The Magnus Robot Fighter List

THE MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER LIST

compiled by Richard L. Anderson released 4/04

surrealra@aol.com updated 5/05

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 1967, that were never released in the States.

Not covered -- trading cards, posters, TPB's, and book reprints

intro to Magnus Robot Fighter --

Even before his series gets started, he's censored by flesh-phobes who add

a tunic with high-boots. There-by turning his Tarzan loin-cloth into a mini-skirt.

Than we read as his robot master kicks him out of a moving sky car to free-

fall through 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 programmed 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. Than suddenly

some samurai pulls a knife on him, and BOOM, he's in the middle of an

alien invasion. Finally after a long day of being Magnus he returns home, 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 fierce 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, with-out further delay, the Magnus list ------

Goldkey- comics by Russ Manning; 1 thru 21

note > Goldkey 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"

Goldkey/Whitman,

#22 May 1968 - (reprint #1) Goldkey - 12 cents

price variant - 15 cents

#23 Aug. 1968 - "Mission: Disaster!" - 12 cents

(last 12 cent comic)

price variant - 15 cents

#24 Nov, 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"

>note long gap between issues

#29 Nov, 1971 - (reprint #7) Goldkey

#30 Feb, 1972 - (reprint #15) Goldkey

#31 April, 1972 - (reprint #14) Goldkey

#32 Feb, 1972 - (reprint #2) Goldkey

#33 Oct. 1972 - (reprint #21) Goldkey

(note > price now 20 cents)

#34 Jan, 1973 - (reprint #13) Goldkey

#35 May, 1972 - (reprint #6) Goldkey

#35 (no date) - (reprint #6) Whitman

cover logo variant

> note long gap between issues.

cost increases to 25 cents. and the

beginning of double releases

by Goldkey and Whitman

#36 Aug, 1974 - (reprint #8) Goldkey

#36 (no date) - (reprint #8) Whitman

cover logo variant

#37 Nov, 1974 - (reprint #11) Goldkey

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

cover logo variant

#38 Feb, 1975 - (reprint #12) Goldkey

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

cover logo variant

#39 May, 1975 - (reprint #16) Goldkey

#39 (Whitman - assumed released)

cover logo variant

#40 Aug 1975 - (reprint #17) Goldkey

#40 (Whitman - assumed released)

cover logo variant

#41 Nov, 1975 - (reprint #18) Goldkey

#41 - (reprint #18) Whitman

cover logo variant

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

#42 Feb, 1976 - (reprint #19) Goldkey

cover logo variant

#43 May 1976 - (reprint #20) Goldkey

#43 (reprint #20) Whitman

cover logo variant

#44 Aug, 1976 - (reprint #23) Goldkey

#44 (Whitman - assumed released)

cover logo variant

note > last 2 issues are 30 cents

#45 Oct 1976 - (reprint #24) Goldkey

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

cover logo variant

#46 Jan, 1977 - (reprint #25) Goldkey

#46 (Whitman - assumed released)

cover logo variant

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

starting in the back pages of other comics -

Lost in Space #58 (no date) - "Journey to the end of the world"

(reprint GK #26, second story)

note > Whitman trades skirt/loin cloth for pants.

(even in a flash-back panel from issue #1)

Doctor Solor #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 Solor #30 1981 - "Where Angels Fear..."

Doctor Solor #31 1982 "Deathtrap" ("coming soon

look for Magnus in his own book")

Goldkey 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

(reprint Goldkey #2, U.S. released May.1963)

format - newsprint, black and white, 5 1/4" x 71/4"

published by City Magazines Ltd.

Metropolis comics report that Dell published

the Magnus comic series in Australia.

2 examples are listed, dated 1963 and 1968

TV Tornado (UK) - Various weekly comic strips,

including 2 or 3 page Magnus stories.

(some reprints or adaptations of Goldkey's

Magnus comics)

format - newsprint, black and white, 9' 'x 113/4''

#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 Goldkey #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 Goldkey #6)

#9, March 11, 1967 - "Operation Rescue !"

(ending from Goldkey #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 Goldkey #1)

#12 April 1, 1967 - "Spark of Revolt"

(from Goldkey #1)

#13 April 8, 1967 - "Meeting with Leeja"

(from Goldkey #1)

#14 April 15, 1967 - "I Am Magnus"

(from Goldkey #1)

#15 April 22, 1967 - "The Exterminator" part 1 of 2

(from Goldkey #1)

#16 April 29, 1967 - "Defeat for the Robots" part 2

(from Goldkey #1)

#17 May 6, 1967 - "Expedition to Gamma 7"

original U. K. story

#18 May 13, 1967 - part 1 of Goldkey #2 "Operation Disguise"

"The Identical Magnus"

(7 part story from Goldkey #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 Goldkey #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" x 10 3/4", hard bound, color

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

1979 - "The Micro Giants" (from Goldkey #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 parades;

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 Mangler #1, 1993

parody press, 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

variant - short "preview" black and white

variant - double signed, with C.O.A.

Magnus/Nexus #2, Valiant, April, 1994

variant - double signed, with C.O.A.

Predator versus Magnus #1, Valiant/Darkhorse, Nov. 1992

variant - platinum edition

variant - signed, with C.O.A.

Predator versus Magnus #2, Valiant/Darkhorse, 1993

X-O Manowar #6, "X-O vs Magnus", Acclaim comics

Valiant yearbook

Magnus #1 1994, "Past imperfect"

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,

#0 variant - comic store purchase - no card

#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)

flip book Rai #1 (part 2)

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

flip book Rai #2 (part 4)

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

flip book Rai #3 (part 6)

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

flip book Rai #4 (part 8 - conclusion)

#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)

note> "Unity" involved many Valiant heroes (and viewpoints).

The list here are in an order from Magnus' viewpoint.

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

Rai #6 Aug. 1992 (chapter 7)

Unity #0 1992 (chapter 1)

(variant - Unity #0 - red cover)

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)

(variant - Unity #1 - silver)

(variant - Unity #1 - gold)

#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"

teen Magnus - (out of sequence story)

NOTE - Issue #21, the Malev story arc --

Valiant's epic story of savage invasion and war with the Malev robots is

an outstanding and well thought-out story-arc, built around the earlier

run-ins with Malev from his silver age days. Goldkey 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, Maylev-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!". Than, in issue #24, Magnus

(enlisting the criminal "Noel") again battle 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 Maylev. 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 title)

(variant - #21 - gold)

#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"

(variant - #24 - signed and numbered edition, limited to 1000).

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

(variant - Rai (and the future force) #9 - gold

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

#25 June, 1993, "Flesh and Steel"

(silver, embossed cover, new battle costume)

(variant - Magnus #25 - double signed, w/C.O.A.)

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"

("The Battle For South Am" chapter 1)

#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 Vaiant Universe #1, 1994.

2 page story (with a Starwatcher)

#39 Sept, 1994, "Bizarre Love Triangle"

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

Rai #24 Sept, 1994, "Leap of Faith

Rai #25 Oct, 1994, "The Call"

'The Chaos Effect' storyline >

This isn't much of a Magnus story, and

encompasses all Valiat's titles.

The story sets-up in Psi-Lords #1 and #2,

but Magnus doesn't appear till later.

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

(featuring Magnus)

The Chaos Effect - Epilogue part 2 Jan, 1995

(featuring Magnus)

(For a different view point of the Epilogue w/Magnus see --

Harbringer #35, #36, and #37)

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

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

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

("The Geomancer Quest" part 1)

#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" (bckground - no Magnus)

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

#50 July, 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)

(variant #57 - Pages in wrong order - pulled from shelfs)

#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 Yearbook #1 1994, "Past Imperfect"

Acclaim Comics - (alternate universe)

#1 May, 1997 "Kick the Can"

(variant - #1 Jan, 1997 - black and white preview copy)

(variant - #1 May, 1997 - painted, horizontal cover

#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"

quote: "The End For Now" - series ends.

Unity 2000

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).

The rest of 'Unity 2000' can be read in a script

made available by Jim Shooter.

(Comic book script adapted from the book).

Richard L. Anderson notes that Magnus' early training and isolated upbringing under 1A was "much like programming 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."

The above is quoted from another fine Magnus site. Here he's quoting me from email we exchanged. In retrospect, it had a good point. So, I swiped it back. :) -Richard

I was very proud to be included in his site.