Micky Maus-Magazin celebrates 75 years of Disney comics in Germany

The Micky Maus-Magazin is celebrating its 75th anniversary, marking the long history of Disney comics in Germany. The first German edition of the magazine was released on August 29, 1951, through the Ehapa-Verlag, a subsidiary of the Scandinavian Egmont Verlag. This publication was a pioneer in the German market as the first fully color-printed magazine consisting entirely of comics.

Historically, the magazine faced significant challenges. In the 1950s, comics were often dismissed as ‘Schund’ (trash) or ‘Kinderkram’ (child's play), with critics warning of intellectual decline. The magazine's first editor-in-chief, Dr. Erika Fuchs, played a crucial role in its success. Her sophisticated translations and unique linguistic contributions, known as the ‘Erikativ’, became part of the German language. To avoid post-war political complications, Walt Disney granted the license to the Scandinavian Egmont Verlag rather than a German entity.

To commemorate the milestone, Egmont Ehapa Media has launched a special anniversary edition and opened a pop-up comic store in Berlin’s Bikini Berlin shopping mall. While Mickey Mouse was the original titular star, modern readers often identify more strongly with Donald Duck, who has become a central figure in the publication's enduring popularity.