Petra Chérie

by Attilio Micheluzzi

Elegante, colta e raffinata senza mai risultare altera, Petra Chérie è una delle figure più iconiche del fumetto italiano. Nata dalla matita di Attilio Micheluzzi, ha conquistato intere generazioni con il suo grande carisma. Una donna indipendente, impavida, dalla forte personalità, protagonista di molteplici avventure sullo sfondo della Grande Guerra. A bordo del suo biplano, vola dall’Istria al Montenegro, passando per Costantinopoli e la Siria settentrionale, attraversando alcuni tra i più drammatici eventi della Storia. La serie completa dell’affascinante aviatrice polacca, raccolta in un unico volume cartonato di grande formato che ne valorizza l’incredibile valore artistico.
Apparsa per la prima volta nel 1977 sul settimanale «Il Giornalino» e dal 1982 sul mensile «Alter Alter», Petra Chérie è l’opera più celebre di Micheluzzi nonché una delle serie di fumetto d’avventura più uniche di sempre. Composta da ventiquattro episodi, vede protagonista un personaggio femminile entrato nell’immaginario collettivo anche al di fuori del mondo della Nona Arte. Impossibile resistere al fascino che, anche a distanza di anni, continua ad avvolgere Petra De Karlowitz - chiamata “Chérie” dal suo autore - e la sua storia. Figlia di una bellissima donna parigina con la passione per la musica, e di un grande uomo d’affari polacco, Petra vive numerose avventure in luoghi sempre diversi senza mai temere pericoli, muovendosi in un periodo che va dalla fine della Belle Époque alla Rivoluzione d’Ottobre. «La gente mi giudica un’eccentrica per via del mio amore per l’aviazione, per il modo di tagliare i capelli, per l’indipendenza della mia vita, per l’amore dei viaggi...», dice di se stessa nell’episodio in cui si presenta al lettore. In oltre trecento pagine, si susseguono tavole tra ammalianti bianchi e neri che creano incredibili giochi di luce e inquadrature che ricordano il cinema americano degli anni Trenta.
Non è un caso se in questo lavoro molti individuino l’apice artistico di trasferendo su carta le sue più grandi passioni attraverso il suo personalissimo stile, il maestro ha dato vita a una delle storie più intriganti e amate del nostro tempo.

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Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Attilio Micheluzzi (1930-1990) was an Italian comics artist.
Born in Umag, now in Croatia but at the time part of Italy, Micheluzzi graduated in architecture and worked for several years in Africa. Returned to Italy in the early 1970s, he started collaborating with the comics magazine Corriere dei Piccoli, often under the pen name Igor Arzbajeff. Among his works the adventure series Petra Chérie and Johnny Focus, as well as the science fiction series Roy Mann, with scripts by Tiziano Sclavi.
Napoli Comicon, the second biggest comic festival in Italy, has held the 'Attilio Micheluzzi Awards' honouring comics creators annually since 1998.

Reviews

[Pierre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Per caso ho intrapreso la lettura di questo bel volume della Milano Libri Edizioni (la stessa della rivista "Linus", per capirci). Ho trovato al suo interno uno spirito di avventura che mi ha fatto pensare, forse anche per la somiglianza nello stile di disegno, a Hugo Pratt e al suo Corto Maltese.

Petra è una donna polacca che si muove avventurosamente sullo sfondo della Prima Guerra Mondiale, vivendo episodio dopo episodio continue peripezie per mare, per terra e per aria. La struttura è a episodi brevi (cinque minuti di lettura circa ciascuno), ognuno culminante con un'avversità che la protagonista deve superare. Il modello, insomma, è quello di Guido Crepax e della sua Valentina, oppure di Barbarella di Forest, ma senza l'introduzione della componente sensuale: Petra è avvenente, ma sempre pudicamente coperta (a volte da uniformi).

Il principale difetto del volume è quello di qualsiasi fumetto di avventura: alla terza volta in cui Petra si ritrova in pericolo, appare naturale chiedersi: "Ma tutte a lei?". Eh, che ci vuoi fare: the show must go on e le disgrazie devono riprendere a susseguirsi con un ritmo incessante.

[Your_Average_Magical_Girls_Fan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bel personaggio con i controcosiddetti - una fra le migliori donne se non la migliore incontrata nel mio percorso fumettistico - aiutata da storie che scorrono e dai bei disegni. Il finale però tradisce lo spirito stesso di Petra, donna forte ed indipendente come poche che si concede ad uomini da lei stessa scelti ma che finisce a letto con un commissario politico perché costretta dallo stesso a farlo. Evidentemente Micheluzzi aveva fretta di chiudere la serie, e il risultato non è dei migliori. Consigliata comunque per la tostezza del personaggio che non sfocia mai nella propaganda politica becera e nell'odio generalizzato verso gli uomini (Marvel e DC parlo di voi), però NON nell'edizione Lizard piena di errori di battitura e di parole tagliate a metà.

[Michael Norwitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know whether any of Petra de Karlowitz's World War One adventures have previously been published in English, but this is certainly the first complete collection. Although I'm usually a sucker for this sort of narrative, I didn't enjoy this volume as much as I'd hoped. Micheluzzi lacks Alex Toth's sense of lightness and joy in the narrative, and I found it often difficult to get a grasp on Petra's personality. The setting also jumps around a lot in ways which maybe worked better in serial form but less well in a collection. I'm willing to re-read the volume though (Micheluzzi is a very competent storyteller) and maybe it will sink in more.

[Matt Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Micheluzzi's WWI pulp adventure stories can be a tad disjointed as Petra bounces around the globe but I was absolutely transfixed by the style in which they're presented. She's an interesting protagonist and I found myself appreciating her somewhat aloof approach to politics and history. Petra is fighting the good fight (for the most part) but more out of a sense of adventure than any particular creed or patriotism. Even if I was losing the plot on occasion, Micheluzzi's panels are stunning and his use of light and shadow create the wonderful graphic appeal. Easy recommendation for anyone who likes this brand of nostalgic pulp.

[Silvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Petra Chérie (Micheluzzi)
Riconosco la mia ignoranza: non conoscevo fino a poco fa questo Grande Classico del fumetto italiano che merita d’essere (ri)scoperto! Il tratto di Micheluzzi ha, in tutta evidenza, influenzato orde di disegnatori che hanno fatto seguito, con le sue linee sobrie e concise rigorosamente in bianco e nero e le sue sceneggiature hanno ugualmente fatto scuola.
Il tema è interessante: durante la prima guerra mondiale, Petra, ventitreenne facoltosa di madre francese e padre polacco, abita con il suo enorme alano arlecchino e un saggio e fedelissimo “uomo tuttofare” cinese, nell’allora neutrale Olanda. Da lì, con il suo biplano ch’essa sa ovviamente condurre alla perfezione, sorvola spesso le linee e i campi di battaglia… quale soldato, semplice o graduato che sia potrebbe resistere al suo fascino misterioso?

[Dario Malic · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1977 Italian comic book author Attilio Micheluzzi started creating his most extensive work, a comics series called „Petra chérie“ which was being published until 1982, reaching a total of 24 small episodes. The main character of the comics is Petra de Karlowitz, a young women living in the neutral Netherlands during the First World War. First eleven episodes tell mutually unrelated stories from her life, showing how she helped the Allied forces in every way she could, trying to maintain her identity hidden in the process to be able to stay on good terms with the Germans and Austrians. While in the first half of the series we get to know Petra, see her virtues and flaws, how she thinks and acts, in a sequence of unrelated situations, in the second half Micheluzzi creates a continuing story which takes Petra from Italy all the way to Soviet Russia, visiting many countries in between, and shows us how she changes and evolves during that journey.

The stories which we read mainly see Petra save the day, but the variety of ways in which she does that is refreshing. To explain them would be spoiling so let's just say we don't get the same formula twice. As if that wasn't diverse enough, but mainly to show she's not invincible, Micheluzzi makes Petra admit defeat from time to time. And even at the end of the final episode. But she's a survivor and every bad situation for her is an opportunity to learn something new about herself and evolve in a way. That's also her greatest value as a character. She shows us that we must overcome every obstacle for we should enjoy life and the only way to do so is to live. While he puts the spotlight on Petra, Micheluzzi doesn't neglect the other characters and through the episodes we meet a wide range of them. From her friends like Nung, Chinese who's been by her side all her life, or Pompeo Aloisi, captain of the Italian royal navy and the closest thing to a love interest for Petra, to her enemies like the menacing Sister Comfort, aiding in the field hospital near Verdun and hiding a shocking secret, or the savage Dragan Baković, the leader of the renegade Montenegrin soldiers who kidnapped Petra. All of those supporting characters, however big or small they are, have unique and rich personalities and stay with us long after we finish reading. And to read „Petra chérie“ is a joy. Written as a great historical thriller it makes you always want to read one episode more. While the author, in his trademark fashion, again talks with his main character, the narrative stays clear enabling easier reading experience than in some of the other Micheluzzi's works.

As far as the drawing is concerned, there's not a flaw to be found. Micheluzzi once again delights with his fantastic black and white compositions. The attention he gives to historical details like uniforms or vehicles is only matched by the variety of angles from which he decides to show us Petra's adventures. And all of those angles are perfectly combined to create atmosphere and bring emotions, usually with the help of the stark black and white contrast. Micheluzzi's remain one of the best uses of black I've ever seen. It is also worth noting that as Petra changes through the stories so does the drawing. The changes are sometimes easier and sometimes harder to notice, most obvious being the drawing in the last story (looking to me as if it was done in color and then turned into black and white).

„Petra chérie“ is a must-read for everyone interested in the changes in Europe in the first quarter of the 20th century and longing for a dash of adventure. And even those of different preferences could easily get seduced by its courageous leading lady and fascinating drawing which demands repeated viewings. I almost forgot to say that it has a distinct sense of humor as well, which makes it even more entertaining, but also a touch of melancholy every now and then which makes your mind wander and your emotions arise. So if you have recognized yourself in any of the above mentioned things, be sure to read it, and if not, read it anyway. Maybe you'll discover something new about yourself.

[Dario Malic · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1977 Italian comic book author Attilio Micheluzzi started creating his most extensive work, a comics series called „Petra chérie“ which was being published until 1982, reaching a total of 24 small episodes. The main character of the comics is Petra de Karlowitz, a young women living in the neutral Netherlands during the First World War. First eleven episodes tell mutually unrelated stories from her life, showing how she helped the Allied forces in every way she could, trying to maintain her identity hidden in the process to be able to stay on good terms with the Germans and Austrians. While in the first half of the series we get to know Petra, see her virtues and flaws, how she thinks and acts, in a sequence of unrelated situations, in the second half Micheluzzi creates a continuing story which takes Petra from Italy all the way to Soviet Russia, visiting many countries in between, and shows us how she changes and evolves during that journey.

The stories which we read mainly see Petra save the day, but the variety of ways in which she does that is refreshing. To explain them would be spoiling so let's just say we don't get the same formula twice. As if that wasn't diverse enough, but mainly to show she's not invincible, Micheluzzi makes Petra admit defeat from time to time. And even at the end of the final episode. But she's a survivor and every bad situation for her is an opportunity to learn something new about herself and evolve in a way. That's also her greatest value as a character. She shows us that we must overcome every obstacle for we should enjoy life and the only way to do so is to live. While he puts the spotlight on Petra, Micheluzzi doesn't neglect the other characters and through the episodes we meet a wide range of them. From her friends like Nung, Chinese who's been by her side all her life, or Pompeo Aloisi, captain of the Italian royal navy and the closest thing to a love interest for Petra, to her enemies like the menacing Sister Comfort, aiding in the field hospital near Verdun and hiding a shocking secret, or the savage Dragan Baković, the leader of the renegade Montenegrin soldiers who kidnapped Petra. All of those supporting characters, however big or small they are, have unique and rich personalities and stay with us long after we finish reading. And to read „Petra chérie“ is a joy. Written as a great historical thriller it makes you always want to read one episode more. While the author, in his trademark fashion, again talks with his main character, the narrative stays clear enabling easier reading experience than in some of the other Micheluzzi's works.

As far as the drawing is concerned, there's not a flaw to be found. Micheluzzi once again delights with his fantastic black and white compositions. The attention he gives to historical details like uniforms or vehicles is only matched by the variety of angles from which he decides to show us Petra's adventures. And all of those angles are perfectly combined to create atmosphere and bring emotions, usually with the help of the stark black and white contrast. Micheluzzi's remain one of the best uses of black I've ever seen. It is also worth noting that as Petra changes through the stories so does the drawing. The changes are sometimes easier and sometimes harder to notice, most obvious being the drawing in the last story (looking to me as if it was done in color and then turned into black and white).

„Petra chérie“ is a must-read for everyone interested in the changes in Europe in the first quarter of the 20th century and longing for a dash of adventure. And even those of different preferences could easily get seduced by its courageous leading lady and fascinating drawing which demands repeated viewings. I almost forgot to say that it has a distinct sense of humor as well, which makes it even more entertaining, but also a touch of melancholy every now and then which makes your mind wander and your emotions arise. So if you have recognized yourself in any of the above mentioned things, be sure to read it, and if not, read it anyway. Maybe you'll discover something new about yourself.