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Comics is not exactly the first word that come to mind to an American when you mention Italy.
Ferrari, fashion, food; these things, not necessarily in this order, are the ones that usually
make the list. Well, here you will find that Italian comics and graphic novels are also
vibrant and interesting and that genres that are basically long forgotten in the USA
(Westerns just to name one) are thriving in Italy and have been doing so for the past sixty
years.
So take a look around, browse the characters and the series that kept several generations of
Italian kids (and adults) entertained and see if there's anything that sounds intriguing.
Then check to see if we have any of them in store so that you can get a feel for
the "Italian experience" and enjoy all the numerous stories that are usually not available to
the English-speaking public.
Moreover, if you are studying Italian and you already like comics what better way can you
think of to learn the language and have fun in the process?
Created by Giovanni Bonelli and Aurelio Galleppini Tex is, together with Topolino, one of
the most influential Italian comics. An outlaw in his first stories, he quickly moved on
the right side of the law and became a ranger and the head of the Navajos after
marrying the indian girl Lilith. His adventures take place in the US in the late 1800s and
although most of them are purely western in flavor, some mix in some foreign elements like
magic (the nemesis of our hero is in fact a man called Mefisto who seems to possess
diabolical powers).
Tex is a mature character, a man of the law. His biggest paradox lies in the fact that while
he represents the law he knows there are situations in which you have to act outside of the
law for the greater good. Even more important, pretty much from his beginnings and
way before it was considered politically correct, Tex shows respect for every human being
without any prejudice based on race or color.
The other main characters in the series are Tex's three pards: his son Kit, Kit Carson
and the Navajo Tiger Jack. There are also recurring appearances by a number of friends;
among them Jim Brandon of the Royal Mounted Police, El Morisco, Pat Ryan and others.
The rich texture of the stories, most of which span 2/300 pages or more, the attention
to detail and the constant quality make Tex one of the best Western series ever.
The series started in 1948.
Created by Sergio Bonelli and Gallieno Ferri, Zagor lives in Darkwood, a fictitious
forest located in Pennsylvania. His stories are a blend of western, magic, fantasy and
sometimes science fiction and, although an exact date is never given, they take place in
the first half of the 19th century. Zagor’s companion is Cico, an overweight and jovial
Mexican who contributes quite a lot of humorous situations to the series. Although most
of the Zagor stories are not as mature or intriguing as Tex’s, he is still one of the most
beloved Bonelli characters. The series started in 1961.
Dylan Dog single-handedly introduced Italian readers to the horror genre and became a giant
success in the process. The Rupert Everett look-alike character was created by Tiziano
Sclavi in the mid 1980s. Dylan Dog, l’investigatore dell’incubo (or the nightmare detective),
lives and works in London and is a private detective specializing in supernatural cases.
Most of the stories range from horror to the surreal usually with quite a bit of splatter
and gore. Some comic relief is provided by Dylan’s helper, Groucho, a character based on, you
guessed it, the actor Groucho Marx. Other regulars in the series are the Inspector Bloch of
Scotland Yard and Dylan’s beloved VW Beetle. Plus, a plethora of beatiful girls who apparently
just can’t resist our hero’s charm. Definitely one of the most influential series of the past twenty
years.
FUMETTI "SNIPPETS" (in no particular order)
Satanik
Publisher: Editoriale Corno
Since: 1964 to 1974
Genre: supernatural horror
Place:
Period: the present
Main characters: Marny Bannister (Satanik), il tenente Trent and others
Recommended if: you like your ladies really dark |
Alan Ford e il gruppo T.N.T.
Publisher: originally Editoriale Corno, now MBP
Since: 1969
Genre: espionage/humor
Place: New York (well, sort of)
Period: the present
Main characters: Alan Ford, Bob Rock, il Numero Uno, il Conte Oliver, Grunf, Geremia, la Cariatide and others
Recommended if: you like to laugh |
Corto Maltese
Publisher: various but most recently Lizard Edizioni and Rizzoli/Lizard
Since: 1967
Genre: adventure
Place: the whole world
Period: the early 20th century
Main characters: Corto, Rasputin, Esmeralda and many others
Recommended if: you like Toth, Caniff, Raymond and all the great adventure strips and comics |
Diabolik
Publisher: Astorina
Since: 1962
Genre: crime/noir
Place: Clerville (fictitious)
Period: the present
Main characters: Diabolik, Eva Kant, l’ispettore Ginko and others
Recommended if: you like your criminals not exactly gentlemanly |
W.I.T.C.H.
Publisher: The Walt Disney Company Italia
Since: 2001
Genre: fantasy/magic
Place: various
Period: the present and more
Main characters: Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia, Hay Lin and others
Recommended if: you like teen-age witches |
Topolino
Publisher: The Walt Disney Company Italia
Since: 1949
Genre: various
Place: Paperopoli (Duckburg), Topolinia (Mouseton) and a moltitude of other places and universes
Period: various
Main characters: do we really need to name names?
Recommended if: you want to feed the kid in you. And, no, it’s not just for kids
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Legs Weaver (spin-off of Nathan Never)
Publisher: Sergio Bonelli Editore
Since: 1994 to 2005
Genre: science fiction/cyberpunk
Place: la Citta' Est
Period: the 23rd century
Main characters: Legs Weaver, May Frayn
Recommended if: you like space opera and Blade Runner |
Nathan Never
Publisher: Sergio Bonelli Editore
Since: 1991
Genre: science fiction/cyberpunk
Place: la Citta'
Period: the 22nd century
Main characters: Nathan Never, Legs Weaver, Sigmund Baginov, Branko
Recommended if: you like space opera and Blade Runner |
Martin Mystere
Publisher: Sergio Bonelli Editore
Since: 1982
Genre: adventure/archeology
Place: New York + many others
Period: the present (at least most of the time)
Main characters: Martin Mystere, Java, Diana Lombard, Sergej Orloff
Recommended if: you like Indiana Jones with (much) less action and a touch of X-files |
Paperinik New Adventures - PK2 - Pikappa
Publisher: The Walt Disney Company Italia
Since: 1996 to 2005 in three different series
Genre: superheroes
Place: Paperopoli (Duckburg) and others
Period: various
Main characters: Paperinik (PK), Uno, Everett Ducklair, gli Evroniani and more
Recommended if: You like Donald Duck in tights |
Dylan Dog
Publisher: Sergio Bonelli Editore
Since: 1986
Genre: horror
Place: London
Period: the present
Main characters: Dylan Dog, Groucho, Inspector Bloch, DD’s VW Beetle
Recommended if: you enjoy splatter, nightmares and surreal atmospheres |
Zagor
Publisher: Sergio Bonelli Editore
Since: 1961
Genre: adventure
Place: Darkwood (a fictitious forest between Ohio and Pennsylvania)
Period: early 1800s (but some stories have definitely a fantasy/horror flavor)
Main characters: Zagor, Cico, Hellingen and many others
Recommended if: you like your western stories with a bit of a twist |
Tex
Publisher: Sergio Bonelli Editore
Since: 1948
Genre: western
Place: Arizona and various others
Period: mid to late 1800s
Main characters: Tex Willer, Kit Carson, Kit Willer, Tiger Jack
Recommended if: you miss solid western stories |
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