is an (director and writer) and Franco Bonvicini (Bonvi) (co-writer and art). The first run comprised 11 stories, later reprinted as normal comic strips for '' Il Corriere Dei Ragazzi '' and subsequently in numerous other magazines and books.
In 1977 the character was revamped for the follow-on TV series '' SuperGulp! '', with other 17 stories.
Nick Carter adventures amount to a total of some 80, including these created for the TV shows and later adapted for comics magazines. Several stories were drawn by Silver (Guido Silvestri) and Clod (Claudio Onesti).
- Nick Carter, whose name is inspired to that of the John Russell Coryell 's detective, is a short, old-fashion detective which is usually called by other authorities or by privates to solve intricate cases. These are normally occasions to satirize famous movies, comics characters or existing persons (see later). Humouristic versions of Horror and Science Fiction themes are sometimes present. The stories are generically set in the United States of 1910s - 1920s , as Carter and his collaborators take part to several missions in World War I 's front and in the Russia Revolution as well.
- is Carter's tall, sturdy and clumsy assistant, whose main abilities regards fists and weapons. Each stories usually ends with Patsy mantaining something such: "And the last one repairs damage" or "The last one closes"
- is a Japanese detective who expresses himself only in rhyme, citing an ironizing version of Japan's wisdom.
- is a N.Y. police official whose incompetence to solve striking cases usually led to calling Carter.
- is the main and unique villain of the series. Moulinsky is an alleged "master criminal" using astute disguises: the most incredible ones include three people a time, a television, an airship and a fog. He is, however, invariably unmasked by Carter in the last panel of each story, with the signature exchange: (Nick Carter:) "No! This is not ___, but Stanislao Moulinsky in one of his best disguises!" (Stanislao Moulinsky, taking off his mask and with a strong russian accent:) "Well yes, damned Carter, you have won again!"
Nick Carter stories are a never ending source of parodies of famous themes and characters of literature, film, TV and history. An incomplete list includes:
- ''Babbino'' ("Little Daddy"), after the main character of '' The Godfather '' (''Padrino'', "little father", in Italian) film; and as Merlon, a trade union leader in a story inspired to the film '' On The Waterfront ''. Note that in Italian "Merlon" is something such as "Big blackbird", where "blackbird" is colloquial for foolish.
- Mandrake The Magician , featured as the Great Mephisto, a criminal Hpynotizer .
- The famous adventure comics character Corto Maltese , as himself. He mantains, in pure Hugo Pratt 's style: "I don't live for vile money. I live for adventure."
- King Kong , as a giant gorilla of the "Barzum Circus", who falls in love with Patsy.
- Lenin , as himself, in the prison wagon carrying him back to Russia .
- Adolf Hitler , whose face is that of an unnamed, fanatic character attempting to bring panic in New York with a series of terroristic acts.
- Jack London , portrayed with Bonvi's face.
- Orson Welles , as "Borson Willis", facing a false invasion from Mars , of course played by the ubiquitous Moulinsky.
- Former Italian premier Giulio Andreotti , as the "prime minister", in a late story of 1993 .
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