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ALL THE FIRSTS OF MARTIN MYSTERE
Since 1982, Martin Mystére, Detective of the Impossible is the leading character of many comic series published by Sergio Bonelli Editore. Up to 1995, 165 issues of Martin Mystére, 12 issues of Martin Mystére Special, 6 issues of Martin Mystére Bis,9 issues of Almanacco del Mistero and 1 issue of Martin Mystére Gigante have been published, with a total of 19,436 pages divided into 146 long stories (64 to 224 pages); 395 pages divided into 21 short stories (8 to 40 pages); 238 pages of the spin-off series Magic Patrol : 464 pages of team-ups between Martin Mystére, Dylan Dog and Mister No.
The adventures of BVZM ( BVZM stands for Buon Vecchio Zio Marty, Good Ol' Uncle Marty, as readers affectionately call Martin Mystère) are aimed to an audience ranging from 13 to 25 years of age, with a noticeable fringe of older readers. Martin Mystère readers are avid consumers of books, newspapers, magazines; the Martin Mystère series published by Sergio Bonelli Editore sell around 1,500,000 copies yearly.
The production of Martin Mystére increases yearly by 1,158 pages (long stories), approximatively 70 pages (short stories), approximatively 300 pages (spin-off series). Here follows an outline of Martin Mystère's highlights (first issue, first short story, etc) and foreign translations . For more details, take a look at Tutte le prime di Martin Mystère (in Italian).
1978-1981
A series with the same characteristics of Martin Mystère s is published in the short-lived weekly magazine Supergulp; the main character is named Allan Quatermain , and is introduced as the grandson of the discoverer of King Solomon's Mines. After the closing of Supergulp, author Castelli proposes to Sergio Bonelli Editore to continue the series; Allan Quatermain s name is changed first in Doc Robinson and eventually in Martin Mystère.
1982
The first 96-page monthly Martin Mystère book is published, with serial stories ranging from 64 to 224 pages.
1983
The first Martin Mystère short story (12 pages) is published on magazine "Orient Express".
1984
The first Martin Mystère Special Summer Annual is published, featuring a complete 112-page story. The first 64-page Dizionario dei Misteri (Dictionary of Mysteries), not in comic form, is enclosed.
1987
The first Almanacco del Mistero ( Mystery Almanac ) Winter Annual is introduced: 160 pages, only partially in comic form.
1988
The first Martin Mystère newspaper strip is featured on La Notte. Though published daily, the pages have the same format as the American standard weekly Half Pages .
1989
A revised monthly reprint series of Martin Mystère, TuttoMystère, is released.
Martin Mystère is used for the first time as a testimonial for a cultural event.
The first of many columns signed Martin Mystère is published on monthly magazine Tic.
1990
Martin Mystère Bis, an irregularly-published series of Martin Mystère supplements is issued; it features complete 188-page stories.
The first team-up with another Bonelli hero, Dylan Dog, is released.
A Martin Mystère novel ( Il Detective dell'Impossibile ) aimed to a young readership is published by Malipiero Editore.
1992
Martin Mystère presenta Zona X is introduced. The magazine is published four times a year ( bimonthly since 1995) and features two 94-page stories hosted by Martin Mystère.
Mondadori Editore publishes the first Oscar reprint (I mondi perduti di Martin Mystère); Edizioni Comic Art releases the first anthology of short stories (Quattro casi improbabili).
1993
Mondadori Editore publishes Enciclopedia dei Misteri, a 400-page compilation of articles and features concerning the mystery world.
1995
The first Annual Martin Mystère Gigante (240 cm. 21x30.5 pages) is published.
The first Martin Mystère spin-off series, Magic Patrol, is introduced in Zona X No. 10.
1996
A Martin Mystère Extra series, reprinting Almanacco del Mistero, Martin Mystère Special and all the short stories , is scheduled for late 1996.
FOREIGN TRANSLATIONS
1982
Martin Mystère
Spain, Editorial Zinco, monthly
Cm.16x21, 96 pages; 20 issues.
1983
Marti Mystèrija
Yugoslavia, SAP (Novi Sad), monthly
Cm.16x21, 96 pages. About 100 issues and many "specials".
Ombrax - Martin Mystère
France, Editions Lug, monthly
Formato cm. 13x18, 128 pages (96 devoted to MM), some original cover by Ciro Tota. 32 issues.
1984
Atlantis
Turkey, Alo Bilgi, monthly
Formato cm. 13x18, 192 pages con 2 episodi, original painted covers by "Sieyat". Still published
1986
Allan Dark
Germany, Bastei Verlag, monthly
Cm. 13x18, 96 4-color pages, Original painted covers; 4 issues.
Martin Mystère
France, Editions Lug, monthly
Cm.16x21, 96 pages, original covers by Ciro Tota; 2 issues.
1988
Martin Mystère
Brasil, Globo, monthly
Cm. 13x18, 96 pages; 12 issues
1990
Martin Mystère
Brasil, Editora Record, monthly.
Cm.16x21, varying number of pages (each book collects a complete tale). 10 issues.
1992
Martin Mystère - El misterio de la Sagrada Familia
Spain, Planeta/De Agostini.
Cm. 21x29,7; 96 pages. Special issue
1993
Martin Mystère
France, Bonelli/Glenat, three times a year
Cm. 19x22,5; 304 pages. Collects two or more complete stories. Original covers by Claudio Villa. 6 issues.
1994
Martin Mystère
Croatia, Slobodna Dalmacija- SAF, monthly.
Cm.16x21, 96 pages. Still published.