Martin Mystère #409 (2024) p 14-15: He sure loved swans.

Thus ends Martin's first long monologue, with discussion of Ludwig, the mad king of Bavaria. His castle Neuschwanstein was named after the nearby town of Schwangau...

“... but it also comes from Lohengrin, the Swan Knight from Wagner’s opera bearing his name, with whom Ludwig identified. We are in Lower Bavaria, on the border with Austria. Every room or corridor contains references to Wagner’s works. The throne room recalls a setting from Parsifal, while the singers’ hall, lit by six hundred candles, reproduces the setting of Tannhauser. The king's bedroom, on the other hand, is inspired by the bridal chamber in Lohengrin. Frescoes dedicated to this work are also found in the dining room, or the room of the Knights of the Swan.”

“Cut! Okay, we'll stop here for today, we'll start again tomorrow.”

“Great idea. I'm starting to get tired." (Martin receives a glass of water.) "Oh, thank you. My age is advancing, old man, despite my proverbial verbosity. I'm starting to get tired when I talk so much. And this is the moment when you should comment: 'Luckily.'”

“Mhrrrgh.”

“Uhm, no jokes? Are you telling me I should make the story more interesting? In your opinion it lacks bite....”

“Mghrr... Ghrr! Mrgh!”

Like Han Solo with Chewbacca, only Martin can translate the Neanderthal grunts of Java, whom he calls “old man.” Sforza had his work cut out for him on this spread, reproducing opulent interiors from reference photographs.