Gérard Lellbach - Luciano Bottaro's Pepito 1 (2nd Series) Page 1

2020 starts well, with the first 3 pages of a vintage Luciano Bottaro's Pepito story. This was published in 1965, arguably his best period, with precise, detailed, pristine artwork and storytelling, that drive the zaniest stories ever.

From this page 1, the story already states the opposition between the people, all "averaged-sized" and "normal-looking", and the abusive authority of the Governor, represented by the 2 guards.

The tall one, all squinting eyes and one-teethed, has a particularly stupid expression on his face, while the smaller one (drafted, I suspect, only because his short size makes him the ideal candidate to hold the parchment roll) he only gets to watch the blank back of said roll...

Meanwhile, all citizens sport a wide array of expressions, from curiosity to dismay, from disapprobation to lack of concern.

And, of course, the title banner with the great portrait of evil Governor La Banane, sweating with anguish as he was enjoying his dessert clearly announces he will, as usual, get into trouble...

Update Feb 12th 2020

I have been informed by Luciano Bottaro's daughter that, in fact, this page and the other two of this lot are not from his hands and had been drawn by Gérard Lellbach, a French artist that was sometimes drafted in by Bottaro's French publisher to turn out additional stories. It turns out she had informed the vendor as well, before the auction was closed, but to no avail as the lot description has not been amended...

While that doesn't distract me from appreciating this 3-page sequence, I am obviously upset by how disingenuous some vendors can turn out to be...