"Valentina And The Magic Lantern" by Guido Crepax (first published in 1976, this edition is published by Headline Publishing Group, Great Britain, 2012), Part 3

 

 

 

Crepax famously modelled Valentina's image on the legendary 1920's actress Louise Brooks (the pictures below are from her 1928 film, "Pandora's Box").  Considering that she first appeared in his comics from the mid sixties, she must have been at odds with the hairy, hippy youth trends of the day. It captures her Italian elegance and sophistication perfectly.

 

"Valentina And The Magic Lantern" by Guido Crepax (first published in 1976, this edition is published by Headline Publishing Group, Great Britain, 2012), Part 2

 

The deliberate absence of any dialogue or text in the entire book makes it quite unusual and drives the focus directly on the sequence of the drawings and the meaning within them. The story is a journey through Valentina's dream world, revealing her deepest erotic fantasies, passions and, sometimes, fears. The settings change all the time, from science fiction to the world of fashion, costumes and objects from past centuries. Even Crepax himself makes an appearance behind his drawing board, adding to the surrealist effect. Not to be confused with cheap, sleazy pornographic comics - this is a serious and complex story that is designed to work on many levels.  

 

 

"Valentina And The Magic Lantern" by Guido Crepax (first published in 1976, this edition is published by Headline Publishing Group, Great Britain, 2012)

 Now, these comics are different. Italian artist Guido Crepax (1933-2003) added a new dimension to the world of comics in the 1960's and 70's with his unique vision and sophistication. Here's a short biography on the great artist and writer:  http://www.designboom.com/portrait/crepax_bio.html