Il Nerbiniano was a magazine published by Casa Editrice Nerbini in Florence, Italy running from approximately 1973 until 1980. The magazine was primarily dedicated to comics and related cultural topics, featuring a variety of comic book characters. The number of issues per year varied, initially appearing about six times yearly but later becoming a quarterly magazine by 1980.

The magazine carried on the tradition of the Nerbini publishing house, a company with a long and important history in Italian comics, famous for launching Topolino (Mickey Mouse) in Italy back in 1932.

The core focus of Il Nerbiniano was the reprinting of classic American comic strips, often presented in a relatively large, nearly tabloid-sized format (about 9-3/4″ x 13-1/2″). This generous print size allowed Italian readers to appreciate the artwork of these strips in detail. The publication featured a rotating selection of beloved classics, including Kevin the Bold, Flash Gordon, The Lone Ranger, the Phantom and strips by major creators such as Rip Kirby and Secret Agent X-9. This content made the magazine a valuable historical archive and a cultural bridge, introducing or re-introducing these foundational works to a new generation of Italian readers.

Beyond simply reprinting the comic strips, Il Nerbiniano distinguished itself by featuring original editorial content. The magazine included articles, interviews, and features that delved into the world of comics and their creators. For example, issues contained insightful conversations, such as an interview with the legendary Disney artist Floyd Gottfredson. Alfonso Pichierri is listed as the editor for some issues. Overall, Il Nerbiniano was a high-quality, large-format Italian magazine from the 1970s that served as an essential vehicle for disseminating classic American comic art while providing intellectual context through its accompanying critical features.

The Phantom and his creator Lee Falk appeared in the series:

• Il Nerbiniano edition number 4 published in 1974.

• Il Nerbiniano edition number 1 and edition number 3-4 published in 1978.

Casa Editrice Nerbini is a historically significant Italian publishing house, founded in Florence in 1897 by Giuseppe Nerbini, and later managed by his son, Mario. It holds a pivotal place in Italian popular culture, having been the first to introduce American comic strips on a mass scale, most famously launching the Italian version of Mickey Mouse, Topolino, in 1932, and later publishing the influential weekly L’Avventuroso (1934), which brought strips like Flash Gordon and Mandrake the Magician to Italian readers with enormous success. Despite facing challenges, including pressure from the Fascist regime regarding imported American content, Nerbini was instrumental in shaping the early Italian comic book industry, and the company continues to operate today, though its current focus is primarily on religious and academic works.

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