Friday, April 5, 2013

Mandrake's Idea of Feminism


As much as I love vintage Mandrake, and enjoying entertainment of the past in general, it can get a little frustrating at times.  I've spoken before about how the reader has to approach the material understanding when it was created and the different mindsets of our  culture back then.  Historical criticism, if you will. 

But even then, it gets frustrating every now and then.  In Mandrake's case, it's usually the depiction of Lothar that really gets me.  However, despite the ridiculous ways in which Lothar is depicted, Mandrake treats him like an equal.  And that's the saving grace of the strip.

However, sometimes I can get caught off guard.  So wary am I about the portrayal of Lothar, I didn't see this one coming.

From a series of Sunday strips out of December, 1940.




Mandrake fixes a tribe of strong Amazon warriors by restoring the men to power and the women to cooking and cleaning.

Sigh.  Oh Mandrake.  What fool you are.

Come to think of it, Captain Kirk might have done the same thing.

Thanks,
DCD

1 comment:

  1. So the secret to getting women to cook and clean is a fireman's carry, chasing them with spears, and/or dragging them by the hair, caveman style. Noted.

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