[mr_goldenage]

Uploaded in the Italian Language section IL Piccola Maschera Book One. An interesting book from Italy's  Post WW II period into the 1950's. Atomic Age? 6/13/52 published date brought to you by Mr Goldenage where "You got to dig the Gold Man!"

Richard

[jimmm kelly]

In terms of foreign language, I think this site will only achieve its bona fides when it has MAX UND MORITZ by Wilhelm Busch in the German language section. From all I've read, this work is considered of great importance in the development of the comic book, by historians of the medium (regardless of what Scotland might claim).

I have my own MAX UND MORITZ book, in German--I got it last year, sehr gunstig, in Vienna--actually it's the kind of book you flip over, so it has Heinrich Hoffmann's DER STRUWWELPETER on the other side. My book is copyrighted by the publisher so it doesn't qualify for this site, but given the age of MAX UND MORITZ, I'm sure there must be some vintage pages in the public domain that could be put up, for the sake of scholarship.

[mr_goldenage]

Hi Sir Kelly

I must disagree with Mr Kelly. I would like to know of another site on the web that offers non English books or for that matter any Non USA books. There are other sites that offer USA books. I think the UK/AU section is a great section too, probably second to none on the net currently. We'd love to have German comics from before 1959. I have not made it to that part of the world yet. I just got through spending 1700 bucks mainly on Italian comics from 1938 through 1959 and some French books all in all nearly 100 books. I'm pretty much spent for this year except for the odd book here and there. But I will start the buying spree next summer and I hope to capture middle and northern Europe (and Eastern Europe if there is anything there to get) so lets hope there is something in Germany for me to purchase. Wish me luck or give me pointers.

RB @ Work

[jimmm kelly]

Well if you're ever in Munich, you have to look for anything PUMUCKL by Ellis Kaut (with Barbara von Johnson illustrations)--but this is mid-'60s and beyond and I'm not sure if there were comic books, but there was everything else (Pumuckl being a huge thing in Bavaria). My great regret is that when I was in Munich I never looked for it--so some day I have to go back there and hunt for Pumucklbuchen & Pumucklfilme (I did buy the first children's book when I was in Vienna last time). I'll have more about Pumuckl in a couple of days.

But there's lots of things to search for in Europe--I wouldn't know where to begin with all the great kinds of comics and other funny books produced in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Germany, and yes in Eastern Europe. When I was in Serbia, I saw that they were having a comic book convention in Belgrad--I believe the date was something like July 7th, 2012--but my friend and I were heading into the countryside and then back to Austria, so I couldn't manage it.

[jimmm kelly]

A little more info I've been able to glean on classic German books and comics. In terms of children's books, magazines and fllms--my Austrian friends tell me that Hoffmann's STRUWWELPETER, Johanna Spyri's HEIDI and Astrid Lindgren's PIPPI LANGSTRUMPF, MADITA and others were all perennial favourites. In terms of comics, Germany didn't do a lot except translating American comics into German, but Rolf Kauka created FIX UND FOXI in '53--which was the most popular homegrown comic.

Out of the Kauka studio comes a lot more comic work and animation. The Italian comic artist, Massimo Fecchi (probably best known in North America for his work on Disney characters) collaborated with Rolf Kauka and produced a lot of comics with him from '73 to '95. Including work on DIE SIEBEN SCHNUCKEL in the '70s and the PUMUCKL comic book in the '80s.

There's also Die Schl

[mr_goldenage]

New upload can be found under the Italian Language Section: Piccola Maschera Book 2 June 1952 (Atomic Age?) From Italy a continuation of the storyline from book 1. Interesting. Brought to you by Mr Goldenage where "All Things Are Golden".

Richard

[mr_goldenage]

Now uploaded in the Italian Language Section under the Non English Titles: Tanks L'Uomo D' Acciaio N.-47 "Guizzo Al Polo" (Wriggle at the Pole) November 22nd 1946 Italy's Golden Age. Tanks was a strange title. It had two directions. One was surreal fantasy & magical along with missing/lost continents/races types like this story, and the other was gritty urban mystery/detective stories with horror elements and the witchcraft-mystical elements thrown in as well. Goofy stuff and the artwork reflected this as well. Plus a sidekick named Wriggle? Who calls his partner Papa? ...... For your reading pleasure.

Richard

[mr_goldenage]

Just uploaded = Serie Grande N-93 12-5-46: Saetta "La Luce Verde [The Green Light]". Saetta [Lightining] series Italy's Golden Age. Starring the Gran Condor and his assistant Miss Alice. A tale that reminds one of the pulps or movie serials. You can find this gem in the Italian Language Section.

Question - Are you tired of my Italain books?

Richard

[narfstar]

Been on vacation with limited internet access so I have not downloaded anything for awhile and I will be awhile catching up.

[mr_goldenage]

Newly uploaded: Mirko N-66. Date Unknown - From Italy's Golden Age Post WW II Prior to 1949 would be my guess. The gist here is the rescue of Dolly which one presume's to be Mirko's girlfriend/love interest (see Tour Of Italy: Mirko). This one features Mirko in a costume for a change rather than the standard trunks and boots. Strangely he does not employ his super power to grow to 100 feet in this issue. Brought to you by Mr Goldenage who says "Make Mine Golden" and can be found in the Italian Language Section (where else eh?)

Richard

[mr_goldenage]

Mistero N-27 "La Vendetta Di Ferrus" February 1947 Italy's Golden Age Fumetti. Starring Mistero and Arcana. Great Space Opera in this sequence. Brought to you by Mr Goldenage where "The Sea is Golden".  It's in the Italian Language Section as usual. Bring Peace and Joy, go forth and see.....

Richard

[mr_goldenage]

Mistero N-29 "I Demoni Rossi" Mistero and Arcana find themselves in danger once again in this off-Earth space opera saga. From February 1947 Italy's Golden Age.of Fumetti. Brought to you by Mr Goldenage where "The Grass is Golden". This gem, the last of my Mistero books, sad I know....can be found in the Italian Language Section. And a hint to those out there who can't read a lick of Italian like me, Google Translate is out there for free, and while not quite as accurate as one would like it works. There are other more sophisticated programs that will actually speak the works in your language back to you but those are not free. Anyways enjoy the book.....Up Next is the Uomo Mascherato......C'Ya

Richard

[narfstar]

I tried the google translate route and did not get far before i got tired. So I just enjoy the pretty pictures

[mr_goldenage]

For your Pictorial enjoyment:... L' Uomo Mascherato N-14 "L Assalto Alla Banca!" 1947 golden age comic of the "Masked Man". Well Written stories sad to say that is what our version lacked. The artwork is much more interesting if not a notch or two above most of Fox's version. Brought to you by Mr. Goldenage where says "I See a Green Light turn from Red to Blue". Now in the Italian Language Section.

Richard

[jimmm kelly]

I did a course in Italian a couple years ago. Not really enough to understand the language--but at least I know how words are pronounced. If I try, I can get the gist of some of what is said in these. There's a lot of Italian in English (thanks to the importation of Latin early into English and then later the fascination that English writers have had with Italian). So it's possible to figure out what a lot of words mean. L' Uomo Mascherato being a good demonstration. L'uomo is obvious because it sounds like the Latin homo for (the) man. And if you know that ch followed by an e has a k kind of sound--then it's the Man Mask plus an ending. Italian tends to put long endings onto things just to be fancy, while in English we clip off endings.

Of course, this is still a long process, and it's better just to look at the pictures.

[mr_goldenage]

Well I guess I should be happy that you all are at least looking at the pictures. I've got a whole bunch more coming. By the time I am done we will have the best Italian Language Section on the net. And who knows by the end of it all we may have learned a little Italian along the way. I know I've picked up a word or two here or a phrase or three there....they come in handy in other stories when repeated in other books. There is not enough books up yet for you all to read at one time, as I do. So wait and see I guess....more to come unless you all want me to stop.

Richard

[mr_goldenage]

Il Scarlatto Scorpione <Just Kidding!>  L' Uomo Mascherato N-56 - "IL Mistero Della Sala "B" Italy's Golden Age - April 17 1947. This issue shows a huge progression in the pictorial layout as a story telling device. The artwork improved too at this time given the year of the story was orignally published. Speaking of years. These are as noted on the front cover "Collezione" or collections. These are stories that were stopped by the facist government when the USA entered the war and Italy banned all imported character concepts, stories, art and anything American related (Except for Mickey Mouse obviously he was a facist!), So these collections are the pre 1942. Go look in the Italian Language Section which soon will be one of the best sites for Italian fumetti books on the net. What do you all think?

Richard

[jimmm kelly]

Out of the Kauka studio comes a lot more comic work and animation. The Italian comic artist, Massimo Fecchi (probably best known in North America for his work on Disney characters) collaborated with Rolf Kauka and produced a lot of comics with him from '73 to '95. Including work on DIE SIEBEN SCHNUCKEL in the '70s and the PUMUCKL comic book in the '80s.

Pronunciation with the c is tricky. If you have a ci then that's like "chee" but if you have chi then that's like "key." So Massimo Fecchi's name would have the hard k sound (just be careful how you pronounce that).

I go into a little more detail about Fecchi's work on the PUMUCKL magazine on my blog. But not much more and not as much as I'd like, since it was hard to find anything about it--and no pictures that I could use.

As I note there, the PUMUCKL magazine was actually the project of Kauka's daugher--Mascha. Fecchi was already working at Kauka Publications for about ten years before that--but it was Mascha who hired Fecchi for that particular magazine, as well as other artists. After this she seems to have gotten involved with the Amazon rain forest.

While most of us replying on the message board are English speakers, I would imagine there are people from around the world looking at this site. The folks behind this site probably have stats on that.

I was surprised to see that my blog got several views in Spain yesterday--I guess Pumuckl is very popular there. The more international appeal that a site has, the better I'd say. Otherwise you're just going to have a filthy lot of Brits and Americans--and who wants that?

[narfstar]

I think we will become more known worldwide thanks to efforts like this

[mr_goldenage]

From my birth date but not the year! December 14th 1946.... Jim Turbine N-22 "IL Tragico Incontro" something different for you all. Jim was an adventurer type who had offbeat action filled stories with danger and weird goings on. A future Tour of Italy will be out one day......In the Italian Language Section as if.....

Richard ....until tomorrow

[narfstar]

Tim looks interesting

[mr_goldenage]

If "JiM" Looks interesting how about..... La Parola Magica was part of the Albi Dell Intrepido series (Issue # 219 March 28th 1950 to be exact) and the character LION HEAD (Testa Di Leone) was the main feature of the story. More or less a jungle story that would have been at home in Fiction House's Jungle Comic with no problem or even a Fox book, Lion Head turns out to be an interesting take on the magic super hero type and can be found in the Italian Language section once approved.

Richard

[mr_goldenage]

The Last one of the weekend: Roal N.-02 June 15th 1948 "IL Abisso Maldetto" starring Roal Il Tarzan Del Mare. From Italy's Golden Age. In the Italian Language Section. Ciao 4 Now....

Richard.

[mr_goldenage]

Piccola Maschara Book 3 now up n runningl Go and enjoy. Can be found in the Italian Language section. Enjoy.

Richard off to work I go cause I owe I owe...

[mr_goldenage]

Fulmine Mascherato N. 41 now in the Italian section. This is what Dick Fulmine (Aka Dick Lightning in English and Alain La Foudre in French) turned into post WW II to re-invent the character from his WW II facist image. Enjoy.

RB