Isabella (comics)

Italian comic book series

Not to be confused with Isabelle (comics).

Isabella

Creative team
Written by| Giorgio Cavedon
Artist(s)| Sandro Angiolini

Isabella (Italian: Isabella Duchessa dei Diavoli, i.e. "Isabella Duchess of the Devils") is an Italian comic book series created by Giorgio Cavedon as the writer and Sandro Angiolini as artist.

## History

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The series started in 1966 and it was inspired in plot and title by the renowned novel Angélique, the Marquise of the Angels and its on-screen adaptation, which had had a significant success at the Italian box office. Set in 17th century France, it features the adventures of Isabella de Frissac, an uninhibited noblewoman who works as a secret agent for cardinal Richelieu and, in the course if her missions, faces any sort of vexation and torture.[1][2]

The series is considered a progenitor of Italian adult comics, especially because of its sado-masochistic elements, which were an absolute innovation in the fumetti panorama. The storylines also included grotesque situations, such as a scene in episode 8 which depicted the protagonist being raped by a bear.[2]

Starting from July 1969 Gaspare De Fiore and Umberto Sammarini replaced Angiolini as artists. Publications ceased in October 1976, after 263 issues.[1]

A comic book collection series, Isabella Gigante was published between 1969 and 1971.[1]

## Legacy

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A film adaptation, Isabella, Duchess of the Devils, directed by Bruno Corbucci and starring Brigitte Skay in the title role, was released in 1969.[3]

The comic book also inspired a series of novels, Le memorie di Isabella.[2]

## References

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1. ^ a b c Gianni Bono. Guida al fumetto italiano. Epierre, 2003. pp. 1058–1060.
2. ^ a b c Franco Fossati (1992). "Isabella". Dizionario Illustrato del Fumetto. Mondadori, 1992. ISBN 8804355441.
3. ^ Roberto Poppi; Mario Pecorari (2007). Dizionario del cinema italiano. I film. Gremese Editore, 2007. ISBN 978-8884405036.