Oh, you know, back in the day, there was this feller named Guido Crepax, an Italian fella, who used to draw them comics. He was quite the master at it, I tell ya! His work wasn’t like the usual stuff you’d find in the papers, no sir! This man, he mixed all kinds of things in his comics—history, fine art, and even a bit of… well, some of them racy bits, if ya catch my drift. Now, one of the most famous stories he worked on was called the “Baba Yaga.” You might’ve heard of it, huh?

Now, let me tell ya, this “Baba Yaga” story ain’t your typical fairy tale. Nope, not at all! It’s all about this mysterious old woman, a real witch, who’s got some crazy powers. You’d think she’s just some character out of a spooky story, but oh no, Guido made her into something else altogether. She was part of the third volume in Crepax’s big collection, the one that put together all them stories about Valentina, that fancy lady who was always off on adventures. I reckon Valentina was the kind of gal you’d want to meet if you wanted excitement in your life!
Let me tell ya, Valentina wasn’t just a pretty face—she was sharp, and she wasn’t afraid to get into all sorts of strange situations. She traveled all around the world, snapped photos, got into all kinds of trouble, and looked fabulous while doing it. That Crepax, he had a real knack for mixing art with stories. And with this “Baba Yaga” story, well, things got downright spooky and thrilling, let me tell ya.
Now, if you ain’t heard of “Baba Yaga,” she’s an old, mysterious woman in Slavic folklore. I reckon she’s been scaring people for hundreds of years! In Crepax’s comic, though, she’s got a bit of a twist. She ain’t just an evil witch waiting to eat children or turn ’em into frogs. No, sir! She’s got her own reasons for doing what she does, and she’s got this whole magical world wrapped up in her hands. Makes ya wonder, don’t it?
And then there’s this whole thing about how the story plays out. Valentina gets wrapped up in it all, and she’s got to face off with Baba Yaga herself. It’s not just a simple “good versus evil” kind of tale, no. It’s more complicated than that. They got all sorts of themes going on, and it’s almost like you’re watching an art show more than just reading a comic. The way Guido drew them pictures, all them details, you could almost feel the mystery and danger jump right off the page!
Now, don’t go thinkin’ this is just some old-time comic. Nah, not by a long shot! This here “Baba Yaga” story is one of the highlights in the third volume of that big collection they put together over at Fantagraphics. It’s part of a whole series of stories that go back to the 1960s and up to the 1980s. It’s a real treasure trove, if ya ask me. All them tales mixed in together, with Valentina’s adventures and the spooky magic of Baba Yaga. You sure don’t get many comics like this these days, do ya?
And I reckon that’s the beauty of Crepax’s work—he didn’t just make comics, he made art. It wasn’t all about simple stories or punchy jokes. Nah, he mixed them themes together, making each page look like it was part of a bigger picture. The way he brought together fashion, history, and all them complicated themes, it’s like each comic was a window into a whole new world.
So, if you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary, and you got a taste for adventure and mystery, then this here comic with Valentina and Baba Yaga is just what you need. It’s got all the excitement, danger, and magic you could ask for, all wrapped up in Crepax’s beautiful artwork. If you ain’t seen it yet, well, it’s high time you did!
So go ahead, give it a read. You won’t regret it, not one bit. But don’t say I didn’t warn ya—it’s one heck of a ride!

Tags:[Guido Crepax, Baba Yaga, Valentina, comic book, Fantagraphics, Italian comics, adventure, fantasy, art, mystery, horror]