Alfredo Castelli
Encyclopedia
Alfredo Castelli is an Italian
comic book
author and writer.
, Castelli began his comic book career at an early age, creating the strip Scheletrino, a humor series for Italian comic book Diabolik
, when he was only 16 years old.
In 1966, with Paolo Sala, he created Comics Club 104, the first Italian fanzine
dedicated to comics. A year later Castelli started writing scripts for several Italian comic books, including Pedrito el Drito and Piccola Eva published by Universo, Cucciolo and Tiramolla for Edizioni Alpe, and Topolino
for Mondadori.
Castelli then expanded into television, writing several advertisements as well as the series Cappuccetto a Pois with Maria Perego and the screenplay
for the movie Il Tunnel sotto il Mondo. In 1969 he contributed to the humor magazine Tilt. A year later, together with Pier Carpi, Castelli created Horror magazine, in which he published his strip Zio Boris. He then joined the staff of Il Corriere dei Ragazzi as editor/artist/writer. For this magazine he created L'Ombra, a personal take on The Invisible Man
drawn by Ferdinando Tacconi
; Gli Aristocratici, a group of gentlemen thieves, again with art by Tacconi; Otto Kruntz, a mad scientist drawn by Daniele Faragazzi; and L'Omino Bufo, an absurdist humor strip that Castelli drew himself.
In 1978 Castelli wrote for Supergulp magazine the adventures of Allan Quatermain
, an explorer specializing in archaeological mysteries that foreshadowed Castelli's most famous creation.
In the same year Castelli began his cooperation with publisher Sergio Bonelli
, writing stories for Zagor
and Mister No
. Two years later, he submitted the idea for a new series to Bonelli based on a New York researcher who investigated scientific mysteries: after two years of gestation, in 1982 he created Martin Mystère
. The series, initially drawn by Giancarlo Alessandrini
, marked a turning point in Italian popular comics history, introducing modern and sophisticated themes in a market dominated by traditional adventures aimed at a younger audience. Martin Mystère opened the door to many other new course characters, both from Bonelli and other publishers.
In 1983 Castelli and Guido "Silver" Silvestri resurrected [Eureka magazine. However, it folded after only 12 issues. In 1992 Castelli launched the new series Zona X, a spin-off of Martin Mystère, that ran until 1999.
Castelli also wrote a book on the first 25 years of American newspaper
comics
(1895–1919), entitled Eccoci ancora qui.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
author and writer.
Biography
Born in MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Castelli began his comic book career at an early age, creating the strip Scheletrino, a humor series for Italian comic book Diabolik
Diabolik
Diabolik is a fictional character, an anti-hero featured in Italian comics. He was created by sisters Angela and Luciana Giussani in 1962. His stories appear in monthly black and white digest-sized booklets. The character was inspired by several previous characters from Italian and French pulp...
, when he was only 16 years old.
In 1966, with Paolo Sala, he created Comics Club 104, the first Italian fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
dedicated to comics. A year later Castelli started writing scripts for several Italian comic books, including Pedrito el Drito and Piccola Eva published by Universo, Cucciolo and Tiramolla for Edizioni Alpe, and Topolino
Topolino
Topolino, is an Italian digest-sized comic series featuring Disney comics. The series has had a long running history, first appearing in 1932...
for Mondadori.
Castelli then expanded into television, writing several advertisements as well as the series Cappuccetto a Pois with Maria Perego and the screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
for the movie Il Tunnel sotto il Mondo. In 1969 he contributed to the humor magazine Tilt. A year later, together with Pier Carpi, Castelli created Horror magazine, in which he published his strip Zio Boris. He then joined the staff of Il Corriere dei Ragazzi as editor/artist/writer. For this magazine he created L'Ombra, a personal take on The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man is a science fiction novella by H.G. Wells published in 1897. Wells' novel was originally serialised in Pearson's Weekly in 1897, and published as a novel the same year...
drawn by Ferdinando Tacconi
Ferdinando Tacconi
Fredinando Tacconi was an Italian comics artist.Tacconi was born in Milan. He earned a degree in Applied Arts from Castello Sforzesco...
; Gli Aristocratici, a group of gentlemen thieves, again with art by Tacconi; Otto Kruntz, a mad scientist drawn by Daniele Faragazzi; and L'Omino Bufo, an absurdist humor strip that Castelli drew himself.
In 1978 Castelli wrote for Supergulp magazine the adventures of Allan Quatermain
Allan Quatermain
Allan Quatermain is the protagonist of H. Rider Haggard's 1885 novel King Solomon's Mines and its various prequels and sequels. Allan Quatermain was also the title of a book in this sequence.- History :...
, an explorer specializing in archaeological mysteries that foreshadowed Castelli's most famous creation.
In the same year Castelli began his cooperation with publisher Sergio Bonelli
Sergio Bonelli Editore
Sergio Bonelli Editore is a publishing house of Italian comics. It takes its name from its president and comic book author, Sergio Bonelli....
, writing stories for Zagor
Zagor
Zagor is an Italian comic book created by editor and writer Sergio Bonelli and artist Gallieno Ferri. Zagor was first published In Italy by Sergio Bonelli Editore in 1961.-Character:...
and Mister No
Mister No
Mister No is an Italian comic book, first published in Italy in 1975 by Sergio Bonelli Editore.Mister No was created by writer Sergio Bonelli under the pseudonym Guido Nolitta, and by artist Gallieno Ferri, in Spring 1975. The regular monthly series endured for 379 publications, and the last issue...
. Two years later, he submitted the idea for a new series to Bonelli based on a New York researcher who investigated scientific mysteries: after two years of gestation, in 1982 he created Martin Mystère
Martin Mystère
Martin Mystère is an Italian comic book. Created by writer Alfredo Castelli and drawn by Giancarlo Alessandrini, it was first published in Italy by Sergio Bonelli Editore in 1982....
. The series, initially drawn by Giancarlo Alessandrini
Giancarlo Alessandrini
-Biography:Born in Iesi, Alessandrini graduated from Ancona's Art Institute and begins drawing comics professionally in 1972 for Il Corriere dei Ragazzi with the story Il Cifrario del Maggiore Martin written by Mino Milani...
, marked a turning point in Italian popular comics history, introducing modern and sophisticated themes in a market dominated by traditional adventures aimed at a younger audience. Martin Mystère opened the door to many other new course characters, both from Bonelli and other publishers.
In 1983 Castelli and Guido "Silver" Silvestri resurrected [Eureka magazine. However, it folded after only 12 issues. In 1992 Castelli launched the new series Zona X, a spin-off of Martin Mystère, that ran until 1999.
Castelli also wrote a book on the first 25 years of American newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
comics
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
(1895–1919), entitled Eccoci ancora qui.