Dylan Dog

Publication history

Dylan Dog was created by Tiziano Sclavi , a comics and novel writer, while the graphic representation of the character was elaborated mainly by Claudio Villa , who was his first cover artist too, taking the inspiration from the English actor Rupert Everett , as he saw in the movie  Another Country  .  ^[1]  The character was named for poet Dylan Thomas .  ^[2]

Dylan Dog  series debuted in October 1986 with a comic book entitled “The alba dei morti viventi” (“Dawn of the Living Dead”), plotted and scripted by Tiziano Sclavi and illustrated by Angelo Stano ; it proved to be a huge publishing success in the years to come. May 2003 saw the publication of Issue 200, entitled “Il numero duecento” (“The Number Two-Hundred”), plotted and scripted by Paola Barbato and drawn by Bruno Brindisi . In August 2011, the series has reached the number 300, entitled “Ritratto di famiglia” (“Family Portrait”).

Annuals

In August 1987 a special issue was added to the monthly series, called  Numero Speciale  (  Special Issue  ), with one story longer than usual and, in addition, small extra books on various horror -related subjects.

Another annual release was added in March 1991,  The almanacco della paura  (“The Almanac of Fear”): together with Dylan Dog stories, it includes articles and curiosities about film, literature, and other topics, all related to the horror theme.

January 1993 saw the appearance of a new annual book, the  Dylan Dog Gigante  (“Giant-Size Dylan Dog”), so called because it was much larger than the monthly book and because it contained more stories.

Dylan Dog maxi  came out in July 1998. This was another annual release that collected together three previously unpublished stories.

Specials

In October 1990 an irregularly numbered issue came out:  Dylan Dog and Martin Mystery – Ultima Fermata: the incubo!  (  Dylan Dog and Martin Mystery – Last Stop: Nightmare!  ). It presented a unpublished story in which the nightmare investigator teamed up with another famous Bonelli character, Martin Mystery . Alfredo Castelli and Tiziano Sclavi wrote and plotted this story, and Giovanni Freghieri did the drawings. The story had a sequel in 1992.

Reprints

The first reprint series came out in July 1990, the second in June 1991, and the third in June 1996, this time called  Collezione Book  (  Book Collection  ); in October 2006 the bi-monthly reprint  Grande ristampa  was released.

February 1997 saw the release of the  Super Book  , a tri-monthly release that reprinted the special annual issues that had come out ten years before.

Dylan Dog Color Fest

In August 2007, a new annual was released. Containing 4 new stories, the new comic book was called “Dylan Dog Color Fest” because it contained only stories full color and not black and white like the regular series. In 2010 it became bi-annual (coming out in April and August every year).

Colored issues

Dylan Dog (like all Sergio Bonelli comic books) is printed in black and white. However, there are some issues that come out full color to celebrate certain anniversaries. These include numbers that are multiple of 100, rare anniversaries of the series and other rare occasions.

The first full color issue was # 100, titled “The Storia di Dylan Dog”, which told the final chapter of the Dylan adventure. It was written by Tiziano Sclavi with drawings by Angel Stano. Volor issue 121, “Dead End No Vi Separi” (Till Death Do Us Part) celebrated the 10th birthday. Issue number 200 “Number 200”, written by Paola Barbato with art by Bruno Brindisi, was also full color and was the “sequel” of number 121 and the “prequel” of the very first issue (“Dawn of the living dead “). It’s what happened after Dylan’s wife dies and how he became the “nightmare investigator”. Issue 241 and 242 celebrated the 20th anniversary of the series. Also in color was Sclavi and Brindisi’s # 250, ”

For no particular reason # 131 “Quando cadono le stelle” (“When the stars fall”, only final pages in black and white) and # 224 “In nome del padre” (In father’s name).

In 2007 a new series called “Dylan Dog Color Fest” was released: each comic book contains 4 new stories, all colored.

Characterization

Dylan Dog is a penniless “nightmare investigator” (“The indagatore dell’incubo”) who defies the whole preceding horror tradition with a vein of surrealism and an anti- bourgeois rhetoric.

His clothes are one of the following: he always dresses the same way, in a red shirt, black jacket, and blue jeans; he bought twelve identical outfits after the death of his lover Lillie Connolly. Even during the worst weather, he never wears an overcoat or even carries an umbrella, since, according to him, an overcoat “would ruin his look”, and he thinks that an umbrella is a “useless invention.” Especially when it does not rain. ”

One of the main characters in the series is his assistant (or rather, comic relief), Groucho, a punishing double of Groucho Marx . Another supporting character is Inspector Bloch, who was his superior when he worked at Scotland Yard and remains his father figure (in fact he calls Dylan “Old boy”) Dylan struck out on his own to become a private investigator specializing in the supernatural .  ^[3]

Dylan lives with Groucho at 7 Craven Road in a cluttered apartment with a doorbell that screams. His hobbies include playing the clarinet (he only knows to play Devil’s Trill , aim Often it plays) and Constructing a model ship qui Apparently he never marriages to finish; he has many phobias , including claustrophobia, fear of bats and acrophobia . Dylan is also particularly susceptible to motion sickness , which is one of the reasons why it rarely travels, and anyway never by plane. Once an alcoholic, he now never drinks. He is a vegetarian and animal rightssupport. Dylan cares little for many aspects of modern life. He hates his cellphones and records his memories, he still uses a feather pen and an inkpot. Naturally, he loves literature (poetry in particular), music (his tastes range from classical to heavy metal), and horror films. Though perpetually penniless, he does not seem to be interested in money. In fact, the usual first piece of advice is given to many clients who have found themselves in their study of a psychiatry or psychologist. He does not believe in coincidences.

He is also a hopeless romantic who loves and loses a new woman in nearly every issue. In fact, in a majority of his cases, his clients are women, with whom he often has a sexual relationship.  ^[4]

Setting

The series is mainly in London, where the protagonist lives, though he occasionally travels elsewhere, such as imaginary realms such as “Zona del crepuscolo” (Twilight Zone). His address is 7 Craven Road, London, in reference to director Wes Craven .  ^{[  quote needed  ]}

The Cafe at 7 Craven Road, Paddington, London, was renamed Cafe Dylan Dog in 2013. In 2012, the cafe offered “Dylan Dog Meal” with beef or pork included, even though Dylan himself is a vegetarian.

Supporting characters

• Inspector Bloch  , Dylan’s superior when he worked at Scotland Yard , remained his friend and father figure even after our hero quit the force. Bloch and Dylan often help each other. Bloch is more rational and grounded than Dylan and often disregards supernatural explanations. He is an old but able officer who dreams of retirement. Though Dylan causes enough trouble on his own, Bloch is also plagued by his hapless underling, Jenkins, whom he constantly threatens to sentence to a life of directing traffic. His graphic representation Was inspired by English actor Robert Morley and is named for crime, horror and science fiction author Robert Bloch .
• Groucho  was a Groucho Marx impersonator whose character became his permanent personality (“Oltre quella porta”, # 228). Now he lives and works with Dylan Dog as his professional sidekick . Like his famous namesake, Groucho enjoys cracking puns and women, though he does not share his employer’s luck with the ladies. Groucho’s goofy, off-beat personality helps temper Dylan’s moodiness. He also reminds his boss when their finances are in dire straits (almost always), shows up with a pistolin the nick of time and throws it in Dylan’s hand right on time, and makes tea. At some point in every issue Groucho makes one or two jokes that annoy Dylan and the person listening to the joke (often a customer of Dylan’s). An example: “… ounce, I had a dog that could have its own name, it was named Woof.”  ^[5]

Cultural influence

Italian author Umberto Eco said: “I can read the Bible, Homer , or  Dylan Dog  for several days without being bored.”  ^[6]

Sales

Dylan Dog  is the second comic book MOST Widely sold in Italy (the first one is Reviews another publication of Sergio Bonelli Editore,  Tex  ): Including Both reprints and new stories, it sells over 350,000 copies Each month.  ^{[  quote needed  ]}

English translation (Dark Horse)

American publisher Dark Horse Comics released in English translation of  Dylan Dog  Stories in 1999. This article is available in English and French. that Groucho no longer sports the Marx brother’s signature mustache, and was renamed “Felix”. Every cover in the six-issue mini featured art by American comics artist Mike Mignola .

Six-Issue miniseries

• Dylan Dog No. 1 (March 1999) – Translated from “The Alba dei Morti Viventi” (“Dawn of the Living Dead”; Italian edition No. 1, 1986)
• Dylan Dog No. 2 (April 1999) – Translated from “Johnny Freak” (Italian edition No. 81, 1993)
• Dylan Dog No. 3 (late April 1999) – Translated from “Memorie dall’invisibile” (“Memories of an Invisible Man”; Italian edition No. 19, 1988).
• Dylan Dog No. 4 (June 1999) – Translated from the list of the mostro (“The Monster Returns”, Italian edition No. 8, 1987).
• Dylan Dog No. 5 (July 1999) – Translated from “Morgana” in (Italian edition No. 25, 1988).
• Dylan Dog No. 6 (August 1999) – Translated from “Dopo Mezzanotte” (“After Midnight”; Italian edition No. 26, 1988).

One-shot

• Dylan Dog: Zed  (November 2002) – Translated from “Zed” (Italian edition # 84)

Collected edition

A 680-page volume,  Dylan Dog Casefiles  , was released in 2009 ( ISBN  1595822062 ), to tie in with the movie  Dylan Dog: Dead of Night  . It reprinted the seven stories Dark Horse previously released. This volume also includes cover art by Mike Mignola .

Covers

Claudio Villa created the covers until  Dylan Dog  No. 41 (1990), after which he was replaced by Angelo Stano . While Stano has also featured several stories, Villa has been illustrated in the seventh  Dylan Dog Gigante  .

Awards

• 2000: Nominated for the “Favorite Comic” Eagle Award
• 2008: Nominated for the “Favorite European Comics” Eagle Award

Adaptations

Dellamorte Dellamore 

In 1994 Italian director Michele Soavi directed the film  Dellamorte Dellamore  (known abroad as  Cemetery Man  or  Of Death and Love  ), with a screenplay written by Giovanni Romoli and based on Tiziano Sclavi’s similarly titled novel.  ^[7]  Francesco Dellamorte – a spell of Italian alter ego for Dylan Dog – appears for the first time in the third special issue of Dylan Dog,  Orrore nero  (  Black Horror  ), released July 1989, in which he puts the Nightmare Detective, but Sclavi’s novel was written before the special issue.

Francesco Dellamorte also appears in a short (comic book) sequel to Orrore nero, entitled  Stelle cadenti  (  Falling stars  ), where Dylan, Groucho, Francesco and Gnaghi are walking together during St. Lawrence’s night, watching shooting stars and talking about life and death. But they are not alone, that night …

English actor Rupert Everett played the protagonist, Francesco Dellamorte, while Italian model and actress Anna Falchi played the female lead. Although Everett, playing Dellamorte, Dylan Dog’s trademark, Dylan Dog character did not appear in the movie.

Dylan Dog: Dead of Night 

Kevin Munroe has been directed by Dylan Dog starring actor Brandon Routh as the title character. Differences between the comic result in the film being set in New Orleans instead of London, the character of Groucho being replaced by a-dead sidekick called Marcus due to issues for the production to the Grusho MarxDylan Dog ‘s Volkswagen Beetle is a black and white, and is the only one of its kind in the world. The film also appears to be more lighter in tone and more action-oriented, lacking the surreal feeling, the black humor and the melancholy of the comic book, and the Dylan character is portrayed as a scientist-adventurer in the vein of Indiana Jones , rather than the romantic loner he is in the comics. It was originally going on first on Halloween 2010 in Italy. The film has been produced by Platinum Studios .

See also

• Dylan Dog Books out of series

Notes

References