Tex Willer is the main fictional character of the Italian comics series Tex, first published in Italy in 1948. The series is an Italian take on the American Old West.

What kind of guy was Tex? For the most part, he was tutto d'un pezzo (a straight shooter). But sometimes it would depend on who was writing the story.

It's fascinating to see where the idea of Tex Willer came from and how it evolved. We get to know the creators, Gianluigi Bonelli and Aurelio Galleppini (pen name Galep).

Gianluigi and Sergio Bonelli both wrote Tex stories, but they had different approaches, and their relationship was complex on a personal level. We learn about what inspired the images of the countryside where Tex and Carson would roam.

This segment looks at Tex's son and "pards" (partners). And we get some answers about why he doesn't have a girlfriend.

Tex is a character who resembles his creator, who in turn also has his own points of reference. Let's also see what's behind a Tex cover.

It was crucial for the different cartoonists to keep to the Tex standard. This meant getting the hats right. There was also an amusing homage on the part of Sergio Bonelli to one of Sergio Leone's "spaghetti westerns."

This series begins with Diabolik, the greatest criminal of Italian comics or fumetti as they are called because of the "clouds of smoke" (speech bubbles) present in comic strips. Fumo means "smoke." In this segment, various personalities describe the character Diabolik, both the good and the bad.

Diabolik drives a Jaguar, but not an ordinary Jaguar. He is able to transform the car in order to facilitate escaping when the need arises. In a way, both Diabolik and his car wear masks and assume different identities.

The creators of Diabolik had commuters in mind. They wanted to create something engaging that one could read in the time of a commute, and which was pocket-sized. We also discover why the name Diabolik ends with a K.

At the beginning, the Giussani sisters decided to hide their identities as women. Even so, it was not easy finding distribution. And there were other mysteries, as well, surrounding the early days of the iconic comic book, Diabolik.

Over time, Diabolik's outfit and facemask are transformed. His nemesis is a police inspector with sound morals, an interesting past, and a fascinating love interest.

The artists talk about the process of designing the comics, and how the characters evolved in terms of design, over time, from designer to designer.

Diabolik isn't the work of one person, but rather the result of a group effort. Each contributor has a distinct role but they all have to come together, mindful of keeping the continuity from one episode to the next.

Some of the stories in Diabolik come from the outside, notably from readers. A few of them are recounted here. They often related to controversial topics in the news and in some cases, charges were pressed and copies of the comic book were seized and destroyed.