Christmas special issue
online magazine
Produced by Anonima Fumetti in collaboration with Scuola Cottolengo and Accademia Albertina di Belle Arti Editing
Nico Vassallo and Bonsignori Fr Andrea Cover
Arash Eftekhari Optimization, Graphic Design, Editing
Studio ParlapĂ - Davide G.G. Caci Artistic Advice
Gianfranco Costagliola e Pierpaolo Rovero Web Editing
Gianfranco Goria English Translation
Fiorenzo Delle Rupi
Online magazine produced by:
p. 5 Scrum at Cottolengo!
Fourth arc: An Unexpected Gift
Nico Vassallo Initial Idea Alberto Arato Story Andrea Dotta Art & Colors Studio ParlapĂ Lettering & Editing p. 15 The Thunderstorm Jacopo Maria Vassallo Research and Interviews Alberto Arato Story Elena Barberis Art, Colors & Lettering p. 21 The Mirror Jacopo Maria Vassallo Research and Interviews Alberto Arato Story Cristina Carnino Art, Colors & Lettering
THE HIDDEN CITY Here we go again! Yes, we are a little late, but then again, even if we live in a comic book world, between a “gulp”, a “sbam” and a “splash” we have to take care of the real life as well. Still, we live in the world of comic books, not in a world of dreams, and so... we are fully awake! After all, we have always loved comic books, and we have always stayed a little young. So we can joyfully enter a new season alongside our Hidden City, a season we may call winter, or, even better, Christmas! Someone is discovering school for the first time this year, and they are getting acquainted with friends, teachers, a few difficulties and a little melancholy. Others have a hard time getting back to school after the good days of summertime, but they are also excited to meet again all those little things they loved in their class. Others have to get back to work (if they are lucky enough to still have a job), and they wish they didn’t have to work at all... and so on. We all have our personal stories. Some have new goals, others are still pursuing their old goals. Some people grudgingly get back to work together, others are happy to be here again. Anyway, it’s a new beginning. The same applies to our “Hidden City” as well, ready to start a new path, but still lively and sparkling. The excitement of a new beginning may soon leave room to the winter of fatigue and routine, but these pages will always feature the energy of a new discovery, a lofty cause to sustain, that special feeling of a world that can be changed through little things. We will find out that we can protect the weak, help those who have less than us even if it is not their fault, and we can keep quietly building a new city, maybe a hidden one... but surely a different city! Let’s keep walking side by side and help us. A few words, a comment, a suggestion from you (segreteria@anonimafumetti.org) are always invaluable to us!
Bonsignori Fr Andrea
ARC 4: AN UNEXPECTED GIFT
Can we begin to play?
We begin to play when I say so, is that
CLEAR?! Fine, now we can begin to play.
At last! Group defense? Me not sure what it means...
About time!
I said play! Play! Play! Oh!
What? Oh!
What’s the matter? Aren’t you coming to play?
Me do not understand...
no absentminded!
...and change your pace! In a group defense, you must widen your game, pass quickly...
how old will he be?
I don’t know. He’s going to be twelve, I think...
What should we get him?
I don’t know what Jaromir likes...
How about a coupon for my uncle’s pasticceria?
A kimono for his ju-jitsu training...
a good hair gel... he would look so cool with a mohawk!
I know what he’d like: a cellphone. I’m sure he doesn’t have one.
Good idea! Three euros, twelve cents and two buttons?
Ok boys, let’s collect the money. How much do we have?
I think this is a dumb idea!
Working to purchase a gift doesn’t look like a bad thing to me. Old comics! We are selling old comics, I can’t believe ite!
May I help you?
Comic books? Cut it out, someone is coming.
1974?
Pf
ff
ff!
Mwhahahaha! Chinese comic books dated 1974... and you hope to sell these...?! Ha!
In Chinese?
So what? They used to belong to my father, they are just a little... vintage!
Chinese vintage comics... ha! ha! ha!
I insist. This is a dumb idea!
I think we should...
Argh! Help!
Stupid dog... heeeeelp! To the park... we are going to the park...
...if we can!
Rascals! Vandals!
we should be selling Selling sandwiches... n being dog-sitters! sandwiches, rather tha
Let’s tie this beast to the bench, we will have a moment of rest...
Stop! Stop it!
LATER
I say you have to try!
…
You do it, if you dare!
So, just go!
It’s not my fault if we haven’t made a single cent with your improvised jobs!
Excuse me, Sir, you are watching the match, aren’t you?
So what?
You have been very clear... Apologies... I should... well, the team ordered me to sell you a ticket...
pass it on the siiiiiiiiiide!
On the side,
A group defense must be outflanked, and blah, blah, blah...
Actually, we... Come on, spit it out, what’s the problem?
Shut up, Pecker!
Don’t worry about that... we’ll find a solution, you’ll see...
That we’ll get the gift, somehow. Now, let’s outflank them! Go on the other side! What did he say?
And what about the gift?
Don Barnaba said we shouldn’t worry about that. We scored!
Hello, Don Barnaba, I have something for you...
What is it? I don’t know! They just said “give it to Don Barnaba... it’s a gift...”
Come here, everybody! Where’s Jaromir?
Happy birthday to youuuuu uu! Here’s your gift for Jaromir!
Happy birthday, Jaromir!
I can’t believe it... I can’t believe it... a cellphone, just for me..!
Put your hand where your money is, and whatever will be, will be: give it merrily to your brothers!
ACID Introduction: Well, is there someone who has something against girls playing rugby? Come here and tell me that in person, and I’ll break your neck... What did you say? Why do they call me “Acid”? Take a guess... Name: Lorella Surname: Boy, aren’t you a little too curious? What do you need my surname for? Are you going to pull some prank on me? Special Traits: I am the top, the only girl who makes the difference in this pitiful team. If it weren’t for me... Boyfriend: There’s no boy that can consider himself my equal. Pfft. Everyday there’s someone who tries to flirt with me, but I know how to keep those clods at arm’s length. Close Friends: Friends?
Hmph. It’s better to watch your
back. Everybody gets mushy when you’re looking, but as soon as you turn your back on them... bang! You’re done for. Here it’s slightly better than elsewhere, but I am not making any mistake... sooner or later it’ll happen here too... Occasional Enemies: The others. Sworn Enemies: The others. Wishes: Everybody should look at me when I’m doing something, and everybody should realize how good I am. What I really don’t get is why it seems that nobody can stand me. I always say loud and clear what I think about a person in her face. And yet, it seems that this policy it’s not too appreciated... Criticisms? I like those a lot, I am an expert in criticisms But if someone dares to criticize me, well, his life expectancy is going to get awfully short...
A regular afternoon at a magazine’s headquarters...
No, “Tourism of Sorrow” sounds better!
Black tourism?
The reports are surely impressive...
The mansion of Cogne’s murder, the garage where Sara Scazzi was killed, the place were Yara Gambirasio was found dead... Gentlemen, tourism on a tragedy’s scene is a sound business by now!
Just to see Costa Concordia’s wreckage off the Giglio’s coast, tourism is reporting an increase of 48%.
SO? WHAT’S THE TITLE?
The Places of Death!
Dark Tourism?
Horror Travels?
A regular afternoon at Cottolengo.
Thank you, Don Mike! You know, we’ve come from so far!
They have insisted so much... They have just wed, and they’re spending their honeymoon in Turin.
Very well! Let them in!
We were married only two days ago! God bless you! What can I do for you?
Well, you see, we know that you keep a lot of gravely misshapen freaks here, and so... we couldn’t leave before we saw...
...cottolengo’s monsters!
Keep calm. This is another test.
How rude! Get out of here! Shame on you! Pain is not a show!
Why is he treating us like this?
Is there something wrong?
Don Mike is a madman!
What did he do?
We only asked to see the monsters you keep here!
Just this? Well, maybe he is a little stressed. If you wish, I can show them to you.
Really? Would you help us?
Of course! It’s easy.
Go through that door and follow that corridor,then turn right... at the end, you should find what you are looking for!
A kind person, at last!
It’s dark...
I’m a little scared!
I think I see someone!
That’s it! Oh, God, I’m so thrilled!
But... it’s a mirror! It’s us...
...we are the monsters!
A regular afternoon at Cottolengo.
That’s interesting!
That’s incredible!
Something’s wrong?
Yes... sometimes looking into yourself will help you look after the others!
No, on the contrary! Those two newlyweds have sold their wedding presents... and they are sending us the money to help the sick...
They want to look after us!
The Hidden City is a project of:
Scuola Cottolengo
In collaboration with: Anonima Fumetti association of professional of comics, with the task of enhancing the art of comics also as a chance to read for young people.
Associazione Sportiva GiuCo (Sports Association GiuCo) association that uses Sport as a way of integration. For several years now it play “normal� championships with all disadvantaged people according to the principles of St. Joseph Cottolengo.
This work has been supported by:
For info on The Hidden City, contact us. segreteria@anonimafumetti.org