What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Paolo Bacilieri’s graphic novel FUN: Spies, Puzzle Solvers, and a Century of Crosswords connects comics and crossword puzzles through a shared newspaper history and a visual, structural play on grids. Its starting point is a coincidence: the first crossword appeared in the New York World in 1913, a paper also associated with the early Yellow Kid comic strip. Bacilieri turns that overlap into part of a book that combines crossword history with a mystery—not a crossword-solving manual.
What is Paolo Bacilieri’s FUN about?
FUN follows respected novelist Pippo Quester as he writes a history of crossword puzzles with Zeno Porno, his fan and protégé, who writes Disney comics. Their research brings them into contact with pioneering editors, puzzle compilers, cruciverbalists and literary figures. The historical investigation becomes entangled with a present-day mystery involving Mafalda, an enigmatic student carrying a grudge and a handmade pistol.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
FUN: Spies, Puzzle Solvers, and a Century of Crosswords | $24.46 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Fun (Portuguese Edition) | $16.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Fun | $33.53 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
More Fun | $36.39 | Buy on Amazon |
That plot summary comes from the publisher’s description, rather than an independent account of the novel. A reviewer has characterized the book as a blend of crossword history and slow-burn mystery, with Milan, memory and relationships also shaping the story.
How are comics and crosswords connected in the book?
A shared newspaper setting
The historical connection highlighted around FUN is that Arthur Wynne’s first crossword appeared in the New York World on 21 December 1913, in the paper’s Sunday pages. The newspaper is also associated with the early Yellow Kid comic strip. Bacilieri’s title refers to the first word in Wynne’s puzzle: “FUN.”
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
This is an overlap in newspaper history, not proof that crosswords caused comics or that the two forms are interchangeable. Bacilieri uses the coincidence as a point of departure for putting their histories into conversation.
Grids that invite comparison
A crossword’s squares and a comics page’s panels both organize information in a grid. In FUN, that visual resemblance becomes part of the book’s design: the reader moves among text, images, characters and subplots, assembling connections much as a solver works through intersecting clues. Zeno also encounters crossword references within the story.
Rank #2
The parallel is formal rather than absolute. A crossword grid organizes answers around clues; comic panels sequence images and narrative. Bacilieri’s conceit draws on their shared geometry while allowing each medium to do its own work.
Why did Bacilieri make the book?
Bacilieri has said that crossword enthusiast and journalist Stefano Bartezzaghi first encouraged him to take on the idea. In a Guardian Q&A, he recalled Bartezzaghi asking, “Paolo, why don’t you make a graphic novel about the crosswords puzzle?”
Rank #3
In a 2014 interview, Bacilieri explained the title in Italian: “Ho intitolato il mio libro Fun perché è la prima parola comparsa nel primo cruciverba, quello di Arthur Wynne del 1913. È una parola inglese, significa divertente, spero che anche il mio libro lo sia.” He says he named the book after the first word in Wynne’s 1913 crossword, adding that it means “fun” and that he hopes the book is enjoyable too.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which English edition is available?
SelfMadeHero’s English edition is a 296-page hardback translated by Jamie Richards. It was released on 6 June 2017 and has ISBN 9781910593257. The publisher describes it as black and white with some colour and lists its dimensions as 170 × 240 mm. See SelfMadeHero’s edition details.
Rank #4
The publisher lists Amazon and other retailers as buying routes. That listing does not establish current stock or price.
How have reviewers assessed it?
One review praised the book’s visual and structural ambition but said the English translation sometimes seemed literal. The reviewer also noted a typographical error on page 19, where 1871 appeared as 1971; that is the reviewer’s observation, not a publisher-confirmed erratum. Another review emphasized the book’s slow-burn mystery alongside its crossword history. These are individual critical readings, not a single agreed verdict.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallQuick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
