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 ...
character created, written, and illustrated by Filipino illustrator Alfredo Alcala in 1963. A story about
Vikings
Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden),
who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and ...
, Voltar was first published in the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
by CRAF Publications, a comic book company established by Alcala himself, together with other colleagues in the field of comics such as Virgilio Redondo,
Philippine comics
Comics in the Philippines ( fil, Komiks}) have been widespread and popular throughout the country from the 1920s to the present. Komiks were partially inspired by American mainstream comic strips and comic books during the early 20th century. ...
.
Although the inspiration for Voltar, as a Viking sagaVoltar, a Viking saga ALFREDO ALCALA and as a tale about a " barbarian hero", was the ''
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian (also known as Conan the Cimmerian) is a fictional sword and sorcery hero who originated in pulp magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, films (including '' Conan the Barbarian'' and '' Conan the Destroyer'') ...
'' novels written by Robert E. Howard, the style of the illustrations was described by G.W. Thomas as "brilliant for 1963" because it was done seven years before any actual illustration of Conan the Barbarian as a character in comics existed."Voltar" (Alcala Komiks Magazine) (1963) /ref> Voltar was first published in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
by debuting in ''Magic Carpet'' #1 (1977)Per Arndt, "The Warren Magazines", artist " lfredoAlcala's Voltar character had been invented in the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
back in the 1960s.... He debuted in America in ''Magic Carpet'' #1 (1977) with scripting by Manuel Auad." and then in the comic book ''The Rook'' #3-9, after Alcala drew artworks for
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
, particularly ''
The Savage Sword of Conan
''The Savage Sword of Conan'' was a black-and-white magazine-format comic book series published beginning in 1974 by Curtis Magazines, an imprint of American company Marvel Comics, and then later by Marvel itself. ''Savage Sword of Conan'' starred ...
''. Voltar was later published also by Marvel Comics during the 1970s.Voltar, a Viking saga , Alfredo Alcala "The End Time", written by the Bill DuBay was printed in The Rook from Vol. 2 through Vol. 9.
Description
The ''Comics Reporter'' described Voltar as "an incredibly lavish, lushly-drawn comic book serial that showcased Alcala's diverse interests and influences". According to Orvy Jundis, a scholar in the field of comics, described Voltar in the ''World Encyclopedia of Comics'', as "truly unique" because "it was a continuing series geared towards mass readership. It was written, laid-out, penciled, inked, lettered and published by one man, Alfredo P. Alcala. The brush used to ink many Voltar pages was a special fountain-brush invented by Alcala, thus making the series even more noteworthy." Jundis declared Voltar as "one of the earliest epic comic book series to result from a single creator's vision"."Voltar" Obituary: Alfredo Alcala, 1925-2000, May 30, 2000 Voltar was further regarded by the ''World Encyclopedia of Comics'' as "an antonishing display of sustained artistic endeavor" because " ery chapter contains a spectacular center spread. Each panel is embellished in an etching style that rivals the works of the old masters. Inch for inch, it is probably the most detailed art ever to appear in comic books."'"Voltar", a Viking saga' Alfredo P. Alcala by Komiklopedia on 2007/10/02
Awards and recognition
In the Philippines, Alcala obtained awards for Voltar from the Society of Philippine Illustrators and Cartoonists. In the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
, Voltar won for Alcala awards in the field of fantasy and science-fiction during the 1970s. An illustration of Voltar, which was a part of a fantasy and science-fiction exhibition in the United States, became the first prize winner for a
heroic fantasy
Heroic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy in which events occur in a world where magic is prevalent and modern technology is nonexistent. The setting may be entirely fictitious in nature or based upon Earth with some additions. Unlike dark fiction ...
competition in 1971. In 1974, it was featured in the book entitled ''The Hannes Book Memorial Showcase of Fantasy Art'', a compilation of several of the finest artworks in the fantasy genre.''Voltar'' Alfredo Alcala