Pif Gadget

Pif has its origins in Le Jeune Patriote, a youth magazine published by French Communists during the German occupation of France during World War II.

The gadget was a "free gift" toy with each issue, including Pifises (brine shrimp in stasis, which readers could raise as minuscule pets - known in English as sea monkeys).

Its featured comics included: Documentary filmmaker Fredric Lean created a series based on 'Docteur Justice' for French TV network M6.

The paper also benefited from being able to reach the newly industrialized countries, and was one of the select few Western magazines allowed to be sold behind the Iron Curtain due to its left-wing credentials.

It went into rapid decline at the same time as the Soviet Union faded, with content thinning and stories extended over several issues.