''Isabella'' ( it, Isabella Duchessa dei Diavoli, i.e. "Isabella Duchess of the Devils") is an Italian

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 ...

series created by

Giorgio Cavedon Giorgio Cavedon (17 December 1930 – 2001) was an Italian publisher, cartoonist and screenwriter. Cavedon was most associated with his adult comics he wrote with Renzo Barbieri. His first comic, ''Isabella (comics), Isabella'' was Italy's firs ...

as the writer and

Sandro Angiolini Sandro Angiolini (6 June 1920 – 15 October 1985) was an Italian comics creator. Biography Angiolini was born in Milan. In 1966 he was the first to illustrate one of Italy's most important adult comics, '' Isabella'', written by Renzo Barbieri a ...

as artist.

History

The series started in 1966 and it was inspired in plot and title by the renowned novel ''

Angélique, the Marquise of the Angels ''Angélique, the Marquise of the Angels'' (french: Angélique, Marquise des Anges) is a 1956 novel by Anne Golon & Serge Golon, the first novel in Angélique series. Inspired by the life of Suzanne de Rougé du Plessis-Bellière, known as th ...

'' and its on-screen adaptation, which had had a significant success at the Italian box office. Set in 17th century France, it features the adventures of Isabella de Frissac, an uninhibited noblewoman who works as a secret agent for

cardinal Richelieu Armand Jean du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu (; 9 September 1585 – 4 December 1642), known as Cardinal Richelieu, was a French clergyman and statesman. He was also known as ''l'Éminence rouge'', or "the Red Eminence", a term derived from the ...

and, in the course if her missions, faces any sort of vexation and torture. The series is considered a progenitor of Italian adult comics, especially because of its

sado-masochistic Sadomasochism ( ) is the giving and receiving of pleasure from acts involving the receipt or infliction of pain or humiliation. Practitioners of sadomasochism may seek sexual pleasure from their acts. While the terms sadist and masochist refer ...

elements, which were an absolute innovation in the fumetti panorama. The storylines also included grotesque situations, such as a scene in episode 8 which depicted the protagonist being raped by a bear. Starting from July 1969 Gaspare De Fiore and Umberto Sammarini replaced Angiolini as artists. Publications ceased in October 1976, after 263 issues. A comic book collection series, ''Isabella Gigante'' was published between 1969 and 1971.

Legacy

A film adaptation, '' Isabella, Duchess of the Devils'', directed by

Bruno Corbucci Bruno Corbucci (23 October 1931 – 7 September 1996) was an Italian screenwriter and film director. He was the younger brother of Sergio Corbucci, and wrote many of his films. He was born in Rome, where he also died. The vast majority o ...

and starring

Brigitte Skay Brigitte Skay (born Brigitte Johanna Riedle; 18 July 1940 - 19 November 2012)Brigitte Skay
Discogs was a ...

in the title role, was released in 1969. The comic book also inspired a series of novels, ''Le memorie di Isabella''.

References

{{Reflist Italian comics titles

Isabella Isabella may refer to: People and fictional characters * Isabella (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Isabella (surname), including a list of people Places United States * Isabella, Alabama, an unincorpor ...

1966 comics debuts

Adventure comics BDSM literature Comics about women Female characters in comics Comics set in the 17th century Italian comics adapted into films