Here we are with again with another Dissecting Manga, a very special one! In fact, this time I'm going to show you the last Lupin The Third's manga Monkey Punch ever made: Lupin III - Alis Plaudo. Published for the first and only time on Kappa Magazine 22, an italian magazine about manga and anime, this story was written by Kappa Boys (a group of editors, writers and artists composed by Andrea Baricordi, Massimiliano De Giovanni, Andrea Pietroni e Barbara Rossi which was essential to the arrive of manga in Italy) and drawn by Monkey Punch.
This story was missing in the japanese volume "Lupin The Third Unreleased Work Compilation" which I dissected for you here. It exists only in Italian and it's probably never going to be reprinted even here in Italy, because nowadays the rights of the manga of Lupin III are owned by Planet Manga (Panini Comics), while Kappa Magazine was published by Planet Manga's most notable competitor: Star Comics. That's why I've decided to retrieve this and make it available for everyone here with an english translation beside.
Lupin III - Alis Plaudo was made as a way to advertise Monkey Punch's visit in Italy for Lucca Comics in '94 and the publication of the first italian edition of Shin Lupin III (the first manga about Lupin III ever published in Italy). This partnership with Kappa Boys led to the project "Lupin III Millennium", a series of comics with Lupin III and his gang made entirely by italian writers and artists (with the exception of the 9th and last number being drawn by Shinichi Hiromoto). At the time, Monkey Punch hadn't drawn a Lupin III story since 1985 (Shin Rupan Sansei - Onna-dake no keimusho - 新ルパン三世・女だけの刑務所) and he hasn't drawn a new one since, making Alis Plaudo his last Lupin III story ever. This makes this comic book an important piece of Monkey Punch's artistic evolution, even though it's pretty short (just 8 pages!). Enjoy!
Lupin III: Here we are guys. We've got only this night to accomplish the hit, so let's get in and take a look.
Jigen: You're crazy! You want to act without a plan!
Goemon: It's necessary because what we're looking for will be here only until tomorrow morning.Stranger 1: Two tickets, please.
Stranger 2: Hey! Why are there so many people for the exhibition, today?
Member of the staff: On the occasion of Lucca Comics 1994, a private art gallery has made available for the exhibition a piece of art no one knew existed. The publich will be allowed to see it only today because tomorrow will go back to the art gallery.
Fujiko (voice-over): The book you're seeing in this showcase was made by Leonardo Da Vinci and can be considered the first comic book in history.
Fujiko: Painter, sculptor, architect, scientist and writer, Leonardo is considered one of the greatest geniuses in human history. He lived in the second half of XV century and was ahead of his times. In fact, he realised many projects about flying machines and other inventions which were at the forefront for the XV century. This book is another proof of his genius: a narration made by pictures divided in squares with baloon with the words pronounced by the characters.
Lupin III: Look who's here after so long! Looks like my dear Fujiko is interested in the ol' good Leonardo...Goemon: When there's that woman something always goes wrong
Jigen: Let's give up for this time, Lupin!
Lupin III: C'mon Jigen! Would you really give up just because of this? The important thing is to not get noticed. Besides, I'm planning a little surprise for our Fujiko...
Zenigata: How can it be that Italian cars are so slow?!
Police Officer: But Inspector, we're on a street road! There's a speed limit!
Zenigata: We're close to get Lupin and he minds the speed limit... Run, goddammit!
Zenigata: I'm Inspector Zenigata from ICPO! From this moment on, I'm in charge of the surveillance!
Museum Guard: But they didn't say anithing to me... I don't know..
Zenigata: There's no time for burocracy at times like this! That scumbag will hit tonight!
Letter: Dear Pops Zenigata, I hope you will not miss the appointment tonight at Villa Bottini. Leonardo and I will be waiting for you! - Lupin III
Zenigata: I've got you! You thought you could fool me, didn't you? Well, this time you're out of luck!
Fujiko: How is it possible? I can't believe...
Zenigata: I'm sorry for you, lady! And let me take this.. it's the body of evidence, right?
Fujiko: But how did he know?
Zenigata: Now you're going to follow me to the department, my dear lady thief, and then we
The Real Zenigata: LUPIN!
Fujiko: Lupin?!
Lupin: Hi, pops!Zenigata: Get him! Don't let him escape!
Fujiko: You're gonna pay for this, Lupin!
Lupin: We'll talk about this later, Fujiko! Now, shut up, jump... and
Fujiko: Lupin!
Zenigata: You're not going anywhere without me!Jigen: We've got one passenger too much
Goemon: I told him that when there's that woman something only goes wrong...he deserves to hang there all night.
Fujiko: Idiot! If it weren't for you, at this time I would have already escaped without any problem! Give me that book! It's mine!
Lupin III: Fujiko, stay still! I can't hold you! Do you want to ampute my hand with that handcuff?!
Jigen: I really have the desire to smash them against one of these buildings... Lupin's a fool! That man is lucky to have friends like me and Goemon
Fujiko: Help Lupin! Jigen went crazy!
Fujiko: Look what you made me do! I had to leave the book to not fall to the ground!
Lupin III: But you have me! Looks like you gained! And me too, to be honest! C'mon, hold still! You wouldn't want to fall, would you?
Fujiko: Hey! Stop touching, pig!Lupin III: AHI
Stranger 3: Bah! An old decrepit book! This must have been printed at least 2 years ago! I wonder if something new came out... Maybe I'll go see the comic exhibition... Lupin III's first issue should have come out!
If you've enjoyed this article, I invite you to let me know your thoughts with a comment, to keep following my blog and to follow my Facebook Page about Lupin The Third. Also, if you're new, here you can check out all my articles about Lupin the Third and/or Monkey Punch.
P.s.: In the second page there even is a cameo of Monkey Punch with the four Kappa Boys!
Thank you so much for this!
ReplyDeleteIt's a pleasure!
DeleteDitto !
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