What is the Italian manga 'Alan Ford', which is extremely popular in Yugoslavia?



In the

People's Republic of Yugoslavia , where the socialist system was established in 1945 and was dismantled by the civil war that began in 1991, the Italian comic ' Alan Ford ' was a cult favorite. The Calvert Journal, which explains contemporary culture, explains Alan Ford, who did not sell globally, but even formed his own culture in Yugoslavia.

The name's Ford, Alan Ford: how an Italian comic book spy became a Yugoslav hero — The Calvert Journal
https://www.calvertjournal.com/articles/show/12465/alan-ford-comic-books-yugoslavia

Alan Ford is a scenario in which Peter O'Toole , known as ' Lawrence of Arabia, ' is the main character of the model, and Alan Ford is a member of a secret society in New York City, but Ford has always spoken to girls. The more blushing you are, the more shy you are and the more you fail. Members of other secret societies also claim to have earned a living from the threat of Bob Rock, who is dressed as Sherlock Holmes all year round and has a huge nose, and has lived since the Neanderthal era. Rich in individuality, such as the number one old man with a half-body illness. The main content of Alan Ford is that these characters perform a slapstick drama with satire and black humor.

After achieving moderate success in Italy, Alan Ford began to expand overseas in France, Croatia, Denmark, Brazil, etc., but the Brazilian version did not fly because sales were sluggish and only 3 books were released. The situation continues. However, the Yugoslav version, which began selling in 1972, was still one of the 'best-selling comics' in 2005, and continued to be extremely popular even after the collapse of the People's Republic of Yugoslavia. I did.



The Calvert Journal cites Alan Ford's cynical sense of humor as one of the reasons for his success in Yugoslavia. The lines and absurd gag in the film, such as 'A living coward is better than a dead hero' and 'Winning is always more important than participating,' are ideal for the Yugoslav socialist regime. As a metaphor of the duality of a bright future and a gray and overcast reality, it has been well received from that time to the present day.

In addition, it is believed that the natural talent of Mr. Nenad Brixy, who was in charge of translating the Yugoslav version, also contributed significantly to sales. Although there was a big gap between the original Italian and Yugoslav, Brixy not only cleverly grasped the vague nuances of the original version, but also replaced and translated the gag that was obscured by the translation. I devised a translation. The Yugoslav version of the character translated by Brixy is a mixture of lofty and vulgar words, and it is said that the theatrical and strange way of speaking has become a part of its popularity.



Alan Ford has had a great influence on Yugoslavia's comic culture, and many manga artists have said that they were 'influenced by Alan Ford.'

Aleksandar Zograf , known for his satirical style, is one of them. Zograf said of Alan Ford, which he read in his childhood, 'Unlike other comics, it was characterized by a rather dark humor. Members of secret societies are usually portrayed as attractive and heroic figures. But in Alan Ford, he was portrayed as a foolish, depressed, useless person. ' Mr. Zograf seems to have been so enthusiastic that he continued to draw works that the character of Alan Ford plays an active part as a child, and in response to the question 'Did you have any friends who were fans of Alan Ford?' 'I don't know who wasn't a fan,' he said.

Not limited to Alan Ford, satirical works are well received in Yugoslavia, and British comedy dramas such as ' On the Buses, ' ' Yes Minister, ' and ' Only Fools and Horses ' are also popular. Although it was a blast, Alan Ford remained a leader. Alan Ford is still sold at newsstands in Yugoslav countries today, and Jonathan Bassfield of The Calvert Journal said the first New Year's greeting from a Croat friend on New Year's Day 2021. Introducing an episode that said, 'Brexit? It's like Alan Ford!'



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in Manga, Posted by darkhorse_log