European Western Comic Books ~ Hondo

Hondo was a very successful character, without doubt the texts of GL Bonelli , but also the graphic abilities of the then debutant Franco Bignotti , who could well characterize this scout with long hair and fringed jacket.  The two authors kept the interest of readers for as many as 117 isues (in the classic striped format), and even when reprinted, in numbers from 9 to 20 in "All West" (which was begun in 1988 and concluded in January 1989), The intrepid Hondo received an affectionate welcome, demonstrating the strength of the character, able to withstand the passage of time.  Accompanied by the faithful Natanis, an Apache, Hondo assumed, in the development of his adventures, the role of moderator between the Indians and the Whites, a role that already characterized one of the most important characters created by GL Bonelli: Tex.  His decisive character, his deep sense of justice, made Hondo one of the most beloved characters of the late 1950s, and although his adventures ended in Italy in 1958, in France the long-haired hero continued to live for several years, by the designer Barbato.  Some of these adventures of Oltralpe have been presented to Italian readers in the now exhausted volume 11 of the historic Zenith Gigante series (the same one that now hosts Zagor). The Hondo comic book series was produced between 1956-1958 with stories by G. Bonelli and drawn by Franco Bignotti.

Franco Bignotti was born on November 8, 1929 in Cellatica, Lombardy, Italy. After attending the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, he debuts as a graphic advertising and illustrator for a long series of fairy tale books. In 1951 he designed the comic book The Little Centaur for the Edizioni Carroccio of Monza. From 1952 to 1955, he designed Tristano Torelli's characters as El Bravo on screenplay by Gian Giacomo Dalmasso. In 1956 he started collaborating with Araldo's editions, the current Sergio Bonelli Editore, drawing the Hondo series on Gian Luigi Bonelli's lyrics, A Boy in the Far West in 1958, Furio Almirante in 1964, and 1966 Gun Flint. Since 1965, he is also drawing for Dardo (Capitan Miki and The Great Blek), and abroad, for Éditions Lug of Lyon and for Fleetway Publications in London. Since 1970, he designed Little Ranger, Zagor, Mister No (in 1975) and Martin Mystère. Bignotti died February 17, 1991 in Rescaldina, Lombardy, Italy.