Romano Felmang

Romano Felmang
Biographical information
Born:	Rome, 1941
Died:
Nationality:	Italian
Occupation:	Artist and Cover artist
Website:	Felmang's Comic Art Fans Gallery

Romano Felmang is an Italian artist.

• Real name: Felice Mangiarano.

(Pseudonym "Felmang" = 3 letters of the first name and 4 of the name) + "Romano" = coming from Rome', word also used as a current first name.

Biography

One morning at the end of 1963 Felmang noticed Mandrake issue 51 at the newspaper stand. It was the Un mondo scomparso made by the Italian artist Domenico Mirabella. He bought it and found that Fratelli Spada Publications were produced in Rome.

He considered the possibility of pursuing a cartoonist's career. After telephoning the next day after he went to via Enea 77, offices of the Fratelli Spada press, and presented himself as an illustrator of comics with zero experience.

Daniela, a young woman working there gave him two issues of "L'Uomo Mascherato" from the American Adventures Series. One was issue 60 "Le mani sull'isola" (Sy Barry's The Island of the Dogs) - saying:

These are recent stories of the Phantom from the United States; the production is syndicated, but it's not enough to cover our weekly requirement. For this we need illustrators who imitate Sy Barry, the leading artist of the American comic-strips. Make us a couple of trial panels in this style!

During the following days he tried several times to draw The Phantom of Sy Barry, but the results were very poor. He could not confront such a demanding character tout de suite and succeed in imitating an artist, whom he considered the best at that time. So he had to practice and wait for a later opportunity.

In 1966 he made his first 8 pages Phantom story "Kaniska", however the story was not accepted by Fratelli Spada and remains unpublished. Next he made his debut as a comic book artist drawing a full length Phantom story called "I Ladri della tomba del Gran Re" for the Italian publishers Fratelli Spada. He followed with some more Phantom stories and did some of the pencil work for Angelo Todaro on two Mandrake stories. Felmang made about 30 covers for Fratelli Spada and Editions des Remparts for Mandrake, The Phantom, Rip Kirby and Secret Agent X-9.

He married in 1980 and have two children, the twins Giada and Daniele.

Fratelli Spada stories by Romano Felmang

Felmang did his first Phantom story in 1966, by it was never published. Later he redraw the pages, transforming the Phantom into the character El Diablo.

1967

The Phantom

Felmang did three Phantom stories in 1967: "I ladri della tomba del gran re", "Corsa infernale" and "L'invasione dei mercenari".

• 
  "I ladri della tomba del gran re"
• 
  "Corsa infernale" (French)
• 
  "L'invasione dei mercenari"

Behind the scenes

In the story "L'invasione dei mercenari" there is a hidden signature on a license plate at page 7: Felmang". In the last panel on page 11 is a self-portrait of the artist.

1968

The Phantom

In 1968 Felmang did one Phantom story: "Chi scherza col fuoco".

• 
  "Chi scherza col fuoco"

1969

Mandrake

Felmang did some of the pencil work on "Il nuovo vicino" by Angelo Todaro.

• 
  "Il nuovo vicino"
  (online)

The Phantom

Felmang did one Phantom story: "Sabotaggio aereo" and did some of the pencil work on "Smeraldi irraggiungibili" by Angelo Todaro.

• 
  "Sabotaggio aereo"
• 
  "Smeraldi irraggiungibili"
  (online) signed TOD

1970

The Phantom

Felmang did some of the pencil work on "Un mistero da svelare" by Mario Pedrazzi.

• 
  "Un mistero da svelare"

1971

Mandrake

Felmang did some of the pencil work on "Suspence a sud-ovest delle Caroline" by Angelo Todaro.

• 
  "Suspence a sud-ovest delle Caroline"

According to Felmang himself he did the Mandrake story "The Tunnel of Love", but it was never published.

1992

Mandrake (and The Phantom)

Felmang did the art on the team-up story "Prigionieri di un quadro" created for one sell of the Christies's auction house.

• 
  "Prigionieri di un quadro

Mandrake covers by Romano Felmang

Fratelli Spada covers

Mandrake Albi de Il Vascello - nouvo serie

• 
  Mandrake #91
• 
  Mandrake #92
• 
  Mandrake #94
• 
  Mandrake #95
• 
  Mandrake #96
• 
  Mandrake #97
• 
  Mandrake #98

Editions des Remparts covers

Mondes Mystérieux

• 
  Mandrake #200
• 
  Mandrake #209
• 
  Mandrake #227
• 
  Mandrake #246

Comics Revue cover and original art

• 
  Comics Revue #232
• 
  Original art.

Sources

• [1] Romano Felmang: An Italian for Comic Books - Translated from the Italian magazine Fumetto by Bob Griffin
• Romano Felmang