ÖZGÜR ÖĞRET
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News
Gallieno Ferri, creator of Italian comic book hero Zagor, came to Istanbul to visit fans at an event organized by the comics’ Turkish publisher. The popular event was rounded out by an auction for charity, as well as a Zagor-themed rock concert. ‘Zagor is adventure, horror, humor, fantasy – it is everything,’ says fan and musician Graziano Romani
Zagor, alongside his companion Chico, has represented a different side of Italian comics since 1961. Although set in a western atmosphere with lots of cowboys and Indians, the adventures of Zagor differed themselves with factors of both science fiction and horror.
Providing a night of nostalgia for the benefit of charity, Gallieno Ferri, creator of the classic Italian comic book hero Zagor, and other Italian artists visited Istanbul for a series of events that ended Sunday.
Zagor Night, organized Thursday at Karga Bar in Kadıköy by 1001 Roman Publishing, which publishes Zagor in Turkey alongside other European comics, attracted great interest from the public.
Three of 81-year-old Ferri’s works were offered for sale at a charity auction, with proceeds going to the Umut Foundation, which focuses on the disarmament of individuals.
Sibel Savacı from the foundation presented awards to Ferri, his colleagues Giancarlo Orazi and Marco Verni and 1001 Roman’s owner Fuat Aktüre.
“Old comics had a sense of social responsibility though they were based on war, defense and the like. They always taught a lesson in life and humanity to the reader. I hope the mission of these artists will set an example to today’s artists,” she said.
Ömer Muz, a Turkish comic cover artist who has been drawing authentic covers for the Turkish versions of Italian comics since the 1970s, also offered a new drawing, “Zagor and Chico in Beyoğlu,” for the auction.
The night also featured a book signing as well as a concert from Italian rock musician Graziano Romani, who counts himself as one of Zagor’s hundreds of thousands of fans. Romani, who has a concept album based on Zagor called “The King of Darkwood,” performed the work live with Turkish band Aseton as his warm up act.
‘Super hero’ of the Wild West
Zagor, alongside his companion Chico, has represented a different side of Italian comics since 1961. Although set in a western atmosphere with lots of cowboys and Indians, the adventures of Zagor differed themselves with factors of both science fiction and horror.
Challenging aliens and magicians as well as gunslingers and fierce American Indians while in a colorful costume, Zagor is a “superhero” of the Wild West despite lacking any superhuman powers, possessing instead only an extraordinary acrobatic ability and talent in the use of axes and guns.
He also has elements from many hero stories like Robin Hood, residing in a mystical forest called Darkwood; like Tarzan, Zagor also swings from vine to vine as a method of travel.
“[Zagor] is always new. It is adventure, horror, humor, fantasy – it is everything,” Romani told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
“I used to read it as an 8-year-old kid,” he said in relating how he became immersed in Zagor. “These were the golden times of Zagor – [these were the] best stories and they had wonderful drawings; I got really excited and moved.”
A concept album on a comic book character is an unorthodox move but the fans reacted well to it, Romani said.
“It is about the sensation all the fans feel about Zagor,” he said, adding that all the characters from the comic, both heroes and villains, found reflection in his songs.
“Zagor is a man and is more than a hero – he is a man who struggles for justice every day,” said Romani, adding that Zagor was his all-time favorite hero.