Today, one hundred years have passed since the birth of Gísla J. Ástthórsson. He was the first educated Icelandic journalist and was known in his day as an editor, journalist, writer, caricaturist and social critic. Gísli focused on independent reporting of party politics and lobbied for changes in newspaper circulation and appearance. He is also the author of Siggu Vigga, Iceland’s first comic book hero, and drew the satirical series Þankastrik for years.
On the anniversary, Stefán Pálsson will be a historian with a lecture on the life and work of Gísla at the Kópavog Library at 12:15 p.m. In addition, there is an exhibition of his works in the multipurpose room of the library. Gísl’s descendants donate his original manuscript and drawings to the Landsbókasafn, which also commemorates the anniversary with an exhibition at the Þjóðarbókhláð. Additionally, the entire Sigga Vigga book collection has been reissued.
Gísli was a versatile artist and his legacy includes novels, short stories, children’s books, plays and radio shows, as well as newspaper comics and books about Sigga Vigga. The comics about Sigga Vigga are unique because they are drawn from Icelandic reality, fishing and fish processing, and tell the life of fish processor Sigga Vigga, her friend Blída and her colleagues. The stories first appeared in Alðyðublaðin and then in Morgunblaðin. Gísli also drew the satirical series Þankastrik, which first appeared in Morgunblaðin and contained current affairs commentary that often drew strong reactions. Gísli also drew extensively for other newspapers and magazines, picture calendars, brochures and advertisements, and drew opportunity cards and picture puzzles to name a few.
Gísli earned a degree in journalism from a university in the United States in 1945, making him the first Icelander to hold a degree in this field. Gísli was a pioneer of Icelandic journalism, pushing for changes in the environment and emphasizing concise reporting independent of party politics. As editor of Alþýðublaðinn in the years 1958–63, the newspaper’s circulation quadrupled, and the changes Gísli made to it had an effect on other newspapers.
Gisli J. Ástthórsson
12 miles to 12 – Stefán Pálsson luncheon at the Kópavog Library
On Gísla’s birthday, April 5 at 12:15 p.m., historian Stefán Pálsson will give a lunchtime lecture on Gísla’s career and put it into context with various changes in Icelandic society and in the media. The conference is part of the Culture on Wednesday series of events, organized by Kópavogur Library. The conference will take place in the multipurpose room of the museum, where a retrospective of Gísla’s works is in progress. The exhibition is open until April 11, 2023.
Sigga Vigga and Existence: The Complete Collection Released
Fisherman Sigga Vigga can rightly be considered the first Icelandic comic book hero. Sigga Vigga first appeared in 1959 on the pages of Alððublaðin and is considered by many to be Iceland’s first comic book hero. In 1978, the first book about Siggu Viggu and his friends was published, but on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the author’s birth, Sigga Vigga og tilveren is being published, a glorious reissue of Siggu’s five books Viggu in an illustrated box. , with a foreword by Úlfhildi Dagsdóttir literary critic and comics specialist. Sigga Vigga og tilveran, a comprehensive collection of comics by Gísla J. Ástthórsson about Sigga Vigga, is available at all major bookstores.
