Hello dear friends! Does anyone have any idea who this mysterious character by Romano Scarpa is? I've been racking my brains for days, but to no avail.
Last Edit: Apr 6, 2021 16:03:29 GMT by juicymcduck
It's not surprising it has been a real head-scratcher: according to the italian comic magazine fumettologica, the character has never existed in this form: "It's probably a redesign of the illusion in “Zio Paperone e le lucciole industriali” (I TL 386-A) that Scarpa may have intended to reuse in a new storia" (the link in the comics gallery has since disappeared, but you can still read the text by using a web inspector). The original character is an allegory of Scooge money that only appears in Scrooge's thoughts.
Last Edit: Apr 7, 2021 20:55:51 GMT by dorialexander
It's not surprising it has been a real head-scratcher: according to the italian comic magazine fumettologica, the character has never existed in this form: "It's probably a redesign of the illusion in “Zio Paperone e le lucciole industriali” (I TL 386-A) that Scarpa may have intended to reuse in a new storia" (the link in the comics gallery has since disappeared, but you can still read the text by using a web inspector). The original character is an allegory of Scooge money that only appears in Scrooge's thoughts.
But it seems that this image was published in a comic book or newspaper, or softbound, illustrated book, because the pixilisation appears similar to that of colour-printed newsprint. So, it wasn't just a sketch in a fanzine.
It's not surprising it has been a real head-scratcher: according to the italian comic magazine fumettologica, the character has never existed in this form: "It's probably a redesign of the illusion in “Zio Paperone e le lucciole industriali” (I TL 386-A) that Scarpa may have intended to reuse in a new storia" (the link in the comics gallery has since disappeared, but you can still read the text by using a web inspector). The original character is an allegory of Scooge money that only appears in Scrooge's thoughts.
But it seems that this image was published in a comic book or newspaper, or softbound, illustrated book, because the pixilisation appears similar to that of colour-printed newsprint. So, it wasn't just a sketch in a fanzine.
It's part of an illustration Romano Scarpa did for the 2000th issue of Topolino in 1994.
But it seems that this image was published in a comic book or newspaper, or softbound, illustrated book, because the pixilisation appears similar to that of colour-printed newsprint. So, it wasn't just a sketch in a fanzine.
It's part of an illustration Romano Scarpa did for the 2000th issue of Topolino in 1994.
So, he ISN'T an official self-standing, LIVING character, but, rather, a manifestation, symbol (spirit) of Uncle Scrooge's money, who we could use again and again, IF we wish to make an educational point about economics, money or Scrooge's money. It might make a funny scene to have two opposite symbolic spirits argue and fight bitterly over who is right, and who deserves to get the attention of the story lead character, who needs to learn what is morally correct or practical, with regard to the protagonists' or villain's strategic decision.
It's not surprising it has been a real head-scratcher: according to the italian comic magazine fumettologica, the character has never existed in this form: "It's probably a redesign of the illusion in “Zio Paperone e le lucciole industriali” (I TL 386-A) that Scarpa may have intended to reuse in a new storia" (the link in the comics gallery has since disappeared, but you can still read the text by using a web inspector). The original character is an allegory of Scooge money that only appears in Scrooge's thoughts.
Thank you! I could identify EVERYTHING ELSE on this illustration, but not that. It was very frustrating.
It's not surprising it has been a real head-scratcher: according to the italian comic magazine fumettologica, the character has never existed in this form: "It's probably a redesign of the illusion in “Zio Paperone e le lucciole industriali” (I TL 386-A) that Scarpa may have intended to reuse in a new storia" (the link in the comics gallery has since disappeared, but you can still read the text by using a web inspector). The original character is an allegory of Scooge money that only appears in Scrooge's thoughts.
Thank you! I could identify EVERYTHING ELSE on this illustration, but not that. It was very frustrating.
You're welcome. The original design looked this way:
While it's only a thought creation, Scrooge occasonally interact with it (at some point they are drinking a toast):
It's possible that the character has been replaced with the new design intended by Scarpa in later publications (here it's from a scan of the original Topolino).
What a coincidence! I was just looking at Scarpa’s money monster today, who by the way earlier appears in “The Lentils From Babylon”. I was about to report it to Inducks when I saw this post. Yeah, maybe Scarpa wanted to use it again? Does the money “monster”, as I like to call it, appear in other stories?
What a coincidence! I was just looking at Scarpa’s money monster today, who by the way earlier appears in “The Lentils From Babylon”. I was about to report it to Inducks when I saw this post. Yeah, maybe Scarpa wanted to use it again? Does the money “monster”, as I like to call it, appear in other stories?
Yes you're right. In the complete edition of Romano Scarpa, Alberto Becattini confirms the earlier appearance of the character in "The Lentils from Babylon", only once more with a different design! He calls it the "spirit of Scrooge's affairs" ("spirito degli affari") or his "conscience": I don't know if it's his own interpretation or the names actually used by Scarpa. No mention is made of later appearances in later Scarpa stories but that's definitely possible (especially since he was till thinking enough about this charater to propose a redesign in 1994).
Anyway, the entire concept of a spirit or a conscious fits very well with the Dicksian roots of Scrooge (even though Scarpa's spirit is noticeably unmoralistic)
In vol. 5 of Scarpa's full work, Luca Boschi gives additional details: the name of the character is Julius Pecunius "a first sketch of a more consistent character that Scarpa intended to develop by the end of his life but never found its proper place". Apparently one source of inspiration of Scarpa was the imaginary rabbit Harvey in the 1950 movie with James Stewart.
This raises an additional mystery. In a dutch story from 2005 (H 23176) Scrooge attempts to find (apparently in Rome) a golden laurel wreath from Julius Pecunius. Is it an allusion to Scarpa's character?
In volume 5 of Scarpa's full work, Luca Boschi gives additional detail: the name of the character is Julius Pecunius "a first sketch of a more consistent character that Scarpa intended to develop by the end of his life but never found its proper place". Apparently one source of inspiration of Scarpa was the imaginary rabbit Harvey in the 1950 movie with James Stewart.
This raises an additional mystery. In a dutch story from 2005 (H 23176) Scrooge attempts to find (apparently in Rome) a golden laurel wreath from Julius Pecunius. Is it an allusion to Scarpa's character?
EDIT: Woops! You got there before me.
"Julius Pecunius, eh?" How quaint... that name was used in a completely unrelated story by Jan Kruse and Bas Heymans.
It's not surprising it has been a real head-scratcher: according to the italian comic magazine fumettologica, the character has never existed in this form: "It's probably a redesign of the illusion in “Zio Paperone e le lucciole industriali” (I TL 386-A) that Scarpa may have intended to reuse in a new storia" (the link in the comics gallery has since disappeared, but you can still read the text by using a web inspector). The original character is an allegory of Scooge money that only appears in Scrooge's thoughts.
Thank you! I could identify EVERYTHING ELSE on this illustration, but not that. It was very frustrating.
The French Picsou Magazine challenged its readers to identify all 37 references. I managed to find everything except this strange character, but thanks to you guys I found it! I sent them my answers by email yesterday. Wish me luck!
Last Edit: Apr 8, 2021 10:43:08 GMT by juicymcduck
