Valentina is anItalian comic strip series, created in 1965 by theItalian artistGuido Crepax and concluded in 1996.
Originally a minor character working for the comic heroNeutron, Valentina became the sole protagonist of the series in 1967.[1] The first episode was entitled "La Curva di Lesmo" (referring to a curve of theItalian Formula 1 Grand Prix ofMonza).[2] This story was followed by 30 others, collected in a total of seven books, along with two othersLanterna magica (Magic Lantern, 1977) andValentina pirata (Pirate Valentina), the first in full colour.
Valentina Rosselli, whose appearance is inspired by silent film actressLouise Brooks, is aMilanese photojournalist. Her boyfriend, Philip Rembrandt, the super-heroNeutron, has the ability to paralyze people, animals, or machines he has seen in the flesh or pictures. Later a child was born to Philip and Valentina, Mattia.
The character Valentina was born on December 25, 1942, inMilan and grew older during the series, the last episode of which was published in 1995.
As time passed, in Valentina's stories Crepax abandoned the fantasy-science fiction or detective themes of the beginning, introducing a complex, weird mix of erotism, hallucinations, and dreams. The strips also dealt withbisexuality, autoerotic ecstasy, super-sensual abandon, andsadomasochism.
In 1973 afeature film calledBaba Yaga was based on thecomic book. Valentina was played by French actressIsabelle De Funès. The film was directed byCorrado Farina, who had previously made a documentary on the comics byGuido Crepax.
AnItalian TV series based on thecomicbook was released in 1989. Valentina was played by American actressDemetra Hampton and Philip Rembrandt byRussel Case. Thirteen episodes were filmed, with language tracks in both Italian and English, each 30 minutes long. Selected episodes were edited together into a feature film and shown on late-night AmericanCable TV.
