box: 36 packets (4 stickers + 1 card per packet) 1,00€ each
“Houston we have a problem”. A few weeks ago we reviewed with some enthusiasm the celebratory album of Spider-Man’s 60 years, pointing to it as a potential album of the year in our 2022 chart, leaving us only with the doubt that, who knows, there was still time, even at home. Panini, to overcome an already excellent collection. Attention, maybe they have really succeeded.
Diabolik is an iconic character in comics, not only Italian, he has a following of loyal fans and hundreds of thousands of people, both men and women, well to remember, who have read it and maybe, even after years, if it happens to do it again, they don’t back down. Finally, there are collectors, Diabolik has many, thanks also to its fan club which is one of the longest-running and active in Italy.
This album is for all of them, better, for all of us. It is an album that exudes myth and passion, curiosity and history of comics, a work certainly done in 4 hands, where the publisher Astorina sat at the table with the Panini staff, who know just a little about stickers and have thought “let’s create something to be proud of” and which, also or above all, is a tribute not only to comics but to its loyal audience.
The result is excellent, the previous album had already proved to be a good product, this far exceeds it, while maintaining a very similar editorial line. Same number of stickers, same size, special always silver and shiny, the shaped ones.
The encyclopedic setting of the album can be seen from the first pages, where we find references to the birth of the character, to the great actors of the time from which it was inspired, as always happens, at least until a few years ago, with the characters of Italian comics. Did you know that the beautiful Eva Kant is inspired by the Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly?
They are interesting drawings, where there is also an unripe trait, a novice Diabolik even for the cartoonists who will follow him over the years. After all, it is common practice for all comics characters, try to go and see the first stories of superheroes, Tex, Asterix or even Peanuts.
The pages dedicated to the individual protagonists are interesting, it is incredible how a comic can last without actually going out of the mold created since the 1960s, certainly renewing itself, but not denying itself. So here is the double couple, Diabolik and Eva Kant, Ginko and Altea. For each of them a rundown through the interpretations of the various designers. To this could only be added, of course, the legendary Jaguar, which also houses its alter ego, the inspector’s Citroen DS.
In general, the choice of the same stickers is appreciable, certainly not an easy job, much less immediate. We find images that for many will also seem unpublished, it is not a convenient choice, it is an opportune desire to tell the character, from his beginnings, up to the time of King’s Island, when Diabolik was not yet .. Diabolik.
In the album we find two comic stories, to be completed with the shaped stickers, an extra effort to attach them correctly, well. The first of these stories is unpublished, written by Mario Gomboli, the man who, after the Giussani sisters, we can define as the heart of the Astorina. Comic in 10 pages rather nice and spot on, where fans can discover cameos of known, real, not fictional faces. We anticipate one, Alfredo Castelli, creator (among others) of Martin Mystere, a comic also named in the story. So that three comic book publishers are involved in these pages, Astorina, Bonelli and of course Panini.
The comic story is a pleasant interlude of the album, which subsequently restarts with other aspects of Diabolik’s story, starting with the covers, difficult to choose a few among over 500. The “pencils and inks” page is certainly designed for lovers of the Ninth Art as a whole, less for occasional and unwary readers. Without going into too much detail, with a few words and some figurine drawings, here is how the drawings of the “king of terror” are born.
The album’s first trip abroad is to France, where in 1997 a cartoon was created designed for a young audience, not tied to the classic canons of comics.
Diabolik and cinema is not a recent novelty, there is the late 1960s film by director Mario Bava. Collectors have always looked for comic books at comic book fairs, as well as posters for this film. To which the current production of the Manetti Bros also owes a lot, despite the captivating scenery of a Bologna transformed into Clerville. The space equally divided between the two film productions is another symptom of how much we wanted to make an album as a whole.
An eye to collectors but also to the curious is the next part that navigates the variegated world of Diabolik, among those who over the years have wanted to pay homage through art, satire, alternative comics and objects, starting from works created by the same authors and up to the present day, including statues, board games, tarot cards and decks of cards.
If you enjoyed the trip to France in the previous pages, Diabolik was printed in different parts of the world, some of them are mentioned: Israel, Greece, Argentina, Mexico, Denmark, Turkey and the very rare editions in Tamil and Chinese.
Before the aforementioned pages, there is the second comic in the album, always to be completed with the shaped stickers. History entirely in black and white thanks to the texts by Tito Faraci and the drawings by Claudio Villa, many will also remember him for the splendid Tex covers.
New is the coupon found inside each packet, which allows you to participate in a competition to win one of the 60 sketch cards designed by the current Diabolik artists, alternating in the pocket and in the special volumes you find on the newsstands. Commendable initiative, on the site it is not necessary to register, just enter the code (including dashes) and only in case of victory will the details for the shipment be requested.
Speaking of cards, in the 2017 edition you could find unique sketch cards in lucky sachets, now those drawings are within everyone’s reach, becoming the 50 cards to collect to complete the album. It may seem like a comfortable choice, in reality it is extremely valuable. Instead of inventing cards on the spot, why not use a wealth of unpublished drawings that Panini was already “at home”? If we then consider that the cards of the 2017 collection were not particularly successful, these little jewels are welcome.
Everything splendid? For the most part yes, we like it when Panini, like other publishers, puts heart, soul and experience to create a memorable product. The real sticker albums are actually these, more than the sports classics, which we also collect, but they are very little compared to editorial works like this. Too bad for some unsuitable choices for a collection that promises to be very successful. The box with just 36 packets (with the joke that the box is made to contain fifty), understandable for low-profile collections, but inconsistent in this case. Above all, hoping that the stickers can be found even in a month, unlike those of Spider-Man sold out and, to date, never reprinted. At the same time that Panini invaded the newsstands with products that will obviously remain unsold.
The return to the hardcover edition for collectors is excellent, at a price (unchanged compared to Diabolik 2017) in line with the edition of 1000 copies. A gesture that we personally appreciate, the market has established that the “low cost” hardcover edition does not have encouraging sales figures to continue, but at least the “hard and pure” can be satisfied. We rarely give information on the exclusive products of the Panini site, believing that newsstands and / or comic shops must be the main point of reference for the public, but in this case we consider the choice understandable and acceptable.
We then, we admit, are among those who stick the stickers on the stapled album to keep the limited edition sealed. Improved quality of the album paper as we had already seen with the latest Panini productions, perhaps and finally the warehouses have emptied of the batch of unacceptable paper.
(EN)
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 60th
EDICOLA NEWS: THE REVIEWS nr. 268
album: The Amazing Spider-Man 60th (Panini)
stickers: 192 (1-164, F1-F28) + 60 cards (C1-C60)
starter pack: album + 5 packets 4,90€
box: 24 packets (4 stickers + 1 card per packet) 1,00€ each
“From great power comes great responsibility”. In this case, the great power is being able to make an official Spidey sticker album for his 60th birthday (brought very well!), The great responsibility is to do it well, credible, complete, to satisfy both the occasional audience and the fans, young and old. old, from Marvel Comics. In the knowledge that making everyone happy is impossible.
Did they succeed? No spoilers, to know you have to read all the reviews 🙂 A premise is important, however, whoever writes this review is a long-time comic book enthusiast, impossible to tackle this article without being biased, the heart is not commanded and the glorious Spider-Man is a milestone in world comics, especially if you were children when the legendary books of Editoriale Corno and / or later those of Star Comics then Panini Comics arrived in Italy.
Curious about Panini’s marketing choice, this album recalls Spider-Man’s 60th anniversary, you can read it on the cover but not in the title. Perhaps to bring the younger audience closer to these celebrations. History is still present, indeed, from that “The Amazing Spider-Man”, the famous magazine where our hero was not born (first appearance is on Amazing Fantasy, a similar name, it cannot be a coincidence) but then it is become a legend.
Panini does not only make stickers but also comics, it is the Italian house of Marvel, this certainly allows him to have all the possible and imaginal material to pay the right homage to the character. The album is divided into decades where, as it should be, the first years, those who entered the myth, the so-called “golden age” of Marvel comics, find more space and even some more insight, with important captions to understand the evolution of the character but without undermining the role of the stickers, absolute protagonists.
Another strategic choice by Panini, the various decades of Spidey’s publishing history are interspersed with the “Focus on” pages which, as the term says, focus on a certain aspect of the comic, from great enemies, to great battles, to great alliances with other notes more curious, like the evolution of the costume, even in its most unlikely moments.
First part with the classic (and beautiful) stories of the 60s, 70s and early 80s. With the outside world rapidly changing (Spidey and Marvel comics in general have never been immune to it), in the second half of the 1980s, even comic stories decide to upset the characters. If you have never read “Secret Wars” it is a clear invitation to do so, from there comes the black costume and to follow one of the most beloved anti-heroes of the new millennium, Venom!
This path will be even more exponential in the 90s with the long saga of the clone, even today, 30 years later, there are very conflicting opinions among fans, between those who loved it, those who hated it and those who maybe he rediscovered in adulthood. All these “highlights” are not forgotten by the album, thanks to stickers taken directly from the comic strips. The Spider-Man saga continues and our little stickers friends do it accordingly.
Another touch of class, grant us the term, is to somehow separate the story of the traditional Spider-Man from that of the multiverses created over the years, even if far from all the variants we have known with the DC Comics Universe. They could not be missing in this album because it would have made it incomplete, but they are apart, in the central pages with a separate numbering.
Openable central poster summarizing the many Spider-Man we have known in the classic universe and in the alternative worlds. Shaped stickers that must be attached with care, to make them match perfectly with the image below. Not easy, but after all we are talking about super heroes, won’t you hold back for so little ?!
If you love comics, you also know how to appreciate the details, almost always nothing is left to chance. The central poster is also the appropriate detachment of the album, between the Marvel of the twentieth century and that of the New Millennium. New characters, new origins to try to approach potential new readers, for a comic that was still reaching 40 years of publishing production. In the second part of the album space for the last 20 years, from our point of view rightly proposed in a more summarizing way than in previous decades.
Grand finale with a comic story to be completed with the shaped stickers but absolutely legible even with an empty album. We did it, with 12 pages available you cannot create too complex scripts, the story is enjoyable, not at the level of the previous one that appeared on the Marvel Versus album but in any case it is good that there is, also because it traces the concept ” super heroes with super problems ”which has allowed us, at times, to be able to identify with a hero in costume.
The format of the stickers mirrors the one already used previously in the Marvel encyclopedic albums, however it seems to us with images that are all different and chosen with a logical and effective care. We are not great lovers of adding cards to the sticker collections, but here they are an added value. 60 cards or the 60 most significant covers in the history of The Amazing Spider-Man. Another detail that maybe not everyone notices but we do, Panini could fall into the error of inserting covers from other series (Web of Spider-Man, Spectacular Spider-Man, etc.) and instead does not. 60 cover cards don’t even allow you to really have all the fundamentals, but that’s a nice representative number. The problem is to find them all, also given Panini’s choice to send the box of just 24 packets to newsstands. We hope at least, when requesting missing stickers, the rule of only 5 cards that can be ordered will be lightened.
Yes, they succeeded (haven’t you come to read the last line right away?!?), The album is beautiful, a passionate and overwhelming 60-year story of the iconic character of American comics. We appreciated, unlike other previous Panini collections, that the world of cinema has been completely omitted, now subject to a separate one, with a life of its own and more and more often with a different audience.
It’s just a pity that once again the unlikely quality of the paper degrades the great work of graphics and logical preparation of the album a little. Panini is wrong and continues to be wrong on this point, especially on a product of this kind which, more than collectors of stickers, could attract fans of comics, where the quality of the paper is an undisputed value.
(EN)
SATANIK – all the covers (Gazzetta dello Sport)
EDICOLA NEWS: THE REVIEWS nr. 258
album: Satanik – All covers (La Gazzetta dello Sport)
stickers: 231 (1-231)
album and first 4 stickers: € 5.99 with Satanik in color nr.1
subsequent releases: € 6.99 per volume for 70 planned
It is predictable that after Kriminal also Satanik would have his own dedicated series and consequent sticker album. The two characters created by Max Bunker and Magnus are the history of Italian comics, interesting that after so many years there is still interest that leads to these editorial news.
The choice of color is questionable, which could make sense if the coloring was done by a team connected to the story of the character, who knows her. Here’s simple coloring that’s a punch in the stomach at work in black and white. Certainly everyone has their own tastes, but if a product is born in black and white, it must remain, unless there is the intervention of experts or enthusiasts.
The comment on the editorial choice is linked to the considerations of having a missed opportunity in front of you. As with Kriminal, if you are only interested in the sticker album, the total expense is demanding. Although more affordable than “the skull”, simply because the Satanik comic series has far fewer numbers.
The album is still interesting, the 1970s covers are small works of art, just think of those created by Luigi Corteggi, also seen at work, for example, with the covers of Bonelli’s Piccolo Ranger. The layout of the album is simple but effective, the stickers do their part.
Too bad only for the editorial choice, as a work we prefer the previous one in hardcover, more faithful to the original. Only for true fans or those who simply want to read the Satanik saga without looking for the original, rare and much more expensive books, without worrying too much about the quality of the print.
(EN)
KRIMINAL – All Covers (Gazzetta dello Sport Italy)
EDICOLA NEWS: THE REVIEWS nr. 129
album: Kriminal – All covers (La Gazzetta dello Sport)
stickers: 419 (1-419)
album and first 4 stickers: € 4.90 with Kriminal in color nr.1
subsequent releases: € 5.99 per volume for 114 planned
comment: if those interested in the album only complained to Tex or the recent Holly & Benji, here it is really unthinkable (at least crazy) to think of following the series only for the 419 stickers, in the end the final expense is almost 800 EUR! With a little luck and a lot of patience and sometimes settling for that amount, you can try to buy the original comic series.
At least all the numbers with the covers by Luigi Corteggi, in fact the Kriminal series in addition to splendid stories (alternating with forgettable others, especially as the series goes on) had the gift of the covers created by this great illustrator, authentic paintings that still remain of an incredible beauty.
There is no previous album of stickers on Kriminal, surely the solution to take all the covers is spot on, but you have to be fanatic. Fanatics of stickers above all, because if the interest is linked to the covers, there are already publications with all the covers of Kriminal.
For those unfamiliar with the character, I invite you instead to give us a serious thought, it remains a high quality comic, created by the award-winning company Magnus & Bunker, really in great shape; Alan Ford aside, they have rarely reached such high levels.
Even the choice of color is questionable, personally I do not understand the reason that pushes to make these products, certainly there is an audience that prefers color but in this case, as in many others, it is something mechanical “sprayed” on a work that is born in black and white and black and white maintains its charm.
comment: all the quality of Italian Disney! Our school is among the most appreciated in the world, since the post-war period (Romano Scarpa, Gian Battista Carpi, just to name two authors) has been able to give us stories that have become great classics, in turn they are also printed in the USA. In particular, we have become aces in creating parodies or adventures of goslings and mice taking inspiration from reality, cinema and literature.
We add that Disney Italy is part of Panini and it was almost a duty that the great imagination of the authors perfectly matched the great tradition of the stickers. I invite everyone to read the story and not just to attach the stickers, because they would lose a very good part of the value of this initiative. The basic idea is spot-on, to grab a sports center at the cutting edge of Paperopoli (Duckburg), a tournament is organized between six youth teams created for the occasion. All the big rich ducks organize one, funny the names and affinities of the owner’s social and intent colors, for example the Scrooge’s Klondike FC, with a dollar green kit!
Two outsiders will try to give a hard time, the team of the Beagle Boys (hilarious Grandpa Beagle who invites the young players not to trust the referee ..) and above all the ramshackle 313FC led by Donald Duck and Fetry Duck and which ranks in its 11 holder Huey, Dewey, Louie.
If we add that Scrooge’s team has as coach Gladstone Gander it seems the final victory is already decided, but who knows ..
The album is very nice and takes up the style of the classic Calciatori, each team has 16 stickers: badge, double squad, 11 players, president and coach. In the stickers of the players (mixed teams, good Disney!), Attention is also paid to the attention to detail with the club emblem, the shirt number and role.
The nightmare of all collectors of football stickers is to find the pages of the calendar subsequently compiled, here the risk is very high, in fact every episode of the story is connected to a round of the tournament with results to be written and ranking to be updated. A lot of curiosity in waiting for the second release, given that we will have real packets with 10 stickers each.
It is also appreciable that Panini limits the distribution of the necessary stickers in a few extra releases, bearing in mind that Topolino magazine should also be purchased to read the story connected to the album, we only find the stickers in two other issues. To complete the album and know how the tournament will end, you have to wait less than a month, the last packet with the last 10 stickers is scheduled for July 8 with Topolino number 3372.
I do not add anything else in order not to take away the pleasure of reading the story and discovering the album, given the previous experiences (for example the football-themed cards of a few years ago, which were immediately sold out), I recommend everyone to run to the newsstands in order to avoid to remain in the mouth, or rather the beak, dry.
(EN)
ASTERIX 60 ANS (Panini France)
EDICOLA NEWS: THE REVIEWS NR. 62
stickers: 124 (1-120, A-D)
packets: distributed in the Carrefour supermarkets
ONLY in France
album: hardcover, sold only in French Carrefour
supermarkets
comment: C’EST MAGNIFIQUE !!!
Important premise: the writer is biased, I love and
read the Asterix comics as a child and I am proud of my complete collection.
Precisely for this reason too, the album released only for the French market is
a MUST to have.
Asterix is the most important and widespread
comic strip of the Franco-Belgian school, its name in France is comparable to
that of Mickey Mouse in the USA, trying out an album dedicated to roosters is
therefore a monumental operation and Panini France has hit the mark.
The album traces all the adventures of our heroes,
as you will know many are the journeys of Asterix and Obelix (sometimes
accompanied by Idefix and Panoramix), in this album we find them all, from the
Celts to the Britons, from the Egyptians to the Courses, from the Swiss to the
Goths, etc. with of course an important part dedicated to Roman
“enemies”.
Attaching the 124 stickers, even if they seem few,
is absolutely fun and also a commitment. Lots of shapes that must be affixed
perfectly over the images, the cut is of excellent quality, I have not found
errors in this sense. In the classic rectangular figurines we also find special
silver and satin (amazing).
Not only that, the album is full of information,
games, quizzes and “dulcis in fundo” two comic strips, whose first one, from
memory, seems to me unpublished (it represents Obelix and Asterix as young
people inside the village) but I could also be wrong.
The album is NOT distributed outside France and
being a Panini / Carrefour product, like all previous cases, it is unlikely to
be available online on the Panini website subsequently.
Can it be an album, not intended for newsstands and
distributed only in France, the album of the year? Yes!
