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linus is an Italiancomics magazine published in Italy since 1965. It is the first Italian magazine exclusively focused on comics.[1] Since 1993, it has been continuously published byBaldini & Castoldi. Previous publishers includeMilano Libri [fr] (1965–1972) andRizzoli (1972–1993).
The first number oflinus was published in April 1965[1][2] by Milano Libri, a subsidiary ofRizzoli after 1972; since 1993, it has been continuously published byBaldini & Castoldi in monthly issues.[3] Its founder wasGiovanni Gandini [fr].[4] The magazine's name was always written in lowercase letters. It had a sister magazine,Alter, which was also a comics magazine.[2] Both magazines had aleftist cultural stance and their editorials supported for theItalian Communist Party.[2]
The first director oflinus was Giovanni Gandini. The magazine published foreigncomic strips likePeanuts,Li'l Abner,Bristow,Dick Tracy, and others.linus was also the place where Italian comics found space for the first time: examples includeNeutron/Valentina byGuido Crepax andGirighiz byEnzo Lunari. It was the first Italian comics magazine which featured stories read by adults.[2][4]
From the magazine's beginning, the comics section was accompanied by an extensive section dealing with society, politics, mass media, literature and other cultural themes. The first issue, for example, featured an interview byUmberto Eco with the novelistElio Vittorini. Satirical strips by famous Italian authors likeAltan,Alfredo Chiappori,Sergio Staino,Ellekappa,Angese,Vauro,Bruno D'Alfonso [it] and by foreigners likeJules Feiffer were regularly published. Gandini was followed in 1972 by the intellectual, journalist, and writerOreste del Buono [it].[2]
Adventures comic book series likeDick Tracy orJeff Hawke were initially published separately on special issues. These later were moved into a monthly series,Alterlinus (laterAlter Alter and simplyAlter, 1974), where more adult-themed comics found place, including works by innovative French authors likeMoebius,Enki Bilal orPhilippe Druillet and Italian artists likeSergio Toppi,Andrea Pazienza andLorenzo Mattotti. Pure adventure themes were published in the monthly spin-off magazineCorto Maltese, created in 1983, named afterHugo Pratt's famous character.
Enzo Baldoni, theItalian journalist and writer killed inIraq in 2004, worked as translator forlinus, notably for theDoonesbury comic strip.Garry Trudeau wrote about him in his website shortly after Baldoni's murder.
A few issues of an English language edition were produced in 1970, edited byFrank Dickens andRalph Steadman.[5]