Pao Tcheou

MASTER OF THE INVISIBLE

Pao Tcheou, the so-called "Master of the Invisible", is an Asian mastermind who is rumored to be a cousin of the dreaded Dr. Fu Manchu, and who also plots world domination. He is opposed by stalwart French hero Lapertot (name changed to Cropertot in the 2nd edition) and Professor Faustulus. The war against Pao-Tcheou involves all kinds of futuristic weapons, spans all of Earth, and even includes a journey to Mars.

The series was created by "Edward Brooker", and continued by "Sam P. Norwood", pseudonyms / noms de plume for French writers heretofore unidentified.

1st. EDITION: PAO TCHEOU, LE MAITRE DE L’INVISIBLE by Edward Brooker
Published by Editions et Revues Françaises, cover illustrations by R. Dansler.
1. Le Vol de la Bombe Atomique (The Stealing Of An Atom Bomb) (1945)
2. Demain New York Sautera (Tomorrow New York Will Be Destroyed) (1945)
3. Menace sur l'Angleterre (Threat Over England) (1945)
4. Lapertot Engage le Combat (Lapertot Begins To Fight) (1945)
5. Mo-Hang, l'Île Mysterieuse (Mo-Hang, The Mysterious Island) (1945)
6. Un Plan Diabolique (A Diabolical Plan) (1945)
7. La Lutte des Invisibles (The Clash Of The Invisibles) (1945)
8. Tsan-Tsan le Mangeur d'Hommes (Tsan-Tsan, The Eater Of Men) (1945)
9. La Vengeance du Grand Sorcier (The Revenge Of The Great Wizard) (1946)
10. Les Esclaves de Satan (The Slaves Of Satan) (1946)
11. Le Docteur Faustulus (Dr. Faustulus) (1946)
12. Un Curieux Soupirant (A Strange Pretender) (1946)
13. La Fuite dans l'Espace (Flight In Space) (1946)
14. Le Royaume de P'to-P'to (The Kingdom of P'to-P'to) (1946)
15. Au Pays des Hurkas (In The Land Of The Hurkas) (1946)
16. Voyage à travers Mars (Journey Through Mars) (1946)
17. Le Secret de la Jungle (The Secret Of The Jungle) (1946)
18. La Déesse Blanche (The White Goddess) (1946)
19. La Cité Lacustre (The Lake City) (1946)
20. Mawamba (1946)
21. Les Guabinis (1946)
22. Aux Prises avec les Tibos (To Fight the Tibos) (1947)

2nd. EDITION: LE MAITRE DE L’INVISIBLE by Edward Brooker completed by Sam P. Norwood
Published by Société d’Editions Générales.
1. Le Vol de la Superbombe Atomique (The Stealing Of An Atom Super-Bomb) (1953)
2. Demain une Grande Ville Sautera (Tomorrow A Great City Will Be Destroyed) (1953)
3. La Menace Plane (The Threat Lurks) (1953)
4. Cropertot Engage le Combat (Cropertot Begins To Fight) 1953
5. Mo-Hang, l'Île Mysterieuse (Mo-Hang, The Mysterious Island) (1954)
6. Un Plan Diabolique (A Diabolical Plan) (1954)
7. La Lutte des Invisibles (The Clash Of The Invisibles) (1954)
8. Tsan Tsan le Sorcier (Tsan Tsan The Wizard) (1954)
9. La Vengeance du Grand Sorcier (The Revenge Of The Great Wizard) (1954)
10. Les Esclaves de Satan (The Slaves Of Satan) (1954)
11. Le Docteur Faustulus (Dr. Faustulus) (1954)
12. Un Curieux Soupirant (A Strange Pretender) (1954)
13. La Fuite dans l'Espace (Flight In Space) (1954)
14. Le Royaume de P'to-P'to (The Kingdom of P'to-P'to) (1954)
15. Au Pays des Hurkas (In The Land Of The Hurkas) (1954)
16. Voyage à travers Mars (Journey Through Mars) (1954)
17. Le Secret de la Jungle (The Secret Of The Jungle) (1955)
18. La Déesse Blanche (The White Goddess) (1955)
19. La Cité Lacustre (The Lake City) (1955)
20. Mawamba (1955)
LE MAITRE DE L'INVISIBLE continuation by Sam P. Norwood
21. La Forêt Qui Tue (The Killing Forest) (1955)
22. Le Radeau de la Mort (The Raft Of Death) (1955)
23. La Guerre des Robots (War Of The Robots) (1955)
24. La Vengeance du Radium (The Revenge Of Radium) (1955)
25. Les Secrets de l'Atome (The Secrets Of The Atom) (1955)
26. La Ville Sous-Marine (The Undersea City) (1955)
27. Le Voleur de Pensées (The Stealer Of Thoughts) (1955)
28. La Vengeance de l'Invisible (The Revenge Of The Invisible) (1955)
29. La Guerre des Astres (The War Of The Stars) (1956)
30. Le Maître des Séismes (The Master Of Earthquakes) (1956)
31. Échec à l'Invisible (The Invisible In Check) (1956)
32. Panique dans la Ville (Panic In The City) (1856)
33. Dans les Entrailles de la Terre (In The Belly Of The Earth) (1956)
34. L'Île aux Monstres (Monster Island) (1956)
35. Bagarre à Mo'Ang (Clash In Mo'Ang) (1956)
36. La Fusée de Faustulus (Faustulus' Rocket) (1956)

3rd Edition - LE MAITRE DE L’INVISIBLE by Edward Brooker - Trade Paperbacks each collecting 4 issues of the 2nd edition
Published by Société d'Edition Générales.
1. Menace de l'Invisible (Threat Of The Invisible) (coll. 1-4)
2. Dans les Griffes de l'Invisible (In The Clutches Of The Invisible) (coll. 5-8)
3. [Title Unknown] (coll. 9-12)
4. À l'Assaut des Planètes (To Assault The Planets) (coll. 13-16)
5. Les Sorciers de l'Invisible (The Wizards Of The Invisible) (coll. 17-20)
LE MAITRE DE L'INVISIBLE continuation by Sam P. Norwood
6. Croisière de l'Épouvante (Horror Cruise) (coll. 21-24)
7. Angoisse dans la Ville (Terror Over The City) (coll. 25-28)
8. La Terre Sera-t-elle Préservée? (Shall Earth Be Saved?) (coll. 29-32)
9. Départ pour Mars (Departure For Mars) (coll. 33-36)

L'Enigmatique Fen-Chu (Fen-Chu The Enigmatic) by George Fronval (published by S.E.N. in 1944 with a suyperb cover by Brantonne) is yet another Asian mastermind bent on world conquest.

Operating from his hidden Tibetan lair and armed with invincible robots, Fen-Chu prochaims: "I am Fen-Chu, master of the world. I have made unknown powers serve my will. I'm invulnerable. I am invincible. All are powerless before me. Tomorrow, I will rule the world. I fear nothing. My enemies can search for me everywhere, but they will never find me, for I am nowhere. Soon, my great scheme will move forward, and the whole world will be mine!"

Note: The same novel was reprined in 1946 under the title "Le Maître des Robots" (Master of Robots) but with the role of Fen-Chu now attributed to a European mad scientist.