In Memoriam: Comic Artist and Writer Carlo Ambrosini

By John Freeman on November 3, 2023 • ( 1 )

We’re sorry to report the death of Italian comic artist Carlo Ambrosini, aged 69, the creator of the popular characters Napoleone and Jan Dix, and frequent artist, and writer, on Dylan Dog. His death on 1st November was announced by his longtime publisher, Sergio Bonelli Editore, and fans of his work, in Italy and beyond, have been quick to honour him.

“Rest in peace, my love, you are eternal,”, wrote his his wife, fellow artist Lu Vieira, on Facebook. “He left in my arms.”

An influential creator, incredibly Ambrosini’s huge body of work has rarely appeared in English, but has often left an indelible impression on those who have seen it, praised for its line and energy.

Born in Azzano Mella, Brescia, on 15th April 1954, a tribute on the Italian news site, Kritere, notes Ambrosini had always been passionate about comics. He learnt his craft from a young age, at school, then the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, initially thinking he would become a painter. But while at university he began working as an illustrator, making his debut in comics in the mid-1970s, working for a range of publishers, including Ediperiodici and Editoriale Corno.

He joined the staff of the “La Storia d’Italia a Fumetti” project initiated by Enzo Biagi in 1978, but the artist himself felt his breakthrough work was his work on Ken Parker, on the story “Pellerossa”, in No. 26 of the series published by Sergio Bonelli Editore in 1980.

He was one of the early contributors to Bonelli’s long running horror adventure comic, Dylan Dog, the stories of a “Nightmare Investigator”, making his debut on that hugely popular series with Issue 15, “Channel 666”.

Great storytelling by the late Carlo Ambrosini from Tex-Texone #19

*A page of Dylan Dog, drawn by Carlo Ambrosini, via David Roach*

*The cover of “Tex Albo Speciale” No. 19, published in 2005, “Il prezzo della vendetta”, written by Claudio Nizzi, art by Carlo Ambrosini*

In he began work on his own creation for Bonelli, Napoleone, a character graphically inspired by actor Marlon Brando, with Jan Dix following in 2008, alongside drawing strips for titles such as the strange medieval strip, “Nico Macchia”, for Orient Express.

His passing has been widely reported in the Italian press, testament both to his influence, and the continued mainstream interest in comics there.

Paying tribute, comic artist and archivist David Roach described him as a comic star, first encountering his work on “Nico Macchia”.

“I was smitten straight away,” said David on Facebook. “This guy could really draw, with a gorgeously delicate line and real personality… He deserved to be far better known outside of Italy… his untimely passing really is a sad loss for comics.”

“His work and his vast culture will be missed by Italian comics, a quality that defined him as one of the great complete authors. of the Ninth Art,” feels artist Massimo Mariani.

Napoleone, pencils by Carlo Ambrosini — *Napoleone, pencils and colour by Carlo Ambrosini*

Napoleone, colour by Carlo Ambrosini — *Napoleone, pencils and colour by Carlo Ambrosini*

“Carlo Ambrosini will be missed, for me, hands down, the greatest contemporary cartoonist (designer and screenwriter),” says writer Alessandro Gori.

“I already loved him in Ken Parker and Dylan Dog, but twenty-six years ago, out of school, I bought the first issue of Napoleone, not knowing it would become my favourite series of all time (along with Magic Wind).”

*The cover of Jan Dix No. 1 “Morte di un pittore”. Script, art and cover by Carlo Ambrosini*

Luigi F. Bona, Director at the Museo del Fumetto di Milano and President of the Fondazione Franco Fossati, also regarded him as among the best creators of “The Ninth Art”.

“I knew him quite well when he shared a study of the railroad house in Via Nirone of Leo Cimpellin, together with Enea Ribodi and Giampiero Casertano,” he noted on Facebook. “I would say forty years ago. And his pencils enchanted me even then, at the same time as the best authors of Studio Dami… Since then, he not only improved as a designer, he became a complete author, capable of designing stories, worlds, at a high level.

“Arriving to work for Sergio Bonelli is the ultimate goal for everyone, and he couldn’t not be well received… it allowed him to create things like Napoleon and then Dix.

“He was always active in asking questions and looking for answers, experimenting and fighting to be understood, always a few steps ahead of the ‘market’, true or presumed.”

“Carlo Ambrosini was an extraordinarily elegant and stylish man, cultured and humanely adorable,” notes fellow Bonelli artist Nicola Mari. “As an artist he was, and remains, unique: classic and very modern, aristocratic and popular.

“There can no longer be another person and another artist like Carlo. The pain is overwhelming. For me and all those who had the privilege of meeting and loving him, he remains an irreplaceable reference, forever.”

“I will miss reading his new stories,” writes Pasquale, on the Italian comic news site Magazine UBC. “But the advantage of those like Carlo, is that they can be read forever…”

• Carlo Ambrosini, born 15 April 1954, died 1st November 2023

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.