Sondermann (cartoon)

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Sondermann monument in Frankfurt-Bonames

Sondermann is a cartoon character by the painter and cartoonist Bernd Pfarr , who appeared in a column of the same name by the writer Simone Borowiak until August 1994 and regularly in the satirical magazine Titanic from 1987 to August 2004 . The model for the name was Gerhard Sondermann , the first Titanic publisher.

Sondermann is the creation of a draftsman who, as Bernd Pfarr himself once said, “wants to drive out reality from the pictures”.

The comic

The world of Sondermann is subject to its own idiosyncratic laws: In Sondermann's company, " Negro scrubbing " is a traditional ritual, Sondermann and his boss tame their hunger by " snuggling up to one another", eating a schnitzel or taking the rubbish away are common Yoga exercises , and Sondermann defeated “the good Lord” while playing tennis .

Sondermann's world is populated by strange creatures:

  • a neighbor, Schulze , who always "comes up for blasting";
  • to God, as mentioned above;
  • the hair dryer-armed superhero super hero, who is not all that heroic;
  • the Strittmatter brothers , also neighbors of Sondermann, who are penguins and “blow up dinosaurs in their free time”;
  • Mr. Sharp , who was unloved by Sondermann for inexplicable reasons , “Lord of seven flies”, also a penguin and “newest engraver” from Sondermann's mother;
  • Mr. Detlev Siehlbeck , who always carries a dead fish with him and expects to be petted;
  • the little dog Willi , whose "free-spirited statements regarding the preparation of his little food" impress the world spirit so much that they lead to levitation with him ;
  • and last but not least Sondermann himself: accountant, single and eager to learn, with a pronounced musical side and not insensitive to erotic and homoerotic stimuli.

The early Sondermann episodes were largely limited to the master-servant relationship between Sondermann and his boss. Because of this basic conflict, the pandemonium of the figures listed above only emerged in the course of time. According to the writer Robert Gernhardt , the figure quickly developed a "life of its own" for which even the Titanic editorial team was not prepared.

Sondermann Prize

Otto Waalkes and Fredi Bobic at the Sondermann award ceremony in Frankfurt a. Main, November 2018.

The Sondermann is an audience and jury award for comics named after Bernd Pfarr's figure , which was awarded for the first time in 2004. Until 2012, the prize was awarded by and at the Frankfurt Book Fair , together with the Frankfurter Rundschau (from 2005) and the specialist portal Comicforum . The specialist magazine Comixene was also involved in 2004 and 2006, and Spiegel Online from 2007 to 2010 .

Since 2011, the prize has been awarded by the non-profit association Sondermann e. V. awarded to which, among other things, the heirs of Bernd Pfarr belong. The main prize is endowed with 5000 euros, the sponsorship award with 2000 euros. It is awarded every year on November 11th, Bernd Pfarr's birthday, at a gala. Since 2012 the association has also been awarding an annual scholarship to promote comic art.

2004 award winner

Audience Award:

Jury Prize:

Award winner 2005

Audience Award:

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Prize winner 2006

Audience Award:

Jury Prize:

2007 award winner

Audience Award:

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2008 award winners

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Prize winner 2009

Audience Award:

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Award winner 2010

Audience Award:

Jury Prize:

Award winner 2011

Audience Award:

Jury Prize:

  • Newcomer 2011: Asja Wiegand
  • Bernd Pfarr special prize for comic art: Eugen Egner

Prize winner 2012

Audience Award:

Jury Prize:

Prize winner 2013

2014 award winners

Award winner 2015

Prize winner 2016

Award winner 2017

Prize winners 2018

  • Sondermann Prize for Comical Art: Otto Waalkes for his life's work
  • Sponsorship award: Anna Haifisch
  • Scholarship: Paula Irmschler

Prize winners 2019

Sondermann Association

The non-profit Sondermann e. V. , which awards the Sondermann Prize and an annual scholarship to promote comic art. He is generally committed to the memory of Bernd Pfarr and to promoting comic productions. In addition, the association accompanies the construction of strange sculptures in the Frankfurt-Main city area, such as the Sondermann monument in Frankfurt-Bonames . In addition to Bernd Pfarr's heirs, Bernd Eilert , Hans Zippert and Leo Fischer are members.

Web links

Commons : Sondermann monument  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Sondermann e. V. - Association for the promotion, research and dissemination of comic art and literature. Sondermann e. V., accessed on October 12, 2016 .
  2. ↑ Book fair comic prizewinner (note 2010) , accessed on October 10, 2010