Uri Fink
Encyclopedia
Uri Fink is an Israeli comic book
artist and writer, and creator of the comics series Zbeng!
. Fink is considered to be one of Israel's leading comic book artists.
, Israel
in 1963. Fink had a passion for art since early childhood. Fink began drawing at a very early age, influenced mainly by the comic books he enjoyed reading.
In 1978, at age 15, he published his first comic story of the Hebrew superhero Sabraman.
After serving in the Israeli army (1981–1984), he was accepted into the Department of Visual Design at Israeli's Bezalel Academy of Art and Design
. His final project was a comic book named Hevlay Meshiach (which was later published).
On August 17, 1987, his comic Zbeng!
was first published in the leading Israeli teen magazine Ma'Ariv La'Noar, and won great success. Rapidly the one-page comic expanded into a number of pages in every issue, and became the prominent part of the magazine. In addition, Fink has published 22 Zbeng! books throughout the years.
Fink has also published two books which teach how to draw the characters of Zbeng!. He has also published additional Zbeng! merchandise, which includes a series of school diaries, a notebook, Zbengale (Zbeng! for younger children), and much more.
Due to the massive success of Zbeng! and the popularity he gained amongst the Israeli youth, during the 1990s, Fink published many additional comic books.
Following his belief that art can contribute back to society, Fink joined "Comics For All" in May 2010, a collective of Israeli comic artists which aims to promote the comic medium as a cultural and educational tool. Fink participated in various activities voluntarily.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
artist and writer, and creator of the comics series Zbeng!
Zbeng!
Zbeng! is a humorous weekly Israeli comic series geared towards Israeli teenagers. The creator of the series is the Israeli cartoonist Uri Fink, who has both illustrated and written the series for over two decades....
. Fink is considered to be one of Israel's leading comic book artists.
Biography
Fink was born in Tel AvivTel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 1963. Fink had a passion for art since early childhood. Fink began drawing at a very early age, influenced mainly by the comic books he enjoyed reading.
In 1978, at age 15, he published his first comic story of the Hebrew superhero Sabraman.
After serving in the Israeli army (1981–1984), he was accepted into the Department of Visual Design at Israeli's Bezalel Academy of Art and Design
Bezalel Academy of Art and Design
Bezalel Academy of Art and Design is Israel's national school of art, founded in 1906 by Boris Schatz. It is named for the Biblical figure Bezalel, son of Uri , who was appointed by Moses to oversee the design and construction of the Tabernacle ....
. His final project was a comic book named Hevlay Meshiach (which was later published).
On August 17, 1987, his comic Zbeng!
Zbeng!
Zbeng! is a humorous weekly Israeli comic series geared towards Israeli teenagers. The creator of the series is the Israeli cartoonist Uri Fink, who has both illustrated and written the series for over two decades....
was first published in the leading Israeli teen magazine Ma'Ariv La'Noar, and won great success. Rapidly the one-page comic expanded into a number of pages in every issue, and became the prominent part of the magazine. In addition, Fink has published 22 Zbeng! books throughout the years.
Fink has also published two books which teach how to draw the characters of Zbeng!. He has also published additional Zbeng! merchandise, which includes a series of school diaries, a notebook, Zbengale (Zbeng! for younger children), and much more.
Due to the massive success of Zbeng! and the popularity he gained amongst the Israeli youth, during the 1990s, Fink published many additional comic books.
Following his belief that art can contribute back to society, Fink joined "Comics For All" in May 2010, a collective of Israeli comic artists which aims to promote the comic medium as a cultural and educational tool. Fink participated in various activities voluntarily.
Work
Fink has written and drawn many comic books, including:- Sabraman (סברמן) - The adventures of the Hebrew superhero "Sabraman," also known as Dan Bar-On. His parents are killed during the Holocaust by the Nazis. After the end of World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he immigrates to Israel, becomes a policeman, and later on, a special secret agent. He received a special transplanted atomic brain, which bestows him radioactive super-powers. - Havlei Mashiah (הבלי משיח) - This book was designed as part of Fink's Final Project at Israel's "Bezalel Academy of Art and DesignBezalel Academy of Art and DesignBezalel Academy of Art and Design is Israel's national school of art, founded in 1906 by Boris Schatz. It is named for the Biblical figure Bezalel, son of Uri , who was appointed by Moses to oversee the design and construction of the Tabernacle ....
." - Super Shlumper (סופר שלומפר) - A superheroSuperheroA superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
dressed in pajamasPajamasPajamas, also spelled pyjamas , can refer to several related types of clothing. The original paijama are loose, lightweight trousers fitted with drawstring waistbands and worn in South and West Asia by both sexes...
; this series parodies all superhero typical plots. - Zbeng!Zbeng!Zbeng! is a humorous weekly Israeli comic series geared towards Israeli teenagers. The creator of the series is the Israeli cartoonist Uri Fink, who has both illustrated and written the series for over two decades....
(!זבנג) - This comics series involves a gang of typical Israeli teens, that is an extremism of typical stereotypes related to that age group (the Geek; the Bully; the Raunchy Guy; the Leftist; the Rocker; the Most Beautiful Girl in the Class; the Soldier; the Fat Kid; the Homosexual; the Quirky Principal; and the Mean Teacher). "Zbeng!" has been successful with Israeli youth throughout the years: it appeared in the weekly youth magazine Ma'Ariv La'Noar; it was published in 22 different volumes; and even appeared as a TV show. The series also launched its own merchandise such as school diaries, notebooks, booklets, and more. - Zbengale (זבנגלה) - This comic takes place is a different time in the world of Zbeng!; that of the early childhood of the original character set. This comic series was created by Fink from his desire to create a comic designed for children without much violenceViolenceViolence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
or crudeness. - Days of Antiochus (ימי אנטיוכוס) - The main character of this comic series is an evil dog called AntiochusAntiochus-The Seleucid Empire:* Antiochus , father of Seleucus I Nicator, founder of the Hellenstic Seleucid Empire* Antiochus I Soter , king of the Seleucid Empire...
. - Shabtai (שבתאי) - This comic originally appeared in the Israeli web portal "Nana" in 1999, where it has been published until today. Shabtai is the only daily comic in Israel, starting originally as somewhat similar to the comic DilbertDilbertDilbert is an American comic strip written and drawn by Scott Adams. First published on April 16, 1989, Dilbert is known for its satirical office humor about a white-collar, micromanaged office featuring the engineer Dilbert as the title character...
, although it has become more political and current events-oriented. - The Golem (הגולם) - An alternative history comic book. The main character in the book is The Golem, a supposedly real Israeli superhero, who is very popular in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, and had a big influence on the crucial moments of Israel. In 2005, Fink and writer Eli Eshed adapted the Golem series into a daily strip that ran online on the Israeli English-language news website, YnetnewsYnetnewsYnetnews is the online English language Israeli news website of Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel’s most-read newspaper, and the Hebrew Israel news portal, Ynet...
. - Gogi Stories (סיפורי גוגי) - After Uri Fink became a father, he created this comic which is dedicated entirety to the experience of parenthood. The main characters are his own family: his wife, Liat; his daughters, Inbar and Yael.
- The Jungle Book (ספר הג'ונגל) - Three books which parody the Israeli politicsPolitics of IsraelThe Israeli system of government is based on parliamentary democracy. The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of government and leader of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in the Knesset. The Judiciary is independent of the executive...
. - Tales From the Ragin' Region - A subversive comic book only printed in English. It addresses the Israeli-Palestinian conflictIsraeli-Palestinian conflictThe Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The conflict is wide-ranging, and the term is also used in reference to the earlier phases of the same conflict, between Jewish and Zionist yishuv and the Arab population living in Palestine under Ottoman or...
.
External links
- PRI's The World: Israeli political cartoonist Uri Fink - published on YoutubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Uri Fink explains the process of creating comics in his studio (Part I) (Part II) - published on YoutubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
(Hebrew) - Fink bio, Lambiek Comiclopedia