in Pacifica"; "Web of Fire"

#28 Nov. 1969 - "Threat from the Depths"; "A Secret Kept"

#29 Nov, 1971 (reprint #7) Gold Key

#30 Feb, 1972 - (reprint #15) Gold Key

#31 April, 1972 - (reprint #14) Gold Key

#32 Feb, 1972 - (reprint #2) Gold Key

#33 Oct. 1972 - (reprint #21) Gold Key (Note> price now 20 cents)

#34 Jan, 1973 - (reprint #13) Gold Key

#35 May, 1972 - (reprint #6) Gold Key

#36 Aug, 1974 - (reprint #8) Gold Key

#36 Aug. 1974 - (reprint #8) Whitman

#37 Nov, 1974 - (reprint #11) Gold Key

#37 (no date) - (reprint #11) Whitman

#38 Feb, 1975 - (reprint #12) Gold Key

#38 (no date) - (reprint #12) Whitman

#39 May, 1975 - (reprint #16) Gold Key

#39 (Whitman - assumed released)

#40 Aug 1975 - (reprint #17) Gold Key

#40 (Whitman - assumed released)

#41 Nov, 1975 - (reprint #18) Gold Key

#41 - (reprint #18) Whitman

#42  Jan. 1976 - (reprint #19) Whitman

#42  Feb, 1976 - (reprint #19) Gold Key

#43 May 1976 - (reprint #20) Gold Key

#43 (Whitman - assumed released)

#44 Aug, 1976 - (reprint #23) Gold Key

#44 (Whitman - assumed released)

#45 Oct 1976 - (reprint #24) Gold Key

#45 Nov, 1976 - (reprint #24) Whitman

#46 Jan, 1977 - (reprint #25) Gold Key

#46 (Whitman - assumed released)

note - two additional issues apparently were in the works for his 'comeback' (mentioned in Doctor Solor #31's Magnus back-page story "Deathtrap").

#47 June, 1982 - completed but unpublished. "Requiem for a Robot Fighter"

#48 1982 - completed but unpublished "Power Play"

These two listings are copyright Don Markstein. More info can be found at 'Dark Mark's Comic Indexes' web page.

Whitman back page stories

Whitman unsuccessfully tries to revive series in the back pages of other comics -

Lost in Space #58 (October 1978) "Journey to the End of the World"

Note: Whitman trades skirt/loin cloth with pants. (even in a flash-back panel from issue #1)

Doctor Solar #29 (1981) "The Steel-smashing Return of Magnus robot fighter 4000 A.D."

Note: This story takes place just before Goldkey #1, making it the equivalent of a 'Gold Key #0'

Doctor Solar #30 (1981) "Where Angels Fear..."

Doctor Solar #31 (1982) "Deathtrap" ("coming soon look for Magnus in his own book")

Gold Key reprints by Valiant comics

Vintage 1(#1), 2(#3), 3(#13), 4(#16)

'Original' #1(#2)

Mexico - in Spanish (shown - 3 examples) published by 'Editorial Norvaro'

#526, (reprint #3) April 26, 1964

#749, (reprint #18) Aug. 4, 1968

#767, (reprint #16) Dec. 8, 1968

Australia (shown - 1 example)

#6-031 Jan, 21, 1966, 68 page junior reader

TV Tornado (UK)

Various weekly comic strips, including 2 or 3 page Magnus stories. (Some reprints or adaptions of Gold Key Magnus comics).

#6, Feb. 18, 1967 - (no story) top cover banner proclaims "Look out for Magnus the Robot Fighter - coming soon!" Inside it states "to make TV Tornado better than ever: Superman will be replaced by the exciting strip Magnus..."

#7, Feb 25, 1967  - "The Evil Doctor Noel" based on Gold Key #13 "The Evil Ark of Doctor Noel", but with an abduction of an 'astro-scientist', instead of Leeja. All new art, (first TV Tornado appearance)

#8, March 4, 1967 - "Robot Menace" new U.K. art and story (inspired by Gold Key #6)

#9, March 11, 1967 - "Operation Rescue !" (ending from G.K. #12, with new art and slightly altered script)

#10 March 18, 1967 - "Asteroid Urasis" original U.K. story

#11 March 25, 1867 - "Who is Magnus?" (from Gold Key #1)

#12 April 1, 1967 - "Spark of Revolt" (from Gold Key #1)

#13 April 8, 1967 - "Meeting with Leeja" (from Gold Key #1)

#14 April 15, 1967 - "I Am Magnus" (from Gold Key #1)

#15 April 22, 1967 - "The Exterminator" part 1 of 2 (from Gold Key #1)

#16 April 29, 1967 - "Defeat for the Robots" part 2 (from Gold Key #1)

#17 May 6, 1967 - "Expedition to Gamma 7" original U.K. story

#18 May 13, 1967 - part 1 of "Operation Disguise"

"The Identical Magnus" (7 part story from Gold Key #2)

#19 May 20, 1967 - Part 2

#20 May 27, 1967 - Part 3

#21 June 3, 1967 - Part 4

#22 June 10, 1967 - Part 5 - "Deadly Combat"

#23 June 17, 1967 - Part 6 - "Senator Clane's Peril"

#24 June 24, 1967 - Part 7 - "Magnus v. Magnus"

#25 July 1, 1967 - part 1 of Gold Key #4 "Menace from the Depths"

"The Think Rob" (6 part story from Goldkey #4)

#26 July 8, 1967 - part 2 - "World in Jeopardy"

#27 July 15, 1967 - part 3

#28 July 22, 1967 - part 4 - "Time Bomb"

#29 July 29, 1967 - part 5 - "Leeja's Peril"

#30 Aug 5, 1967 - part 6 - "Tension" Last appearance. The inclusion of Magnus stories had stopped by issue #31, Aug.12, 1967.

TV Tornado annuals (U.K.) - various comics and stories

Format - '67 & '68 - 8 3/8'' x 12'', '69 - 8 1/8'' x 10 1/2'', hard-bound, color

1967 - original strip story - "Giant from Planet X"; original pulp story - "The Planet Stealer"

1968 - original strip story - "Xyrkol"; original pulp story - "Death to North Am"

1969 - original strip story - "Lodestone Tyrant"

1970 - (no story, appeared on cover only)

Mighty Warriors Annual (Great Britain) - various comics

Format - 8"x10 3/4", hard bound, color

(printed and bound in Italy, released in Great Britain)

1979 - "The Micro Giants" (from Gold Key #25)

Magnus magazine covers, most with articles:

Valiant Reader, vol. 1, 1993

Comic Book Marketplace #83, Nov. 2000

Comics Scene #33, May 1993

Comic Book Artist #22, Oct. 2002

The Comic Reader #46, Feb. 1966

Comic Book Price Guide for Great Britain #5,1993/1994

Magnus magazine articles:

Wizard Special Edition, 1994

Comic Book Marketplace #2, June 1993

Amazing Heroes #59, Nov. 15, 1984

Journal of Popular Culture XII 4, Spring 1979

Comic Reader #28, 1964 article by creator - Manning

The Best of RBCC, 2004 (the fanzine - Rocket's Blast Comic Collector, 1961-1980)

Official Price Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy Collectibles, second edition, 1985

WARNING - Star Warp Magazine, Winter 1978, has on the cover, 'Magnus, Robot Fighter!!! Squeeeeee!!!'. But this magazine carries no article on Magnus.

Magnus parodies;

note > Manning's influences run deep (one example - many of the robots in Superman 2999, #136, July 1998, are Manning's design). and "squeee" has become a standard, for many, as the definitive scream of a dying robot. Even the animated series "Futurama" pokes fun at Magnus, with Captain Zap Branigan and his crew dressed in uniforms that parody Magnus' .

Not Brand Echh #2, Sept, 1967

Slow Death #4, 1972 - (Corben art)

"Magnets: Robot Dismantler", Parody Press 1993, wonderfully handled by Robert Schmidt.

note > I'd also been told Rog-2000, a back story in Charlton comics' E-man issues #6 thru #10 (1974), was a loose parody of Magnus, but, after seeing examples, I don't agree. I list it here for you to make your own decision.

Cross-Overs

Magnus/Nexus #1, Valiant Dec, 1993

Magnus/Nexus #2, Valiant April, 1994

Predator versus Magnus #1, Valiant/Dark Horse, Nov. 1992

Predator versus Magnus #2, Valiant/Dark Horse, 1993

X-O Manowar #6, Manowar vs Magnus - "Separation Anxiety", July 1997, Acclaim Comics (this is Acclaim's alternative universe Magnus).

Valiant comics (vol. 1)

"title" note - The credit titles are quite often different than the cover titles. Listed here are credit page titles.

#0 1992,"Emancipator" - mail away comic with card insert,

#1 May, 1991,"Protector" ("Steel Nation" part 1)

#2 July, 1991, "Soldier" (part 2)

#3 Aug. 1991, "Traitor" (part 3)

#4 Sept. 1991, "Savior" (part 4 - conclusion)

#5 Oct. 1991, "Goph Rules" ("Invasion" part 1)

#6 Nov. 1991, "Just say Noh!" (part 3)

#7 Dec. 1991, "The Ballad of East and West" (part 5)

#8 Jan. 1992, "Enter the Dragon" (part 7)

#9 Feb. 1992, "The Rise" ("The Xyrkol Trilogy" part 1)

#10 March 1992, "Freedom's End!" (part 2)

#11 April 1992, "Sun of the Devil" (part 3 - conclusion)

#12 May 1992, "Stone and Steel"

#13 June 1992, "Revelations" ("The Asylum Saga" part 1)

#14 July 1992, "Reckonings" (part 2)

Magnus #15 Aug, 1992, "The Torch is Passed" (chapter 3)

Rai #6 Aug. 1992 (chapter 7)

Unity #0 1992 (chapter 1)

Eternal Warrior #2 Sept. 1992 (chapter 10)

Magnus #16 Sept. 1992 (chapter 12)

Rai #7 Sept. 1992 (chapter 15)

Harbinger #9 Sept. 1992 (chapter 16)

Solar #13 Sept. 1992 (chapter 17)

Unity #1 Oct. 1992 (chapter 18, conclusion)

#17 Oct, 1992, "Trouble Below"

Harbinger #14 Feb.1993, "Dream Child" (Magnus' mother)

#18 Nov, 1992, "Inside the Metal Mind"

#19 Dec, 1992, "Probes"

#20 Jan, 1993, "Hit or Kiss"

Issue #21. The Malev story arc --

Valiant's epic of savage invasion and war with the Malev robots is an outstanding and well thought-out story-arc, built around his earlier run-ins with Malev from his silver age days. Gold Key stories leading up to Valiant's war are: #7 - where-in Magnus is abducted by the criminal Xyrkol, and taken to the planet Malev-6. Originally unpopulated, a robot repair ship crashed there and the mutating machine grew until it filled the entire planet, and aspired to continue it's growth until it filled the universe. Xyrkol discovered the planet and offered his help in return for first conquering the Earth. Magnus short-circuited it - with the mental powers (Ectothere) of Leeja and the One Thousand (Magnus rescued them in issue #1) - sending "Malev-6 crashing into disjointed junk." in issue #21, Malev-6 again tries to enslave Earth, with Magnus naturally finishing on top. In the final words of the last Manning comic, Magnus swears that where-ever Malev-6 is - "I'm coming for you! ... This time for keeps!". Then, in issue #24, Magnus (enlisting the criminal "Noel") again battles Malev-6, who had seized an industrial asteroid, and put it on a collision course with Earth. On the asteroid, are humans lured there by the Malev. Magnus and these other men and women escape, and divert the asteroid to crash into Malev-6, ending the menace, until Valiant rains down their monstrous robot vengeance in Valiant issue #21.

#21 Feb, 1993, "Armageddon 4002"

Malev war starts with "Slaughter on Phobus!" part 1 (includes Rai and the Future Force comics)

#22 March, 1993, part 2 "The Invasion of North Am"

#23 April, 1993, part 3 "The Fall of the Milespires!"

#24 May, 1993, part 4 "The Fall of North Am"

Rai #9 May, 1993, "After the Holocaust"

Rai #10 June, 1993 (1/2 story BEFORE Magnus #25)

#25 June, 1993, "Flesh and Steel"

Rai #10 (2nd 1/2 takes place AFTER Magnus #25)

Rai #11 July, 1993, "The Steel Legion"

#26 July, 1993, "Exemplar"

#27 Aug, 1993, "The Enemy of my Enemy"

#28 Sept, 1993, "Will of Iron"

#29 Oct, 1993, "Indomitable"

Rai #14 Oct, 1993, "Warring Factions"

Rai #15 Nov, 1993, "One for All"

#30 Nov, 1993, "Aryantina" (chapter 2)

Rai #16 Dec. 1993, "Targets" (chapter 3)

#31 Dec, 1993, "Allies" (chapter 4, conclusion)

Rai #17 Jan, 1994, "Trust"

#32 Jan, 1994, "Mal-adjusted"

#33 Feb. 1994, "If this is Tuesday, this must be...North Am?"

Rai #18, Feb, 1994, "Slaves of New York"

#34 March, 1994, "Christmas Eve: Minutes to Midnight" (cover art connects to -

Rai #19 March, 1994, "Christmas Eve: Fahrenheit 100"

#35 April, 1994, "Champions are born, not made"

Rai #20 April,1994, "Blood Oath"

#36 May, 1994, "The Beasts and the Children"

Rai #21 May, 1994, "Crucible"

#37 June, 1994, "Mindlock! ("The Last Day" part 1)

Rai #22 June, 1994, "Exorcism" (part 2)

#38 Aug, 1994, "New World Order"

Rai #23 Aug, 1994, "Bloodline"

Secrets of the Valiant Universe #1, 1994.

#39 Sept, 1994, "Bizarre Love Triangle"

#40 Oct, 1994, "Belly of the Beast"

Rai #24 Sep, 1994, "Leap of Faith

Rai #25 Oct, 1994, "The Call"

The Chaos Effect storyline.

The Chaos Effect - # Alpha 1994 (no Magnus)

Shadowman #29 - Beta, Oct. 1994 (no Magnus)

Secrets of the Valiant Universe #2 Beta, Oct, 1994 (no Magnus)

Solar #38 - Epsilon Nov.1994 (no Magnus)

Psi-Lords #3 - Epsilon Nov, 1994 (no Magnus)

Rai #26 - Epsilon Nov, 1994 (no Magnus)

Magnus #41 - Epsilon Nov, 1994

The Chaos Effect - #Omega Nov. 1994

The Chaos Effect - Epilogue part 1 Dec, 1994

The Chaos Effect - Epilogue part 2 Jan, 1995 (featuring Magnus)

Solar #39 (for background on coming events - no Magnus)

#42 Dec, 1994, "My Brother's Reaper"

#43 Jan, 1995, "A Snake in the Garden"

#44 Feb, 1995, "The Snows of Triton" (part 2)

#45 March, 1995, "Trial by Combat" (part 3)

#46 April, 1995, "Father Figure" (part 4 - conclusion)

Rai #27 Dec, 1994, "Rising Son" (background - no Magnus)

Rai #28 Jan, 1995, "Baptism of Fire"

Destroyer #0 April, 1995, "A Place of our Own" (no Magnus)

#47 May, 1995, "Cold Blooded"

#48 June, 1995, "Hardened Heart"

Rai #33 June, 1995, "Deep Trouble" (background - no Magnus)

#49 July, 1995, "The Invisible Legion" (part 1)

#50 luly, 1995, "The Invisible Legion" (part 2)

#51 Aug, 1995, "Return of the Robots" (part 1)

#52 Aug, 1995, "Return of the Robots" (part 2)

#53 Sept, 1995, "Whose Planet is it, Anyway?" (part 1)

#54 Sept, 1995, "Whose Planet is it, Anyway?" (part 2)

#55 Oct, 1995, (no title)

#56 Oct, 1995, (no title)

#57 Nov, 1995, (no title)

#58 Nov, 1995, (no title)

#59 Dec, 1995, (no title)

#60 Dec, 1995, (no title)

#61 Jan, 1996, (no title)

#62 Jan, 1996, (no title)

#63 Feb, 1996, (no title)

#64 Feb, 1996, (no title) title ends - "Curtain."

Valiant Yearbook

Magnus #1 1994, "Past Imperfect"

Acclaim comics - (alternate universe)

#1 May, 1997 "Kick the Can"

#2 June, 1997 "It is not Dying"

#3 July, 1997 "Tomorrow Never Knows"

#4 Aug, 1997 "Hell to the Chief!"

#5 Sept, 1997 "41 Maniacs!"

#6 Oct, 1997 "Father's Day"

#7 Nov, 1997 "A Prayer for the Dying"

#8 Dec, 1997 "The Gift of the Magni!"

#9 Jan, 1998 "The Old Country"

#10 Feb, 1998 "Just a Memory"

#11 March, 1998 "A Head for Science"

#12 April, 1998 "A Head for Business"

#13 Jan, 1998 "Be Here Now"

#14 Feb, 1998 "The Robot Rebellion"

#15 March, 1998 "Mechanical Aptitude"

#16 April, 1998 "Open Hart"

#17 May, 1998 "Love Sick"

#18 June, 1998 "Magnus Interruptus"

Unity 2000 Nov, 1999 #1(of 6) "Absent Friends"

Unity 2000 Dec, 1999 #2 "Death Warrant" (no Magnus)

Unity 2000 Jan, 2000 #3 "Painful Truth or Apocalyptic Consequences" (last printed issue)

A few things worth drawing attention to - for a while Magnus comics were being published by BOTH Gold Key and Whitman (at the same time - ed). There remain some unanswered questions - why was there a 2 year gap between Gold Key #28 and #29, and similarly long gap between #35 and #36, and why did Gold Key kept releasing their own copies after Whitman started issuing theirs?"

Terrence Berres provides possible answer's for Richard's questions. "As to the gap between Gold Key 28 and 29, 28 was the last issue of original stories, and 29 the first reprint, so the gap was presumably a time when GK was undecided about what to do with the title. As to the gap between 35 and 36, that appears to be a period when Western Publishing was considering changing its distribution system. Whitman and Gold Key were both imprints of Western, but with separate distribution systems. As I understand it, Gold Key used the traditional comic distribution method where retailers were charged only for issues sold and returned the unsold. Whitman sold under the usual book trade system, where the retailer bought issues at the wholesale price in the hope of selling them all with the markup to the cover price. Unsold issues were the retailers problem. When a comic has Gold Key and Whitman variants, it was being sold both ways."

Dark Mark's Magnus page has additional information on many of the issues.

CLARIFICATIONS: Not to be confused with

Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.

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