Chico Kolor #7: Chico traper

In Chico traper (Chico the Trapper), a meeting with his old partner Donald Destry prompts Chico to tell the story of how he once made his living as a trapper. To hear him tell it, he was a seasoned woodsman. Once he gets to the details, though, it becomes clear that both the wildlife and the people he did business with gave him more trouble than he likes to admit.

The beavers are too clever for his traps, the rabbits are too quick, and his best chance against a swarm of hungry bees is to run. Then there are the fur traders, who know exactly how to turn a bargain to their own advantage. In the woods, Chico has to outsmart his quarry; in business, he has to make sure he doesn’t become easy prey himself.

Moreno Burattini finds the humour in the gap between Chico’s account of his exploits and what actually happens in Francesco Gamba’s panels. Chico can turn even a headlong flight from a swarm of bees into a story worth telling. In a Western where trappers usually prove themselves through skill and patience, he stands out because almost nothing goes according to plan.