Information about MOSAIK and how it came to be can now be found in our beautifully illustrated 25th anniversary album! It is the story of the Abrafaxe. Hardly anybody knows where they come from, as their name already suggests: something mysterious which reminds us of “Abracadabra“ has created the three friendly sprites. For a very long time now, they have been travelling the world, always looking for new friends and new adventures. At regular intervals, the Abrafaxe are able to leap through time and in doing so experience scenes from history. Each time period is always carefully researched, though the Abrafaxe's adventures come from the creative pens of our authors, artists and even our readers. The Abrafaxe's adventures are published in Finland, Poland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, India, Greece and Turkey.
The Abrafaxe took their first steps into the public eye on the back cover of an issue of MOSAIK in autumn 1975. Lothar Dräger, the long-term co-author of the MOSAIK, which has been published since 1955, wanted to put well-loved characters like Harlequin into the centre of the new stories. As secondary characters who would accompany the various heroes, he designed three new gnomes according to the editor's specifications: They should be smart, yet a little mysterious with a pinch of abracadabra and filled with a love of adventure. Through courage and wit, derring-do and clumsiness, they should exhibit a sort of cheeky charm. The name Abrafaxe was chosen. Lothar Dräger became the spiritual father of the Abrafaxe. Following that, each of the MOSAIK artists created their own design for their appearance. The best drafts arrived from Lona Rietschel. With that, she became the Abrafaxe's “mother“.
At the end of January of 1976, an issue of MOSAIK featuring the new heroes, hit the market and reached subscribers with a print run of 705,000 copies. At the same time, a run of 30,000 copies of MOZAIKA was published in Hungary.
MOSAIK celebrated its 30th anniversary in December 1985.
This year wasn’t easy for the Abrafaxe or their friends and creators. The reason being that the former publisher of MOSAIK, Junge Welt, was liquidated by the trust company and only several issues were still being sold. As a result of this, the survival of MOSAIK was severely under threat. Fortunately, Klaus D. Schleiter and Anne Hauser-Thiele founded the MOSAIK publishing house "Steinchen für Steinchen” (German, "stone by stone") and thus saved MOSAIK.
MOSAIK tried to establish itself in Russia. The Abrafaxe made their first appearence in the magazine Ogonyok to advertise the MOSAIKA-books published by Ogonyok.
The year of MOSAIK's 40th anniversary!
In this year, the Abrafaxe seemed to be appearing everywhere! Their adventures were published weekly in the Berliner Kurier and in the magazine SUPERIllu. "Kleine Detektive – Die Abrafaxe auf heißer Spur" (German, "Little Detectives – The Abrafaxe Hot on the Trail") was released. There was also an interesting new book for fans: In "Next Generation", the current MOSAIK team were introduced. "Mach's noch einmal, Robin!" (German, "Do it again, Robin!"), the newly planned spin-off appeared in the Schweriner Volkszeitung before being officially published in autumn.
... and our website www.abrafaxe.com went online!
Big things were on their way! The Abrafaxe-Trickfilm-AG (Abrafaxe Animation Company) was founded and a two-minute pilot for the first Abrafaxe movie was produced. It was called "Die Abrafaxe und Graf Hetzel" (German, "The Abrafaxe and Count Hetzel") and was introduced to the public by the channel 3Sat.
The 500th MOSAIK issue was released in July. In the same year, a new series drawn in a modern style, was launched and published sporadically. It was simply called "DIE ABRAFAXE" (German, "THE ABRAFAXE").
The highlight of the "year of the book" was the children's detective story "Der Fluch des Skarabäus" (German, "The Curse of the Scarab"), written by Tatort-commissioner Palü alias Jochen Senf, who is well-known on German TV, and Peter Tiefenbrunner. The story involved the Abrafaxe solving a difficult case in 19th century England. Readers could find interesting facts about the Abrafaxe and experience mini-adventures with them this year in ZACK magazine, which was published for the first time by MOSAIK Steinchen für Steinchen.
As the Abrafaxe had now been travelling through world history for a quarter of a century, there was a huge anniversary party at the Filmpark Babelsberg.
It was finally here! The Abrafaxe's first movie set sail into theatres in September: "Die Abrafaxe – Unter schwarzer Flagge" (German, "The Abrafaxe – Under the Black Flag").
The DVD of the Abrafaxe's movie hit stores in April 2002. For years, MOSAIK had had its exhibition booth at the Frankfurt Book Fair as well as at the International Children's Book Fair in Bologna. Those fairs also enable negotiations over printing rights for foreign publishing houses. The MOSAIK magazine is now published monthly in Hungary, Greece and Korea. The Abrafaxe's magazine, the books and the short stories are published regularly in the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Greece, Hungary, Turkey, Indonesia, Korea, Russia and China. In 2002's November issue, a new adventure in Japan started. The previous Arc set in America ended with issue 322. The first Japanese issue was introduced to the press, as well as the Japanese consul general, during the Frankfurt Book Fair on October 9th, 2002.
Since January 2003, MOSAIK has been published bi-weekly in Vietnam.
In the August 2004 issue of MOSAIK, the Abrafaxe started an exciting race around the world. On December 17th, MOSAIK's publishing house, Steinchen für Steinchen Verlag, invited its fans to the very first 'open door day’ at Lindenallee, Berlin.
After finishing their race, the Abrafaxe landed in the 12th century, where they helped the Knight Sir Hugo von Payens save the western world.
MOSAIK published the second book of "Ritter Runkel" (German, "Sir Runkel"): "Ritter Runkel – Der Diplomat" (German, "Sir Runkel - The Diplomat").
Two audio plays were published in collaboration with ZYX music under the title "Mehr Wissen mit den Abrafaxen" (German, "Learn more with the Abrafaxe"): "Castles" and "Robber-knights". In autumn 2007, a story arc about Johanna, a little maid at a medieval monastery, started. This time, the Abrafaxe were looking for the Philosopher’s Stone, while their companion was being hunted by two German counts. In November, the graphic novel "Das große Rennen um die Welt" (German, "The Great Race around the World") was published, which collected issues 344–357.
In September 2008, the Abrafaxe were given female counterparts: The three cheeky girls Anna, Bella and Caramella were introduced in issue 393, and at the same time, "Die unglaublichen Abenteuer von Anna, Bella & Caramella" (German, "The Incredible Adventures of Anna, Bella & Caramella") hit the market. With Dr. Axel Werner’s book: "Wie funktioniert die Welt? Naturphänomene im Alltag" (German, "How does the world work? Natural phenomena in everyday life") the Abrafaxe found their way into classrooms across Germany.
Starting in April, the popular German magazine SUPERillu began regularly including a double page with the Abrafaxe, in which they amaze young readers with tips and tricks. The current story arc, set in the baroque era, started with issue 406, featuring several of the great minds of this era as characters, including Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Sir Isaac Newton and Louis XIV, King of France. From October, "Anna, Bella & Caramella" began hitting the shops regularly. Starting with the second issue, "Reise mit Hindernissen" (German, "Journey with Obstacles"), the title has been published every three months.
"Blackbeards Schatz – Eine Piratengeschichte mit den Abrafaxen" (German, "Blackbeard's Treasure – A Pirate Tale with the Abrafaxe") was published. A collection of one-pagers from 2001–2004. In November, a graphic novel containing the Orient-Express story arc was available from some branches of Aldi. In December, the second science book from the pen of Dr. Axel Werner "Wie funktioniert die Welt? 2" (German, "How does the world work? 2") was published.
In cooperation with the Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Leipzig MOSAIK published a special edition that deals with the Battle of Leipzig in 1813 – "Kaiser, Krieger, Löwenjäger" (German, "Emperor, Warrior, Lion Hunter") . In October (with issue #430) a new adventure started: The Abrafaxe hit Australia.
The Abrafaxe carry on their journey on the "Investigator" around the Australian continent. Lothar Drägers fourth novel about the Rübensteiners "Im Namen der Rübe" comes out. And the Abrafaxe end up on the moon in their new album "Die Reise zum Mond".
After the Abrafaxe successfully completed their circumnavigation of the Australian continent on board of the “Investigator" in February 2013, they find themselves traveling once more to Australia. But now to the year 1847 – 44 years after their first tour. Once they arrived in Sydney they meet, among others, one of Brandenburg’s most famous researchers Ludwig Leichhardt. This encounter and a few other events cause our three heroes inland ...
Lona Rietschel, the mother of Abrafaxe, is celebrating her 80th birthday and on this occasion her autobiography "Lona Rietschel - Pictures of my Life" has been released. In that Lona reports about her life as an artist and a lot of never before published images document her extensive work.
Just in time for the Leipzig Book Fair in March 2014 the Abrafaxe travel nearly 1.700 years back to ancient times. This time, however, from Australia to the old Roman Empire.
The book "Die unglaubliche Entstehung eines MOSAIK" (German, "The Incredible Creation of a MOSAIK") shows how much work actually goes into the little booklet with those colorful pictures and depicts a step by step tutorial of the creation process of each MOSAIK.
With the "Collector's Edition - A New Star" the first English MOSAIK anthology was published. In November, the softcover anthology "Die Abrafaxe im Alten Ägypten" (German, "The Abrafaxe in Ancient Egypt") came out, which is available in some ALDI stores.
For the Abrafaxe their exciting journey with the Circus Spontifex through the Roman Empire continues.
In March, the Abrafaxe Fountain at the Filmpark Babelsberg is unveiled, the book "Das Geheimnis ewiger Jugend" (German, "The Secret of Eternal Youth") publishes at the Comicfestival Munich and the first "MOSAIK auf Latein" (German, "MOSAIK in Latin") releases just in time for the Christmas season. Last but not least, we commemorate our double anniversary in December: we are celebrating 60 years of MOSAIK and 40 years of Abrafaxe.
After the series "The Abrafaxe conquer Rome" ends with MOSAIK 482, warping through time the Abrafaxe return to German soil in March. Their travels take them to Wittenberg into the year 1517, shortly before Martin Luther's posting of his 95 theses and thus the beginning of the Reformation.
Massimiliano Narciso and Marieke Ferrari stop working as the artist-/colorist-team of Anna, Bella & Caramella. In their place long-time MOSAIK-artist Jens Fischer rises to the occasion and commits himself to the project, making Anna, Bella & Caramella 29 his first solo-publication.
In May, the book "Das Ende des Mittelalters" (German, "The End of the Middle Ages“) publishes at the Comic-Salon Erlangen and for the exhibition "LEIBNIX - das Universalgenie in Alltag und Comic" (German, "LEIBNIX - The Universal Genius in Everyday Life and Comics“) at the Wilhelm Busch-Museum the album "Abenteuer Wissenschaft - Die Abrafaxe unterwegs mit Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz" (German, "Adventure Science - The Abrafaxe on the Go with Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz") comes out.
Together with Luther, Cranach and Co. the "The End of the Middle Ages“-adventure continues to focus on the time of the Reformation. In March the anthology "Schlag auf Schlag" (German, "Hit after Hit") with the first 13 issues of the Reformation-series is being presented at the Leipzig Book Fair. On May 7th the MOSAIK-Team collectively travels to Rostock for the premiere of Vincent Strehlow's Abrafaxe Symphonie (German, "Abrafaxe Symphony"), which is performed by the Rostock Philharmonic. And yet another anniversary: On July 26th the 500th MOSAIK with the Abrafaxe comes out und every issue of this MOSAIK is a unique copy. In addition, the Abrafaxe shortstory album "Tour de Berlin" comes out just in time for MOSAIK’s open house on December 2nd.
In March, the Abrafaxe leave the paths of Martin Luther and travel straight into the time of the Hanseatic League. Shortly thereafter, Book 2 of the Reformation-Series "Himmel & Hölle“ (German, "Heaven & Hell") is being published, and in May the special volumes "Leinen los!" (German, "The Abrafaxe at the Time of the Hanseatic League") and "Leinen los!" (German, "Cast off!") come out.
The anniversaries will not come to an end: In October, the 100th MOSAIK anthology with 16 extra pages is released – filled with previously unreleased material from the past 42 years. Additionally in August Anna, Bella & Caramella celebrate their 10th anniversary!
The Abrafaxe continue their journey through the European Hanseatic period undeterred. In September she went to the west coast of Africa in the special edition "Die Schokoladenexpedition" (German, “The Chocolate Expedition”) to uncover the secret of the origins of chocolate.
Over the course of the year, the first two anthologies of Anna, Bella & Caramella see the light of day: “Start ins Abenteuer” (German, “The Start of the Adventure”) and „Im Wilden Westen“ (German, “In the Wild West”).
2020 was probably a great challenge for the entire world that took everyone by surprise. Nevertheless, we do not let ourselves get down! For the MOSAIK-Team that means for the first time in the history of the MOSAIK to work from home! Despite all the adversities, not only do all regular publications appear as planned, but also two special issues: „Die Erben des verborgenen Schatzes – Die Abrafaxe unterwegs mit Karl Friedrich Schinkel„ (German, “The Heirs of the Hidden Treasure – The Abrafaxe on the Road with Karl Friedrich Schinkel”) and „Die Abrafaxe in Sachsen“ (German, “The Abrafaxe in Saxony”). Ten years after the album "Blackbeards Schatz" (German, "Blackbeard's Treasure") saw the light of day, its second edition appears in a chic new look. In October, a complete edition of the „Kleinen Detektive“ (German, „Little Detectives“) with all 15 stories and an editorial appendix appears.
Abrafaxe symphony composer Vincent Strehlow becomes an author in February with "So klingt Abenteuer! - Die Abrafaxe und die Welt der Musik" (German, “This is what adventure sounds like! – The Abrafaxe and the World of Music”) and builds a bridge between the adventure stories of the Abrafaxe and the cheerful imparting of knowledge about how a symphony orchestra works.
2022 is rich in new releases: In May, the special issue "Bauhaus macht Schule - Zeitreisen mit Anna, Bella und Caramella" (German, “Bauhaus Goes to School - Time Travels with Anna, Bella and Caramella”) is published, in July the flexcover anthologies "Zu Gast bei Nofretete" (“Visiting Nefertiti”) and "Im Land der Pyramiden" (“In the Land of the Pyramids”) with the complete Egypt series are published, in September two flexcover anthologies with the complete Hansa series in Low German: "Ünnerwägens in de Hansetiet" (Low German, “On the Way during the Hanseatic Era”) and "De Schatz von de Likedeelers" (Low German, “The Treasure of the Likedeelers”), in November the one-pager album "Abenteuer im Morgenland - Die Abrafaxe auf Reisen" (“Adventures in the Orient - The Abrafaxe Out and About”) is published and with "Wie funktioniert die Welt? - 30 erstaunliche Entdeckungen mit den Abrafaxen" (“How Does the World Work? - 30 amazing discoveries with the Abrafaxe”), the fourth science book in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Werner, and at the end of the year the special issue "Gregorius Mättig und das Geheimnis der Unsterblichkeit - Die Abrafaxe in Bautzen" (“Gregorius Mättig and the secret of immortality - The Abrafaxe in Bautzen”).
Klein, drollig und voller Charme [...] Mosaik ist ein Stück Leben.
Angesichts der Omnipräsenz der elektronischen Medien in Kinderzimmern ist die Comiczeitschrift „MOSAIK“ ein liebenswerter Anachronismus. Und ein erfolgreicher dazu.“
Zeichnerisch weiterhin auf höchstem Niveau, ist das Heft ein gelungener Start für die Serie.