Romano Scarpa
Encyclopedia
Romano Scarpa was one of the most famous Italian
creators of Disney comics
.
s and Disney comics, that, at the time, were published in the big format of the Topolino Giornale which was then printing now classic Floyd Gottfredson
's stories. In the Forties
he opened an Animation
Studio in Venice in which he produced his first works: some commercials, a short titled E poi venne il diluvio and another one titled La piccola fiammiferaia (1953, based on Hans Christian Andersen
's The Little Match Girl
), distributed in Italy together with Robert Aldrich
's Attack!
(1956).
Right after that he stopped working in animation for a while and dedicated wholly to creating Disney comics. When in 1956 Italian editors had no more new Floyd Gottfredson's stories to reprint, he was given the responsibility to continue Gottfredson's stories about Mickey Mouse
. Also influenced by Carl Barks
in the late Fifties
and up to about 1963 he wrote and penciled stories like Topolino e la collana Chirikawa (1960) or The Flying Scot (1957) that have, later, been translated in many different languages throughout the world. Many of these stories have their backgrounds in movies, for example Topolino nel favoloso regno di Shan Grillà (1961) is based upon Frank Capra
's Lost Horizon (1937); not to talk about all the stories starring Snow White or the Seven Dwarfs, obviously based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
(1937). Sometimes the exact opposite happened; the Italian movie Riusciranno i nostri eroi a ritrovare l'amico misteriosamente scomparso in Africa? (1968) is based on Scarpa's story Topolino e il Pippotarzan (1957).
Around 1963 Scarpa relaxed a bit and practically stopped writing his stories for 6 or 7 years, while still penciling stories written by other people, generally not up to the same high standards of his; an exception to this "rule" is the long Storia e Gloria della Dinastia dei Paperi saga, written by Guido Martina, and co-pencilled by Scarpa with Giovan Battista Carpi
. Then, in the Seventies
he went back to writing too, and kept doing it to the end, though he later moved to Spain
and started working for a different publisher. Among the last things he made while he was still in Italy, at the end of the Eighties
and at beginning of the Nineties
, there are the so called Paperolimpiadi (a long story about the 1988 Seoul
Olympic games
) and some strip stories, the same kind of stories that he loved when he was a child. One of these, Topolino e l'enigma di Brigaboom (1989) was partially based on Brigadoon
(1954).
In the meanwhile he has had time enough for some more animation, so we have Aihnoo degli Icebergs (1972), The Fourth King
(1977) and a new TV series, The Adventures of Marco and Gina (Sopra i tetti di Venezia) (2001).
Mainly Scarpa worked on Disney comics, but many years ago he used to do something non-Disney once in a while, so he did one (Rolf Kauka
's) Lupo story and one (Hannah and Barbera's) Yogi Bear
story. In the 1950s he also drew some Angelino story, and Italian character.
Since 1988 some of his comic stories have been published in the USA
by Gladstone Publishing
; it was the first time that this happened to an Italian Disney author. Later, when Disney Comics
took Gladstone's place, they published some more of his stories, and in 2003, the same happened with Gemstone Publishing
, that is publishing his stories in the US at the moment.
He has influenced many younger creators (Giorgio Cavazzano
was his inker during the Sixties
) and many have attempted to imitate his style.
Hero
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...
creators of Disney comics
Disney comics
Disney comics are comic books and comic strips featuring Walt Disney characters.The first Disney comics were newspaper strips appearing from 1930 on . In 1940, Western Publishing began producing Disney comic books in the United States...
.
Biography
Growing up in Venice he developed a particular love for American cartoonCartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
s and Disney comics, that, at the time, were published in the big format of the Topolino Giornale which was then printing now classic Floyd Gottfredson
Floyd Gottfredson
Arthur Floyd Gottfredson was an American cartoonist best known for his defining work on the Mickey Mouse comic strip. He has probably had the same impact on the Mickey Mouse comics as Carl Barks had on the Donald Duck comics...
's stories. In the Forties
1940s
File:1940s decade montage.png|Above title bar: events which happened during World War II : From left to right: Troops in an LCVP landing craft approaching "Omaha" Beach on "D-Day"; Adolf Hitler visits Paris, soon after the Battle of France; The Holocaust occurred during the war as Nazi Germany...
he opened an Animation
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
Studio in Venice in which he produced his first works: some commercials, a short titled E poi venne il diluvio and another one titled La piccola fiammiferaia (1953, based on Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
's The Little Match Girl
The Little Match Girl
The Little Match Girl is a short story by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. The story is about a dying child's dreams and hope, and was first published in 1845. It has been adapted to various media including animated film, and a television musical.-Plot summary:On a cold New Year’s...
), distributed in Italy together with Robert Aldrich
Robert Aldrich
Robert Aldrich was an American film director, writer and producer, notable for such films as Kiss Me Deadly , The Big Knife , What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? , Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte , The Flight of the Phoenix , The Dirty Dozen , and The Longest Yard .-Biography:Robert...
's Attack!
Attack!
Attack! is a board game created by Glenn Drover and published by Eagle Games in 2003. It is a light wargame that is midway between Risk and Axis and Allies in complexity. The game is loosely set in the 1930s and includes plastic pieces featuring tanks, planes, infantry, and artillery...
(1956).
Right after that he stopped working in animation for a while and dedicated wholly to creating Disney comics. When in 1956 Italian editors had no more new Floyd Gottfredson's stories to reprint, he was given the responsibility to continue Gottfredson's stories about Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
. Also influenced by Carl Barks
Carl Barks
Carl Barks was an American Disney Studio illustrator and comic book creator, who invented Duckburg and many of its inhabitants, such as Scrooge McDuck , Gladstone Gander , the Beagle Boys , The Junior Woodchucks , Gyro Gearloose , Cornelius Coot , Flintheart Glomgold , John D...
in the late Fifties
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
and up to about 1963 he wrote and penciled stories like Topolino e la collana Chirikawa (1960) or The Flying Scot (1957) that have, later, been translated in many different languages throughout the world. Many of these stories have their backgrounds in movies, for example Topolino nel favoloso regno di Shan Grillà (1961) is based upon Frank Capra
Frank Capra
Frank Russell Capra was a Sicilian-born American film director. He emigrated to the U.S. when he was six, and eventually became a creative force behind major award-winning films during the 1930s and 1940s...
's Lost Horizon (1937); not to talk about all the stories starring Snow White or the Seven Dwarfs, obviously based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 American animated film based on Snow White, a German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. It was the first full-length cel-animated feature in motion picture history, as well as the first animated feature film produced in America, the first produced in full...
(1937). Sometimes the exact opposite happened; the Italian movie Riusciranno i nostri eroi a ritrovare l'amico misteriosamente scomparso in Africa? (1968) is based on Scarpa's story Topolino e il Pippotarzan (1957).
Around 1963 Scarpa relaxed a bit and practically stopped writing his stories for 6 or 7 years, while still penciling stories written by other people, generally not up to the same high standards of his; an exception to this "rule" is the long Storia e Gloria della Dinastia dei Paperi saga, written by Guido Martina, and co-pencilled by Scarpa with Giovan Battista Carpi
Giovan Battista Carpi
Giovan Battista Carpi was an Italian comics artist. He worked mainly for Disney comics, mostly on books featuring Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck, although he occasionally drew Mickey Mouse as well...
. Then, in the Seventies
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
he went back to writing too, and kept doing it to the end, though he later moved to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and started working for a different publisher. Among the last things he made while he was still in Italy, at the end of the Eighties
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
and at beginning of the Nineties
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
, there are the so called Paperolimpiadi (a long story about the 1988 Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
Olympic games
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
) and some strip stories, the same kind of stories that he loved when he was a child. One of these, Topolino e l'enigma di Brigaboom (1989) was partially based on Brigadoon
Brigadoon
Brigadoon is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. Songs from the musical, such as "Almost Like Being in Love" have become standards....
(1954).
In the meanwhile he has had time enough for some more animation, so we have Aihnoo degli Icebergs (1972), The Fourth King
The Fourth King
The Fourth King is a 2005 German / Swiss / Swedish film directed by Michael Ekbladh and Ted Sieger.- Plot summary :...
(1977) and a new TV series, The Adventures of Marco and Gina (Sopra i tetti di Venezia) (2001).
Mainly Scarpa worked on Disney comics, but many years ago he used to do something non-Disney once in a while, so he did one (Rolf Kauka
Rolf Kauka
Rolf Kauka was a comic artist, most famous for the series Fix and Foxi....
's) Lupo story and one (Hannah and Barbera's) Yogi Bear
Yogi Bear
Yogi Bear is a fictional bear who appears in animated cartoons created by Hanna-Barbera Productions. He made his debut in 1958 as a supporting character in The Huckleberry Hound Show. Yogi Bear was the first breakout character created by Hanna-Barbera, and was eventually more popular than...
story. In the 1950s he also drew some Angelino story, and Italian character.
Since 1988 some of his comic stories have been published in the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Gladstone Publishing
Gladstone Publishing
Gladstone Publishing was an American company that published Disney comics from 1986 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1998. The company had its origins as a subsidiary of "Another Rainbow", a company formed by Bruce Hamilton and Russ Cochran to publish the Carl Barks Library and produce limited edition...
; it was the first time that this happened to an Italian Disney author. Later, when Disney Comics
Disney Comics
Disney Comics was a comic book publishing company operated by The Walt Disney Company which ran from 1990 to 1993. In the USA, Disney only licensed their comic books to other publishers prior to 1990...
took Gladstone's place, they published some more of his stories, and in 2003, the same happened with Gemstone Publishing
Gemstone Publishing
Gemstone Publishing is a U.S. company that publishes comic books and collectors' guides. The company was formed by Diamond Comic Distributors President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen A. Geppi. Gemstone published licensed Disney comic books from June 2003 until November 2008. The company has...
, that is publishing his stories in the US at the moment.
He has influenced many younger creators (Giorgio Cavazzano
Giorgio Cavazzano
Giorgio Cavazzano is an Italian comic strip artist. He started his career at age 14, as an inker for Romano Scarpa...
was his inker during the Sixties
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
) and many have attempted to imitate his style.
Disney characters created by Romano Scarpa
In his career Scarpa created many Disney characters that are now accepted by some as part of the Disney Universe. Those include, but are not limited to:- Brigitta MacBridge, Scrooge McDuckScrooge McDuckScrooge McDuck is a cartoon character created in 1947 by Carl Barks and licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Scrooge is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a red or blue frock coat, top hat, pince-nez glasses, and spats...
's self-appointed girlfriend with whom she shares a love/hate relationship; - Bruto, Ellsworth's adopted son.;
- Dickie Duck, a dynamic female teenage-duck which was introduced as the granddaughter of "Glittering" Goldie O'Gilt;
- Gideon McDuck, a newspaper editor and Scrooge's brother;
- Jubal Pomp, an unlucky wanna-be businessman always trying to imitate Scrooge and failing miserably;
- Kildare Coot, a crazy cousin of Donald DuckDonald DuckDonald Fauntleroy Duck is a cartoon character created in 1934 at Walt Disney Productions and licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a sailor suit with a cap and a black or red bow tie. Donald is most...
's; - Portis (Italian: Plottigat), Black PeteBlack PetePete, also called Peg-Leg Pete, and Black Pete among other names, is a cartoon character created in 1925 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. He is a licensed character of The Walt Disney Company and often appears as a villain in Mickey Mouse universe stories...
's cousin, a genius of crime; - Trudy Van Tubb, Black Pete's mate and accomplice in crime.
Index of comics books published in the USA
This is an index of all Romano Scarpa comics published in USA. Only Duck universe and Mouse universe are listed. Chip and Dale comics are not listed.| Title | Publications | Year | Pages | Trivia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mickey Mouse | "The Blot's Double Mystery" | Mickey and Donald #6 | 1988 | 76 | Serialized in volumes 7 and 8 |
| Donald Duck | "Amundsen's Talisman" | Donald Duck #279 | 1990 | 33 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "The McDuck Foundation" | Uncle Scrooge #241 | 1990 | 25 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "The last Balaboo" | Uncle Scrooge #242 | 1990 | 35 | Brigitta MacBridge's first appearance |
| Mickey Mouse | "Kali's Nail" | Mickey Mouse #254 | 1990 | 50 | serialized in volume 255 |
| Mickey Mouse | "The Mystery of Tapiocus VI" | Mickey Mouse #256 | 1990 | 53 | |
| Mickey and Goofy | "TV Troubles" | Mickey Mouse Adventures #16 | 1991 | 9 | Reprinted in Disney's Colossal Comics Collection 7 |
| Huey Dewey and Louie | "Delay of the Land" | Donald Duck Adventures #22 | 1992 | 10 | Published as Donald story |
| Uncle Scrooge | "The Euro Disneyland Adventure" | Disney's Colossal Comics Collection 9 | 1993 | 44 | Done for France |
| Uncle Scrooge | "The Man from Oola-Oola" | Uncle Scrooge Adventures #28-29 | 1994 | 37 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "The Lentils from Babylon" | Uncle Scrooge Adventures #30 | 1995 | 71 | Serialized in volumes 31 and 32 |
| Uncle Scrooge | "Colossus of the Nile" | Uncle Scrooge Adventures #37-38 | 1996 | 45 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "The Flying Scot" | Uncle Scrooge #315-316 | 1998 | 49 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "The Big Break-in" | Uncle Scrooge #320 | 2003 | 15 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "One Million Chase" | Uncle Scrooge #322 | 2003 | 13 | |
| Mickey Mouse | "It's a Wonderful Christmas Story" | Christmas Parade #3 | 2005 | 14 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "Around the World in Eighty Daze" | Uncle Scrooge #341 | 2005 | 17 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "The Secret of Success" | Uncle Scrooge #338 | 2005 | 33 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "Antidollarosis" | Uncle Scrooge #351 | 2006 | 25 | |
| Pluto and Ellsworth | "Foxy Hunters" | Mickey Mouse Adventures #10 | 2006 | 5 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "Being Good For Goodness Sake" | Uncle Scrooge #360 | 2006 | 30 | |
| Mickey Mouse | "The Delta Dimension" | Mickey Mouse Adventures #11 | 2006 | 72 | |
| Mickey Mouse | "The Incredible Black Comet" | Mickey Mouse #292 | 2006 | 29 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "The Dollar Stalactite" | Uncle Scrooge #362 | 2007 | 14 | |
| Goofy | "The Great Gawrsh-Durn Champion" | WDC&S #681 | 2007 | 32 | |
| Mickey Mouse | "Memoirs Of An Invisible Santa" | Christmas Parade #5 | 2008 | 29 | |
| Mickey Mouse | "The Sacred Spring of Seasons Past" | WDC&S #697-8 | 2008 | 59 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "Last Hero of Banania" | Uncle Scrooge #373 | 2008 | 20 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "The Easter Eggs-Port" | Uncle Scrooge #376 | 2008 | 21 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "Taking the Plunge" | Uncle Scrooge #378 | 2008 | 29 | |
| Daisy Duck | "Witness Persecution" | Walt Disney Treasures #2 | 2008 | 18 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "Lights Fantastic" | Valentine Classics #1 | 2010 | 32 | |
| Mickey Mouse | "Lost In the Microcosmos | Mickey Mouse Classics #1 | 2010 | 33 | |
| The following stories were originally produced for Egmont. | |||||
| Uncle Scrooge | "One With the Wind" | Uncle Scrooge #333 | 2004 | 13 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "Security" | Uncle Scrooge #343 | 2005 | 12 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "All You Need is Love" | Uncle Scrooge #344 | 2005 | 13 | |
| Uncle Scrooge | "The Funny Carrots" | Uncle Scrooge #346 | 2005 | 16 | |
| Mickey Mouse | "History Re-Petes Itself" | Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #654 | 2005 | 12 | |
| Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck | "The Keeper of Babylon Gardens" | Uncle Scrooge #359 | 2006 | 12 | |
| Mickey Mouse | "The Transmutant Gifts" | Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #685 | 2007 | 16 | |
| Mickey Mouse | "A Quiet Day at the Beach" | Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #691 | 2008 | 10 | |
| Goofy | "Don't Worry About It" | Mickey Mouse #304 | 2011 | 10 | |
External links
- The Last Balaboo, site completely about Scarpa, with drawings, covers, sketches, indexes, biography and much more (currently temporarily closed, but there's a message board available for anyone willing to share their feelings about the loss, the messages will be collected and sent to Scarpa's family);
- Frank Stajano's page on Scarpa, with a detailed analysis of the different Scarpa's art's periods.