COLLECTING FOREIGN LANGUAGE & REPRINT COMICS - AUSTRIA
Article by comic book historian Terry Hoknes of www.HoknesComics.com - hoknes@hotmail.com
An in depth look at the known comic books published in the golden and silver age focusing on interest in Marvel and DC reprints.
Austria has had a very small amount of comics published in their country and I have not been able to locate silver age Marvel/DC inspired titles.
GCDB COMICS.ORG DATABASE OF ALL AUSTRIA COMIC TITLES
LONGEST RUNNING PROLIFIC POPULAR TITLES
MOFF (2008 to present) Currently at 74 issues and still being published by Scherz & Schund Fabrik.
EARLY COMICS
Random comics appeared short lived throughout the 1940s 50s 60s but it wasn't until the 1970's that any type of comic scene appeared to get well established.
PRINZ EISENHERZ (1970) ran for 50 issues until 1986 published by Pollischanky and appears to be a Prince Valiant reprint series. Pollischanky published two more series both debuting in 1975. FLASH GORDON (1975) ran for 15 issues and a second PRINZE EISENHERZ SONDERBAND series ran for 16 issues.
COMICOTHEK is the most versatile, productive and popular Austrian comic book publisher ever. Publishing 57 different titles from 1979 to 1998. Their debut title was the longest running titled Comic Forum lasting 65 issues. This series featured a huge variety of comic strips and articles and some fascinating covers that also tie-in to new movies of the time. Issues featured everything from Frank Frazetta to Will Eisner - The Spirit. How about Robin Williams as Popeye and Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan The Barbarian. Note #10 had a very revealing nudity sexy cover. Tarzan and Heavy Metal also appeared in issues.
HIGHLIGHTS & SERIES TO COLLECT!
COMIC GALLERY PICCOLO (1980) ran for at least 7 issues and featured popular USA characters such as James Bond, Modesty Blaise and Flash Gordon.
FLASH GORDON (1981) A one-shot based on the hit movie was published by Pollischansky.
STRIP (1982-1986) was a 21 issue series published also by Pollischansky and featured popular characters such as Will Eisner The Spirit, Terry and the Pirates, Modesty Blaise, Flash Gordon, Cisco Kid, Doonesbury, Agent X9 Corrigan.
WEISSER INDIANER (1986) one-shot from Comicothek featured the stunning artwork of Frank Frazetta
COMICOTHEK DE LUXE (1987) ran at least 7 issues and featured a classic artist in each issue including dedications to Will Eisner and Frank Frazetta.
FALKEN DER MEERE (1990) ran 2 issues both featuring Will Eisner art from Comicothek.
JOHNNY COMET (1991) ran 2 issues both featuring the character by Frank Frazetta at Comicothek.
BLACK KISS (1992) ran 3 issues featuring the sexy raunchy art of Howard Chaykin from Comicothek.
So far there are zero known DC/Marvel superhero comics ever produced specifically in Austria as it appears that people living in Austria were purchasing comics from Norway.
So far we have highlights all the most important comics I have been able to document - I appreciate help from other collectors to fill in the gaps.
BEST SITE TO SHOP FOR AUSTRIA COMICS
