Paperinik-Le Origini

Phantom Duck (Paperinik) was created in 1969 by Elisa Penna who was chief editor of the Italian Disney comic *TOPOLINO. As she herself said the idea of Donald's alter-ego derived from the TV character Dorellik, interpretated by the actor and singer Johnny Dorelly in the TV show Johnny sera* in 1967, followed one year later by the movie *Arriva Dorellik*.
Obviously Dorellik is the silly parody of the criminal Diabolik, created by the imagination of the sisters Angela and Luciana Giussani and published for the first time in the Italian comic book in November 1st, 1962.		Copyright Inter Jet / Mega Film	Copyright Editrice Astorina
Copyright Editore Corno	Copyright Editore Corno	Of the other "dark" comic publications created in those years following the path of Diabolik, which are characterized by the use of the letter K in the name (Kriminal, Satanik, Sadik) there is one worth mentioning for his originality and innovation the comic: Kriminal, who in 1964 started the editorial career of Magnus as comics artist. The protagonist of this serie is Antony Logan, alias Kriminal, an English outlaw who acts wearing a skeleton costume.
The early Phantom Duck due to his "modus operandi" and the mistery element of his stories, can be considered a mix of various "dark" characters mainly those coming from French literature (Rocambolè, Arsène Lupin, Fantomas), but also from oversea figures as the masked avenger Zorro, or the "superhero" Batman.

The first graphic realization of Phantom Duck appeared in the weekly Italian comic TOPOLINO n° 705 June 1st, 1969, where in the internal section QUI...PAPERINO QUACK a preview of the first Phantom Duck story (published in the following TOPOLINO n°706 - 707 June 8th and 15th, 1969) was shown. This first story entitled PAPERINIK IL DIABOLICO VENDICATORE (PHANTOM DUCK THE DEVILISH AVENGER), written by Guido Martina and drawn by Giovan Battista Carpi, tells how Donald received by mistake the property of Villa Rosa, which was the mansion of the gentleman thief Fantomius, how Donald discovered his secrets and his black costume which he decided to use in order to have his revenge against Uncle Scrooge and the lucky cousin Gladstone.

Carpi had said about this character:" In the begining he was an interesting double identity case, he was the expression of Donald's frustations which were relieved through this new identity..."

GENESIS OF AN AVENGER

Phantom Duck becomes real through a series of unexpected and lucky situations which transform Donald from a victim into a feared avenger.

The events of his first adventure reveal Donald's most courageous and hard-working personality which (sometimes distorted in the Italian stories) remind in some way of the golden years of Barks' adventures.

THE LUCKY EVENT: Donald won Villa Rosa due to a wrong mail delivery (the real winner was Gladstone). This situation completelly changed the image of the unlucky Duck as often shown in the stories made in Italy. It makes you wonder, what if Villa Rosa had been given to Gladstone, as it should have, would he have become himself a "Phantom Gander"...more likely not his life-style and his dandy personality woudn't have given birth to such an alter-ego.
THE CASUAL FINDING: Due to another lucky event Donald found Fantomius' secret diary hidden under an armchair cushin. An interesting and unexpected situation seems to begin for Donald. Probably if this diary haven't been found in this occasion, Donald would have given back Villa Rosa to Gladstone (also because his nephews didn't like it). Another lost possibility to have an improbable "Phantom Gander".
THE SPARKS THAT SET OFF THE REVENGE: Just in that day (because of the usual worthless job offer) Donald has a strong dispute with his uncle Scrooge McDuck. A good reason to plant the avenger's seed. Probably with a more relaxed family situation Donald would have been less motivated to begin such a dangerous and demanding secret activity.
THE IDEA IS BORN: While Donald is reading Fantomius' diary, the idea to conduct a double life is starting to grow in his mind, despised at day and feared at night. The character of the gentleman thief Fantomius, who robbed only from the rich, attracted Donald.
THE UNKNOWING PARTNER: Donald realizes that alone he wouldn't have been able to complete his secret project, so he decides to involve his smart but ingenuous friend Gyro Gearloose. It is clear that without this eccentric inventor, Phantom Duck never would have existed.
THE FIRST THEFT: His unknowing (at least in this first story) accomplice Gyro is the first victim of Phantom Duck, who steal him some rubber masks. Donald has already started to act as the smart "outlaw".
THE COSTUME: Donald found Fantomius' costume in the false-bottom of the big armchair in the main living room of Villa Rosa. Then he gets to know the Villa's secrets as described in the diary. The training of Phantom Duck has started.
THE TRICK: The hypnotic oil lamp is like a Trojan horse against Scrooge. This is the first special device used by Phantom Duck.
THE ACTION: Phantom Duck is on duty with his first spectacular action: to steal Scrooge's mattress (stuffed with 1000$ bills) from Scrooge's bed while he is sleeping on it. In this first mission Phantom Duck is in control of the situation and he seems to have a good familiarity with the technique and Fantomius' devices.
THE CONFRONTATION: Phantom Duck is still an unknown character. The two cops don't have any idea who was the strange guy with "bat wings" they met the night before. Donald is obbligated to substain a face to face confrontation with his cousin . Never as in this situation our hero plays it clever. Donald realizes that if he wants to keep a secret identity he must play the rule of Phantom Duck even without the costume.
THE SCAPEGOAT: Everybody is seeking the guilty and here he is caught in the act (or better in the mattress). Gladstone in this adventure exhausted all his luck and fell in bad luck. He caused the explosion of Villa Rosa and, believed to be the misterous thief, is forced by Scrooge Mc Duck to collect all the bils with his tongue.
REVENGE IS DONE: Donald expresses his satisfation for the mission, everything has gone the right way, even better than the original plan. The final part of the story has been a little bit suffered but at the end Donald gets his revenge, Scrooge has been ridiculized and Gladstone took the fault on him.

THE TWO COVERS OF THE ITALIAN COMIC TOPOLINO WITH THE FIRST PAPERINIK STORY

		Unforgettable are the two covers of the TOPOLINO n° 706-707 where the first Paperinik story was published in 1969. All the Italian fans of the masked duck (now no longer youngsters) relate those two covers to the Paperinik of their yougth, with a series of sensations, images and memories lived in those years now so far away .
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