Aurelio Galleppini (28 August 1917 – 10 March 1994), better known with his nickname Galep, was an

Italian comics Italian comics, also known as ''fumetto'' , plural form ''fumetti'' , are comics that originate in Italy. The most popular Italian comics have been translated into many languages. The term ''fumetto'' (literally ''little puff of smoke'') refers ...

artist and illustrator, best known as graphic creator of ''

Tex Willer Tex Willer is the main fictional character of the Italian comics series ''Tex'', created by writer Gian Luigi Bonelli and illustrator Aurelio Galleppini, and first published in Italy on 30 September 1948. It is among the most popular characters ...

'' in 1948.

Biography

Galleppini was born at

Casale di Pari Casale di Pari is a village in Tuscany, central Italy, administratively a frazione of the comune of Civitella Paganico, province of Grosseto, in the area of the Ombrone, Ombrone Valley. At the time of the 2001 census its population amounted to 176 ...

. In 1948 Gallepini created '' Occhio Cupo'' and ''Tex Willer'' (both written by

Gian Luigi Bonelli Giovanni Luigi Bonelli (22 December 1908 – 12 January 2001) was an Italian comic book author and publisher, best remembered as the co-creator of ''Tex Willer'' in 1948, together with artist Aurelio Galleppini. Career Bonelli was born in Milan. ...

). Galep drew Tex Willer's adventures from 1948 until his death. Many other illustrators alternated with him on the pages of this popular

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...

. He also illustrated all the covers of the regular series from the issue 1# in 1948 until issue #400 in 1994. In 1977 he drew episode of ''L'Uomo del Texas'', which was written by

Sergio Bonelli Sergio Bonelli (2 December 1932 – 26 September 2011) was an Italian comic book writer and publisher. He is best known as creator of '' Zagor'' (1961) and '' Mister No'' (1975), as well as a comics publisher through the publishing house Sergi ...

, for the series ''

Un uomo, un'avventura The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizin ...

'' ("A man, an Adventure"). He died at

Chiavari Chiavari (; lij, Ciävai ) is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, in Italy. It has about 28,000 inhabitants. It is situated near the river Entella. History Pre-Roman and Roman Era A pre-Roman necropolis, which dates f ...

in 1994.

''Tex Willer''

*Galleppini drew Tex Willer issues #1–40, 42–90, 92–100, 103–106, 113– 117, 125–128, 134, 137–139, 154–156, 162–164, 175–176, 180–183, 190– 191, 200, 207–209, 223–226, 242–245, 265–268, 276–277, 287–289, 300, 312–314, 338–340, 377–378, 400; and ''Speciale Tex'' #3 20th-century Italian painters Italian male painters 1994 deaths 1917 births Italian comics artists 20th-century Italian male artists {{Europe-comics-creator-stub