The Epic History of Tex Willer, Italian Comic Legend

Tex Willer, the iconic Italian comic character created by Gianluigi Bonelli and Aurelio Galleppini, first appeared on September 30, 1948, in post-war Italy. Originally to be named Tex Killer, Tea Bonelli suggested the surname Willer, meaning 'will' in English, while the first name Tex came from a Milanese fabric shop 'Tex Moda.' The character debuted in a horizontal format published by Edizioni Audace (later Araldo), which lasted until June 1967 when it was replaced by the legendary 'Bonelli format' (21x16 cm). Over the decades, Tex has been written by Gianluigi Bonelli, Sergio Bonelli (as Guido Nolitta) from 1976, Claudio Nizzi from the 1980s, and Mauro Boselli, who became official curator in 2012. The series Tex Willer, launched in 2018, explores his youth. In 2024, the Texone special Sierrita Mountains, drawn by Giuseppe Palumbo and written by Jacopo Rauch, celebrated its 40th issue. Tex remains a cultural icon, with contributions from artists like Magnus, Aldo Capitanio, Joe Kubert, Ivo Milazzo, and Enrique Breccia.