Pif Gadget

Pif Gadget(also simply known asPif) was a Frenchcomics magazinefor children that ran from 1969 to 1993 and 2004 to 2009. Its readership peaked in the early 1970s.

Pif Gadget

Predecessors

Pifhas its origins inLe Jeune Patriote,a youth magazine published byFrench Communistsduring theGerman occupation of France during World War II.It was published illegally from January 1942 but became legal from 1944. In 1945 it was renamedVaillant, Le Jeune Patriote.In 1946 its title was shortened toVaillant,with the tag,"le journal le plus captivant"(The Most Captivating Magazine). For the April issue of 1965, the title was changed toVaillant, le journal de Pif,due to the popularity of its characterPif,a dog character created byJosé Cabrero Arnal.Until 1969,Vaillanthad, like its competitors, serialized some stories over several issues, but the magazine in this incarnation ended with issue number 1238 on February 23, 1969.

Publication history

Pif Gadgetstarted again as a weekly magazine with issue number 1, released on February 24, 1969, but retained the old number relative toVaillant.The magazine was calledPif et son gadget surprisefor the first few months. Thegadgetwas a "free gift" toy with each issue, includingPifises(brine shrimpinstasis,which readers could raise as minuscule pets - known in English assea monkeys).

The cover ofPif Gadgethad the straplineTout en récits complets(all in complete stories) indicating that none of the comic strips wereserializedover multiple issues. However, this reference disappeared in December 1973 with the number 250 and the appearance of the first serialized stories, taking up the model of its competitors.

Its featured comics included:

• Rahan
• Doc Justice
• Hugo Pratt'sCorto Maltese
• Marcel Gotlib'sGai-Luron
• Nikita Mandryka'sLes Aventures potagères du Concombre masqué
• Raymond Poïvetand Roger Lecureux'sLes Pionniers de l'Espérance
• Le Grêlé 7/13
• Nasdine Hodja
• Jean Cézard'sArthur le fantôme justicier
• Les Rigolus et les Tristus
• Jean Tabary'sTotocheand its spin-offCorinne et Jeannot
• Dicentim le petit Franc

Documentary filmmakerFredric Leancreated a series based on 'Docteur Justice' for French TV networkM6.

Pif Gadget's record print run was one million copies, first on April 6, 1970, and again in September 1971. This set a record for a European comic strip that still stands. The paper also benefited from being able to reach thenewly industrialized countries,and was one of the select few Western magazines allowed to be sold behind theIron Curtaindue to itsleft-wingcredentials. It went into rapid decline at the same time as theSoviet Unionfaded, with content thinning and stories extended over several issues. Its last major feature was during thebicentennialof theFrench Revolutionin 1989. The original version was last printed in February 1993.

Pif Gadgetwas revived as a monthly magazine in July 2004 under the aegis of Pif Editions, with runs of approximately 100,000 units. Saddled with about 4 million euros of debt, the 6-person company went intoreceivership(redressement judiciaire) in March 2007 and was wound up (liquidation judiciaire) on January 15, 2009.The last issue was published in November 2008.

It has been relaunched in 2015 as a quarterly named "Super Pif".

Similar comics

Pif inspired similar comics in other countries includingYpsin Germany andJippoin Scandinavia.

References

• Richard Médioni,Pif Gadget: la véritable histoire des origines à 1973,édition Vaillant collector, 2003.
• La mémoire deVaillantetPifBD oubliées(in French)

External links

• Pif Gadget,27th issue(in French)
• Pif Collection(in French)
• Le bozo-bozo, génial casse-tête/tour de magie(in French)
• Rahan's site(in French)
• Vaillant/Pif– onLambiekComiclopedia