Created by: Marcel Navarro (1919-2004) The Stories Publishing History
Scripts: Franco Frescura
Art: Luciano Bernasconi
Wampus is the story of an alien monster
with shapeshifting powers who has been sent by an evil cosmic intelligence -- the "Great
Mind" -- to destroy Earth. He is discovered and pursued by French
secret agent, Jean Sten. In the
course of six issues, Wampus causes havoc
and destruction in France, Germany, New York, Tokyo, London (which is destroyed by a tactical nuclear device) and
Spain.
1. Wampus (1969)
2. Le Dernier Ricanement [The Last Laugh]
(1969)
3. Et Vint le Chaos [And Chaos Came]
(1969)
4. La Grande Explosion [The Great Explosion] (1969)
5. Vu du Pont [View From A Bridge] (1969)
6. Toilette du Bourreau [Executioner's Wash]
(1969)
7. Le Ciel est Rouge [The Sky Is Red]
(drawn in 1969 but published only in Ombrax
Nos. 230-233, 1985)
Wampus was originally published in 1969
by Editions Lug in Lyons (France) in six
digest-sized magazines. The series was discontinued after only six issues because of censorship problems.
The final episode was eventually serialized in "Ombrax", another of Lug's
magazines. The same concept was then reprised as L'Autre [The Other], in "Futura".
Wampus was reprinted as a back-up feature
in "Rodeo" Nos. 568-579.
The Authors
Lyon-based journalist and writer Marcel Navarro
(1919-2004) started his career in comics working for the Lyons-based comic book publisher S.A.G.E. during World War II. There he met Robert Bagage (the future founder of Editions Imperia) and Pierre Mouchotte (the publisher of "Fantax"). These three men eventually became almost single-handedly responsible for
the "small format" publishing phenomenon of the 1950s and 1960s. After the war, Navarro created the character of Secret
Agent Z.302 (drawn by Bagage) for Éditions Sprint.
Then, in 1946, he contributed stories to Chott's
Fantax.
Finally, he co-founded the Aventures & Voyages
publishing house, which published a number of children's adventure stories.
In 1950, Navarro teamed up with Auguste
Vistel to create Éditions Lug, which became one of the leading publisher of French
and Italian digest-sized comics and, starting in 1969, French editions of Marvel Comics.
It is in this capacity that Navarro (using
the pseudonyms of "J. K. Melwyn-Nash" or" Malcolm Naughton") co-created and/or edited a number
of popular characters such as the western avenger, Ombrax (Alan Mistero in Italy),
the Tarzan-like Zembla
and a number of super-heroes such as Rakar, Dick Demon, Wampus and, later,
Mikros and Photonik.
Navarro also wrote a special episode of
Marvel's Silver Surfer, especially drawn
by Jean-Yves Mitton for the French market
(the subject of an article written by Jean-Marc Lofficier
for "Alter
Ego" #1.) In 1989, Marcel Navarro retired and Editions Lug
was sold to SEMIC.
Franco Frescura is an Italian writer,
who also wrote L'Autre,
Dick Demon,
Rakar , Mister Song, Waki, and Wampus.
Luciano Bernasconi is a renowned Italian artist. He was one of
the major creators working for Lug in the 1960s and 1970s, and is still working for its successor, SEMIC, today.
Bernasconi's credits include: L'Autre, Bob Lance, the Bronze Gladiator, le Comte de Saint-Germain, Jeff Sullivan, Kabur, Kit
Kappa, Phenix, Sibilla,
Starlock, Waki, and Wampus.
LUCIANO
BERNASCONI'S OFFICIAL SITE
COVERS OF THE 1969 ITALIAN EDITION OF WAMPUS
(click on thumbnails to enlarge)
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Art by Bernasconi
PIN-UP BY LADRONN
Writer: Jean-Marc Lofficier.
Artist: Luciano Bernasconi.
7. Le Sacrement du Mal [The Sacrament of Evil]
(Fantask No. 3, 2001) (guest-starring Mister Song)
8. Dragut! (Fantask No. 4, 2001) (guest-starring Dragut
and Sibilla)
9. La Chute de Camelot [The Fall of Camelot]
(Fantask No. 5, 2001) (guest-starring Bob Lance)
10. Sous le Signe de Rome [Under the Mark of Rome]
(Mustang No. 303, 2002) (guest-starring Saint-Germain and Gallix)
5. Le Pouvoir de Kabur [The Power of Kabur]
(Mustang No. 304, 2002) (guest-starring Kabur)
6. La Fin des Temps: Labyrinthe (The End of Time: Labyrinth) (Mustang No. 305, 2002)
7. La Fin des Temps: L'Ultime Confrontation (The End of Time: The Ultimte Confrontation) (Mustang No. 306, 2002)
These episodes complete the saga of Wampus,
depicting the final confrontation between Jean Sten
and his alien nemesis. They also feature a number of guest-stars from the SEMIC universe.
Writer: J.-M. Lofficier
Art: Jay Stephens.
"Intersection" (in French in PLANETE COMICS No. 14, SEMIC, July 2002; in English in STRANGERS No. 2,
Image, April 2003)
