Cronaca di Topolinia #28 cover (2008) Julia hunted

Disney's classic animated characters are far more popular in Europe than America. "Topolino" ("Little Mouse") is the Italian name for Mickey Mouse, and Cronaca di Topolinia means something like "Journal of Matters related to Mickey Mouse." It contains interviews with comic book creators.

This issue featured Giancalo Berardi, creator of the detective series Julia, whose lead character Julia Kendall was modeled after actress Audrey Hepburn. The cover places Julia in an atypical scene out of a slasher film, as she hides from a Diabolik-type killer who has already wounded her once. A far cry from Mickey Mouse!

In her own comic book, the top and bottom of each cover contains a band of text, with a square painting between them. That makes this portrait-oriented rectangular cover unique among covers containing Julia. The bloody hand and knife would not be seen on one of her own covers either.

I acquired this from a collector/dealer at Lucca Comics 2025. Painter Marco Soldi happened to be in attendance as well, so I got his photograph with his work, which he had not seen for some time.