The Yellow "M"

The Yellow “M” (La Marque Jaune)
Cover of the English language (Cinebook) edition
Date	1956
Series	Blake and Mortimer
Publisher	Les Éditions Blake et Mortimer (Dargaud-Lombard)
Creative team
Writers	Edgar P. Jacobs
Artists	Edgar P. Jacobs
Original publication
Published in	Tintin magazine
Issues	256 to 322
Date of publication	6 August 1953 to 3 November 1954
Language	French
ISBN
Translation
Publisher	Cinebook Ltd
Date	2007
ISBN
Translator	Clarence E. Holland
Chronology
Preceded by	The Mystery of the Great Pyramid Volume 2: The Chamber of Horus
Followed by	Atlantis Mystery

The Yellow "M" (French: La Marque Jaune ("The Yellow Mark")) by the Belgian artist Edgar P. Jacobs is the sixth comic book in the Blake and Mortimer series. It was first published in Tintin magazine between 6 August 1953 and 3 November 1954 and later appeared in book form in 1956.

For some time now London has been terrorized by an enigmatic villain who informs the press in advance of his crimes. He commits daring robberies and leaves behind an "M" in a yellow circle as a signature. When the Imperial State Crown is stolen from the Tower of London, the Home Office assigns Captain Francis Blake to assist Chief Inspector Glenn Kendall of Scotland Yard. Blake in turn calls in his old friend and housemate, Professor Philip Mortimer, who has been on holiday to Scotland but agrees to return to London to help in the enquiry.

Meeting Blake at the Centaur Club, Mortimer is also introduced to some of its regulars: Leslie Macomber, editor of the Daily Mail; Sir Hugh Calvin, judge at the Central Criminal Court; Professor Robert Vernay of the British Medical Association; and Dr Jonathan Septimus of the Psychiatric Institute. Following dinner the group breaks up with Vernay and Septimus electing to walk home. On the way Septimus feels uneasy and calls a taxi, leaving Vernay alone. Shortly afterwards, Vernay is abducted by the Yellow "M".

The following night Macomber is kidnapped from his office at the Daily Mail. In spite of the judge's objections, Kendall insists on staying the night at the Calvin residence as a precaution. This is to no avail: Calvin disappears and Kendall is later found unconscious and with no recollection of what happened—a common occurrence with those who have confronted the Yellow "M" head-on. Blake and Mortimer meanwhile receive several messages telling them to stay away from the case and the symbol of the Yellow "M" even appears on the back of Blake's overcoat.