Sergio Bonelli

Born in Milan on 2 December 1932, Sergio Bonelli was an Italian comics writer and publisher, best known for creating the long-running series *Zagor* (1961) and *Mister No* (1975). The son of Gian Luigi Bonelli—creator of *Tex Willer*—he initially wrote under the pen name Guido Nolitta to distinguish himself from his father. Bonelli began scripting in 1957 by adapting the Spanish series *Verdugo Ranch*, then created his first character, *Un ragazzo nel Far West*, in 1958. He later wrote episodes of *Piccolo Ranger* and the mini-series *Il Giudice Bean* (1960). That same year, he met artist Gallieno Ferri, with whom he co-created *Zagor*; Bonelli wrote nearly all its stories through 1980. After launching *Mister No* in 1975, he also penned *L'Uomo del Texas* (1977) and numerous *Tex Willer* tales beginning in the late 1970s. In 1990, he created the mini-series *River Bill* with artist Francesco Gamba. As chairman of Sergio Bonelli Editore (formerly CEPIM), he oversaw one of Italy’s major comics publishers, home to *Tex*, *Dylan Dog*, and *Mister No*. Bonelli died in Monza on 26 September 2011 after a brief illness.