Zagor

Zagor is an Italian comic book created by editor and writer Sergio Bonelli (pseudonym Guido Nolitta) and artist Gallieno Ferri. Zagor was first published In Italy by Sergio Bonelli Editore in 1961.

Character
Zagor's real name is Patrick Wilding; he is the son of Mike and Betty. He is a western character living in a forest named Darkwood, located in Pennsylvania, north eastern United States. His name Zagor comes from its Indian name "Za-Gor Te-Nay", whose fictional meaning is "The Spirit with the Hatchet". Though the writers don't mention exact dates, Zagor is supposed to be active during the first half of the 19th century, or around 1825–1830. Zagor fights to maintain peace over all his territory, protect the Indian tribes and hunt down criminals. Son of an army official retiring to live as a pioneer and trapper in the forests of the north-east, Patrick Wilding sees his parents die at the hands of a band of Abenaki Indians, led by Salomon Kinsky. Taken in by the middle-aged trapper nicknamed "Wandering Fitzy", the boy grows up with only one thought on his mind: revenge. Fitzy teaches him how to make a deadly weapon out of a hatchet, and when he is old enough to fulfill this he finds out that his father had himself slaughtered many Indians, and the boy's understanding of the relativity of the concepts of good, evil and justice compels him to transform himself (with his accomplices the Sullivans, a family of acrobats who are his image makers) into Za-Gor-Te-Nay. Better still, shortened, Zagor. He is a kind of avenger always ready to side with the weak and the oppressed, whether red, white or black, whoever they may be. Moving his shack to an island surrounded by quick-sand in a marshy area of Darkwood Forest, Zagor begins his work as a peacemaker. He takes Darkwood tribes under his wing earning himself a distinction of the Lord of Darkwood, beloved and respected by peaceful natives and trappers, and feared and hated by anyone who would endanger the peace between reds and whites. Zagor isn't your typical western character, there's a mix of horror and sci-fi side by side with a bit of humour coming mostly from his sidekick Chico, a short, fat Mexican man who became his best friend. His full name is "Don" Chico Felipe Cayetano Lopez Martinez y Gonzales.

Abilities
There seems to be a hint of divine regarding Zagor's abilities as he from time to time demonstrates almost superhuman strength, agility and endurance. His fighting prowess is extraordinary whether he finds himself in a gunfight or plain brawl. If needed, Zagor is more than capable of dealing with multiple opponents and is basically invincible in a one-on-one bout. In many occasions, he is also seen fighting North American wildlife (such as cougars, alligators and even bears) with nothing more than his hatchet or knife. Zagor is also shown possessing an incredible speed which, paired with his almost cat-like reflexes, often allows him to catch a traveling spear or even an arrow, a feats which usually leave Indians in an awe further solidifying Zagor's status of an emissary of the Great Spirit (a superstition that Zagor does little to nothing to undermine). Zagor can quickly cover great distances using his trademark branch-to-branch way of traveling where he jumps from one treetop to another. His war cry seems to be a roar of an unidentifiable (and presumably horrific) creature. This is one of Zagor's calling cards, the one which usually leaves wrongdoers in a frantic state of mind.

Allies and enemies
Notable allies:

Chico (Felipe Cayetano Lopez Martinez y Gonzales) - Short obese bumbling but kindhearted Mexican. He is Zagor's loyal companion and a comic relief throughout the series.

Tonka - Chief of Mohawk tribe and Zagor's blood brother.

Colonel Norman Perry  - Military doctor and influential person in the army brass.

Baron Icarus LaPlume (Feather) - An inventor obsessed with flying who always ends up victim of his own devices.

Drunky Duck - Indian postman whose unorthodox ways of delivering mail infuriate Chico.

"Doc" Lester - Trapper and former dentist. Has an elusive past.

Many Eyes - Shaman which embraces white people's medicine and technology. One of the few Indians to know Zagor's true identity.

Frida Lang - Austrian countess and Zagor's love interest.

Memorable enemies include:

Professor Hellingen - Mad scientist and Zagor's arch nemesis. Not only that he is capable of creating a doomsday devices but he has also managed to cheat death and return to the land of the living to wreak havoc not once, but twice.

Kandrax - Celtic druid who wields mystical powers.

Mortimer - Scheming genius and a conspirator. Inspired by A. C. Doyle's professor Moriarty.

SuperMike - Man of many talents and abilities and Zagor's evil counterpart.

The Alchemist (Robert Gray) - Terrorist with prosthetic arms and expert in chemical warfare. One of very few persons to defeat Zagor in a fistfight.

One-eyed Jack - Glass-eyed outlaw.

Publications
Even though Zagor is popular in Italy, it is even more popular in Croatia and Serbia, where it is being published to this day, being also published in other former Yugoslav republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Slovenia. In former Yugoslavia, Zagor was published by the Serbian publication Dnevnik in its Zlatna Serija edition from 1968. Although not as popular, Zagor comics are also published in Austria. Zagor is one of the most popular comic heroes in Turkey since the 1960s. Three unofficial Zagor movies have been produced in Turkey during 1970's. Zagor was also published in Greece and in Israel in the 1970s, where, during that time, Tex Willer was published as well.

Authors

 * Sergio Bonelli (pseudonym Guido Nolitta), inventor of the series, main writer of series from number 1 until number 182. He also wrote first 5 editions of Speciale Chico.
 * Mauro Boselli, main writer (with Burrattini) of series from number 334
 * Moreno Burattini, main writer of series (with Boselli), beginning with number 310
 * Decio Canzio, writing for Zagor between numbers 139 and 212
 * Ade Capone, writing for Zagor between numbers 263 and 331
 * Alfredo Castelli, wrote many stories from number 76 until 229
 * Maurizio Colombo, writing for Zagor between numbers 370 and 410
 * Luigi Mignacco, writing for Zagor from number 451
 * Tiziano Sclavi, wrote many stories from number 184 until 280, and Speciale Chico 6
 * Marcello Toninelli, main writer of series from number 203 until 334. He also wrote first 3 editions of Speciale Zagor.

Illustrators

 * Gallieno Ferri, artwork creator of character Zagor. He illustrated all the covers of the series. He illustrates Zagor from number 1.
 * Stefano Andreucci, illustrates Zagor from number 330
 * Franco Bignotti, illustrated many stories of Zagor from number 26 until 247
 * Gaetano Cassaro, illustrates Zagor from number 331
 * Alessandro Chiarolla, illustrates Zagor from number 355
 * Raffaele Della Monica, illustrates Zagor from number 353
 * Franco Donatelli, illustrated many stories from number 37 until 375
 * Francesco Gamba, illustrates Zagor from number 140. Also, Gamba illustrated many numbers of Speciale Chico
 * Mauro Laurenti, illustrates Zagor from number 334
 * Carlo Raffaele Marcello, illustrates Zagor from number 345
 * Michele Pepe, illustrated many stories from number 247 until 416
 * Massimo Pesce, illustrates Zagor from number 384
 * Pini Segna, illustrated Zagor from number 141 until 222
 * Marco Torricelli, illustrates Zagor from number 253
 * Marco Verni, illustrates Zagor from number 253