Albi del Falco

    (Mondadori, 1954-1970)

Albi del Falco launched in Italy in 1954 by Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, was one of the earliest and most influential Italian publications to feature American superheroes, with *Superman* as its flagship character. However, in Italy he was renamed Nembo Kid, and the series blended translated U.S. stories with later original Italian material as it grew in popularity.

The term Superman was avoided because the Nietzschean idea of the Übermensch/Superman had tainted associations with Mussolini and the defeated fascist government which was still a fresh memory of World War II when the series started.

The title ran for hundreds of issues and became a cultural touchstone, introducing Italian readers to science‑fiction adventure, cosmic threats, and the moral clarity associated with Superman’s mythos.

A distinctive hallmark of the series was the removal of Superman’s iconic “S” shield from his chest and cape. Italian publishers erased the emblem in every issue, a change driven by trademark concerns and the desire to avoid potential legal or branding conflicts with the American symbol. This alteration became a defining visual trait of Nembo Kid, making him instantly recognizable as the Italian variant of Superman. The character’s original name and logo were eventually restored decades later, but during the 1950s and 60s, the “S‑less” Nembo Kid stood as a uniquely Italian reinterpretation of the Man of Steel.

The series is named Albi del Falco from #1-528, then becomes Superman Nembo Kid from #529-574, and then finishes up as Superman from #575-651.
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