THE MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER LIST
compiled by Richard L. Anderson released 4/04
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-
fallthrough 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 wasrai and what waswrong. 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 tohis golden past.
Then there's the wholezombie 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 #1story 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'sphenomenal 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
desirefor 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
pricevariant - 15 cents
#23 Aug. 1968 - "Mission: Disaster!" - 12 cents
(last 12 cent comic)
price variant - 15 cents
#24Nov, 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
#29Nov, 1971 -(reprint #7)Goldkey
#30Feb, 1972-(reprint #15) Goldkey
#31 April, 1972 - (reprint #14) Goldkey
#32Feb, 1972 -(reprint #2) Goldkey
#33 Oct. 1972 - (reprint #21) Goldkey
(note > pricenow 20 cents)
#34Jan, 1973 - (reprint #13) Goldkey
#35May, 1972 - (reprint #6) Goldkey
#35 (no date) - (reprint #6) Whitman
cover logo variant
notelong gap between issues.
costincreases 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
#37Nov, 1974 - (reprint #11) Goldkey
#37(no date) -(reprint #11) Whitman
cover logo variant
#38Feb, 1975 - (reprint #12) Goldkey
#38(no date) -(reprint #12) Whitman
cover logo variant
#39May, 1975-(reprint #16) Goldkey
#39(Whitman - assumed released)
cover logo variant
#40Aug 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"
#481982 - 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 clothfor pants.
(even in aflash-back panel from issue #1)
Doctor Solor #291981 -"The Steel-Smashing Return
ofMagnus Robot Fighter 4000 A.D."
note This story takes place just beforeGoldkey #1,
making it the equivalent of a 'gold key #0'
Doctor Solor #301981 -"Where Angels Fear..."
Doctor Solor #311982 "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) - Variousweekly comic strips,
including 2 or 3 page Magnusstories.
(some reprints or adaptationsof 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,
(firstTV Tornado appearance)
#8, March 4, 1967 - "Robot Menace"
newU. 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)
#19May 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"
(6part story from Goldkey #4)
#26 July8, 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"
#30Aug 5, 1967 - part 6 - "Tension"
Last appearance. The inclusion of Magnus stories
had stoppedby issue #31, Aug.12, 1967.
TV Tornadoannuals (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, 1964article 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-Ovs 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,
#0variant - 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)
#9Feb. 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 hereare inan orderfrom 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 aroundthe 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
intoMalev-6, ending the menace,...until Valiant rains down their
monstrous robot vengeancein 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 storyBEFORE 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 - EpsilonNov, 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)