for a foreign language. English was almost unknown for me then. So I started private lessons
to learn the language of my beloved heroes at the
age of 12, this was way after other kids in school
started learning English. My only reason for doing
this was to finally learn to read this stuff from the
source because even then I knew how terrible the
translations were on the Kabanas books.
D999. Ahhhhh the Greek (Howard the
Duck)”Χάουαρντ Ντακ” issue #3 actually used the
Marvel Howard the Duck issue #3 cover right? The
great one with “Master of Quack Foo” on it, while
Howard jumps in frame with a cigar in his mouth! I
don’t think Marvel could get away with letting any of
their characters smoke on a cover nowadays with the
anti-smoking stigma. So are you telling me you asked
your parents for English lessons so you could read
American comic books?
I find it extremely interesting as well that as a young
child you became “zombified” as a result of what
Marvel was doing and that there was that much of
a difference in what American comics were doing
at the time compared to the rest of the world. Even
with bad translation you could tell the difference in
tone I guess. Maybe with the loosening up of the
CCA during the Bronze Age here in America and
the continuation of more adult themes this captured
your attention. Is this why Kabanas chose to use the
marketing slogan “Rough Generation”? Very fascinating stuff Vassilis. Where did you purchase your Kabanas books? Newsstands being the main avenue in
Greece for comics? Also, were many of your friends
following you into “zombification” or were you on a
solo mission?
And one more question since Howard had his own
Political party in the comics and from my understanding actually received write in votes during the U.S.
Presidential Election of 1976. After the ruling military
junta collapsed in Greece in the early 70’s, I have
read that there was a strong anti-American sentiment
that persisted into the early 80’s. Im guessing because America supported the junta politically. Is this
anti-American sentiment true and did this have any
effect on the success of the Marvel/Kabanas books?
Page 7
VC. Ahhh, those were the times! And it’s a surprise of course, but the covers on Χάουαρντ
matched the inside material! I t