Is Anybody Out There? 
What were you doing in 2002? For the first stirrings of the 21st century, an eternity ago now?
was born in that year the site linked to the mailing list
Ayaaaak , and a friend asked me to write a piece on a theme you like, but that concern the comics.
"What about comics and science fiction?" Yes, the theme was attractive to think of it, but complicated. I thought a bit 'and then I wrote this piece of casting.
There were no blogs that are there today, and the piece all in all it was cute, but now is a bit 'lost in the archive contents of the site, so the recovery and post here again, updating and adjusting something here and there. Probably
was my first piece on comics published somewhere.
understand a bit 'of years ago, and wandered among the stalls of an old edition of Trevisocomics nicely with a friend and talked about comics and childhood memories. He described a book I received as gifts from a boy who was tied in a particular way. It was cardboard and the comic was in color, and it was a science fiction story. He had read and reread for years, preserved as a treasure, and he told me that the passion for science fiction was very likely to be born then. So, too, I began to rummage through my childhood memories, trying to go back in time as possible. And so I arrived to find a cartoon in black and white, that certainly was my first reading of absolute science fiction.
probably the spark that started it all.
I had to be very small, because the memories were scarce, I was probably the primary, but not because I do not remember if sepevo already read, because to be honest I only remember the drawings, but not the reading of history. And deep down I remembered only a spaceship-shaped ball that landed on the mysterious planet, and then blond heroes and menacing aliens. Absolutely the first excursion outside the world of Mickey Mouse. That day in
Trevisocomics managed to find that comics lost, thanks to a very courteous seller which I described what I remembered.
But to know what this comic, you get to the end.
The story referred to above can be eloquent to start talking about FS comics in Italy, because I realize that is not easy. Why? You see, if you were talking to the sci-fi movie could discuss for days, and so for that on television, and talked for years of literary fiction. In all these areas we have had at least 30 years of FS popular rocket with wings, a mad scientist, blond heroes, damsels in distress and monsters destroying Tokyo. And then (much later), we also had adult fiction. We had Blade Runner and Gattaca and 2001, but before they have had plenty of time to have fun watching "The Diafanoidi are from Mars" and "Godzilla against Gamera."
Today I can see me and Startrek Babylon 5, but I had plenty of time to have fun with the Thunderbirds and Commander Straker, Doctor Who and The Avengers. And with the cartoon I enjoyed watching and Mazinga Jeeg robot before, and now Cowboy Bebop. Today I read a book by Philip Dick and Ursula Le Guin, Dan Simmons and Alfred Bester, but before they had time to grow and have fun with Murray Leinster, Doc Smith, Jack Williamson and many distinguished colleagues.
because in all these fields there are some common elements. Authors, books, movies, cartoons and share something. A decades long background, a highway almost inevitable that we have followed more or less everyone in my generation who were dedicated to the passion for science fiction, and that is the start from the beginning
. And softly make a
culture like that. And now you can deal with a speech on any kind with another person and maybe (why not?) Discover that you can also find you agree.
But for comics? Well, this is a really good question.
in the world have been published so many, I agree, but in Italy? Many. A lot. But at different times. In different ways. A different people. Try to start a discussion on FS with friends and fans of comics. A boy grew up reading Lanciostory have different memories someone grew up with Tex, who grew up with Mickey Mouse as the reader with American Comics, Manga and so on. Me and my friend mentioned above we now have a common passion, but she was born with different
heroes, no points in common, unknown heroes to each other. And the same goes for anyone who is passionate about the genre today. I can have very clear views on what was the best science fiction comics of the past, but it will be my personal opinion, debatable and questionable: Jeff Hawke and Dan Dare, Luc Orient and eternity, Barbara and the City, Martin Mystere and Fantastic 4, Mickey Mouse and ultraghiaccio and The Valley of Death. But that's because I had a bad habit read everything that had drawings and balloons. Why are all comics have appeared in various publications, for short periods, in different sizes and for different audiences. Why is it difficult to find them still around and find another willing to have read them all is more difficult than finding a needle in a haystack.
Even more complicated then if we talk about science fiction
Italian comic, maybe trying to find something popular, something that has enjoyed great success over a long period. You will find all the stories in comic references to "Saturn against the earth," but how many have actually read? And so "The seven of Selena," appeared only on the small carrier. All comics have appeared in ancient times, on a text that no longer exist, only the memory of which survives. Even without going too far back in time, we find stories of small outlets in the Corriere, sull'Intrepido and Monello first, then on Lanciostory and Scorpio. Above all, individual stories. Sure, there was some good magazines FS sporadically copyright, but as the Italian literary fiction comics FS even managed to take off in a decisive manner. And so a lot has passed under the noses of everyone, almost unnoticed. The stories of Robert Bonadiman for the North, the stories of Deep Space and Bonvi Guccini, science fiction, Magnus, et cetera. But there were a few brave aware. Fortunately we had the pure science fiction who lived over the years Martin Mystere, Dylan, Tex and Zagor.
But we have not had a hero of FS that accompany us throughout the years. Nothing was the Italian equivalent of Doctor Who, Dan Dare or Fantastic Four. It seems that the first was Nathan Never. After they came all the others, but it is a recent thing. I will answer that even in the literary field we had a tradition of Italian FS. Sure, but we had the praiseworthy "Urania," which was the glue of all the fans for a long time, presenting all kinds of everything and keeping the genre alive. What was the equivalent of Urania in comics? I fear that never existed, but I accept suggestions. Each of you can find his answer. The world is beautiful because it is varied, but to ask ten friends and they will recommend as absolutely essential ten comics totally different.
But how do today? Is there anybody out there who want embroiled in a mess like that, and get an education on gender? And if the answer is yes to those who have to go? What advice to those who ask "Give me an excellent way of SF comics to read" as you often hear me ask. And how do you choose? I do not know your tastes, and even if you knew it would be difficult that what has pleased me like you too, you should get there by himself, and by degrees.
I say this because I saw young lovers FS burning in a few years after it cyberpunk or the FS sociological StaWars who worship but do not know who Edmund Hamilton. Sterling enthusiasm for John Brunner and ignore, or have fun with Douglas Adams, but they do not know Harry Harrison and RA Lafferty. For the comics of FS is the same thing. Today there are many, but in the past there have been many, many. But at different times. In different ways. For different audiences.
should try everything, where possible. And if it seems excessive, consider that to be an architect you need to study many old houses. It 's the same thing.
But it's more fun.
The comic that had changed color the life of my friend was "The Empire of
Trigana by Mike Butterworth and Don Lawrence. My
was
Perry Rhodan.
And Jeff Hawke had not yet arrived. But the picture of Hope wanted to put it anyway.
