Invented by Spanish booksellers in the 1920′s, the World Book Day coincides with the date of the death of Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, as well as the Catalan tradition of celebrating Saint George’s Day on 23 April by men giving roses to the ladies of their hearts. Since 1925, the tradition was updated: in return for the rose, the woman gave a book. (Falco and Mayann are therefore wearing costumes from Catalonia.)

Since 1995, UNESCO celebrates the World Book and Copyright Day on this date. Confused Brits claim that it is also the anniversary of the birth and death of William Shakespeare, but forget that the staunchly anti-papist Elizabethans did not adopt the Gregorian calendar until much later. Thus, Shakespeare died 10 days after Cervantes, although both died on 23 April!

Don Quixote has been considered the first modern novel; it introduced many previously unknown or sparsely used storytelling techniques. The anti-hero also shows character development, contrary to many of his idols in earlier chivalric romances – Don Quixote makes a pessimistic inner journey from enchantment to disillusion. (Let’s hope that Falco’s and Mayann’s journey will be a happier one.)

One might ask how someone like Falco ends up tutoring someone like Mayann. All will be revealed in time, but at least superficially, the reason is financial (for him) and social (for her; she really wants to learn French since the American expat community in Paris bores her, but it is difficult to find a serious teacher when you’re a pretty girl… Perhaps this guy can pass the test?).

Some useful links:
Tartuffe (I have actually participated in a Molière play – it was in L’Avare, or The Miser, in high school)
History of Printemps, the department store (It was ravaged by a fire in 1921, a year later – should we suspect Volkov?)

Poor Falco, he’s been busy non-stop for 48 hours, up in the mountains chased by renegade monks and harrassed by Communist girls, downtown servicing Fiats and wrangling smelly Anarchists, guarding Mayann’s honour and sweet-talking Father Pietro, and now he gets to hear this.

But there’s MOCHI.

Page 4a. I only seem to manage half a page at a time now, but you get to see bigger images instead. Yay!
Anachronism: The “Arditi del Popolo” were really formed in 1921 as a response to the growing Fascist power. But since the origins of this leftist militia were to be found among the Arditi in Fiume, the main inspiration for the Goldenbird world, I thought it would be nice to include a reference. Remember, this is happening just before Mussolini came to power, and all of Italy – including the areas along the Yugoslavian coast that were claimed by Italians – were in a state of great confusion.
In other news, I visited Dalmatia a few weeks ago (some photos here). It was fun to see typical Goldenbird landscapes in reality. I have been to Trieste and Venice before, but Croatia was a new experience. It was very inspiring to hear the language, see the traces of history in street names, castles, churches and graveyards, and studying local physiognomies (not to mention the wonderful Adriatic cuisine). The most serendipitous discovery was probably Father Grgur himself, or a very similar-looking statue of Saint Gregory of Nin, who apparently had a lot in common with my grumpy hermit – fiercely independent-minded and not afraid to take on Rome in his fight for Croatian self-determination.

Too tired for any comments. Besides, I should be drawing a space comic now (and keeping track of at least 5 other deadlines…)

A miracle – I’m updating!

Poor Falco. But let’s face it, he was being a real rompicoglioni. Who told him to use Ettore’s Bugatti as a soapbox, anyway? So there’s no need to worry – as the Italians say, “rompicoglioni non muoiono mai”.

Frohes Fest – Happy Holidays – Glad Helg – Onnellisia Pyhiä …
Whatever you are celebrating.

I’m a bit late for Christmas, but not too late for Japanese New Year, which of course must be celebrated with – Mochi.

They’re not that different after all – wouldn’t it be sweet if they’d just get along?…

Guappo is a term of endearment or an insult, depending on whom you ask. It’s a Neapolitan word of (possibly) Spanish origin, meaning a handsome young man and an honourable gangster. Some claim that the English racist slur “wop” comes from guappo, but others say that it all started in 19th century Spain where Italian seasonal workers were derisively called guapos (pretty boys) by the local men for some funny reason.

Chapter 5 continues with 2 more teaser panels. I’m also testing my very own font, based on my handwriting. Here are the uppercase letters. You can spot an alternative capital I if you look closely.

These 3 panels (with the previous one) summarize a bit simplistically but neatly Italian politics in the very early 1920′s, before big M’s infamous March on Rome. In spite of being a rebel state, Ginestra is just a miniature copy of Mamma Italia.

I won’t be able to post on all the days of December, but here is the first window of the Goldenbird Advent Calendar… A preview of page 2 (yes, i know, I haven’t inked more of it ;_;) of chapter 5. Remember where we left off?

More on Advent Calendars, for the heathen.