Biography of Alfredo Castelli

Clouds of mystery

June 26, 1947
Alfredo Castelli, one of the most important Italian cartoonists, was born in Milan on June 26, 1947. Since its entry into the world of comics, which follows with passion from an early age, in 1965: begins on "skinny boy" and creates, the protagonist of Kolosso grotesqueries, which writes and draws in Appendix a "Diabolik", one of the best selling comics in Italy in those years. In 1966, not yet twenty, he founded "Comics Club 104", a fanzine produced, the first experiment of its kind in Italy. In the following years will work in various newspapers, including "pull-string" and "Mickey Mouse" (Knopf). Alfredo Castelli is not artist only but also brilliant author: for tv commercials and some series for RAI writes; Fonda also some magazines that will be of historical significance for the comic Italian: two examples are "Tilt" and "Horror" (on whose pages will be born the character Uncle Boris). In the years ' 70 works in Italy with "Corriere dei Ragazzi" and with "Il Giornalino"; writes stories even abroad: for the German magazine "Zack" and French "Bazaar", "Pif" and "Scoop", creating some of his most famous characters like the little "bufo" (a comic-demential Strip), "the shadow", "eight" the aristocrats "and" Personal ", The Astrostoppisti".
In 1978, when already regularly writes scripts for the stories of Zagor and Mister "No" (over 60 issues), creates for the weekly "" swallowed "redirects here" cartoon of "Allan Quatermain", which will provide the basis for the future "Martin mystery", a character who will propose to Sergio Bonelli in 1980. The inclination of castles for topics related to the mystery takes shape with the release of "Martin Mystere" in 1982. The archaeologist will be his most important character in many respects so much that today constitutes its main commitment. In 1983 it remelts, along with Silver (Guido Silvestri, father of Lupo Alberto), the prestigious magazine "Eureka" of the Horn. In the years ' 80 Alfredo Castelli back to partner with "Mickey Mouse". In the years ' 90 launches "Area X" magazine that was founded as an offshoot of "Martin mystery", which however will not be long lasting. Recently Alfredo Castelli has added to its activities as editor and author to cartoon historian: takes care of an accurate historical and philological research, studying and trying to unearth interesting discoveries about the origins of this art form.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.