Ipnos

At the end of the Second World War, in the wake of the great success of "Mandrake", Gianluigi Bonelli launched the Ipnos series, about a young illusionist and hypnotist in search of the Seven Seals, the key to the Ming treasure. Buttressed by the powerful Mastino and the nimble Pillola, the protagonist's exploits unfold amid great oriental cities and landscapes, where he has to contend with the magic and hypnotism of the Drago Nero men and a gang of thieves headed by the bewitching Lula Smith (who, at the end, turns into a goodie). The series had a rather eventful life as a publishing venture, on account of the impossibility of finding an illustrator who could guarantee continuity and regularity of production. Thus the artwork was contributed by a number of illustrators - Gino Cossio, Paolo Piffarerio, Guido Da Passano, Armando Bonato, and, finally, Mario Uggeri, who attempted to relaunch the series with decidedly Raymondian graphics.