Favorite classic comics not available in English?

[Sir Tim Drake]

To date, I have only read two comics that weren't in English: a Marsupilami album by Franquin, Batem and Yann, and a collection of Mafalda strips by Quino. (Unless you count Julio Cortazar's "Fantomas contra los vampiros multinacionales," which is a short story in the format of a comic book and which includes excerpts from a Mexican comic.) I know there are many more classic French and Spanish comics that have never been translated into English and probably never will be. I want to read these comics someday-- that's actually one of the main reasons why I'm studying French.

Thus, the question: I believe there are a number of bilingual posters on this board. If you can read a language other than English, do you have any favorite comics that are only available in that language (or in other non-English languages?)

[Zapman]

Hi, well I am italian, so I guess I have some favourite comic never transalted in english! :)

Right now, "Brad Barron" is a very good comic book (actually a mini-series of 18 issues).
It's published by Sergio Bonelli Editore, and it's a tale of a man in early 1950, who's escaping from aliens who invaded planet Earth!

It's a sort of pulp story, from american culture, but in it's pages you can find many different kind of adventure. War tales (when Brad remembres of his past as a soldier in WWII), sort of western, sci-fi, soap, and so on...

I'm waiting and see how it all ends up, and if Brad finally will find it's family.


Another Great italian comic (and it's very classic) it's "Diabolik". But i guess it's been translated in English... ;)

[Hombre]

Thus, the question: I believe there are a number of bilingual posters on this board. If you can read a language other than English, do you have any favorite comics that are only available in that language (or in other non-English languages?)

In Italy there's been a Western b&w strip since the late 40s called Tex, it's rather entertaining and well done, plus, this being Italy, the characters never much changed their ways, e.g. they smoke and drink on panel..., I have seen an English translation here in Rome of a Tex graphic novel called "The Lonesome Rider" penciled by Joe Kubert, Italians didn't like it, but I say check it out if you come across it...

[Roquefort Raider]

Something I really enjoyed in recent years was the story of Ariane de Troïl and her family. It started it the 70s with the Masquerouge series, Zorro-like adventures set in France in the XVIIth century. It was written for young teens and would have been rated G. This was followed by a decidedly more mature series (which acted as both prequel and sequel to the first one), Les 7 vies de l'épervier. In this new story, we got a strong mix of history, politics, swashbuckling, and even the appearance of someone we suspect can be no other than the devil himself.

After the tragic ending of that series (where we mistakenly think that Ariane died), one of its supporting characters (the truly bigger than life Germain Grand-Pré) has a hilarious romp in North America (in the series Coeur Brûlé) where he looks for revenge, meets a lot of historical figures and a wonderful cast of really TOUGH Indians.

The story of Ariane concludes in the series Plume aux vents, with a more serious tone than the previous one and truly impressive artwork.

These four series spun into many others such as Le fou du roy, le masque de fer and Ninon secrète.

Well, after this long introduction maybe I should just say that anything written by Cothias will be well worth your while. If the opportunity presents itself, I would recommend to start the Ariane story with "Les 7 vies de l'épervier"; there are omnibus editions collecting its entire run.

Have fun!