{"id":17385,"date":"2017-10-13T07:00:22","date_gmt":"2017-10-13T07:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=17385"},"modified":"2017-10-13T06:01:55","modified_gmt":"2017-10-13T06:01:55","slug":"iznogoud-volume-1-the-wicked-wiles-of-iznogoud-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2017\/10\/13\/iznogoud-volume-1-the-wicked-wiles-of-iznogoud-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Iznogoud Volume 1: The Wicked Wiles of Iznogoud"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\nBy Ren\u00c3\u00a9 Goscinny<\/strong> & Jean Tabary, <\/strong>translated by Anthea Bell<\/strong> & Derek Hockridge <\/strong>(Cinebook)
\nISBN: 978-905460-46-5<\/p>\n

Lots of folks believe today’s unlucky! Bosh and tarradiddle! Let’s look at a really unfortunate comics icon and the genius who conceived him\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n

Ren\u00c3\u00a9 Goscinny was one of the most prolific, and therefore remains one of the most read, writers of comic strips the world has ever seen. Paris-born – in 1926 – the immortal scribe was actually raised in Argentina where his father taught mathematics. From an early age the lad showed artistic promise, and studied fine arts. He graduated in 1942.<\/p>\n

While working as a junior illustrator in an advertising agency in 1945, an uncle invited Goscinny to stay in America, where he found work as a translator. After National Service in France, young Ren\u00c3\u00a9 settled in Brooklyn and pursued an artistic career. In 1948 he became an assistant for a little studio that included Harvey Kurtzman, Will Elder, Jack Davis and John Severin as well as European giants-in-waiting Maurice de B\u00c3\u00a9v\u00c3\u00a8re (\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Morris\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, with whom he produced Lucky Luke <\/strong>from 1955-1977). Also temporarily in-house were Joseph Gillain (Jij\u00c3\u00a9) and Georges Troisfontaines, head of the World Press Agency, the company providing comics for French magazine Spirou<\/em><\/strong>\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n

After contributing scripts to Belles Histoires de l’Oncle Paul<\/em> and ‘Jerry Spring’ <\/em>Goscinny was made head of World Press’ Paris office where he met his life-long creative partner Albert Uderzo (Jehan Sepoulet<\/em>, Luc Junior<\/em>) as well as creating Sylvie<\/em> and Alain et Christine<\/em> (with \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Martial\u00e2\u20ac\u009d- Martial Durand) and Fanfan et Polo<\/em> (drawn by Dino Attanasio).<\/p>\n

In 1955 Goscinny, Uderzo, Charlier and Jean H\u00c3\u00a9brard formed the independent \u00c3\u2030dipress\/\u00c3\u2030difrance syndicate, creating magazines for general industry (Clairon<\/em><\/strong> for the factory union and Pistolin<\/em> <\/strong>for a chocolate factory). With Uderzo he produced Bill Blanchart<\/em>, Pistolet <\/em>and Benjamin et Benjamine<\/em>, and himself wrote and illustrated Le Capitaine Bibobu<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Goscinny seems to have invented the 9-day week. Using the pen-name Agostini he wrote Le Petit Nicholas<\/em> (drawn by Jean-Jacques Semp\u00c3\u00a9), and in 1956 he began an association with the revolutionary magazine Tintin<\/em><\/strong>, writing stories for many illustrators including Dino Attanasio, (Bob De Moor), Mar\u00c3\u00a9chal, Tibet, Andr\u00c3\u00a9 Franquin and Berck, as well as crafting Oumpah-Pah<\/em> with Uderzo.<\/p>\n

Goscinny also wrote strips for the magazines Paris-Flirt<\/em><\/strong> and Vaillant<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In 1959 \u00c3\u2030dipress\/\u00c3\u2030difrance launched Pilote<\/em><\/strong>, and Goscinny went into overdrive. The first issue featured his and Uderzo’s magnum opus Asterix the Gaul<\/em>, and he also re-launched Le Petit Nicolas<\/em>, Jehan Pistolet\/Jehan Soupolet <\/em>whilst debuting Jacquot le Mousse<\/em> and Tromblon et Bottaclou<\/em> (drawn by Godard).<\/p>\n

When Georges Dargaud bought out Pilot<\/em><\/strong> in 1960, Goscinny remained as editor-in-Chief, but still found time to add new series Les Divagations de Monsieur Sait-Tout<\/em> (Martial), La Potachologie Illustr\u00c3\u00a9e<\/em> (Cabu), Les Dingodossiers<\/em> (Gotlib) and La For\u00c3\u00aat de Ch\u00c3\u00aanebeau<\/em> (Mic Delinx).<\/p>\n

He also wrote frequently for television and in his spare time created a little something entitled Les Aventures du Calife Haroun el Poussah<\/em> for Record<\/em> <\/strong>(first episode January 15th<\/sup> 1962), illustrated by a Swedish-born artist named Jean Tabary. A minor success, it was re-tooled as Iznogoud <\/strong>after it transferred to Pilote<\/em><\/strong>. Goscinny died in November 1977.<\/p>\n

Jean Tabary was born in Stockholm, and began his epic comics career in 1956 on French mainstay Vaillant<\/em><\/strong>, illustrating Richard et Charlie<\/em>. He graduated to the hugely popular boy’s adventure strip Totoche<\/em> in 1959. The engaging head of a kid gang, Totoche<\/em> spawned a spin-off, Corinne et Jeannot<\/em>, and as Vaillant<\/em> <\/strong>transformed into Pif<\/em><\/strong>, the lad even got his own short-lived comic; Totoche Posche<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Tabary drew the series until 1976, and has revived it in recent years under his own publishing imprint S\u00c3\u00a9guini\u00c3\u00a8re \/Editions Tabary.<\/p>\n

In 1962 the illustrator teamed with Ren\u00c3\u00a9 Goscinny to produce imbecilic Arabian potentate Haroun el-Poussah<\/em>, but it was the villainous foil – power-hungry vizier Iznogoud<\/em> – who stole the show\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 possibly the little rat’s only successful plot.<\/p>\n

With the emphasis shifted to the shifty shrimp, the revamped series moved to Pilote<\/em> in 1968, evolving into a huge fan-favourite, spawning 30 albums to date, a long-running TV cartoon show and even a live action movie. Following their success, Goscinny & Tabary collaboratively created Valentin<\/em>, and Tabary also wrote Buck Gallo<\/em> for Delinx to draw.<\/p>\n

When Goscinny died in 1977 Tabary took over writing Iznogoud, moving to book length complete tales, rather than the compilations of short stories that typified their collaborations.<\/p>\n

So, what’s it all about?<\/p>\n

Like all the best comics it works on two levels: as a comedic romp of sneaky baddies coming a cropper for younger readers, and as a pun-filled, sly and witty satire for older, wiser heads, much like its more famous cousin Asterix – and translated here with the brilliantly light touch of master translators Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge who made the indomitable little Gaul so very palatable to the English tongue.<\/p>\n

Iznogoud is Grand Vizier to Haroun Al Plassid<\/em>, Caliph of Ancient Baghdad, but the conniving little shyster has loftier ambitions – or as he is always shouting it – \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I want to be Caliph instead of the Caliph!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The vile vizier is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153aided\u00e2\u20ac\u009d – and that’s me being uncharacteristically generous – in his schemes by bumbling assistant Wa’at Alahf<\/em>, and in this first album (available in paperback and eBook formats) they begin their campaign with ‘Kissmet’<\/em>, wherein pandemonium ensues after a talking frog is revealed to be an ensorcelled Prince who can only regain human form if smooched by a human being.<\/p>\n

Iznogoud sees an opportunity if he can only trick the simple-minded Caliph into puckering up; unfortunately but typically, the little rotter forgets that he’s not the only ambitious man in Baghdad\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n

‘Mesmer-Eyezed’<\/em> then finds him employing a surly stage hypnotist to remove the Caliph whilst ‘The Occidental Philtre’<\/em> sees him employ a flying potion obtained from a lost, jet-lagged western sorcerer, each with hilarious but painfully counter-productive results.<\/p>\n

Tabary drew himself into ‘The Time Machine’<\/em> as a comic artist desperate to meet his deadlines who falls foul of a mystical time cabinet, but when he meets the vizier, that diminutive dastard can clearly see its Caliph-removing potential – to his eternal regret\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n

Soon after in ‘The Picnic’<\/em> Iznogoud takes drastic action, luring Haroun Al Plassid into the desert, but as usual his best-laid plans really aren’t, and the book then concludes with ‘Chop and Change’<\/em> as our indefatigable villain gets hold of a magic goblet which can switch the minds of any who drink from it, forgetting that Caliphs are important people who employ food-tasters\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n

Snappy, fast-paced slapstick and painfully delightful word-play abound in these mirthfully infectious tales and the series has become a household name in France; said term has even entered French political life as a description for a certain type of politician: over-ambitious, unscrupulous – and usually short in stature…<\/p>\n

Eight albums were originally translated into English during the 1970s and 1980s without really making any little impact here, but since Cinebook’s revival the vile Vizier has finally caught on in a superb sequence of gloriously readable and wonderfully affordable comedy epics that found an appreciative audience among British kids of all ages.<\/p>\n

Surely you and yours should number amongst them?
\n\u00c2\u00a9 1967 Dargaud Editeur Paris by Goscinny & Tabary. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Ren\u00c3\u00a9 Goscinny & Jean Tabary, translated by Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge (Cinebook) ISBN: 978-905460-46-5 Lots of folks believe today’s unlucky! Bosh and tarradiddle! Let’s look at a really unfortunate comics icon and the genius who conceived him\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 Ren\u00c3\u00a9 Goscinny was one of the most prolific, and therefore remains one of the most read, … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Iznogoud Volume 1: The Wicked Wiles of Iznogoud”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[63,102,122,97],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-european-classics","category-fantasy","category-historical","category-kids-all-ages"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-4wp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17385","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17385"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17385\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17385"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17385"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17385"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}