Have you ever seen Totti as a duck? Discover the Captain's two stories on Mickey Mouse...
Did you know that Francesco Totti , the Roma legend, has never been just a champion on the pitch... but also in comics? And I'm not talking about simple cameo cartoons, but real Disney adventures: meet Papertotti , the Captain's paper-like alter ego!
🦆 Who is Papertotti?
Papertotti was born in Topolino on January 23, 2008 , in the story “Papertotti and the Secret of the Spoon” , written by Riccardo Secchi and drawn by Stefano Turconi.
Along with Donald Duck, Archimedes, and the other ducks, young Papertotti plays soccer in the courtyards of Duckburg, but he has a problem: when he has to take penalties... he messes up.
However, the turning point comes in a… very sweet way: while watching a friend eat ice cream with a spoon, Papertotti has a brilliant idea on how to take the perfect penalty… inventing the famous “spoon” that he will remember forever.
According to Papertotti's character, when he's not playing he's also a "cabaret artist": he loves telling jokes... but they don't always make everyone laugh.
📚 The 2 Mickey Mouse stories dedicated to Totti / Papertotti
-
“Papertotti and the Secret of the Spoon” (2008)
This is the story of his debut: Papertotti discovers his talent with the "scoop" shot and becomes a little legend among duck-footballers. It's one of his first appearances in Mickey Mouse . -
Celebration for Totti's 40th birthday (2016)
In September 2016, for Totti's 40th birthday , Topolino dedicated a special issue: the cover shows Papertotti blowing out a candle in the shape of a football with the number 40.
Behind this choice is cartoonist Marco Gervasio, who explained that Papertotti embodies "the values of football on and off the pitch": loyalty, friendship, passion.
🎉 More collectible “ duck-football ” moments
- In 2015, Topolino dedicated a special issue with three unpublished stories by Papertotti to celebrate Totti's 300 goals in Serie A.
- On that occasion, the weekly magazine wanted to pay homage to the Captain with a truly original comic tribute: not only his duck version, but also funny references like the "selfie on the pitch" that went around the world.
🤔 Why is it so fascinating ( for us comic book geeks )
- 🎨 Really well done parody : it's not just a funny idea, but a character with a personality: Papertotti is strong, nice, has duck friends... he's an integral part of the Disney universe.
- ⚽ A football-comic mix : celebrate an icon of Italian football in a playful yet respectful way, combining sport and Disney storytelling.
- 🎂 Collectible moments : Topolino's special issues (covers featuring Papertotti, ad hoc stories for goals or Totti's birthday) are for fans and nostalgics.
- 🧠 Universal values : according to the authors, the character conveys positive values such as friendship, passion, loyalty — perfect for introducing even the youngest to the world of football with the magic of comics.
