20 March 2016

Many comprehensive editions of the Jeff Hawke series  have been published in Italy over the years , notably the Milano Libri editions, and Italian readers are well known for their enthusiasm for Sydney’s work.  In adition to these definitive publications there have also be some curious one-off  Jeff Hawke imprints from Italy. One such is a  book from the late eighties, notable both for its large format   and for its coloured pages.    Its large size ( 24cm by 34cm )  is to accommodate the strip format as it was published in the Italian newspapers ( three strips at a time), and it contains two complete stories; SELENA  and THE COMET’S TALE.  The strips are hand coloured  and some pages,particularly  in SELENA  are quite subtle and pleasing. It also has a unique cover, which is a compilation and re-working  by Franco Grillo of some of Sydney’s interior artwork .  Skipper Prossitt