If you're a Disney comic enthusiast or a collector, sooner or later you've probably asked yourself this question: how many Paperinik series actually exist?

Between dedicated magazines, futuristic reboots, reprints, and new collections, navigating Paperinik, PKNA, Appgrade, and all other publications isn't always easy.

So, let's bring some clarity by tracing all the main collections dedicated to Donald Duck's famous alter ego.

The first magazine dedicated to Paperinik (1993-1997)

The first series entirely dedicated to the character was Paperinik, published by Disney Italia starting in 1993.

For the first forty issues, the title was "Paperinik e altri supereroi" (Paperinik and other superheroes), before becoming simply Paperinik.

This magazine primarily contained:

• reprints of stories published in Topolino (Mickey Mouse)
• some never-before-seen stories
• adventures of classic Paperinik, the masked avenger of Duckburg

The series reached issue 139, becoming for many years the reference point for fans of the character.

The revolution: PK – Paperinik New Adventures (1996-2000)

In 1996, Disney Italia launched a completely new series: PK – Paperinik New Adventures, often abbreviated as PKNA.

This collection represented a true revolution.

Paperinik was no longer just the masked avenger: he became PK, a futuristic superhero dealing with much greater threats.

Among the innovations introduced were:

• the futuristic Ducklair Tower
• the sentient computer Uno
• the alien Evronians
• iconic characters like Xadhoom and Lyla

The series had 49 issues plus the famous issue 0 and is still considered one of the best Italian Disney productions today.

The reprints: PK Ultimate Collection (2007)

In 2007, a collection primarily designed to re-release stories from the PK saga arrived: PK – Paperinik Ultimate Collection, published by Gruppo Editoriale L’Espresso.

The series was distributed as an attachment to newspapers and collected 20 volumes with PK's main adventures.

These were not new stories, but reprints in a collector's format.

The modern relaunch: Paperinik Appgrade (2012-ongoing)

In 2012, Panini Comics relaunched the character with a new magazine: Paperinik Appgrade.

• 2012–2017: Paperinik Appgrade
• since 2017: Paperinik (same series, new graphics/title)

This collection has a very specific structure:

• an unpublished story
• several reprinted stories
• a classic cult story, often accompanied by articles and in-depth analyses

Since 2017, after issue 51, the magazine changed its name to simply Paperinik, while maintaining the original numbering of the Appgrade series.

📚 Example of the double numbering

The series is still one of the main publications dedicated to the character today.

 

The historical collections: Le origini del mito (The Origins of the Myth) (2019-2020)

In 2019, another important newsstand collection arrived: Paperinik – Le origini del mito, published by Giunti and RCS.

The series consists of 70 volumes and offers a chronological collection of the character's most important stories, ideal for those who want to rediscover his early adventures.

Summary of the main collections

Here's a quick overview for better orientation:

Collection	Year	Issues
Paperinik	1993-1997	139
PK – Paperinik New Adventures	1996-2000	49 + n.0
PK – Paperinik Ultimate Collection	2007	20
Paperinik Appgrade	2012-ongoing	over 150
Paperinik – Le origini del mito	2019-2020	70

Why PKNA is still so beloved

Among all these collections, PKNA remains the most iconic.

The series brought to the Disney world:

• a more mature narrative style
• superhero comic atmospheres
• a more continuous and cinematic plot

For many readers, it still represents the moment Paperinik became something completely new.

Paperinik is one of the longest-running and most beloved Italian Disney characters, and over the years he has undergone various editorial evolutions.

From the classic magazine of the 90s to the revolution of PKNA, up to modern series and collector's reprints, each series tells a different piece of the character's history.

Understanding the differences between these publications is not only useful for readers but also for collectors who want to navigate the vast universe of editions dedicated to the superhero of Duckburg.