RanXerox
Encyclopedia
Ranxerox is a science fiction
graphic novel
series by Stefano Tamburini
and Tanino Liberatore
, two Italian
artists who had worked on such magazines as Cannibale and Frigidaire. Conceived as a bizarre anti-hero, Ranxerox was a mechanical creature made from Xerox
photocopier parts.
The name was at the beginning Rank Xerox, like the joint venture between the Xerox Corporation of U.S. and the Rank Organisation of UK, which manufacture and market Xerox equipment in Europe. Later Tamburini changed to Ranxerox due to a threatened lawsuit by Rank Xerox
for the trademark.
"Rank Xerox" was first published in 1978 in Cannibale magazine and later, as "Ranxerox", in Frigidaire magazine (1980). The first time "Ranxerox" was published in English was in the July 1983 issue of Heavy Metal
. Many more issues of Heavy Metal and novels followed (such as "Ranxerox in America"). The artist uses Pantone
pens to create his unique style of art.
Richard Corben
said about the character:
Tanino Liberatore also created the artwork for the Frank Zappa
album The Man from Utopia
; the image of Zappa on the cover bears a strong resemblance to Ranxerox.
A videogame based on the series was created by Ubisoft
in 1990 for DOS, Amiga, & Atari ST.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
series by Stefano Tamburini
Stefano Tamburini
Stefano Tamburini was an Italian graphic artist, author and publisher.Born in Rome, he founded the magazines Combinazioni , Cannibale and Frigidaire...
and Tanino Liberatore
Tanino Liberatore
Gaetano Liberatore , better known as Tanino Liberatore, is an Italian comics author and illustrator. His best known fictional character is RanXerox.- Life and work :...
, two Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
artists who had worked on such magazines as Cannibale and Frigidaire. Conceived as a bizarre anti-hero, Ranxerox was a mechanical creature made from Xerox
Xerox
Xerox Corporation is an American multinational document management corporation that produced and sells a range of color and black-and-white printers, multifunction systems, photo copiers, digital production printing presses, and related consulting services and supplies...
photocopier parts.
The name was at the beginning Rank Xerox, like the joint venture between the Xerox Corporation of U.S. and the Rank Organisation of UK, which manufacture and market Xerox equipment in Europe. Later Tamburini changed to Ranxerox due to a threatened lawsuit by Rank Xerox
Rank Xerox
Rank Xerox was formed in 1956 as a joint venture between the Xerox Corporation of U.S. and the Rank Organisation of UK, to manufacture and market Xerox equipment initially in Europe and later in Africa and Asia...
for the trademark.
"Rank Xerox" was first published in 1978 in Cannibale magazine and later, as "Ranxerox", in Frigidaire magazine (1980). The first time "Ranxerox" was published in English was in the July 1983 issue of Heavy Metal
Heavy Metal (magazine)
Heavy Metal is an American science fiction and fantasy comics magazine, known primarily for its blend of dark fantasy/science fiction and erotica. In the mid-1970s, while publisher Leonard Mogel was in Paris to jump-start the French edition of National Lampoon, he discovered the French...
. Many more issues of Heavy Metal and novels followed (such as "Ranxerox in America"). The artist uses Pantone
Pantone
Pantone Inc. is a corporation headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey, USA. The company is best known for its Pantone Matching System , a proprietary color space...
pens to create his unique style of art.
Richard Corben
Richard Corben
Richard Corben is an American illustrator and comic book artist best known for his comics featured in Heavy Metal magazine...
said about the character:
Tanino Liberatore also created the artwork for the Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
album The Man from Utopia
The Man from Utopia
The Man from Utopia is a 1983 album by Frank Zappa. It is a more song-driven, and less conceptual work than many others in Zappa's oeuvre. The album is named after a 1950s song, written by Donald and Doris Woods, which Zappa covers as part of "The Man from Utopia Meets Mary Lou".The sleeve art...
; the image of Zappa on the cover bears a strong resemblance to Ranxerox.
A videogame based on the series was created by Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
in 1990 for DOS, Amiga, & Atari ST.