History ComicBook / RicHochet

Ric Hochet is FrancoBelgianComics series written by André-Paul Duchâteau and drawn by Tibet, better know is Gilbert Gascard. It was first published in 1955 in ''Le Journal de Tintin'' and the first album came out in 1964. The series also has many shorts assembled in albums called "Hors-séries". The titular character is a journalist for the newspaper ''La Rafale'' and collaborate with the French Police in Paris on various [[DetectiveDrama criminal investigations]. The series debuted very much like a carbon copy of Franchise/{{Tintin}}. However, it eventually [[CerberusSyndrome took a sharp turn]]. Stories became more focused on [[DarkerAndEdgier series of murders]] that needed to be solved and Ric Hochet became more of a JerkWithAHeartOfGold. Ric has talented gift for reasoning, observation and an incredible instinct. The series came to a halt in 2010 [[AuthorExistenceFailure with the passing of Tibet]] [[LongRunners with 78 albums released since 1964]].

** Alister Devill and his ancestors: Derek Devill and Ferguson Devill.

Ric Hochet is FrancoBelgianComics series written by André-Paul Duchâteau and drawn by Tibet, better know is Gilbert Gascard. It was first published in 1955 in ''Le Journal de Tintin'' and the first album came out in 1964. The series also has many shorts assembled in albums called "Hors-séries". The titular character is a journalist for the newspaper ''La Rafale'' and collaborate with the French Police in Paris on various criminal investigations. The series debuted very much like a carbon copy of Franchise/{{Tintin}}. However, it eventually [[CerberusSyndrome took a sharp turn]]. Stories became more focused on [[DarkerAndEdgier series of murders]] that needed to be solved and Ric Hochet became more of a JerkWithAHeartOfGold. Ric has talented gift for reasoning, observation and an incredible instinct. The series came to a halt in 2010 [[AuthorExistenceFailure with the passing of Tibet]] [[LongRunners with 78 albums released since 1964]].

* GenerationXerox: Richard is basically an aged-up Ric. Even the latter was astonished by the resemblance when they met the first time. A flashback shown that Richard look very much like Ric in his younger years.

* Ledru, a police detective and Bourdon's right-hand man. He is bitter over his boss, because he's being denied a promotion for many years. He eventually becomes the head of counter-terrorism branch, but there are still some friction.

* RefugeInAudacity: While on a cruises ship, professor Hermelin was closely watched by Ric, Bourdon and the police, but was kidnapped in the end. The boat was thoroughly searched and he was found unconscious. While recovering, Ric noticed something odd about him and found out he was wearing wig and a fake beard. The imposter was arrested and the search for Hermelin resumed, although he couldn't be found. Once the ship arrived at its destination, the mysterious kidnapper had the imposter freed. Ric and the police gave the chase and after a lengthily chase and struggle, both were captured. However, Hermelin was still missing and the kidnapper refuse to cooperate. [[spoiler:Ric finally deduced it in the end: the imposter was... Hermelin. He was captured and subdued, his head was shaved and beard cut. In short, they disguised Hermelin as himself to pass him up as an accomplice and have him spring out of custody later. The kidnapper gambled that even if he talked, no one would believe that the imposter was [[NotGoodWithPeople Hermelin]] because of his [[{{Jerkass}} abrasive personality]].]]

* HeroWithBadPublicity: In ''The Rich Hochet scandal'', Ric thwart a robbery and the crook was shot in the back. Ric swore he misfired to scare him off and didn't aim for his back, but many outraged witnesses spoke against him. This is the beginning Ric's popularity going downhill as others incidents are tainting his reputation. [[spoiler:Some powerful and unknown organization was responsible for the smear campaign, as it wanted Ric out of the way before moving its operations in Paris.]]

* HeroWithBadPublicity: In ''The Rich Hochet scandal'', Ric thwart a robbery and the crook was shot in the back. Ric swore he didn't aim for his back when he fired, but many outraged witnesses spoke against him. This is the beginning Ric's popularity going downhill as others incidents blacken his reputation. [[spoiler:Some powerful and unknown organization was responsible for the smear campaign, as it wanted Ric out of the way before moving their operations in Paris.]]

* SuperDickery: Early in a album, Ric arrested by the police much to the consternation of his neighbors. It turn out that that Ric wanted to write an article about life in prison and wanted to get the real impressions of being arrested.

** There was a series of murders and it was believed it was because of inheritance. In the end, every suspects were killed and all the inheritance money automatically went to various charities. It may have been the work of an unknown third party and it became the only case Ric couldn't solve. [[spoiler:However, the album had an extra hidden page at the end of the book. Ric did found out that the last suspect was indeed the murderer.
[[RememberTheNewGuy It was Jacques, his friend and colleague]]. Jacques done so because his wife and child badly needed money and his health was failing. Seeing he was discovered, Jacques committed suicide. Not wanting Jacques's family to learn he was a murderer, Ric covered the whole thing up and never revealed the truth to anyone.]]

** There was a series of murders and it was believed it was because of inheritance. In the end, every suspects were killed and all the inheritance money automatically went to various charities. It may have been the work of an unknown third party and it became the only case Ric couldn't solve. [[spoiler:However, the album had an extra hidden page at the end of the book. Ric did found out that the last suspect was indeed the murderer. [[RememberTheNewGuy It was Jacques, his friend and colleague]]. Jacques done so because his wife and child badly needed money and his health was failing. Seeing he was discovered, Jacques committed suicide. Not wanting Jacques's family to learn he was a murderer, Ric covered the whole thing up and never revealed the truth to anyone.]]

* TheResenter: Detective Ledru is this. While he deeply respect Ric and Bourdon, he's very bitter of being denied a promotion for years by the latter. It goes badly one day and Ledru accuses Bourdon's of incompetence and adds that the only reason for his success is because of Ric.

* EvilCounterpart: [[spoiler:Bex Turner. An American detective who's as good as Ric in solving crimes than brawling. He turn out to be [[CorruptCop malevolent]].]]

* StrictlyFormula: While the series had different stories, a typical one work this way: A series of murders occurred followed by Ric questioning suspects and witnesses. As more bodies pileup and the plot ticken tension rises, clues are examined and theories are formed. In the climax, Ric confront the murderer and indulge in much {{Exposition}} with the inevitable [[TheReveal revelation]].

* LongRunners: The first appearance of Ric Hochet was in ''Le Journal de Tintin'' in 1955 and the first album came in 1964. The series was ongoing until [[AuthorExistenceFailure the death of Tibet]] in 2010 where it came to a halt. The series will reboot in 2015 with different authors.

* AvengingTheVillain: [[spoiler:[[BombThrowingAnarchists The Black Group]] rock Paris with terror attacks to avenge Raphael, their leader who died fighting with the police during a riot. They made everyone believe that he was still alive and pulling the strings, while he was really dead.]]

* AvengingTheVillain: [[BombThrowingAnarchists Anarchists]] rock Paris with terror attacks to avenge Raphael, one of their fellow anarchist who died fighting the police during a riot.

* XMakesAnythingCool: Dr. X is a mysterious doctor who's face and hands are covered in bandages. [[spoiler:His real identity is a disfigured Dr. Vogler, an old adversary of Ric and a former Nazi scientist.]]

* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate: Dr. Vogler, a former Nazi scientist, who has zoo and experiment on animals with mind-controlling drugs.

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler:Austin Chapin hires Ric to investigate his cousin, Alister Devill. Alister's family bloodline is afflicted by a vampire curse. Every 100 years, someone in the Devill family will turn into a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampire]] and attack people. He will then be killed, but [[HealingFactor will regenerate from his wounds]] and mysteriously disappear without a trace. Austin thinks Alister is next to become a vampire. After many attacks and strange occurrences, Alister is outed as a vampire, killed and his corpse is locked in a crypt. In the end, Ric discovered that everything was a lie, there never was any curse or vampires, Austin killed his cousin to seize his vast fortune. Austin hired Ric so the reporter would have confirmed his "theories" about Alister being a vampire. Had he not hired Ric, he would have gotten away with it.]]