View source for Dylan Dog

{{Short description|Italian horror comics series}}
{{Use Oxford spelling|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox comic book title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image               = Dylan Dog.jpg
|caption             = ''Dylan Dog'' No. 62 cover by Angelo Stano
|schedule            =
|ongoing             = 
|Horror              = 
|publisher=[[Sergio Bonelli Editore]]
|startmo             = October
|startyr             = 1986
|endmo               =
|endyr               = present
|issues              = 445
|main_char_team      = Dylan Dog
|writers             = [[Tiziano Sclavi]]<br>[[Paola Barbato]]<br>[[Claudio Chiaverotti]]<br>[[Pasquale Ruju]]<br>[[Michele Medda]]<br>[[Alessandro Bilotta]]<br>[[Barbara Baraldi]]<br>[[Mauro Aragoni]]
|artists             = [[Angelo Stano]]<br>[[Bruno Brindisi]]<br>[[Corrado Roi]]<br>[[Claudio Castellini]]
|pencillers          =
|inkers              =
|letterers           =
|colorists           =
|editors             =
|creative_team_month =
|creative_team_year  =
|creators            = 
|TPB                 = Dylan Dog Casefiles
|ISBN                = 1-59582-206-2
|subcat              = Italian comics
|altcat              =
|sort                = Dylan Dog
|addpubcat#          =
|nonUS               = y
}}
'''''Dylan Dog''''' is an Italian [[horror comics]] series created by [[Tiziano Sclavi]] and published by [[Sergio Bonelli Editore]] since 1986.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.guidafumettoitaliano.com/guida/testate/testata/2450 |title=Dylan Dog |website=Guida fumetto italiano |year=2017 |language=Italian}}</ref>

The series features the eponymous character, a [[occult detective|paranormal investigator]] who takes on cases involving supernatural elements such as ghosts, demons, vampires, undeads, werewolves and other creatures, but also horrifying sociopathic criminals and serial killers. It subverts the traditional horror genre with a vein of surrealism and an anti-bourgeois rhetoric. Dylan is supported mainly by his sidekick Groucho (a [[Groucho Marx]] lookalike) who adds humour to Dylan's sombre temperament. The series is primarily set in [[London]] where the protagonist lives, though he occasionally travels elsewhere.<ref name=fumettologica>{{Cite news|url=http://www.fumettologica.it/speciale/30-anni-dylan-dog-citazioni-primi-12-numeri/|title=Verso DylanDog30. Fonti e citazioni del DyD delle "origini"|website=[[Fumettologica]]|language=Italian|access-date=9 November 2023|archive-date=23 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223214047/http://www.fumettologica.it/speciale/30-anni-dylan-dog-citazioni-primi-12-numeri/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Dark Horse Comics]] has published the English version of ''Dylan Dog'' in the United States in 1999, 2002 and 2009; a new edition was published by Epicenter Comics as of 2017. Sergio Bonelli Editore also released a limited English variant edition in 2018. The series has sold over 60 million copies worldwide,<ref name=Senn>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=AScSDgAAQBAJ |title= The Werewolf Filmography: 300+ Movies |author=Bryan Senn |date= 6 February 2017 |page=82|publisher= McFarland |isbn= 9780786479108 }}</ref> and is the second best-selling comic book in Italy after the ''[[Tex Willer|Tex]]'' series, another publication by Sergio Bonelli Editore, with over 120,000 copies sold each month.<ref name="Sales">{{cite news|url=http://www.fumettologica.it/2014/06/quanto-vendono-i-fumetti-bonelli-i-dati-2014/|title=Quanto vendono i fumetti Bonelli|language=it|publisher=Fumettologica|date=16 June 2014|access-date=9 January 2017}}</ref>

The film ''[[Cemetery Man]]'' (original title: ''Dellamorte Dellamore'', 1994) starring [[Rupert Everett]], was loosely based on the comics, but its main reference was Tiziano Sclavi's novel ''Dellamorte Dellamore''. A direct American film adaptation, ''[[Dylan Dog: Dead of Night]]'', starring [[Brandon Routh]], was instead released in 2011, although it was significantly different from the source material. {{as of|2019}}, a television series based on the comics was also in development.<ref name="Television">{{Cite web|url=https://www.staynerd.com/dylan-dog-serie-tv/|title = James Wan produrrà una serie TV di Dylan Dog!|date = 7 October 2019}}</ref>

==Publication history==

Dylan Dog was created by [[Tiziano Sclavi]], a comics and novel writer, while the graphic representation of the character was elaborated mainly by [[Angelo Stano]], who was its first cover artist too, taking the inspiration from the English actor [[Rupert Everett]], as he saw in the movie ''[[Another Country (1984 film)|Another Country]]''.<ref name=Everett>{{cite web|url=http://www.cravenroad7.it/doc/faq.htm#c |title=Dylan Dog:Craven Road n.7 |publisher=Cravenroad7.it |access-date=2012-11-06}}</ref> The character was named for poet [[Dylan Thomas]],<ref>As declared by the character himself in Dylan Dog No. 8, ''Il ritorno del mostro'', Sergio Bonelli Editore, march 1986.</ref> while his surname derives from "''Dog figlio di...''", the Italian title of [[Mickey Spillane]]'s 1972 book "''Erection Set''", which was the provisional name Scalvi gave to his characters during the creation phase of his books before completing them.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ubcfumetti.com/interview/9909.htm|title=uBC: Intervista a Tiziano Sclavi |publisher= Il Mattino |date=4 August 1999 |language=Italian}}</ref>

''Dylan Dog'' series debuted in October 1986 with a comic book entitled "L'alba dei morti viventi" ("Dawn of the Living Dead"), plotted and scripted by [[Tiziano Sclavi]] and illustrated by [[Angelo Stano]]; it proved to be a huge publishing success in the years to come.<ref name=fumettologica/> May 2003 saw the publication of Issue 200, entitled "Il numero duecento" ("The Number Two-Hundred"), plotted and scripted by [[Paola Barbato]] and drawn by [[Bruno Brindisi]]. In August 2011, the series has reached the number 300, entitled "Ritratto di famiglia" ("Family Portrait").

===Annuals===
[[File:Mostra "Dylan Dog e motori, gioie e orrori" - panoramio (26).jpg|thumb|Dylan Dog alongside Groucho and his Beetle. Art by Luca Maresca.]]
In August 1987 a special annual release was added to the monthly series, called ''Numero Speciale'' (''Special Issue''), with one story longer than usual and, in addition, small extra books on various [[Horror fiction|horror]]-related subjects.<ref name=c4comic>{{Cite web|url=http://c4comic.it/collezionismo/collezionismo-dylan-dog-lindagatore-dellincubo/|title=Collezionismo: Dylan Dog, l'Indagatore dell'Incubo|website=c4comic.it|language=Italian|access-date=9 November 2023|archive-date=5 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105212155/http://c4comic.it/collezionismo/collezionismo-dylan-dog-lindagatore-dellincubo/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Another annual release was added in March 1991, ''L'almanacco della paura'' ("The Almanac of Fear"):  together with Dylan Dog stories, it includes articles and curiosities about film, literature, and other topics, all related to the horror theme.<ref name=c4comic/>

January 1993 saw the appearance of a new annual book, the ''Dylan Dog Gigante'' ("Giant-Size Dylan Dog"), so called because it was much larger than the monthly book and because it contained more stories.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=http://www.guidafumettoitaliano.com/guida/testate/testata/2457|title=Dylan Dog Gigante|language=Italian |website=Guida fumetto italiano |year=2017}}</ref><ref name=maxi>{{Cite web|url=http://www.guidafumettoitaliano.com/guida/testate/testata/8005|title=Maxi|language=Italian |website=Guida fumetto italiano |year=2017}}</ref>

''Dylan Dog maxi''  came out in July 1998. This was another annual release that collected together three previously unpublished stories.<ref name=":8"/><ref name=maxi/>

===Specials===

In October 1990 an irregularly numbered issue came out: ''Dylan Dog e Martin Mystère – Ultima Fermata: l'incubo!'' (''Dylan Dog and Martin Mystère – Last Stop: Nightmare!''). It presented an unpublished story in which the nightmare investigator teamed up with another famous [[Sergio Bonelli Editore|Bonelli]] character, [[Martin Mystère]]. [[Alfredo Castelli]] and [[Tiziano Sclavi]] wrote and plotted this story, and Angelo Stano did the drawings. The story had a sequel in 1992.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://shop.sergiobonelli.it/sezioni/10002/fumetti?sortElement=tag_1,false&page=1&sortDefault=false&exact_match.tag_64=Dylan%20Dog&tag_0=1&exact_match.tag_92=Spec.dylan%20Dog|title=Speciale|website=shop.sergiobonelli.it}}</ref>

===Reprints===

The first reprint series came out in July 1990, the second in June 1991, and the third in June 1996, this time called ''Collezione Book'' (''Collection Book''); in October 2006 the bi-monthly reprint ''Grande ristampa'' was released.<ref name=series>{{Cite web|url=https://shop.sergiobonelli.it/sezioni/10002/fumetti?sortElement=data_pubblicazione,false&page=5&sortDefault=false&exact_match.tag_64=Dylan%20Dog&tag_0=1&exact_match.tag_92=Dylan%20Dog&viewType=grid|title=Dylan Dog|website=shop.sergiobonelli.it}}</ref>

February 1997 saw the release of the ''Super Book'', a tri-monthly release that reprinted the special annual issues that had come out ten years before.

===Dylan Dog Color Fest===

In August 2007, a new annual was released. Containing 4 new stories, the new comic book was called "Dylan Dog Color Fest" because it contained only stories full colored and not black and white like the regular series. In 2010 it became bi-annual (coming out in April and August every year). By 2016, each album would contain 3 colored stories – even though some albums also contain one individual story – and it would get published each number every three months. In November 2018, the 27th album will be released.<ref name=series/>

==Colored issues==
''Dylan Dog'' (like all Sergio Bonelli comic books) is printed in black and white. However, there are some issues that came out full colored to celebrate certain anniversaries. These include numbers that are multiple of 100, decade anniversaries of the series and other rare occasions.<ref name=series/>

The first full colored issue was # 100, titled  "La storia di Dylan Dog" ("The Story of Dylan Dog"), which told the final chapter of the adventure of Dylan. It was written by Tiziano Sclavi with drawings by Angel Stano. Color issue 121, "Finché morte non vi separi" (Till Death Do Us Part) celebrated the 10th birthday. Issue number 200 "Il Numero 200" ("The Number 200"), written by Paola Barbato with art by Bruno Brindisi, was also full colored and was the "sequel" of number 121 and the "prequel" of the very first issue ("Dawn of the Living Dead"). It tells what happened after Dylan's wife dies and how he became the "nightmare investigator". Issue 241 and 242 celebrated the 20th birthday of the series. Also in color was Sclavi and Brindisi's #250, "Ascensore per l'inferno" (literally "Elevator to Hell"). The next full colored issue would be #300, "Ritratto di famiglia" ("Family Picture"). Other coloured issues are number #131 "Quando cadono le stelle" ("When the Stars Fall", only final pages not in black and white), #224 "In nome del padre" (In Father's Name), #350 "Lacrime di pietra" ("Tears of Stone"), #361 "Mater Dolorosa"  and #375 "Nel Mistero" ("To Mystery"), which celebrates the return of Tiziano Sclavi in writing the script.<ref name=series/>

[[Image:Dylan Dog bell.jpg|thumb|100px|left|The screaming bell at Dylan Dog's house. ''Indagatore dell'incubo'' is Italian for "Nightmare Investigator".]]

==Characterisation==

Dylan Dog is a penniless "nightmare investigator" ("L'indagatore dell'incubo") who defies the whole preceding [[Horror fiction|horror]] tradition with a vein of [[surrealism]] and an anti-[[bourgeois]] rhetoric.

His clothes are one of his defining characteristics: he always dresses the same way, in a red shirt, black jacket, and blue jeans; he bought twelve identical outfits after the death of his lover Lillie Connolly.  Even during the worst weather, he never wears an overcoat or even carries an umbrella, since, according to him, an overcoat "would ruin his look", and he thinks that an umbrella is a "useless invention. Especially when it doesn't rain."

One of the principal supporting characters in the series is his assistant (or rather, comic relief), Groucho, a punning double of [[Groucho Marx]]. Another supporting character is Inspector Bloch, who was his superior when he worked at [[Scotland Yard]] and remains his father figure (in fact he calls Dylan "Old boy") even after Dylan struck out on his own to become a private investigator specializing in the supernatural.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sergiobonellieditore.it/dylan/servizi/groucho.html |title=Dylan Dog: Groucho e gli altri |publisher=Sergiobonellieditore.it |access-date=2012-11-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104003330/http://www.sergiobonellieditore.it/dylan/servizi/groucho.html |archive-date=4 November 2012 }}</ref>

Dylan lives with Groucho at 7 Craven Road in a cluttered apartment with a doorbell that screams. His hobbies include playing the [[clarinet]] (he only knows to play [[Devil's Trill Sonata|Devil's Trill]], but plays it often) and constructing a [[model ship]] which he apparently never manages to finish; he has many [[phobias]], including claustrophobia, [[fear of bats]] and [[acrophobia]]. Dylan is also particularly susceptible to [[motion sickness]], which is one of the reasons why he rarely travels, and anyway never by plane. Once an alcoholic, he now never drinks. He is a vegetarian and [[animal rights]] supporter. Dylan cares little for many aspects of modern life. He hates cellphones and to record his memories, he still uses a feather-pen and an inkpot. Naturally, he loves literature (poetry in particular), music (his tastes range from classical to heavy metal), and horror films. Though perpetually penniless, he does not seem to be interested in money. In fact, the usual first piece of advice he gives to numerous clients who have found themselves in his study over the years is to go to a psychiatrist or psychologist. He does not believe in coincidences.
[[Image:Xabaras.jpg|thumb|Dr. Xabaras is Dylan Dog's worst enemy.]]
He is also a hopeless romantic who loves and loses a new woman in nearly every issue. In fact, in a majority of his cases, his clients are women, with whom he often has a sexual relationship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sergiobonellieditore.it/dylan/servizi/il_mio_nome.html |title=Il mio nome è Dylan Dog |publisher=Sergiobonellieditore.it |access-date=2012-11-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909081816/http://www.sergiobonellieditore.it/dylan/servizi/il_mio_nome.html |archive-date=9 September 2012 }}</ref>

==Setting==
The series is mainly set in London, where the protagonist lives, though he occasionally travels elsewhere, such as imaginary realms such as "La zona del crepuscolo" (Twilight Zone). His address is 7 Craven Road, London, in reference to director [[Wes Craven]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/dec/28/dylan-dog-the-hit-london-set-italian-horror-comic-unknown-in-the-uk |title=Dylan Dog: the hit London-set Italian horror comic unknown in the UK |first=Lorenzo |last=Tondo|website=[[The Guardian]] |date=28 December 2020 }}
</ref>

The Cafe at 7 Craven Road, Paddington, London, was renamed Cafe Dylan Dog in 2013. In 2012, the cafe offered "Dylan Dog Meal" with beef or pork included, even though Dylan himself is a vegetarian.

==Supporting characters==
[[Image:Dylan Groucho.jpg|thumb|Groucho, Dylan's assistant, on the cover of a spin-off devoted to his solo surreal adventures.]]
* '''Inspector Bloch''', Dylan's superior when he worked at [[Scotland Yard]], remained his friend and father figure even after our hero quit the force. Bloch and Dylan often help out in each other's cases. Bloch is more rational and grounded than Dylan and often disregards [[supernatural]] explanations. He is an old but competent officer who dreams of retirement. Though Dylan causes enough trouble on his own, Bloch is also plagued by his hapless underling, Jenkins, whom he constantly threatens to sentence to a life of directing traffic. His graphic representation was inspired by English actor [[Robert Morley]] and is named for crime, horror and science fiction author [[Robert Bloch]].
* '''Groucho''' was a [[Groucho Marx]] impersonator whose character became his permanent personality. Now he lives and works with Dylan Dog as his professional [[sidekick]]. Like his famous namesake, Groucho enjoys cracking puns and women, though he does not share his employer's luck with the ladies. Groucho's goofy, off-beat personality helps temper Dylan's moodiness. He also reminds his boss when their finances are in dire straits (almost always), shows up with a [[pistol]] in the nick of time and throws it in Dylan's hand right on time, and makes tea. At some point in every issue Groucho makes one or two jokes that annoy Dylan and the person listening to the joke (often a client of Dylan's). An example: "...once, I had a dog which could utter its own name. It was named Woof."<ref>"...una volta avevo un cane che sapeva dire il suo nome. Si chiamava Bau." issue: "Golconda!", page 69</ref>
* '''Lord H.G Wells''' is an eccentric inventor who helps Dylan in some of his cases. Named after the author [[H. G. Wells]].

==Crossovers==

Some crossover stories combining Dylan Dog with characters from different comics were published, including, with ''[[Martin Mystere]]'', ''[[Mister No]]'', ''[[Ken Parker (comics)|Ken Parker]]'', ''[[Nathan Never]]'', and ''[[Dampyr]]''.

In October 2019, DC Comics and Sergio Bonelli Editori announced a crossover series between Dylan Dog and [[Batman]]. Issue #0 of the crossover, titled "''Relazioni pericolose''" ("Dangerous liaisons"), script by Roberto Recchioni with art by Gigi Cavenago and Werther Dell'Edera, was published in December 2019. As well as Batman, the series heavily features [[John Constantine]]. It was published in English by [[DC Comics]] on 12 March 2024.<ref name=dc>{{cite web |url= https://screenrant.com/batman-dylan-dog-review-joker-catwoman-xabaras-groucho/ |title= Batman/Dylan Dog is a Stylish, Unforgettable Take on The Dark Knight Fans Need to See Batman |author=Taylor Blake Forsberg |date=12 March 2024 |website=ScreenRant}}</ref>

==Cultural influence==
Italian author [[Umberto Eco]] said: "I can read the Bible, [[Homer]], or ''Dylan Dog'' for several days without being bored."<ref>[[Umberto Eco|Eco Umberto]] in Ostini Alberto (1998), ''Dylan Dog, indocili sentimenti, arcane paure'', «Umberto Eco e Tiziano Sclavi. Un dialogo», Milan, Euresis)</ref>

==Sales==
[[File:DylanDogOscarMondadori.jpg|thumb|Some Dylan Dog stories re-published by [[Arnoldo Mondadori Editore]]]]
''Dylan Dog'' is the second most widely sold comic book in Italy (the first one is another publication of Sergio Bonelli Editore, ''[[Tex Willer|Tex]]''): including both reprints and new stories, it sells over 120,000 copies each month.<ref name="Sales"/> As of 2017, the series has sold over 60 million copies worldwide.<ref name=Senn/>

The series is also published in Croatia by Ludens, in Serbia by Veseli Četvrtak and Expik Publications, in North Macedonia by M-comics, in Denmark by Shadow Zone Media, in the Netherlands by Silvester, in Poland by Tore, in Spain by Aleta Ediciones, in Sweden by Ades Media, in Turkey by Rodeo and Hoz Comics, in Greece by Mamouth Comix, Jemma Press and Mikros Iros Publications and in Mexico by [[Panini Comics]].<ref>{{cite web|title=DYLAN DOG N.1 – Panini Comics|url=http://comics.panini.com.mx/store/pub_mex_es/qdyla001-mx-dylan-dog-dylan-dog-n-1.html|publisher=Panini Comics|access-date=17 February 2019}}</ref>

==English translation ==
American publisher [[Dark Horse Comics]] released an English translation of a selection of ''Dylan Dog'' stories in 1999. This six-issue miniseries was later completed by a one-shot released in 2002. To avoid legal complications regarding Groucho Marx's estate, the art was altered so that Groucho no longer sports the Marx brother's signature moustache, and was renamed "Felix".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/groucho/4005-3936/|title=Groucho (character) |website=Comic Vine |date=20 July 2020 |access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref> Every cover in the six-issue mini featured art by American comics artist [[Mike Mignola]].

As of 2016, Epicenter Comics published a new English version of some Dylan Dog stories.

In 2018 and 2019, Sergio Bonelli Editore published a limited English variant edition.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dylandogofili.com/Tipologia/Index/variant-inglese-1061 |website=dylandogofili |title=Dylan Dog – Variant inglese |language=Italian |year=2018 }}</ref> [[DC Comics]] published the [[Batman]]/Dylan Dog crossover series in March 2024.<ref name=dc/>

===Dark Horse===
====Six-Issue miniseries====
* Dylan Dog No. 1 (March 1999) – Translated from "L'alba dei morti viventi" ("Dawn of the Living Dead"; Italian edition n°1, 1986)
* Dylan Dog No. 2 (April 1999) – Translated from "Johnny Freak" (Italian edition n°81, 1993)
* Dylan Dog No. 3 (late April 1999) – Translated from "Memorie dall'invisibile" ("Memories of an Invisible Man"; Italian edition n°19, 1988).
* Dylan Dog No. 4 (June 1999) – Translated from "il ritorno del mostro" ("The Monster Returns"; Italian edition n°8, 1987).
* Dylan Dog No. 5 (July 1999) – Translated from "Morgana" in (Italian edition n°25, 1988).
* Dylan Dog No. 6 (August 1999) – Translated from "Dopo mezzanotte" ("After Midnight"; Italian edition n°26, 1988).

====One-shot====
* ''Dylan Dog : Zed'' (November 2002) – Translated from "Zed" (Italian edition n° 84)

====Collected edition====
A 680-page volume, ''Dylan Dog Casefiles'', was released in 2009 ({{ISBN|1595822062}}), to tie in with the movie ''[[Dylan Dog: Dead of Night]]''. It reprinted the seven stories Dark Horse previously released. This volume also includes cover art by [[Mike Mignola]].

===Epicenter Comics===
*''Dylan Dog: Mater Morbi'' (July 2016)
*''Dylan Dog: Mater Dolorosa'' (November 2017)
*''Dylan Dog: The Long Goodbye'' (May 2018)
*''Dylan Dog: Chess of Death'' (October 2018)

===Bonelli's variant edition===
*''Dylan Dog: Dawn of the Living Dead'' (November 2018)
*''Dylan Dog: After Midnight'' (November 2018)
*''Dylan Dog: The Ghost of Anna Never'' (March 2019)
*''Dylan Dog: Through the Looking-Glass'' (March 2019)

===DC Comics===
*''Batman/Dylan Dog #1'' (12 March 2024)<ref>{{cite web |title=Batman/Dylan Dog #1 |url=https://www.dc.com/comics/batman/dylan-dog-2024/batman/dylan-dog-1 |website=DC.com }}</ref>
*''Batman/Dylan Dog #2'' (9 April 2024)<ref>{{cite web |title=Batman/Dylan Dog #2 |url=https://www.dc.com/comics/batman/dylan-dog-2024/batman/dylan-dog-2 |website=DC.com }}</ref>
*''Batman/Dylan Dog #3'' (4 May 2024)<ref>{{cite web |title=Batman/Dylan Dog #3 |url=https://www.dc.com/comics/batman/dylan-dog-2024/batman/dylan-dog-3 |website=DC.com }}</ref>

==Covers==
The covers of the first 41 issues are by [[Claudio Villa (comics)|Claudio Villa]], those of issues 42 to 361 were created by [[Angelo Stano]]. No. 362 had a completely white cover, therefore without an illustrator, while from issue 363 they are by Gigi Cavenago with the exception of issues no. 418-419-420 in which the front cover is by Fabrizio De Tommaso and the back cover is by Gigi Cavenago. From no. 421 the covers are entrusted to illustrators Gianluca and Raul Cestaro.

==Awards==
*2000: Nominated for the "Favourite comic" [[Eagle Awards#2000|Eagle Award]]
*2008: Nominated for the "Favourite European Comics" [[Eagle Awards#2007|Eagle Award]]
*2012: "Favourite European Comics" – Winner [[Eagle Awards#2012|Eagle Award]]

==Adaptations==
===Films===
====''Cemetery Man''====
{{Main|Cemetery Man}}
[[File:Everett Rupert.jpg|thumb|100px|[[Rupert Everett]]]]
In 1994 Italian director [[Michele Soavi]] directed the film ''[[Dellamorte Dellamore]]'' (known abroad as ''[[Cemetery Man]]'' or ''Of Death and Love''), with a screenplay written by Giovanni Romoli and based on [[Tiziano Sclavi]]'s similarly titled novel.<ref>{{IMDb title|qid=Q929886|title=Dellamorte Dellamore}}</ref>
Francesco Dellamorte (his mother's surname was Dellamore) – a sort of Italian [[alter ego]] for Dylan Dog –  appears for the first time in the third special issue of Dylan Dog, ''Orrore nero'' (''Black Horror''), released July 1989, in which he met the Nightmare Detective, but Sclavi's novel was written before the special issue.

Francesco Dellamorte also appears in a short (comic book) sequel to Orrore nero, entitled ''{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070817001214/http://www.stradanove.net/news/testi/fumetti/fasca1709982.html Stelle cadenti]}}'' (''Falling stars''), where Dylan, Groucho, Francesco and Gnaghi are walking together during saint Lawrence's night, watching shooting stars and talking about life and death.

English actor [[Rupert Everett]], who inspired Dylan Dog's design,<ref name=Everett/> played the protagonist, Francesco Dellamorte, while Italian model and actress [[Anna Falchi]] played the female lead. Although having Everett in the main role, the Dylan Dog character did not appear in the movie.

====''Dylan Dog: Dead of Night''====
{{main|Dylan Dog: Dead of Night}}
[[File:Brandon Routh by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|thumb|100px|[[Brandon Routh]]]]
[[Kevin Munroe]] has directed ''[[Dylan Dog: Dead of Night]]'', an official American film adaptation of Dylan Dog starring actor [[Brandon Routh]] as the title character.

Differences between the comic result in the film being set in [[New Orleans]] instead of London, the character of Groucho being replaced by an un-dead sidekick called Marcus due to issues for the production to acquire the rights to use the [[Groucho Marx]] name and style, another difference is Dylan Dog's Volkswagen Beetle being black with a white hood instead of the opposite like in the comic. The film also appears to be much lighter in tone and more action-oriented, lacking the surreal feeling, the black humour and the melancholy of the comic book, and the Dylan character is portrayed like more of a scientist-adventurer in the vein of [[Indiana Jones (character)|Indiana Jones]], rather than the romantic loner he is in the comics. Accordingly, Dylan's physical appearance changes to that of a muscular action hero rather than the slightly built in the comics.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.movieplayer.it/articoli/07918/dylan-l-ammazzavampiri/|title=Dylan l'ammazzavampiri|journal=Movieplayer.it|date=2011-03-15|accessdate=2011-03-17|author=Roberto Castrogiovanni|language=it}}</ref>

It was originally going to premiere on [[Halloween]] 2010 in Italy but was since pushed back to a 29 April 2011 release. The film has been produced by the independent company [[Platinum Studios]].

===Television series===
A television series based on the comics, produced by [[James Wan]] and his production company [[Atomic Monster]], was announced by Sergio Bonelli Editore in August 2018.<ref name="Television" /><ref name="variety.com">{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/dylan-dog-bonelli-comics-publisher-italy-1202889319/|title=Italian Comics Publisher Bonelli Moves into Production With 'Dylan Dog' (EXCLUSIVE)|author=Nick Vivarelli|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=1 August 2018 }}</ref> In December 2022, Wan stated that the series was still in development, and that he was also working with the publishing house to find investors.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.badtaste.it/tv/interviste/dylan-dog-james-wan-conferma-serie-tv-in-sviluppo-excl/ |title=Dylan Dog, James Wan conferma: la serie Tv è ancora in sviluppo |website=BadTatste |date=9 December 2022 |language=Italian }}</ref> On 2 June 2023, Michele Masiero, editorial director of Sergio Bonelli Editore, said that the series will be faithful to the comics, and that they were preparing the casting.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cinecittanews.it/michele-masiero-il-dylan-dog-televisivo-sara-fedele-ai-fumetti/ |title=Michele Masiero: "Il Dylan Dog televisivo sarà fedele ai fumetti" |website=Cinecittà News |date=2 June 2023 |first=Andrea |last=Guglielmino |language=Italian}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Dylan Dog Books out of series]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Dylan Dog}}
* {{gcdb|type=character|search=Dylan+Dog|title=Dylan Dog}}
* {{Comicbookdb|type=character|id=43030|title=Dylan Dog}}
 <!-- following [[WP:ELMAYBE]] to reduce bloating of the EL section, rather than add links here think about submitting them over there  -->
* [http://www.sergiobonellieditore.it Bonelli Comics]
* [http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/15-672/The-Dylan-Dog-Case-Files-TPB Dark Horse Info]
* [http://voceviuisso.wordpress.com/dylan-dog/ Dylan Dog Special] {{in lang|pt}}
* [http://texbr.com/dylandog Website Dylan Dog] on TexBR {{in lang|pt}}
* [http://www.evolver.at/reloaded/Dylan_Dog_Tiziano_Sclavi_Comic Tiziano Sclavi/Dylan Dog-Portrait]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090308015128/http://www.aletaediciones.com/Galerias/bonelli/dog/dylan_dog.htm Dylan Dog, Spanish edition] {{in lang|es}}
* [http://www.texbr.com/artigos/artigos2006/20061216_exposicao_dylandog_italia.htm Dylan Dog Italian edition]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151211070235/http://dylandog.hpage.com/ Dylan Dog Website]
* [http://adesmedia.se Swedish publisher Ades Media]
* [http://www.comicvine.com/dylan-dog/49-3659/ List of every Italian issue on comicvine]
* [http://www.comicvine.com/dylan-dog/49-23117/ List of every issue in the Dark Horse miniseries on comicvine]
* [http://www.comicvine.com/dylan-dog-zed-one-shot/37-266104/ "Dylan Dog: Zed" one-shot on comicvine]
* [http://kepregenydb.hu/kepregenyek/dylan-dog-296/ List of every Hungarian issue on kepregenydb.hu]
* [http://texwillerblog.com/wordpress/?p=21597 Dylan Dog Parody Italian edition] {{in lang|pt}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Comic book publishing companies of Italy]]
[[Category:Italian comics]]
[[Category:Italian comics characters|Dog, Dylan]]
[[Category:Male characters in comics|Dog, Dylan]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1986|Dog, Dylan]]
[[Category:Fictional paranormal investigators]]
[[Category:Occult detective fiction]]
[[Category:Detective comics]]
[[Category:Fantasy comics]]
[[Category:Italian comics adapted into films]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into video games]]
[[Category:Comics set in London]]
[[Category:Fictional Italian people]]