Arsat, The Magician of Venice
The stories of Arsat, The Magician of Venice were part of the comic series Spukgeschichte published by Bastei Verlag , which appeared in 492 issues from July 1978 to April 1995. In each issue a story with Arsat, The Magician of Venice, usually of 14 pages was published. In addition, edited volumes and radio plays were published by Gustav Lübbe (Basteiverlag).
main characters
Arsat
Arsat lived in Egypt about 1700 years before the beginning of the Christian era . He was a judge, healer and priest of the cosmos (see Spuk Stories booklet 1). He returns to this time in The Curse of the Doppelganger in order to prevent the destruction of his corpse (see issue 83). On the morning of February 13, 1680, Arsat was brought to Venice by a ghost ship. This crossing from the realm of the dead is the beginning of his second life. His main weapons against evil are the Thebes double eye (a crystal) and the snake head (a magical energy weapon).
Gino
Gino lived as an assistant to the blind Scorra in their palazzo. He was the only one to accompany Arsat in all of his 492 adventures. He develops from a playful inexperienced child into a loyal companion of Arsat.
Carmilla
Carmilla is the daughter of a famous wizard and a strong witch. She can turn into a fire witch under certain conditions. She wears a star amulet that gives her great witch powers. After Scorra's death, she accompanies Arsat on his adventures. In the later issues (approx. From issue 250) she manages to get rid of her clothes almost completely in the course of almost every adventure.
Scorra
Scorra is a blind seer and a good witch. She takes Arsat in after his rebirth in her palazzo and helps Arsat to the best of her ability in the fight against evil. After their death and the destruction of their palazzo, Arsat and Gino leave Venice (cf. issues 145 and 149).
Ogun
Prehistory: Ogun lived in Punt about 1700 years before the beginning of the Christian era. He was a judge, preserver and priest of the cosmos (see Spook Stories Book 1). Ogun joined the bull-headed lord of demons even before Arsat was reborn. He lives in Venice and appears as an ally to Arsat. However, he secretly tries several times to destroy Arsat through intermediaries. In a final battle, however, he himself is destroyed.
The bull-headed lord of demons
He is above all demons and is Arsat's archenemy. He's trying to ruin the world.
Reprints
The first reprint took place from 1991 to 1994 in paperback format with a total of eleven parts. The last reprint of some stories took place from 2001 to 2002 in twelve issues under the name Arsat The Demon Hunter .
Draftsman / texts
The texts are by Hajo F. Breuer , Peter Mennigen , Jürgen Drescher, Ewald Fehlau and other authors.
Draftsmen were Claudio Acciari, José Lombardía (as Battaglia), José Bellalta, Joan Boix, Toni Deu, Jesús Peña, Pascolini, Francisco Díaz Rojo, Alberto Solé, Salvatore Stizza, Carlos Torrente, as well as draftsmen from the Studio Giolitti and the Studio Ortega.
Radio plays
In 1989, two radio plays with an accompanying booklet were produced under the titles Die Entführung and Das Totenschiff .