SPECIAL GUEST OF THE FESTIVAL
Enrique Sanchez Abuli, Barcelona, Spain
Enrique Sánchez Abulí (1945, Palau-del-Vidre, France) is comic book writer and translator. He is one of the central figures on Spanish comics scene and one of the leading European script writers. Although his name is mainly associated with famous comic Torpedo 1936, during last four decades Abuli proved that he is exceptionally productive writer. He began his career way back in 1970 with the serial Curro Peláez (with Chici de la Fuente) and comic Juanito er Kiko one year later (with Joan Bernet Toledano).
In 1981, together with American artist Alex Toth, Abuli created the antagonistic character of hit man Luca Torreli – Torpedo. That was the start of Torpedo 1936 that made Abuli famous worldwide. After first two episodes, Toth withdrew from the project, due to the creative differences. He was replaced by Jordi Bernet, who worked on all other episodes. In 1982, Torpedo appeared in Spanish horror-comics magazine Creepy and went on to be featured in several other Spanish comics magazines. Renowned French publishing house Glénat reissued the whole series consisted of 15 graphic novels. The last one appeared in 2000, when Torpedo ended due to the disagreements between the authors.
Torpedo has been translated into dozen languages. Due to its great popularity, dedicated comics magazine titled Luca Torelli es Torpedo appeared in 1991. Two years later in Barcelona, director Pepe Miravete created a theater setting for Torpedo. Episode Tic-Tac was adapted for animation; the first episode of 24 planned, but unrealized due to the censorship. Separate episodes were published in 12 issues of Spanish Playboy in 1991-1993. All these appeared conjointly in collection titled Los relatos de Torpedo (2005). Fourth album Chaud devant! was awarded as Best Foreign Album at Angoulême International Comics Festival. In 1994 and 1995 Torpedo was nominated for the Harvey Award for Best American Edition of Foreign Material.
From 1994 to 2002 Abuli collaborated with Chilean artist Felix Vega for Spanish Playboy. Partnership with Playboy produced graphic novels Las historietas del Playboy (with Vega) and La mariposa y la llama (with Martin Sauri). In co-authorship with Vega appeared yet another novel – Asesinos anónimos (2005). Other Abuli’s works include: Alex Magnum (two albums: 1986 and 1989, with Guines); Retour (1986), Historias Negras (1988), Parlez-moi de mort (1989) and Snake (1998), all four with Bernet; Joe Breakdown (1989, with Eric Puech); La epopeya de Chile: La Tierra de la Quimera (1992, with Alfonso Font); Kafre (3 albums, 1993-1995, with Das Pastoras); L’Albinos (1997, with Marcelo Perez); Capitaine La Guibole (2000, with Christian Rossi); Glam et Comet, Purée cosmique (2005, with Riff Reb’s) and Historias Tremendas (2009, with Oswal and Darko Perović).
Besides many important translations of foreign comics into Spanish (including Jeff Smith’s Bone), Abuli also left a visible mark in publishing; he was editor of magazines 1984, Creepy and Comix Internacional.