(AGI) - Milan, Italy, July 31 - Guido Crepax, the creator of "Valentina", died this morning in Milan. The author of well known comic strips was 70 years old and had been suffering from multiple sclerosis for some time. Crepax had been admitted full time at the Policlinico and Radaelli Hospital. Born in Milan in 1933, Guido Crepan did his degree in architecture to dedicate himself immediately after to graphic advertising. After designing dozens of disk covers, he discovered comic strips and in 1959 debuted at author of "Tempo Medico". In 1965 he was the premier Italian author and worked for the magazine "Linus" bringing an innovative approach to his work. Being careful not only to the story building through vignettes, but also to the design of the inside page, he created a harmonious ensemble of narrative, graphic and sentimental elements.
His first book on "Valentina" (a character taken from another comic strip) came out in 1968 and in 1973 Crepax created a comic version of "Histoire d'O" by Pauline Reage. "Emanuelle" by Arsan and "Justine" by de Sade as well as other legendary characters like Frankenstein and Count Dracula were also revisited. Many semiologists have studied his work, including Roland Barthes who spoke of the comic as a "great metaphor for life". The comic strip stories have been published in many countries and have been particularly successful in France, Spain, Germany, Japan and the United States.(AGI)
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Thanks for sharing this very sad news item with us,Smartt,since he was on the verge of re-discovery,thanks to William Lustig's Blue Underground proud releasing of the 1973 "Valentina" adapation "Baby yaga" onto DVD.
He'll be sorely missed by genre comic fans everywhere.