All illustrations in this article are from my Bruguera comics collection.
... I read with enthusiasm these days that the legendary comics label returns thanks to the publisher Penguin Ramdon House, which from September will release forty-five titles a year. The first chosen ones, which will see the new light in October, are the compilations of The best of Mortadelo and Filemón (of course) and The Best of Sir Tim O'Theo, among others. So those of us who grew up and learned to read with these comics are in luck. But also the new generations.
Today I stay with Sir Tim O'Theo, the most famous English detective in the Spanish comics, one of my weaknesses and surely one of my first influences to have learned the Saxon language and be a devotee of the crime novel. Of course this is also a memory of its creator, the Catalan cartoonist Juan Rafart Roldan, RAF, and the team that accompanied him.
Juan Rafart Roldan, RAF
Born in Barcelona en 1928 and very soon he showed his fondness for drawing. However, it was not until 1956 when he devoted himself fully to it as answer. I always signed as RAF and he died 21 years ago due to a heart attack. He was one of the authors more creative and characteristic lines from the factory of very great cartoonists who passed through this publishing house.
He was a creator of characters like Rebrutez, Doña Tecla Bisturín, Sherlock Gómez (a precedent from Sir Tim), Agapito Silbátez, Doña Paca Cotíllez, Doña Lío Portapartes, Don Pelmazo, Manolón truck driver or Flash the photographer. He was working in the English publishing house fleetway and possibly from his stay and experience in London the one who was, and is, his most famous character was born, Sir Tim O'Theo.
Sir Tim O'Theo
The series
Its appearance is still a matter of doubt, since some place it in the magazine number 23 bologna and what others do it in Super Thumbelina, between 1971 and 1985. The universe of characters in this series is delicious and full of nuances, which show the author's affection for his creation and the great experience he had in the Saxon genre and culture. In addition, scriptwriters of the texts They were names of the stature of Andreu Martin, Barcelona black novel author, and Ron Clark, British screenwriter.
It is necessary to highlight those scriptsplagued not only by references to the noir genre but by Anglicisms that endow the texts with linguistic richness while further denoting the parody.
Sir Tim O'Theo develops normally in Bellotha Village, although also, from time to time, their cases occur in other countries such as Spain. Most of his deliveries were from 2 to 7 pages, but there are also six long-term adventures (42 pages), which were published early in the series. Among others are Ghost gathering o Sivah's wart.
In the specials of the magazine bologna, and depending on the theme, Sir Tim O'Theo's adventures suited her. As in this one dedicated to medieval knights.
Characters
Sir Tim O'Theo
It's a old british aristocrat, nice but clever in his skills as a more amateur detective than anything else. Lives in The Chimneys (The Chims, we always read on the poster), a mansion on the outskirts of the town of Bellotha Village.
Patrick Patson
patson, the Butler. In his youth he shared adventures in the colonies with Sir Tim O'Theo. He is always complaining about the low pay he receives from Sir Tim, whom he considers a cheap man, but does not hesitate to accompany him and help him in any case that needs to be investigated.
Mac Latha, the ghost
He is the third inhabitant of Las Chimeneas and only Sir Tim can see it and to listen to your comments. He also stars in several adventures and from The Beyond has as a mission scare sir tim.
Sergeant Blops
Blops is a local police, tall, pot-bellied and with a big mustache. The day goes by not wanting to work and racking pints of beer at the local pub, The Crazy Bird. He cannot stand Sir Tim, whom he calls an upstart and an amateur. And he gets scalded in more than one adventure due to his ineptitude.
Agent Pitts
Is Blops helper, just as inept as his boss.
Huggins
Is owner and waiter of The Crazy Bird. The characters refer to this place as El ave turuta, El ave chiflada, El ave turulato, etc. It is where all the men of the town meet to drink beer and comment on what is happening in the town.
The burgomaster
A short, grumpy man who is the municipal authority. Of little personality, he lives with Bert, his wife.
Lady Margaret Filstrup
Widow of a former colonel of the British Army.
Captain Keyasaben
Chief of Scotland Yard and superior of Blops and Pitts, whom he usually abronron for his incompetence.
Mac Rhacano
The owner of a pawn shop.
mac gillicudy
El inventor from town.
Why should Sir Tim be (re) discovered?
Because if. Because for those who we already have an age where there were no video games, mobiles or anything similar and comics were comics, it sure is one of our favorite characters. And because the younger generations they can discover so many characters so good like him that it should be mandatory to do so.
Sources:
- 13 Rue Bruguera
- Humoristan.
Raf was one of my favorite comics authors. Cool.