Almanaque Dos Quadrinhos

Almanaque dos Quadrinhos: 100 Anos de uma Mídia Popular (which translates to Comic Book Almanac: 100 Years of a Popular Medium) is book published by Ediouro in Brazil in 2006. Written by Carlos Patati and Flávio Braga, the paperback book traces the evolution of comic books from ancient cave paintings and Goya’s fantastic engravings to the first superheroes, the rise of manga, and the transition from drawing boards to digital screens. It showcases how comics have become a significant medium, captivating audiences of all ages for generations.

A significant portion of the book is dedicated to the history of Brazilian comics, emphasizing the humor that has been a hallmark of the country’s comic production from the beginning. It covers a wide range of themes found in comics, including humor, adventure, daily life, sexuality, social criticism, romance, politics, and even journalism, an aim by the authors, Carlos Patati and Flávio Braga, to highlight the medium’s versatility.

It also acknowledges important Brazilian artists and characters. The authors discuss iconic characters like Superman, Tintin, Sandman, and Pato Donald, as well as renowned artists such as Will Eisner, Robert Crumb, and Jean Giraud, and their impact on the medium.

Almanaque dos Quadrinhos: 100 Anos de uma Mídia Popular is a softcover paperback book containing 232 color and black and white pages measuring 23cm x 21cm with Portuguese text. The book is rich is images found alongside descriptive text. The front and back covers can be seen below.

The Phantom is see on the front cover in his red costume as he’s known in Brazil. He’s also featured within the book.

The book is organized into several chapters, each designated with a title:

  • The Brief History of a Century
  • The Kingdom of Humor and Mischief
  • Superheroes
  • Newspaper and Comics, Adult and Child
  • Underground
  • The Styles of Europe
  • Yankee Creativity Meets the Public Again
  • Comics from Brazil and in Brazil
  • Sequential Eroticism
  • Comics and Audiovisual

A sample of internal pages can be seen below.