Tom Teufel
Tom Teufel is a popular comic character from the comic series "Tom Teufel" from Besmenien. The character was created by Viktor Laffmeyer.
History
In the 80s Viktor Laffmeyer worked as screenwriter. Since the middle of the 80s, he had been planning to make his own film. However, he hadn't really had an idea what the film was about. He probably had the idea for Tom Teufel sometime in 1989. After Laffmeyer further expanded the character and its universe, he finally planned to make a film about Tom Teufel. Laffmeyer had worked on the script for a total of 2 years. Finally, in 1992, he sent the script to various film studios. However, no film studio was interested in his script. Laffmeyer still didn't want to give up the figure. So he finally had the idea to publish Tom Teufel as a comic. It took Laffmeyer a year to get a perfect drawing style. In 1994 he sent his comics to various comic publishers. Only the "BAUM Verlag" was interested in Tom Teufel. Finally, the first comic was published in October 1994. The comic developed to success among adolescents and young adults. The Tom Teufel comic series was also the very first comic series in Besmenien, which is aimed exclusively at adults.
On March 4, 2020 it was announced, that Laffmeyer retires in 2021. The Tom Teufel comic issue that is coming in December 2020 will be the last.
Tom Teufel comic series
The comic was first published in October 1994. Until 2003, every comic was published every two months. It has been published monthly since 2004. A comic book is about 30 pages long and contains two stories. The 100th edition was published in 2007. The 200th edition was published in 2015.
Influence in Besmenien
The comic became popular quite quickly and was one of the most read comics in Besmenia in June 1995. Because of the black humor and satire, the comic is particularly popular with teenagers and young adults. Positive criteria say that in Tom Teufel you see a rebellious figure who entertains the young people from generation to generation with funny and satirical stories. Negative criteria mean that Tom Teufel glorifies violence and that children should not read this comic.
Tom Teufel in the media
In 1997 the broadcaster BRF 2 offered Laffmeyer to produce an animated series about Tom Teufel. This is how the series "Die schrägen Geschichten von Tom Teufel" was created. However, the series was a flop and was canceled after only 20 episodes. Repeats were broadcast on BTV until 2005. The series has been on the night program of BRF 2 since 2016. It was the first time in almost 17 years that BRF 2 was broadcasting the series again.
Director Helmut Rommel secured the film rights to Tom Teufel in 1999. Rommel himself is a fan of comics and could very well imagine the comic as a film. The live action film "Tom Teufel" finally came to the Besmenian cinemas on July 25, 2004. The film is financially successful and was the second most viewed film in the country in 2004. It was also Helmut Rommel's last film, because he died of old age almost a month after the film premiere.
In 2009 the broadcaster VINCTV offered Laffmeyer a new cartoon series about Tom Teufel. Laffmeyer found the screenwriter Maurice Fahn, as a colleague for the production of the new series. Laffmeyer wrote the screenplay for the first episode. The new cartoon series was first broadcast on VINCTV on February 6, 2011 under the title "Die Tom Teufel Show". Die Tom Teufel Show was very successful, so VINCTV announced the production of a second and third season in April 2011. Season 10 is scheduled to air in June 2020.
A second movie named Der Tom Teufel Film which is based on the 2011 TV show came to Besmenian cinemas on August 18 2019. The movie was very successful.
Tom Teufel in other countries
Gelonia: Tom Teufel first gained notoriety in Gelonia in 2000 when GTC4 first picked up domestic syndication rights. It quickly grew in popularity among college-age adults. The second Tom Teufel series rights were picked up RTG. Lena, Princess Royal is among one of the many fans of the show and has made such remarks in past interviews.
Latium: Tom Teufel failed to gain success in Latium until it's second series run was picked up by Rideo!. Like elsewhere, the series is popular among the 18-40 age group, but has drawn ire from parental groups who decry the show's violence.