Micky Maus Magazin 75th anniversary

The German-language ‘Micky Maus Magazin’ is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Published by Egmont Ehapa Media, the magazine first debuted on August 29, 1951, as ‘Micky Maus – das bunte Monatsheft’, which was the first fully color-printed magazine in the German-speaking region.

To avoid post-war political complications, Walt Disney granted the license to the Scandinavian Egmont Verlag rather than a German entity. Throughout its history, the publication has sold over 1.3 billion copies. Under the editorship of Dr. Erika Fuchs, the magazine helped shape the German Disney comic language. Her sophisticated translations and unique linguistic contributions, known as the ‘Erikativ’, played a key role in transitioning comics from being dismissed as “Schund” (trash) or “Kinderkram” (child's play) to a respected medium.

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. Early issues also provided significant space for characters like Pluto.

To mark the milestone, the publisher is releasing a special anniversary edition and opening a comic pop-up store in Bikini Berlin for four weeks. The store is expected to feature interactive activities and live drawing sessions with Disney artists Ulrich Schröder and Flemming Andersen. While original 1951 issues once cost 75 Pfennig, they are now highly valued by collectors.