Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1,264 (click to see context) from:
[[quoteright:170:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kiekeboes_picture_817.png]]
[[caption-width-right:170:The Kiekeboe family]]
''De Kiekeboes'' is the most successful Flemish comic strip since ''Comicbook/SuskeEnWiske''. Though ''Suske en Wiske'' has more success and thus larger sales globally, ''De Kiekeboes'' are far more popular in Flanders today. Author Merho started his career as a protégé of Suske en Wiske author Willy Vandersteen, but since 1977 he started his own comic strip: ''Kiekeboe'' (since 2010 renamed as ''De Kiekeboes'').
At first sight ''De Kiekeboes'' is your typical Flemish family strip in the tradition of ''Suske en Wiske, ComicBook/{{Jommeke}}'' and ''ComicStrip/{{Nero}}''. All stories center around the family Kiekeboe: father Marcel, mother Charlotte, teenage daughter Fanny and school boy Konstantinopel. However, the series have a more realistic every day life setting avoiding many of the typical comic book strip clichés: no WorldsStrongestMan, no AbsentMindedProfessor, no TalkingAnimal and fantasy elements are kept to a minimum. We do know that ghosts exist (''Spoken in Huis''), vampires (''Het Witte Bloed'', ''De Kus van Mona'', ''De Babyvampier''...), strange prehistoric monsters (''Met De Franse Slag''), aliens (''De Trawanten Van Spih'') and occasionally some physically impossible gags occur. But most of the time everything is set in a realistic atmosphere. Fanny and Konstantinopel are not ConvenientlyAnOrphan or adopted, but Marcel and Charlotte's real children. The early albums are still a bit naïve and childish like a traditional comic strip, but gradually the series started GrowingTheBeard and became DarkerAndEdgier. Many of the early one-dimensional characters became more complex. Story lines touched more adult and often risqué subject matter like prostitution, drugs, transsexuality, religious cults, racism, homosexuality, ... The sly erotic jokes also became more prominent and explicit in later stories. Today ''De Kiekeboes'' is mostly an adult strip, though it still manages to keep its stories amusing and interesting for children as well.
The main characters are:
* '''Marcel Kiekeboe''': The big moustached father. A joyful, enthusiastic but naïve man who is often manipulated by others like his mother, Moemoe, and his boss, Van De Kasseien. He has a tendency of taking impulsive decisions that sometimes cause major problems.
* '''Charlotte Kiekeboe''': The mother of the family. Originally a very bland flat character, her personality became more assertive and self-assured over the years.
* '''Fanny Kiekeboe''': The teenage daughter who doesn't go to school anymore, but works various jobs. She is self-assured, headstrong, socially engaged and brave. Many plots have scenes where she walks around in erotic or semi-nude poses. She has also had a lot of boyfriends.
* '''Konstantinopel Kiekeboe''': The young son, who is smart well beyond his years.
* '''Moemoe''': Kiekeboe's mother. She is a meddlesome, opportunistic, headstrong and pushy woman who often claims Kiekeboe and the rest of the family don't do enough for her. Often she will defend a certain opinion militantly, only to claim the exact opposite later in the story, despite all the effort other characters did for her. She is also very elitarian and interested whenever Fanny dates a doctor or a lawyer.
* '''Mevrouw Stokvis''': Moemoe's best friend, although their friendship borders to rivalry. She is an invisible character and never seen by the readers.
* '''Nonkel Vital''' Marcel Kiekeboe's uncle and Moemoe's brother-in-law. He is a happy-go-lucky and meddlesome character who often bickers with Moemoe about family matters.
* '''Leon Van Der Neffe''': Kiekeboe's neighbour who works as a military. He is an unsympathetic, snobistic, egocentric, prejudiced, xenophobic and racist man, originally married to a woman with the same opinions. He and his wife, Carmella, have two children: a boy, Joeksel, and a girl, Froefroe, who are actually more intelligent and sympathetic. They often play with Konstantinopel. At a certain point in the series he divorced and since then his one-note character got more depth and even sympathetic aspects.
* '''Fernand Goegebuer''': Another neighbour of Kiekeboe. Generally sympathetic, optimistic and helpful but often obtrusive, naïve and nosy. He has a tendency to spit while he talks.
* '''Firmin Van De Kasseien''': Kiekeboe's boss. A vain, arrogant, corrupt and adulterous man who frequently uses Kiekeboe to do legal and illegal things for him. He never thanks Kiekeboe for all the trouble he goes through to help him. Van De Kasseien also regularly cheats on his wife, Chichi, and tries to seduce anything in a skirt. This often brings him in a lot of trouble.
* '''Inspecteur Sapperdeboere''': A police inspector who enjoys eating more than solving crimes.
* '''Alanis''': Fanny's girlfriend.
* '''Balthazar''': One of the series' villains. He is a naïve, childish, clumsy and dumb man who is generally too stupid to be a real threat to the Kiekeboes. Most of the time he is more obnoxious and irritating to the other criminals who work together with him.
* '''Timotheus Triangl''': A ''Film/JamesBond'' type villain who wants to take over the world. Originally he was a little man, but later he underwent a sex change and since then he is a woman.
* '''Dédé la Canaille''': A dangerous French criminal who wants to kill Kiekeboe for putting him behind bars.
* '''Alain Provist''' The boss of an employment agency, frequently consulted by Charlotte.
* '''Meneer Kreuvett''' A restaurant critic.
* '''Bibi Pralin Gaga''' An African dictator and parody of UsefulNotes/IdiAmin. His accomplice is Amoko, an African wizard whose head is always hidden behind a mask.
* '''Moïse Mombakka''': An African foreign exchange student who dated Fanny for one album and later became president of Boeloe Boeloe after the deposition of Bibi Pralin Gaga.
* '''De Dikke Dame''' A fat nameless woman who makes one cameo appearance in each album as a RunningGag.
* '''Jens''': Fanny's longtime boyfriend for ten albums. Since then they broke up.
* '''Elodie Melody''': A dumb female pop singer
* '''Tomboy''' A black female prostitute who keeps her work a secret. Fanny is the only one who knows about it.
One of ''De Kiekeboes'' most notorious trademarks are the puns and word play jokes, usually hidden in album titles, background gags, throwaway jokes and characters' names.
----
!!This trope provides examples of:
* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: "De duivelse driehoek", "De zwarte zonnekoning", "Kies Kiekeboe", "De pili-pili pillen", "De fez van Fes", "Een koud kunstje", "Vrolijke, vrolijke vrienden".
* UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler:
** Dictator Sstoeffer in ''Het Plan Sstoeffer'' is a clear parody.
** His handkerchief is auctioned in ''Het Edelweissmotief''.
* AlienAbduction: Happens to Joeksel, Froefroe and Konstantinopel in ''De Trawanten van Spih''.
* AllForNothing: Kiekeboe tries to get a cake which has a ring hidden inside in the album ''De Taart''. When he finally retrieves the cake after many shenanigans it turns out he left the ring at his local baker's place.
* AllHailTheGreatGodMickey: In ''De Wereld Volgens Kiekeboe'' the entire future civilization has based their society according to the only surviving artefacts of our century: the nearly complete collection of ''Kiekeboes'' albums.
* AlternateEnding: An alternative ending to the story ''De Zaak Luc Raak'' is provided in ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte''.
* AmbiguouslyGay: Jujuul the flamboyant gay vampire.
* ArmedFarces: The album ''Geeeeef Acht'' is a collection of various jokes about the military.
* ArtEvolution: The early albums look a bit different compared to later albums.
* ArtShift:
** In ''Album 26'' Fanny wants her boyfriend to be drawn as {{Tarzan}}. Creator Merho refuses to do so, because it would be an art shift! In the same story ComicBook/LuckyLuke accidentally passes by after a cloudy fog darkens the sky.
** Near the end of ''De Snor van Kiekeboe'' in which Kiekeboe was elected to be "Moustache of the Year" by the Antwerp Moustache Club- which really had happened in 1984- several moustached characters from other comic strips gather to protest because they weren't elected at all. In the color version of the album we recognize [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Thompson and Thomson]], [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]], [[ComicBook/SpirouAndFantasio the Count of Champignac]] and [[ComicBook/LuckyLuke the Daltons]]
** In ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'' Kiekeboe's funeral is held. Comic strip characters from other series appear to show their condolences, including [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Tintin, Captain Haddock]], [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]], ComicBook/LuckyLuke and ComicBook/BouleEtBill. Fanny even notices some American comic strip characters have arrived, among who we can recognize Franchise/{{Batman}}, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck, ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}, [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Charlie Brown and Snoopy.]]
** A special comic strip in which Fanny interviews characters from other comic strips, ''Bij Fanny Op Schoot'' has her talking to [[ComicStrip/{{Nero}} Nero]], Cordelia, [[ComicBook/{{Natacha}} Natacha]], ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske, Cowboy Henk, [[ComicBook/{{Agent 327}} IJzerbroot and Olga Lawina]], ComicBook/DeRodeRidder, Series/FCDeKampioenen and ComicBook/{{Urbanus}}, among others.
* AssholeVictim: The pedophile bisshop [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed Hoegeiligman]] in ''Schijnheilig Bloed''. He's already in hiding from the public, is going mad, gets turned into a vampire and finally [[spoiler: walks into broad daylight and bursts into flames]].
* {{Atlantis}}: In ''De Bermuda Driehoek'' the cast visits TheBermudaTriangle, where they discover an underwater city complex, ruled by a villain named Timotheus Triangl. The location is called ''Attalantis'', in an obvious pun on Atlantis.
* BadassMustache: Marcel Kiekeboe's moustache. The real life Moustache Club of Antwerp even called him the ''Moustache Of The Year'' in 1984! Merho then drew a story about it: ''De Snor van Kiekeboe''.
* BadBoss: Firmin Van De Kasseien is Kiekeboe's boss and a vain, promiscuous, adulterous, corrupt one at that.
* BankruptcyBarrel: Shown in ''De Fez van Fes''.
* TheBermudaTriangle: In ''De Bermuda Driehoek'' the cast visits TheBermudaTriangle.
* BerserkButton: In the album ''Jeanne Darm'' Nick Nack, head of the fresh drink company ''Kameel'' goes berserk whenever someone mentions the name of the rival company "Dromedaris".
* BewareTheNiceOnes: In ''De Wraak van Dédé'' Fanny's boyfriend Kris Kras turns out to be a henchman for Dédé La Canaille, Kiekeboe's sworn enemy.
* BigBad: Timotheus Triangl, who is a ''Film/JamesBond'' type villain. Kiekeboe's sworn enemy is however Dédé La Canaille, a French convict.
* BigEater: Inspecteur Sapperdeboere.
* BilingualBonus: In a lot of stories foreign characters will speak mixing Dutch words with typical expressions of their own language.
** Subverted in ''Met De Franse Slag'' where Kiekeboe translates Dutch expressions and sayings literally in French, as a joke only people who speak French will get.
* BondVillain: Timotheus Triangl, before his sex change, was a parody of Ernst Blofeld.
* BootCampEpisode: In ''Geeeeeef Acht'' Kiekeboe is sent to the army due to an bureaucratic mistake.
* BoundAndGagged: Happens to Fanny very frequently.
* BreakOutCharacter: Fanny, who eventually put Marcel Kiekeboe, the actual protagonist, in the shadow. In the foreign translations she is also the protagonist instead of him.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: The characters are well aware they are comic strip characters and frequently address the audience. Merho even took this to more experimental levels in the albums ''Album 26'', ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'', ''De Simstones'', ''Het Geslacht Kinkel''...
* TheBermudaTriangle: Plot element in ''De Bermuda Driehoek''.
* {{Bulungi}}: The country Boeloe Boeloe in many albums.
* ButtMonkey: Balthazar. But Van De Kasseien also treats Merho as his butt monkey as well.
* CharacterDevelopment and CharacterizationMarchesOn:
** Charlotte, Kiekeboe's wife, was originally a very bland and passive housewife. In the album ''Het Lot van Charlotte'' she got so fed up with slaving for her husband and children that she and Kiekeboe briefly separated. They eventually came back together, but since then Charlotte become more assertive and free-thinking. She also regularly goes out part time working.
** Leon Van Der Neffe, Kiekeboe's neighbour, was originally nothing more than a unsympathetic, vain, snobbish and racist man. Later in the series he and his wife divorced, changing his character to a more pitiful loser trying to find a new wife.
* CharlieChaplinShoutOut:
** In ''Kies Kiekeboe'' a clip from ''Film/ADogsLife'' is shown on TV. Konstantinopel seats himself next to his dog and says: "I like a Chaplin movie more [than watching a political advertisement]."
** In ''Een Dagje Dédé'' while Balthazar talks to the prison warden a photo of Chaplin in prison outfit can be seen on the wall. This is a reference to the Chaplin short ''Film/TheAdventurer'' (1917).
* ChildrenAreInnocent: Averted. Konstantinopel, Joeksel and Froefroe are at most early teens, but know a suspiciously lot about sexual topics. Yet, apart from that, they are very nice and clever children.
* ClingyJealousGirl: Fanny, usually.
* CluelessChickMagnet: All women fall in love with Kiekeboe when he accidentally gets some aphrodisiac potion spilled over his body in ''De Onweerstaanbare Man''.
* ComicBookAdaptation: The album ''Grof Wild'' is a comic book adaptation of the eponymous literary story by Belgian crime author PieterAspe. Merho got permission of the author to adapt the plot into a Kiekeboes story.
* ComicBookTime: The characters don't age (... much. Fanny was stated to be 16 years old in ''Album 26'' but drives a car in later issues, which in Belgium is only possible at 18+), except for one short story in the album ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'', where all his characters age 20 years into the future.
* CoolOldLady: Moemoe, who is very energetic and inventive for someone her age.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Firmin Van De Kasseien.
* CrapsackWorld: "De Kiekeboes" shows a more grimful, yet recognizable version of our modern day society compared to other more traditional comic strips.
* CreatorCameo: Merho did this in ''Album 26''.
* CrossOver: De Kiekeboes had a crossover with the comic strip Urbanus in the album "Kiekebanus", where the creators of each comic drew the story together.
* CulturalTranslation: Despite best efforts the comic never caught on in other countries, except the Netherlands where it is a cult success.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Tomboy the prostitute only shares her secrets with Fanny.
* DarkerAndEdgier: The later, more definitive ''De Kiekeboes'' albums are far more adult and risqué than the first twentysomething albums.
* DefectorFromCommieLand: In ''De één zijn dood'' a recognizable spoof of a Cold War Eastern European country is shown.
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything?: Used regularly.
* DontExplainTheJoke:
** Some of the early albums did this regularly.
** Merho jokes with this aspect in ''De Wereld Volgens Kiekeboe'' where a character is named ''Verstockt''. Konstantinopel then asks: "Zou het kunnen dat die Verstockt vrijgezel is?" ("Could it be that that Verstockt is single?") He then explains that it is a reference to the phrase "een verstokte vrijgezel" ("a lifelong single"), but sheepishly adds: "Of course, when you have to explain a joke it's not very funny anymore."
* DoubleEntendre: Used a lot
* DreamingOfThingsToCome: In ''Met De Franse Slag'' Fanny hears a chilling animal roar in a dream. Later in the story she hears the same scream in real life.
* DreamSequence: Used in ''Met De Franse Slag'', among other albums.
* DrillSergeantNasty: Leon Van Der Neffe, who is a corporal.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The early albums are more traditional comic book stories with cute fantasy creatures (''De Wollebollen'') and less inspired stories and puns. The characters don't have much depth to them, everything is aimed at children and there's none of the more daring subject matter that can be found in later stories. To make matters worse many plot elements and jokes are told by MrExposition narrative devices. Even Merho sees many of these old stories as an OldShame.
* EscapedAnimalRampage: In ''Het Stokvis Incident'' (''The Case Stokvis'') Fanny saves a chimpanzee from a medical laboratory and keeps at her house. The animal then escapes from her room and goes to the neighbours where he climbs inside the bathroom and helps the unknowing woman of the house with scrubbing her back.
* EscapeFromTheCrazyPlace: The real UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte is sent to a mental institution in ''Een koud kunstje'' for thinking he is Napoleon. He eventually escapes.
* ExecutiveMeddling: Spoofed in ''Album 26'' and ''The Simstones'' where Merho is told to update his comic strip.[[invoked]]
* Expy: Timotheus Triangl is basically [[Film/JamesBond Ernst Stavro Blofeld]], but crazier.
* EyesAlwaysShut: Firmin Van De Kasseien's eyes are usually closed, to show his arrogance.
* TheFaceless: The face of a villain character in ''De Doedelzak van Mac Reel'' remains obscured or hidden from the audience until the very last page.
* FakingTheDead: Pop artist Romeo Alfa fakes his own death in ''Black Out''.
* {{Fanservice}}: Fanny's erotic poses
* FemmeFatale: Fanny, to most men.
* FeudingFamilies: Between the Kiekeboes and the Van Der Neffes.
* FictionalCountry: Boeloe Boeloe, Burlandia, Eunuchië, Paranoia, Papagaya, Itsi Pitsi, El Tondzon...
* FountainOfYouth: In ''Kiele Kiele Boe'' Kiekeboe is changed into a baby overnight.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Just keep your eyes open when reading an album.
* FunWithAcronyms: And Merho has a lot of fun with that!
* FutureImperfect: In the album ''De Wereld Volgens Kiekeboe (translation: "The World According To Kiekeboe")'' Kiekeboe travels to the far future, when mankind has destroyed most of its civilization during a world war. They rebuilt everything afterwards and discovered the entire collection of Kiekeboes albums (except for the one they are currently appearing in). They enjoyed the books so much that they built their entire civilization according to the universe in Kiekeboe's stories. Naturally they do get a lot of things about our century wrong, because the albums are the only artefacts they can base their knowledge on.
* GagNose: Marcel Kiekeboe's nose is big and bulbous. Balthazar also has a huge nose.
* GameShowAppearance: Plot element in ''Hoe Meer Kijkers''.
* GangOfCritters: De Wollebollen in ''De Wollebollen''.
* GenderBender: Happens to Inspecteur Sapperdeboere in ''Over Koetjes En Kalfjes'' due to a huge ammount of female hormones in his food.
* TheGeneralissimo: South American dictators regularly fulfill an important part of the plot (''Het Plan Sstoeffer'', ''Zeg Het Met Bloemen'', ''De Roze Rolls''...)
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: In the early years Merho still had to keep everything clean and decent, but occasionally he snuck in some erotic scenes and jokes. Throughout the years the series' popularity grew and thus the stories became more suggestive, risqué and sometimes even controversial.
* TheGhost: The ghosts of two medieval robbers are shown in ''Spoken In Huis''.
* GoodGriefAnotherPeanutsShoutOut:
** The plastic surgeon in ''Album 26'' is such a comic strip fanatic that he molds the heads of his patients into those of comic book characters, one of them being Snoopy.
** Charlie Brown and Snoopy are among the characters from rival series to appear at Kiekeboe's funeral in ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte''.
* GratuitousIambicPentameter: Merho enjoys puns and word play.
* HammerAndSickleRemovedForYourProtection: The communist country in ''De Eén Zijn Dood''.
* HappyEnd: Sometimes subverted.
* HarmlessFreezing: In ''Een Koud Kunstje'' it turns out that Napoleon Bonaparte was originally frozen to unthaw him several years later.
* HomeBase: The Kiekeboes' home in the Merholaan 1.
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Tomboy
* HotBlooded: Leon and Carmella Van Der Neffe
* HurricaneOfAphorisms: Usually by characters who mix two different sayings and proverbs up with each other.
* HurricaneOfEuphemisms
* HurricaneOfPuns: It's a trademark of the series.
* HypnoticEyes:
** Konstaninopel is temporarily hypnotized in ''De Onthoofde Sfinx''.
** Kiekeboe too in ''Black-Out''.
* HypocriticalHumour: Many characters strongly defend a certain opinion, only to do the exact opposite later.
* IAteWhat? In ''Een zakje chips'' Kiekeboe accidentally eats a bag of crisps full with computer chips. (In Dutch the word "chips" is used both for crisps and computer chips.)
* IdeaBulb: In ''Album 26'' the characters walk around in a darkened room, until Fanny gets the idea to use the idea bulb to lighten the room.
* JawsAttackParody: In the story "Haaiman" a shark attacks a couple on a private boat. One of them even says: "It resembles a movie."
* KarmaHoudini: A few villains managed to get away with their deeds, and were never seen again.
* KilledOffForReal: Occasionely characters die in this comic strip.
* KingKongClimb In the album ''Bing Bong'' a little gorilla mutates to enormous size and kidnaps teenage daughter Fanny, climbing on top of a church.
* KnifeThrowingAct: Depicted in ''Doorgestoken Kaart''.
* LanternJawOfJustice: Subverted with Firmin Van De Kasseien, Nero's corrupt boss, who has a brawny chin, expressing his arrogance.
* LastNameBasis: Marcel Kiekeboe (the father) is usually called "Kiekeboe" by the others, despite his first name "Marcel" be used some times as well.
* LimitedWardrobe: For years the characters mostly wore the same outfits, but recent albums show them wearing different types of clothing to go along with the times.
* LongNeck: In ''De Pili-Pili Pillen'' Balthasar's neck grows to enormous lengths.
* LostForever:
** In ''De Zaak Luc Raak'' the only existing copy of a Creator/LaurelAndHardy film in color goes up in flames.
** In ''Het Stokvis-incident'' a virus that causes people to age is lost in a plane crash.
* MacGuffin: In ''Het Stokvis-Incident'' it turns out that the entire case has nothing to do with Mevrouw Stokvis at all. The villain just named his project after her, without any particular reason.
* TheMafia: Characters in ''De Hoofdzaak'' and ''Witter dan wit''.
* MagicRealism: Despite a mostly believable realistic setting: ghosts exist (''Spoken in Huis''), vampires (''Het Witte Bloed'', ''De Kus van Mona'', ''De Babyvampier''...), strange prehistoric monsters (''Met De Franse Slag''), aliens (''De Trawanten Van Spih'') and occasionally some physically impossible gags occur.
* MarilynManeuver: Fanny does this classic MarilynMonroe pose in ''De Medusa-Stichting''.
* MassHypnosis: In ''De Dorpstiran van Boeloe Boeloe'' the people Boeloe Boeloe are brainwashed into loving the president by being forced to eat a certain type of mind bending soup used as a MindControlDevice
* MasterOfUnlocking: Balthazar shows he's able to open an "easily locked door" in ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'' just by pointing at it.
* MeaningfulName: Since almost every character has a PunnyName there are also many hidden meanings in their names.
* MeaningfulRename:
** Timotheus Triangl was renamed Timothea Triangl in ''Zeg Het Met Bloemen'', because he had undergone a sex change.
** The series itself was named ''Kiekeboe'' until 2010, when it was renamed into ''De Kiekeboes'', because creator Merho felt that the series was more about the family Kiekeboe than Marcel Kiekeboe alone.
* MonaLisaSmile: One of the ancestors of Jeanne Darm in the story "Jeanne Darm" is painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the Mona Lisa pose.
* TheMovie: Adapted to the big screen twice, but in both cases it wasn't a big success.
* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous:
** Bibi Pralin Gaga is named after Ugandan dictator UsefulNotes/IdiAmin Dada.
** Alanis is named after Music/AlanisMorissette.
** Elody Melody is named after Flemish former teen pop star Sylvie Melody.
* TheNapoleon: Timothea Triangl is a dwarf who plots for world domination. He underwent a sex change at one point because he would be able to walk on high heels ''and look taller'' and be able to use the ladies' toilets, instead of being unable to reach for the urinoirs in the men's room.
* NapoleonDelusion: Subverted in the album "Een koud kunstje", where the real UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte is brought to a mental institution for believing he is Napoleon.
* NeverMessWithGranny: Moemoe always gets what she wants.
* NewJobAsThePlotDemands: Fanny, who doesn't go to school anymore, but does work various plot relevant jobs from now to then.
* NighthawksShot: Fanny and Inspecteur Sapperdeboere sat in this restaurant in the album ''Blond en BlauW''.
* NobodyPoops: Subverted in ''Album 26'', where Kiekeboe goes to the toilet in the middle of the story: "Just because other comic book heroes never do this doesn't mean I have to do the same."
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Subverted.
** Bibi Pralin Gaga, a thinly disguised caricature of UsefulNotes/IdiAmin is portrayed as a dumb tyrant who is deposed and thwarted time and time again.
** The pedophile bishop Hoegeiligman in ''Schijnheilig Bloed'' is a caricature of real life Flemish bisshop Roger Vangheluwe who admitted having abused several young children in the past, yet could not be arrested because the facts were dated. He gets turned into a vampire and finally [[spoiler: walks into broad daylight and bursts into flames]].
* NoNameGiven: One character, ''De Dikke Dame" ("The Fat Lady")'' makes a HitchcockCameo in every album, but nothing is known about her, not even her name.
* NosyNeighbor: Fernand Goegebuer, who often walks in during an inappropriate moment or whose talkativeness causes a lot of trouble.
* NotAllowedToGrowUp: Konstantinopel
* ObstructiveBureaucrat: Spoofed in ''Geeeeef Acht'' when Fanny and Konstantinopel visit a government agency and desperately try to get a stamp on a document to get their father out of the military again.
* OverlyLongName: Mr. Osnoprodavonoblikavitch in the album ''Hotel O'' who's never been able to remember his own surname. He shortens it to the letter "o", despite other people miraculously remembering it without any mistakes.
* {{Pastiche}}: In the album ''Vrouwen Komen Van Mars'', typical Flemish comic strip series of the 1940s and 1950s are stylistically parodied.
* PaintedTunnelRealTrain: Just the painted tunnel part. In ''Het Witte Bloed'' Kiekeboe escapes from prison by drawing a large circle on the wall and simply walk through it, something he saw in a movie by MackSennett. In ''Prettige Feestdagen'' he tries the trick again, but fails.
* ParentalBonus: This is a comic strip that adults can enjoy on different levels.
* PeopleJars: Comic book characters are put in jars in the album ''Kiekebanus''.
* PieInTheFace: A national tradition in the country Itsi Pitsi in the album ''De Zoete Regen''.
* PintSizedKid: Konstantinopel, Joeksel & Froefroe. Their age isn't exactly stated, but it's clear from their general knowledge (reading, writing, computer use, etc ) that they go to the later years of primary school (9 - 12 years old). They still only come up to their parents' waist.
* PlotRelevantAgeUp: In ''Het Stokvis-Incident'' a serum is discovered that can make people grow to old age.
* PoirotSpeak: All foreign characters mix Dutch with loan words from their own language.
* PoliceAreUseless: Inspector Sapperdeboere, who usually spents more time eating than actually solving crimes.
* PrintLongRunners: Since 1977.
* ProductPlacement: Merho drew one album ''Avontuur in Sun Parks'' where the Kiekeboes have an adventure in the amusement park "Sun Parks".
* PsychoShowerMurderParody: In ''Het Plan Sstoeffer'' Fanny takes a shower and thinks: "If I'm quick, I'll be able to catch "Psycho" by Hitchcock on TV". While she is showering she is attacked by a spy, but she notices him just in time and knocks him out.
* PulpMagazine: The magazine ''Top Roddel''.
* PunnyName: It's a trademark of the series! Almost every characters has some kind of pun hidden in his or her name.
* PuppetPermutation: Subverted. De Kiekeboes and villain Balthazar were originally based on puppets in Merho's brother Walter's puppet show. Merho decided to use them as his main cast.
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Merho is frequently inspired by real life newspaper articles or events, RippedFromTheHeadlines.
** Dictator Bibi Pralin Gaga was inspired by UsefulNotes/IdiAmin.
** President Bod in ''Heil Bod'' is a spoof of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
** The thief El Bousidi in ''De Fez van Fes'' was inspired by a real thief with that name who stole Merho and his wife's luggage during a trip to Morocco.
** Merho sometimes added inside jokes in his stories, usually about his friends and colleagues.
* ReallyGetsAround: Fanny has had a lot of boyfriends over the years.
** Van De Kasseien commits adultery with many of his secretaries, though he sometimes gets his comeuppance.
** Tomboy would also count, since she is a prostitute.
* RealPersonCameo: National and international celebrities also regularly have small cameos in the stories, including UsefulNotes/IdiAmin, Creator/LouisDeFunes, Creator/{{Fernandel}}, Creator/LaurelAndHardy, Creator/WoodyAllen, Creator/JohnCleese, Creator/{{Herge}}, Creator/ReneGoscinny, Creator/JeanGabin, Creator/{{Bourvil}}, VictorBorge, UsefulNotes/{{Khomeini}}, the cast of Series/LittleBritain, Creator/JacquesTati, Music/MichaelJackson, Music/GraceJones and many Belgian and Dutch celebrities.
* RecurringExtra: A fat nameless woman in a red shirt is seen in every album.
* ReligionOfEvil: Found in ''De Haar-Tisten'', ''Het Boerka-Complot'' and ''De getatoeëerde mossel''.
* RunningGag:
** Fernand Goegebuer spits whenever he talks.
** Mevrouw Stokvis is always mentioned, but never seen.
** A fat anonymous lady called ''De Dikke Dame'' always makes a cameo in each album.
** Inspecteur Sapperdeboere will always start eating instead of solving a case
** Van De Kasseien frequently cheats on his wife.
* SelfDeprecation: unlikely coincidences within a plot will often be lampshaded by someone remarking that even the crappiest writer wouldn't dare write something like that.
* SexyDiscretionShot: Used often in the early albums, until it gradually became more explicit.
* SexySecretary: Mr. Van De Kasseien has a lot of them... for obvious reasons.
* ShamelessFanserviceGirl: Fanny is often put in erotic and (semi) nude situations.
* SheWhoMustNotBeSeen: Mevrouw Stokvis, the best friend of Moemoe is always mentioned, but never seen by the audience.
* ShouldnTWeBeInSchoolRightNow?: Konstantinopel is seldom seen at school, though it is often mentioned. Compared to other comic book heroes we DO occasionally see him at school, for instance ''Kiekeboeket'' and ''De Hoed van Robin''.
* ShoutOut: Little winks to popular films, books, other comics or TV series are occasionally provided.
** ComicBook/LuckyLuke accidentally passes by in ''Album 26''.
** Moustached characters from rivaling series protest against Kiekeboe winning the ''Moustache Of The Year Award'', among them [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Thompson and Thomson]], [[ComicBook/LuckyLuke The Daltons]], [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]] and [[ComicBook/SpirouAndFantasio The Count]].
** A plastic surgeon in ''Album 26'' gives his patients the head of his favorite comic book characters: [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Snoopy]], WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse and ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}.
** In ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'' Kiekeboe's funeral is attended by ''characters from rivaling series'', such as Franchise/{{Batman}}, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck, [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Tintin and Captain Haddock]], ComicBook/BouleEtBill, ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}, [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]] and ComicBook/LuckyLuke.
** In ''De Hoofdzaak'' there's a scene where a maffiosi uses ''night vision'' goggles in the Catacombs of Parlermo to shoot the protagonists, in reference to ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs''. An extra hint is the corpse of Hannibal Lecter hanging nearby.
** In ''Album 26'' Kiekeboe goes to the ''Creator/{{Herge}} Institute'' to find a stuntman for his comic strip.
** Kiekeboe and Konstantinopel try to buy backgrounds from other comic strips in ''"Afgelast Wegens Ziekte"''. One man buys the set of [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Moulinsart (Marlinspike Hall)]] and says: "A bargain. This one isn't used anymore anyway."
** A man named ''Herr Gé'' and who looks a lot like Creator/{{Herge}} too appears in ''De Aqua-Rel''.
** The album cover of ''Geen Rook'' has Alanis smiling and telling the viewer to remain silent, in reference to the album cover of ''The Castafiore Emerald''.
** In album ''Villa Delfia'' a master plagiarist thinks up a new idea for comic strip series with '' a boy, a girl, an aunt, an arrogant baldhead and a strong man (...) [[ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske we could be on to something!]]''
** Konstantinopel reads a ''Suske en Wiske'' story in ''De anonieme smulpapen'', to which Fanny replies: ''It would be better if you read one of our own stories.''
** A special comic strip in which Fanny interviews characters from other comic strips, ''Bij Fanny Op Schoot'' has her talking to ''ComicStrip/{{Nero}}'', Cordelia, ''ComicBook/{{Natacha}}'', ''Suske en Wiske'', Cowboy Henk, [[ComicBook/{{Agent 327}} IJzerbroot and Olga Lawina]], ''ComicBook/DeRodeRidder'', ''Series/FCDeKampioenen'' and ''ComicBook/{{Urbanus}}'', among others.
* ShowWithinAShow: In ''Vrouwen Komen Van Mars'' de Kiekeboes go inside a comic book that Kiekeboe enjoyed reading as a kid. The style is DeliberatelyMonochrome and a parody of the 1940s and 1950s Flemish comic strips.
* SinisterSchnoz: Balthazar and Timothea Triangl.
* {{Sizeshifter}}: Balthazar's head and neck change size in ''De Pili-Pili Pillen'' due to the side effects of various pills.
* {{Slapstick}}: Merho is a huge fan of Creator/LaurelAndHardy, so slapstick elements are often included.
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Certain albums have a feel good atmosphere, others are more dark and cynical.
* SmugSnake: Leon and Carmella Van Der Neffe.
* SpecialGuest: For his album "Doorgestoken Kaart" Merho sought advice about magician's tricks from Belgian magician Gil Ricardo. As a way to thank him he gave him a cameo role in the album.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Mr. Osnoprodavonoblikavitch in the album Hotel O who's never been able to remember his own surname. He shortens it to the letter "o", despite other people miraculously remembering it without any mistakes.
* SuicideAsComedy: Kiekeboe jumps off a bridge in ''Afgelast wegens ziekte'' because he thinks he'll die in three days and wants to end it all quicker. His attempt fails when a van carrying sand passes by.
* SymbolSwearing
* {{Tarzan}}: Van Der Neffe briefly dresses like him and swings on the lamp post in ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte''.
* ThatDidntHappen: The story of ''Haaiman'' turns out to be an idea for a script that Kiekeboe ultimately refuses to act out.
* TimeTravel: Kiekeboe travels to the future in ''De Wereld Volgens Kiekeboe''.
* TooDumbToLive: Balthazar, probably the most useless villain ever.
* TreasureHunt: In the album ''De Schat van Mata Hari''.
* UnderwaterBase: Plot element in ''De duivelse driehoek'' en ''De Medusastichting''.
* UnexpectedInheritance: ''Het Mysterie van Spell-De-Prik''.
* VagueAge: Most characters don't have a specific age. Fanny was once said to be 16 years old, but since she drives a car she most be at least 18 years old according to Belgian law.
* VampireFiction: Vampires are frequently reappearing characters in the series.
* VaporWear: It has been stated in some instances, and implied in others (with ShirtlessScene and SexySoakedShirt) that Fanny doesn't often wear a bra.
* VictoriasSecretCompartment: In ''Het edelweissmotief'' Fanny [[spoiler:hides Hitler's valuable handkerchief in her bra, so nobody can find it.]]
* VillainousCrossDresser: Timotheus Triangl underwent a sex change in ''Zeg Het Met Bloemen'' and since then he is a woman.
* WorldOfPun: In almost all the issues, at least one of the one-time characters, the companies or even the title itself is a pun.
* TheYellowMShoutOut: In the album "Afgelast Wegens Ziekte" Kiekeboe and his son visit a store where they can buy backgrounds from famous comic strips. At a certain point they stand in front of the wall of "The Yellow "M"" and even take the same pose as ''ComicBook/BlakeAndMortimer'' on the album cover. Kiekeboe even says: "If you ask me many people stood here before us."
** The album cover of "Het Boerka Complot" spoofs the cover again, this time with Kiekeboe and Van De Kasseien standing tied against a wall.
* YouJustRuinedTheShot: Fanny interrupts a bank robbery in ''Fanny Girl'' only to discover that it was actually the shooting of a film scene.
----
[[caption-width-right:170:The Kiekeboe family]]
''De Kiekeboes'' is the most successful Flemish comic strip since ''Comicbook/SuskeEnWiske''. Though ''Suske en Wiske'' has more success and thus larger sales globally, ''De Kiekeboes'' are far more popular in Flanders today. Author Merho started his career as a protégé of Suske en Wiske author Willy Vandersteen, but since 1977 he started his own comic strip: ''Kiekeboe'' (since 2010 renamed as ''De Kiekeboes'').
At first sight ''De Kiekeboes'' is your typical Flemish family strip in the tradition of ''Suske en Wiske, ComicBook/{{Jommeke}}'' and ''ComicStrip/{{Nero}}''. All stories center around the family Kiekeboe: father Marcel, mother Charlotte, teenage daughter Fanny and school boy Konstantinopel. However, the series have a more realistic every day life setting avoiding many of the typical comic book strip clichés: no WorldsStrongestMan, no AbsentMindedProfessor, no TalkingAnimal and fantasy elements are kept to a minimum. We do know that ghosts exist (''Spoken in Huis''), vampires (''Het Witte Bloed'', ''De Kus van Mona'', ''De Babyvampier''...), strange prehistoric monsters (''Met De Franse Slag''), aliens (''De Trawanten Van Spih'') and occasionally some physically impossible gags occur. But most of the time everything is set in a realistic atmosphere. Fanny and Konstantinopel are not ConvenientlyAnOrphan or adopted, but Marcel and Charlotte's real children. The early albums are still a bit naïve and childish like a traditional comic strip, but gradually the series started GrowingTheBeard and became DarkerAndEdgier. Many of the early one-dimensional characters became more complex. Story lines touched more adult and often risqué subject matter like prostitution, drugs, transsexuality, religious cults, racism, homosexuality, ... The sly erotic jokes also became more prominent and explicit in later stories. Today ''De Kiekeboes'' is mostly an adult strip, though it still manages to keep its stories amusing and interesting for children as well.
The main characters are:
* '''Marcel Kiekeboe''': The big moustached father. A joyful, enthusiastic but naïve man who is often manipulated by others like his mother, Moemoe, and his boss, Van De Kasseien. He has a tendency of taking impulsive decisions that sometimes cause major problems.
* '''Charlotte Kiekeboe''': The mother of the family. Originally a very bland flat character, her personality became more assertive and self-assured over the years.
* '''Fanny Kiekeboe''': The teenage daughter who doesn't go to school anymore, but works various jobs. She is self-assured, headstrong, socially engaged and brave. Many plots have scenes where she walks around in erotic or semi-nude poses. She has also had a lot of boyfriends.
* '''Konstantinopel Kiekeboe''': The young son, who is smart well beyond his years.
* '''Moemoe''': Kiekeboe's mother. She is a meddlesome, opportunistic, headstrong and pushy woman who often claims Kiekeboe and the rest of the family don't do enough for her. Often she will defend a certain opinion militantly, only to claim the exact opposite later in the story, despite all the effort other characters did for her. She is also very elitarian and interested whenever Fanny dates a doctor or a lawyer.
* '''Mevrouw Stokvis''': Moemoe's best friend, although their friendship borders to rivalry. She is an invisible character and never seen by the readers.
* '''Nonkel Vital''' Marcel Kiekeboe's uncle and Moemoe's brother-in-law. He is a happy-go-lucky and meddlesome character who often bickers with Moemoe about family matters.
* '''Leon Van Der Neffe''': Kiekeboe's neighbour who works as a military. He is an unsympathetic, snobistic, egocentric, prejudiced, xenophobic and racist man, originally married to a woman with the same opinions. He and his wife, Carmella, have two children: a boy, Joeksel, and a girl, Froefroe, who are actually more intelligent and sympathetic. They often play with Konstantinopel. At a certain point in the series he divorced and since then his one-note character got more depth and even sympathetic aspects.
* '''Fernand Goegebuer''': Another neighbour of Kiekeboe. Generally sympathetic, optimistic and helpful but often obtrusive, naïve and nosy. He has a tendency to spit while he talks.
* '''Firmin Van De Kasseien''': Kiekeboe's boss. A vain, arrogant, corrupt and adulterous man who frequently uses Kiekeboe to do legal and illegal things for him. He never thanks Kiekeboe for all the trouble he goes through to help him. Van De Kasseien also regularly cheats on his wife, Chichi, and tries to seduce anything in a skirt. This often brings him in a lot of trouble.
* '''Inspecteur Sapperdeboere''': A police inspector who enjoys eating more than solving crimes.
* '''Alanis''': Fanny's girlfriend.
* '''Balthazar''': One of the series' villains. He is a naïve, childish, clumsy and dumb man who is generally too stupid to be a real threat to the Kiekeboes. Most of the time he is more obnoxious and irritating to the other criminals who work together with him.
* '''Timotheus Triangl''': A ''Film/JamesBond'' type villain who wants to take over the world. Originally he was a little man, but later he underwent a sex change and since then he is a woman.
* '''Dédé la Canaille''': A dangerous French criminal who wants to kill Kiekeboe for putting him behind bars.
* '''Alain Provist''' The boss of an employment agency, frequently consulted by Charlotte.
* '''Meneer Kreuvett''' A restaurant critic.
* '''Bibi Pralin Gaga''' An African dictator and parody of UsefulNotes/IdiAmin. His accomplice is Amoko, an African wizard whose head is always hidden behind a mask.
* '''Moïse Mombakka''': An African foreign exchange student who dated Fanny for one album and later became president of Boeloe Boeloe after the deposition of Bibi Pralin Gaga.
* '''De Dikke Dame''' A fat nameless woman who makes one cameo appearance in each album as a RunningGag.
* '''Jens''': Fanny's longtime boyfriend for ten albums. Since then they broke up.
* '''Elodie Melody''': A dumb female pop singer
* '''Tomboy''' A black female prostitute who keeps her work a secret. Fanny is the only one who knows about it.
One of ''De Kiekeboes'' most notorious trademarks are the puns and word play jokes, usually hidden in album titles, background gags, throwaway jokes and characters' names.
----
!!This trope provides examples of:
* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: "De duivelse driehoek", "De zwarte zonnekoning", "Kies Kiekeboe", "De pili-pili pillen", "De fez van Fes", "Een koud kunstje", "Vrolijke, vrolijke vrienden".
* UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler:
** Dictator Sstoeffer in ''Het Plan Sstoeffer'' is a clear parody.
** His handkerchief is auctioned in ''Het Edelweissmotief''.
* AlienAbduction: Happens to Joeksel, Froefroe and Konstantinopel in ''De Trawanten van Spih''.
* AllForNothing: Kiekeboe tries to get a cake which has a ring hidden inside in the album ''De Taart''. When he finally retrieves the cake after many shenanigans it turns out he left the ring at his local baker's place.
* AllHailTheGreatGodMickey: In ''De Wereld Volgens Kiekeboe'' the entire future civilization has based their society according to the only surviving artefacts of our century: the nearly complete collection of ''Kiekeboes'' albums.
* AlternateEnding: An alternative ending to the story ''De Zaak Luc Raak'' is provided in ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte''.
* AmbiguouslyGay: Jujuul the flamboyant gay vampire.
* ArmedFarces: The album ''Geeeeef Acht'' is a collection of various jokes about the military.
* ArtEvolution: The early albums look a bit different compared to later albums.
* ArtShift:
** In ''Album 26'' Fanny wants her boyfriend to be drawn as {{Tarzan}}. Creator Merho refuses to do so, because it would be an art shift! In the same story ComicBook/LuckyLuke accidentally passes by after a cloudy fog darkens the sky.
** Near the end of ''De Snor van Kiekeboe'' in which Kiekeboe was elected to be "Moustache of the Year" by the Antwerp Moustache Club- which really had happened in 1984- several moustached characters from other comic strips gather to protest because they weren't elected at all. In the color version of the album we recognize [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Thompson and Thomson]], [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]], [[ComicBook/SpirouAndFantasio the Count of Champignac]] and [[ComicBook/LuckyLuke the Daltons]]
** In ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'' Kiekeboe's funeral is held. Comic strip characters from other series appear to show their condolences, including [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Tintin, Captain Haddock]], [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]], ComicBook/LuckyLuke and ComicBook/BouleEtBill. Fanny even notices some American comic strip characters have arrived, among who we can recognize Franchise/{{Batman}}, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck, ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}, [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Charlie Brown and Snoopy.]]
** A special comic strip in which Fanny interviews characters from other comic strips, ''Bij Fanny Op Schoot'' has her talking to [[ComicStrip/{{Nero}} Nero]], Cordelia, [[ComicBook/{{Natacha}} Natacha]], ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske, Cowboy Henk, [[ComicBook/{{Agent 327}} IJzerbroot and Olga Lawina]], ComicBook/DeRodeRidder, Series/FCDeKampioenen and ComicBook/{{Urbanus}}, among others.
* AssholeVictim: The pedophile bisshop [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed Hoegeiligman]] in ''Schijnheilig Bloed''. He's already in hiding from the public, is going mad, gets turned into a vampire and finally [[spoiler: walks into broad daylight and bursts into flames]].
* {{Atlantis}}: In ''De Bermuda Driehoek'' the cast visits TheBermudaTriangle, where they discover an underwater city complex, ruled by a villain named Timotheus Triangl. The location is called ''Attalantis'', in an obvious pun on Atlantis.
* BadassMustache: Marcel Kiekeboe's moustache. The real life Moustache Club of Antwerp even called him the ''Moustache Of The Year'' in 1984! Merho then drew a story about it: ''De Snor van Kiekeboe''.
* BadBoss: Firmin Van De Kasseien is Kiekeboe's boss and a vain, promiscuous, adulterous, corrupt one at that.
* BankruptcyBarrel: Shown in ''De Fez van Fes''.
* TheBermudaTriangle: In ''De Bermuda Driehoek'' the cast visits TheBermudaTriangle.
* BerserkButton: In the album ''Jeanne Darm'' Nick Nack, head of the fresh drink company ''Kameel'' goes berserk whenever someone mentions the name of the rival company "Dromedaris".
* BewareTheNiceOnes: In ''De Wraak van Dédé'' Fanny's boyfriend Kris Kras turns out to be a henchman for Dédé La Canaille, Kiekeboe's sworn enemy.
* BigBad: Timotheus Triangl, who is a ''Film/JamesBond'' type villain. Kiekeboe's sworn enemy is however Dédé La Canaille, a French convict.
* BigEater: Inspecteur Sapperdeboere.
* BilingualBonus: In a lot of stories foreign characters will speak mixing Dutch words with typical expressions of their own language.
** Subverted in ''Met De Franse Slag'' where Kiekeboe translates Dutch expressions and sayings literally in French, as a joke only people who speak French will get.
* BondVillain: Timotheus Triangl, before his sex change, was a parody of Ernst Blofeld.
* BootCampEpisode: In ''Geeeeeef Acht'' Kiekeboe is sent to the army due to an bureaucratic mistake.
* BoundAndGagged: Happens to Fanny very frequently.
* BreakOutCharacter: Fanny, who eventually put Marcel Kiekeboe, the actual protagonist, in the shadow. In the foreign translations she is also the protagonist instead of him.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: The characters are well aware they are comic strip characters and frequently address the audience. Merho even took this to more experimental levels in the albums ''Album 26'', ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'', ''De Simstones'', ''Het Geslacht Kinkel''...
* TheBermudaTriangle: Plot element in ''De Bermuda Driehoek''.
* {{Bulungi}}: The country Boeloe Boeloe in many albums.
* ButtMonkey: Balthazar. But Van De Kasseien also treats Merho as his butt monkey as well.
* CharacterDevelopment and CharacterizationMarchesOn:
** Charlotte, Kiekeboe's wife, was originally a very bland and passive housewife. In the album ''Het Lot van Charlotte'' she got so fed up with slaving for her husband and children that she and Kiekeboe briefly separated. They eventually came back together, but since then Charlotte become more assertive and free-thinking. She also regularly goes out part time working.
** Leon Van Der Neffe, Kiekeboe's neighbour, was originally nothing more than a unsympathetic, vain, snobbish and racist man. Later in the series he and his wife divorced, changing his character to a more pitiful loser trying to find a new wife.
* CharlieChaplinShoutOut:
** In ''Kies Kiekeboe'' a clip from ''Film/ADogsLife'' is shown on TV. Konstantinopel seats himself next to his dog and says: "I like a Chaplin movie more [than watching a political advertisement]."
** In ''Een Dagje Dédé'' while Balthazar talks to the prison warden a photo of Chaplin in prison outfit can be seen on the wall. This is a reference to the Chaplin short ''Film/TheAdventurer'' (1917).
* ChildrenAreInnocent: Averted. Konstantinopel, Joeksel and Froefroe are at most early teens, but know a suspiciously lot about sexual topics. Yet, apart from that, they are very nice and clever children.
* ClingyJealousGirl: Fanny, usually.
* CluelessChickMagnet: All women fall in love with Kiekeboe when he accidentally gets some aphrodisiac potion spilled over his body in ''De Onweerstaanbare Man''.
* ComicBookAdaptation: The album ''Grof Wild'' is a comic book adaptation of the eponymous literary story by Belgian crime author PieterAspe. Merho got permission of the author to adapt the plot into a Kiekeboes story.
* ComicBookTime: The characters don't age (... much. Fanny was stated to be 16 years old in ''Album 26'' but drives a car in later issues, which in Belgium is only possible at 18+), except for one short story in the album ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'', where all his characters age 20 years into the future.
* CoolOldLady: Moemoe, who is very energetic and inventive for someone her age.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Firmin Van De Kasseien.
* CrapsackWorld: "De Kiekeboes" shows a more grimful, yet recognizable version of our modern day society compared to other more traditional comic strips.
* CreatorCameo: Merho did this in ''Album 26''.
* CrossOver: De Kiekeboes had a crossover with the comic strip Urbanus in the album "Kiekebanus", where the creators of each comic drew the story together.
* CulturalTranslation: Despite best efforts the comic never caught on in other countries, except the Netherlands where it is a cult success.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Tomboy the prostitute only shares her secrets with Fanny.
* DarkerAndEdgier: The later, more definitive ''De Kiekeboes'' albums are far more adult and risqué than the first twentysomething albums.
* DefectorFromCommieLand: In ''De één zijn dood'' a recognizable spoof of a Cold War Eastern European country is shown.
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything?: Used regularly.
* DontExplainTheJoke:
** Some of the early albums did this regularly.
** Merho jokes with this aspect in ''De Wereld Volgens Kiekeboe'' where a character is named ''Verstockt''. Konstantinopel then asks: "Zou het kunnen dat die Verstockt vrijgezel is?" ("Could it be that that Verstockt is single?") He then explains that it is a reference to the phrase "een verstokte vrijgezel" ("a lifelong single"), but sheepishly adds: "Of course, when you have to explain a joke it's not very funny anymore."
* DoubleEntendre: Used a lot
* DreamingOfThingsToCome: In ''Met De Franse Slag'' Fanny hears a chilling animal roar in a dream. Later in the story she hears the same scream in real life.
* DreamSequence: Used in ''Met De Franse Slag'', among other albums.
* DrillSergeantNasty: Leon Van Der Neffe, who is a corporal.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The early albums are more traditional comic book stories with cute fantasy creatures (''De Wollebollen'') and less inspired stories and puns. The characters don't have much depth to them, everything is aimed at children and there's none of the more daring subject matter that can be found in later stories. To make matters worse many plot elements and jokes are told by MrExposition narrative devices. Even Merho sees many of these old stories as an OldShame.
* EscapedAnimalRampage: In ''Het Stokvis Incident'' (''The Case Stokvis'') Fanny saves a chimpanzee from a medical laboratory and keeps at her house. The animal then escapes from her room and goes to the neighbours where he climbs inside the bathroom and helps the unknowing woman of the house with scrubbing her back.
* EscapeFromTheCrazyPlace: The real UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte is sent to a mental institution in ''Een koud kunstje'' for thinking he is Napoleon. He eventually escapes.
* ExecutiveMeddling: Spoofed in ''Album 26'' and ''The Simstones'' where Merho is told to update his comic strip.[[invoked]]
* Expy: Timotheus Triangl is basically [[Film/JamesBond Ernst Stavro Blofeld]], but crazier.
* EyesAlwaysShut: Firmin Van De Kasseien's eyes are usually closed, to show his arrogance.
* TheFaceless: The face of a villain character in ''De Doedelzak van Mac Reel'' remains obscured or hidden from the audience until the very last page.
* FakingTheDead: Pop artist Romeo Alfa fakes his own death in ''Black Out''.
* {{Fanservice}}: Fanny's erotic poses
* FemmeFatale: Fanny, to most men.
* FeudingFamilies: Between the Kiekeboes and the Van Der Neffes.
* FictionalCountry: Boeloe Boeloe, Burlandia, Eunuchië, Paranoia, Papagaya, Itsi Pitsi, El Tondzon...
* FountainOfYouth: In ''Kiele Kiele Boe'' Kiekeboe is changed into a baby overnight.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Just keep your eyes open when reading an album.
* FunWithAcronyms: And Merho has a lot of fun with that!
* FutureImperfect: In the album ''De Wereld Volgens Kiekeboe (translation: "The World According To Kiekeboe")'' Kiekeboe travels to the far future, when mankind has destroyed most of its civilization during a world war. They rebuilt everything afterwards and discovered the entire collection of Kiekeboes albums (except for the one they are currently appearing in). They enjoyed the books so much that they built their entire civilization according to the universe in Kiekeboe's stories. Naturally they do get a lot of things about our century wrong, because the albums are the only artefacts they can base their knowledge on.
* GagNose: Marcel Kiekeboe's nose is big and bulbous. Balthazar also has a huge nose.
* GameShowAppearance: Plot element in ''Hoe Meer Kijkers''.
* GangOfCritters: De Wollebollen in ''De Wollebollen''.
* GenderBender: Happens to Inspecteur Sapperdeboere in ''Over Koetjes En Kalfjes'' due to a huge ammount of female hormones in his food.
* TheGeneralissimo: South American dictators regularly fulfill an important part of the plot (''Het Plan Sstoeffer'', ''Zeg Het Met Bloemen'', ''De Roze Rolls''...)
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: In the early years Merho still had to keep everything clean and decent, but occasionally he snuck in some erotic scenes and jokes. Throughout the years the series' popularity grew and thus the stories became more suggestive, risqué and sometimes even controversial.
* TheGhost: The ghosts of two medieval robbers are shown in ''Spoken In Huis''.
* GoodGriefAnotherPeanutsShoutOut:
** The plastic surgeon in ''Album 26'' is such a comic strip fanatic that he molds the heads of his patients into those of comic book characters, one of them being Snoopy.
** Charlie Brown and Snoopy are among the characters from rival series to appear at Kiekeboe's funeral in ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte''.
* GratuitousIambicPentameter: Merho enjoys puns and word play.
* HammerAndSickleRemovedForYourProtection: The communist country in ''De Eén Zijn Dood''.
* HappyEnd: Sometimes subverted.
* HarmlessFreezing: In ''Een Koud Kunstje'' it turns out that Napoleon Bonaparte was originally frozen to unthaw him several years later.
* HomeBase: The Kiekeboes' home in the Merholaan 1.
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Tomboy
* HotBlooded: Leon and Carmella Van Der Neffe
* HurricaneOfAphorisms: Usually by characters who mix two different sayings and proverbs up with each other.
* HurricaneOfEuphemisms
* HurricaneOfPuns: It's a trademark of the series.
* HypnoticEyes:
** Konstaninopel is temporarily hypnotized in ''De Onthoofde Sfinx''.
** Kiekeboe too in ''Black-Out''.
* HypocriticalHumour: Many characters strongly defend a certain opinion, only to do the exact opposite later.
* IAteWhat? In ''Een zakje chips'' Kiekeboe accidentally eats a bag of crisps full with computer chips. (In Dutch the word "chips" is used both for crisps and computer chips.)
* IdeaBulb: In ''Album 26'' the characters walk around in a darkened room, until Fanny gets the idea to use the idea bulb to lighten the room.
* JawsAttackParody: In the story "Haaiman" a shark attacks a couple on a private boat. One of them even says: "It resembles a movie."
* KarmaHoudini: A few villains managed to get away with their deeds, and were never seen again.
* KilledOffForReal: Occasionely characters die in this comic strip.
* KingKongClimb In the album ''Bing Bong'' a little gorilla mutates to enormous size and kidnaps teenage daughter Fanny, climbing on top of a church.
* KnifeThrowingAct: Depicted in ''Doorgestoken Kaart''.
* LanternJawOfJustice: Subverted with Firmin Van De Kasseien, Nero's corrupt boss, who has a brawny chin, expressing his arrogance.
* LastNameBasis: Marcel Kiekeboe (the father) is usually called "Kiekeboe" by the others, despite his first name "Marcel" be used some times as well.
* LimitedWardrobe: For years the characters mostly wore the same outfits, but recent albums show them wearing different types of clothing to go along with the times.
* LongNeck: In ''De Pili-Pili Pillen'' Balthasar's neck grows to enormous lengths.
* LostForever:
** In ''De Zaak Luc Raak'' the only existing copy of a Creator/LaurelAndHardy film in color goes up in flames.
** In ''Het Stokvis-incident'' a virus that causes people to age is lost in a plane crash.
* MacGuffin: In ''Het Stokvis-Incident'' it turns out that the entire case has nothing to do with Mevrouw Stokvis at all. The villain just named his project after her, without any particular reason.
* TheMafia: Characters in ''De Hoofdzaak'' and ''Witter dan wit''.
* MagicRealism: Despite a mostly believable realistic setting: ghosts exist (''Spoken in Huis''), vampires (''Het Witte Bloed'', ''De Kus van Mona'', ''De Babyvampier''...), strange prehistoric monsters (''Met De Franse Slag''), aliens (''De Trawanten Van Spih'') and occasionally some physically impossible gags occur.
* MarilynManeuver: Fanny does this classic MarilynMonroe pose in ''De Medusa-Stichting''.
* MassHypnosis: In ''De Dorpstiran van Boeloe Boeloe'' the people Boeloe Boeloe are brainwashed into loving the president by being forced to eat a certain type of mind bending soup used as a MindControlDevice
* MasterOfUnlocking: Balthazar shows he's able to open an "easily locked door" in ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'' just by pointing at it.
* MeaningfulName: Since almost every character has a PunnyName there are also many hidden meanings in their names.
* MeaningfulRename:
** Timotheus Triangl was renamed Timothea Triangl in ''Zeg Het Met Bloemen'', because he had undergone a sex change.
** The series itself was named ''Kiekeboe'' until 2010, when it was renamed into ''De Kiekeboes'', because creator Merho felt that the series was more about the family Kiekeboe than Marcel Kiekeboe alone.
* MonaLisaSmile: One of the ancestors of Jeanne Darm in the story "Jeanne Darm" is painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the Mona Lisa pose.
* TheMovie: Adapted to the big screen twice, but in both cases it wasn't a big success.
* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous:
** Bibi Pralin Gaga is named after Ugandan dictator UsefulNotes/IdiAmin Dada.
** Alanis is named after Music/AlanisMorissette.
** Elody Melody is named after Flemish former teen pop star Sylvie Melody.
* TheNapoleon: Timothea Triangl is a dwarf who plots for world domination. He underwent a sex change at one point because he would be able to walk on high heels ''and look taller'' and be able to use the ladies' toilets, instead of being unable to reach for the urinoirs in the men's room.
* NapoleonDelusion: Subverted in the album "Een koud kunstje", where the real UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte is brought to a mental institution for believing he is Napoleon.
* NeverMessWithGranny: Moemoe always gets what she wants.
* NewJobAsThePlotDemands: Fanny, who doesn't go to school anymore, but does work various plot relevant jobs from now to then.
* NighthawksShot: Fanny and Inspecteur Sapperdeboere sat in this restaurant in the album ''Blond en BlauW''.
* NobodyPoops: Subverted in ''Album 26'', where Kiekeboe goes to the toilet in the middle of the story: "Just because other comic book heroes never do this doesn't mean I have to do the same."
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Subverted.
** Bibi Pralin Gaga, a thinly disguised caricature of UsefulNotes/IdiAmin is portrayed as a dumb tyrant who is deposed and thwarted time and time again.
** The pedophile bishop Hoegeiligman in ''Schijnheilig Bloed'' is a caricature of real life Flemish bisshop Roger Vangheluwe who admitted having abused several young children in the past, yet could not be arrested because the facts were dated. He gets turned into a vampire and finally [[spoiler: walks into broad daylight and bursts into flames]].
* NoNameGiven: One character, ''De Dikke Dame" ("The Fat Lady")'' makes a HitchcockCameo in every album, but nothing is known about her, not even her name.
* NosyNeighbor: Fernand Goegebuer, who often walks in during an inappropriate moment or whose talkativeness causes a lot of trouble.
* NotAllowedToGrowUp: Konstantinopel
* ObstructiveBureaucrat: Spoofed in ''Geeeeef Acht'' when Fanny and Konstantinopel visit a government agency and desperately try to get a stamp on a document to get their father out of the military again.
* OverlyLongName: Mr. Osnoprodavonoblikavitch in the album ''Hotel O'' who's never been able to remember his own surname. He shortens it to the letter "o", despite other people miraculously remembering it without any mistakes.
* {{Pastiche}}: In the album ''Vrouwen Komen Van Mars'', typical Flemish comic strip series of the 1940s and 1950s are stylistically parodied.
* PaintedTunnelRealTrain: Just the painted tunnel part. In ''Het Witte Bloed'' Kiekeboe escapes from prison by drawing a large circle on the wall and simply walk through it, something he saw in a movie by MackSennett. In ''Prettige Feestdagen'' he tries the trick again, but fails.
* ParentalBonus: This is a comic strip that adults can enjoy on different levels.
* PeopleJars: Comic book characters are put in jars in the album ''Kiekebanus''.
* PieInTheFace: A national tradition in the country Itsi Pitsi in the album ''De Zoete Regen''.
* PintSizedKid: Konstantinopel, Joeksel & Froefroe. Their age isn't exactly stated, but it's clear from their general knowledge (reading, writing, computer use, etc ) that they go to the later years of primary school (9 - 12 years old). They still only come up to their parents' waist.
* PlotRelevantAgeUp: In ''Het Stokvis-Incident'' a serum is discovered that can make people grow to old age.
* PoirotSpeak: All foreign characters mix Dutch with loan words from their own language.
* PoliceAreUseless: Inspector Sapperdeboere, who usually spents more time eating than actually solving crimes.
* PrintLongRunners: Since 1977.
* ProductPlacement: Merho drew one album ''Avontuur in Sun Parks'' where the Kiekeboes have an adventure in the amusement park "Sun Parks".
* PsychoShowerMurderParody: In ''Het Plan Sstoeffer'' Fanny takes a shower and thinks: "If I'm quick, I'll be able to catch "Psycho" by Hitchcock on TV". While she is showering she is attacked by a spy, but she notices him just in time and knocks him out.
* PulpMagazine: The magazine ''Top Roddel''.
* PunnyName: It's a trademark of the series! Almost every characters has some kind of pun hidden in his or her name.
* PuppetPermutation: Subverted. De Kiekeboes and villain Balthazar were originally based on puppets in Merho's brother Walter's puppet show. Merho decided to use them as his main cast.
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Merho is frequently inspired by real life newspaper articles or events, RippedFromTheHeadlines.
** Dictator Bibi Pralin Gaga was inspired by UsefulNotes/IdiAmin.
** President Bod in ''Heil Bod'' is a spoof of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
** The thief El Bousidi in ''De Fez van Fes'' was inspired by a real thief with that name who stole Merho and his wife's luggage during a trip to Morocco.
** Merho sometimes added inside jokes in his stories, usually about his friends and colleagues.
* ReallyGetsAround: Fanny has had a lot of boyfriends over the years.
** Van De Kasseien commits adultery with many of his secretaries, though he sometimes gets his comeuppance.
** Tomboy would also count, since she is a prostitute.
* RealPersonCameo: National and international celebrities also regularly have small cameos in the stories, including UsefulNotes/IdiAmin, Creator/LouisDeFunes, Creator/{{Fernandel}}, Creator/LaurelAndHardy, Creator/WoodyAllen, Creator/JohnCleese, Creator/{{Herge}}, Creator/ReneGoscinny, Creator/JeanGabin, Creator/{{Bourvil}}, VictorBorge, UsefulNotes/{{Khomeini}}, the cast of Series/LittleBritain, Creator/JacquesTati, Music/MichaelJackson, Music/GraceJones and many Belgian and Dutch celebrities.
* RecurringExtra: A fat nameless woman in a red shirt is seen in every album.
* ReligionOfEvil: Found in ''De Haar-Tisten'', ''Het Boerka-Complot'' and ''De getatoeëerde mossel''.
* RunningGag:
** Fernand Goegebuer spits whenever he talks.
** Mevrouw Stokvis is always mentioned, but never seen.
** A fat anonymous lady called ''De Dikke Dame'' always makes a cameo in each album.
** Inspecteur Sapperdeboere will always start eating instead of solving a case
** Van De Kasseien frequently cheats on his wife.
* SelfDeprecation: unlikely coincidences within a plot will often be lampshaded by someone remarking that even the crappiest writer wouldn't dare write something like that.
* SexyDiscretionShot: Used often in the early albums, until it gradually became more explicit.
* SexySecretary: Mr. Van De Kasseien has a lot of them... for obvious reasons.
* ShamelessFanserviceGirl: Fanny is often put in erotic and (semi) nude situations.
* SheWhoMustNotBeSeen: Mevrouw Stokvis, the best friend of Moemoe is always mentioned, but never seen by the audience.
* ShouldnTWeBeInSchoolRightNow?: Konstantinopel is seldom seen at school, though it is often mentioned. Compared to other comic book heroes we DO occasionally see him at school, for instance ''Kiekeboeket'' and ''De Hoed van Robin''.
* ShoutOut: Little winks to popular films, books, other comics or TV series are occasionally provided.
** ComicBook/LuckyLuke accidentally passes by in ''Album 26''.
** Moustached characters from rivaling series protest against Kiekeboe winning the ''Moustache Of The Year Award'', among them [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Thompson and Thomson]], [[ComicBook/LuckyLuke The Daltons]], [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]] and [[ComicBook/SpirouAndFantasio The Count]].
** A plastic surgeon in ''Album 26'' gives his patients the head of his favorite comic book characters: [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Snoopy]], WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse and ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}.
** In ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'' Kiekeboe's funeral is attended by ''characters from rivaling series'', such as Franchise/{{Batman}}, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck, [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Tintin and Captain Haddock]], ComicBook/BouleEtBill, ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}, [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]] and ComicBook/LuckyLuke.
** In ''De Hoofdzaak'' there's a scene where a maffiosi uses ''night vision'' goggles in the Catacombs of Parlermo to shoot the protagonists, in reference to ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs''. An extra hint is the corpse of Hannibal Lecter hanging nearby.
** In ''Album 26'' Kiekeboe goes to the ''Creator/{{Herge}} Institute'' to find a stuntman for his comic strip.
** Kiekeboe and Konstantinopel try to buy backgrounds from other comic strips in ''"Afgelast Wegens Ziekte"''. One man buys the set of [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Moulinsart (Marlinspike Hall)]] and says: "A bargain. This one isn't used anymore anyway."
** A man named ''Herr Gé'' and who looks a lot like Creator/{{Herge}} too appears in ''De Aqua-Rel''.
** The album cover of ''Geen Rook'' has Alanis smiling and telling the viewer to remain silent, in reference to the album cover of ''The Castafiore Emerald''.
** In album ''Villa Delfia'' a master plagiarist thinks up a new idea for comic strip series with '' a boy, a girl, an aunt, an arrogant baldhead and a strong man (...) [[ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske we could be on to something!]]''
** Konstantinopel reads a ''Suske en Wiske'' story in ''De anonieme smulpapen'', to which Fanny replies: ''It would be better if you read one of our own stories.''
** A special comic strip in which Fanny interviews characters from other comic strips, ''Bij Fanny Op Schoot'' has her talking to ''ComicStrip/{{Nero}}'', Cordelia, ''ComicBook/{{Natacha}}'', ''Suske en Wiske'', Cowboy Henk, [[ComicBook/{{Agent 327}} IJzerbroot and Olga Lawina]], ''ComicBook/DeRodeRidder'', ''Series/FCDeKampioenen'' and ''ComicBook/{{Urbanus}}'', among others.
* ShowWithinAShow: In ''Vrouwen Komen Van Mars'' de Kiekeboes go inside a comic book that Kiekeboe enjoyed reading as a kid. The style is DeliberatelyMonochrome and a parody of the 1940s and 1950s Flemish comic strips.
* SinisterSchnoz: Balthazar and Timothea Triangl.
* {{Sizeshifter}}: Balthazar's head and neck change size in ''De Pili-Pili Pillen'' due to the side effects of various pills.
* {{Slapstick}}: Merho is a huge fan of Creator/LaurelAndHardy, so slapstick elements are often included.
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Certain albums have a feel good atmosphere, others are more dark and cynical.
* SmugSnake: Leon and Carmella Van Der Neffe.
* SpecialGuest: For his album "Doorgestoken Kaart" Merho sought advice about magician's tricks from Belgian magician Gil Ricardo. As a way to thank him he gave him a cameo role in the album.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Mr. Osnoprodavonoblikavitch in the album Hotel O who's never been able to remember his own surname. He shortens it to the letter "o", despite other people miraculously remembering it without any mistakes.
* SuicideAsComedy: Kiekeboe jumps off a bridge in ''Afgelast wegens ziekte'' because he thinks he'll die in three days and wants to end it all quicker. His attempt fails when a van carrying sand passes by.
* SymbolSwearing
* {{Tarzan}}: Van Der Neffe briefly dresses like him and swings on the lamp post in ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte''.
* ThatDidntHappen: The story of ''Haaiman'' turns out to be an idea for a script that Kiekeboe ultimately refuses to act out.
* TimeTravel: Kiekeboe travels to the future in ''De Wereld Volgens Kiekeboe''.
* TooDumbToLive: Balthazar, probably the most useless villain ever.
* TreasureHunt: In the album ''De Schat van Mata Hari''.
* UnderwaterBase: Plot element in ''De duivelse driehoek'' en ''De Medusastichting''.
* UnexpectedInheritance: ''Het Mysterie van Spell-De-Prik''.
* VagueAge: Most characters don't have a specific age. Fanny was once said to be 16 years old, but since she drives a car she most be at least 18 years old according to Belgian law.
* VampireFiction: Vampires are frequently reappearing characters in the series.
* VaporWear: It has been stated in some instances, and implied in others (with ShirtlessScene and SexySoakedShirt) that Fanny doesn't often wear a bra.
* VictoriasSecretCompartment: In ''Het edelweissmotief'' Fanny [[spoiler:hides Hitler's valuable handkerchief in her bra, so nobody can find it.]]
* VillainousCrossDresser: Timotheus Triangl underwent a sex change in ''Zeg Het Met Bloemen'' and since then he is a woman.
* WorldOfPun: In almost all the issues, at least one of the one-time characters, the companies or even the title itself is a pun.
* TheYellowMShoutOut: In the album "Afgelast Wegens Ziekte" Kiekeboe and his son visit a store where they can buy backgrounds from famous comic strips. At a certain point they stand in front of the wall of "The Yellow "M"" and even take the same pose as ''ComicBook/BlakeAndMortimer'' on the album cover. Kiekeboe even says: "If you ask me many people stood here before us."
** The album cover of "Het Boerka Complot" spoofs the cover again, this time with Kiekeboe and Van De Kasseien standing tied against a wall.
* YouJustRuinedTheShot: Fanny interrupts a bank robbery in ''Fanny Girl'' only to discover that it was actually the shooting of a film scene.
----
to:
[[caption-width-right:170:The Kiekeboe family]]
''De Kiekeboes'' is the most successful Flemish comic strip since ''Comicbook/SuskeEnWiske''. Though ''Suske en Wiske'' has more success and thus larger sales globally, ''De Kiekeboes'' are far more popular in Flanders today. Author Merho started his career as a protégé of Suske en Wiske author Willy Vandersteen, but since 1977 he started his own comic strip: ''Kiekeboe'' (since 2010 renamed as ''De Kiekeboes'').
At first sight ''De Kiekeboes'' is your typical Flemish family strip in the tradition of ''Suske en Wiske, ComicBook/{{Jommeke}}'' and ''ComicStrip/{{Nero}}''. All stories center around the family Kiekeboe: father Marcel, mother Charlotte, teenage daughter Fanny and school boy Konstantinopel. However, the series have a more realistic every day life setting avoiding many of the typical comic book strip clichés: no WorldsStrongestMan, no AbsentMindedProfessor, no TalkingAnimal and fantasy elements are kept to a minimum. We do know that ghosts exist (''Spoken in Huis''), vampires (''Het Witte Bloed'', ''De Kus van Mona'', ''De Babyvampier''...), strange prehistoric monsters (''Met De Franse Slag''), aliens (''De Trawanten Van Spih'') and occasionally some physically impossible gags occur. But most of the time everything is set in a realistic atmosphere. Fanny and Konstantinopel are not ConvenientlyAnOrphan or adopted, but Marcel and Charlotte's real children. The early albums are still a bit naïve and childish like a traditional comic strip, but gradually the series started GrowingTheBeard and became DarkerAndEdgier. Many of the early one-dimensional characters became more complex. Story lines touched more adult and often risqué subject matter like prostitution, drugs, transsexuality, religious cults, racism, homosexuality, ... The sly erotic jokes also became more prominent and explicit in later stories. Today ''De Kiekeboes'' is mostly an adult strip, though it still manages to keep its stories amusing and interesting for children as well.
The main characters are:
* '''Marcel Kiekeboe''': The big moustached father. A joyful, enthusiastic but naïve man who is often manipulated by others like his mother, Moemoe, and his boss, Van De Kasseien. He has a tendency of taking impulsive decisions that sometimes cause major problems.
* '''Charlotte Kiekeboe''': The mother of the family. Originally a very bland flat character, her personality became more assertive and self-assured over the years.
* '''Fanny Kiekeboe''': The teenage daughter who doesn't go to school anymore, but works various jobs. She is self-assured, headstrong, socially engaged and brave. Many plots have scenes where she walks around in erotic or semi-nude poses. She has also had a lot of boyfriends.
* '''Konstantinopel Kiekeboe''': The young son, who is smart well beyond his years.
* '''Moemoe''': Kiekeboe's mother. She is a meddlesome, opportunistic, headstrong and pushy woman who often claims Kiekeboe and the rest of the family don't do enough for her. Often she will defend a certain opinion militantly, only to claim the exact opposite later in the story, despite all the effort other characters did for her. She is also very elitarian and interested whenever Fanny dates a doctor or a lawyer.
* '''Mevrouw Stokvis''': Moemoe's best friend, although their friendship borders to rivalry. She is an invisible character and never seen by the readers.
* '''Nonkel Vital''' Marcel Kiekeboe's uncle and Moemoe's brother-in-law. He is a happy-go-lucky and meddlesome character who often bickers with Moemoe about family matters.
* '''Leon Van Der Neffe''': Kiekeboe's neighbour who works as a military. He is an unsympathetic, snobistic, egocentric, prejudiced, xenophobic and racist man, originally married to a woman with the same opinions. He and his wife, Carmella, have two children: a boy, Joeksel, and a girl, Froefroe, who are actually more intelligent and sympathetic. They often play with Konstantinopel. At a certain point in the series he divorced and since then his one-note character got more depth and even sympathetic aspects.
* '''Fernand Goegebuer''': Another neighbour of Kiekeboe. Generally sympathetic, optimistic and helpful but often obtrusive, naïve and nosy. He has a tendency to spit while he talks.
* '''Firmin Van De Kasseien''': Kiekeboe's boss. A vain, arrogant, corrupt and adulterous man who frequently uses Kiekeboe to do legal and illegal things for him. He never thanks Kiekeboe for all the trouble he goes through to help him. Van De Kasseien also regularly cheats on his wife, Chichi, and tries to seduce anything in a skirt. This often brings him in a lot of trouble.
* '''Inspecteur Sapperdeboere''': A police inspector who enjoys eating more than solving crimes.
* '''Alanis''': Fanny's girlfriend.
* '''Balthazar''': One of the series' villains. He is a naïve, childish, clumsy and dumb man who is generally too stupid to be a real threat to the Kiekeboes. Most of the time he is more obnoxious and irritating to the other criminals who work together with him.
* '''Timotheus Triangl''': A ''Film/JamesBond'' type villain who wants to take over the world. Originally he was a little man, but later he underwent a sex change and since then he is a woman.
* '''Dédé la Canaille''': A dangerous French criminal who wants to kill Kiekeboe for putting him behind bars.
* '''Alain Provist''' The boss of an employment agency, frequently consulted by Charlotte.
* '''Meneer Kreuvett''' A restaurant critic.
* '''Bibi Pralin Gaga''' An African dictator and parody of UsefulNotes/IdiAmin. His accomplice is Amoko, an African wizard whose head is always hidden behind a mask.
* '''Moïse Mombakka''': An African foreign exchange student who dated Fanny for one album and later became president of Boeloe Boeloe after the deposition of Bibi Pralin Gaga.
* '''De Dikke Dame''' A fat nameless woman who makes one cameo appearance in each album as a RunningGag.
* '''Jens''': Fanny's longtime boyfriend for ten albums. Since then they broke up.
* '''Elodie Melody''': A dumb female pop singer
* '''Tomboy''' A black female prostitute who keeps her work a secret. Fanny is the only one who knows about it.
One of ''De Kiekeboes'' most notorious trademarks are the puns and word play jokes, usually hidden in album titles, background gags, throwaway jokes and characters' names.
----
!!This trope provides examples of:
* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: "De duivelse driehoek", "De zwarte zonnekoning", "Kies Kiekeboe", "De pili-pili pillen", "De fez van Fes", "Een koud kunstje", "Vrolijke, vrolijke vrienden".
* UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler:
** Dictator Sstoeffer in ''Het Plan Sstoeffer'' is a clear parody.
** His handkerchief is auctioned in ''Het Edelweissmotief''.
* AlienAbduction: Happens to Joeksel, Froefroe and Konstantinopel in ''De Trawanten van Spih''.
* AllForNothing: Kiekeboe tries to get a cake which has a ring hidden inside in the album ''De Taart''. When he finally retrieves the cake after many shenanigans it turns out he left the ring at his local baker's place.
* AllHailTheGreatGodMickey: In ''De Wereld Volgens Kiekeboe'' the entire future civilization has based their society according to the only surviving artefacts of our century: the nearly complete collection of ''Kiekeboes'' albums.
* AlternateEnding: An alternative ending to the story ''De Zaak Luc Raak'' is provided in ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte''.
* AmbiguouslyGay: Jujuul the flamboyant gay vampire.
* ArmedFarces: The album ''Geeeeef Acht'' is a collection of various jokes about the military.
* ArtEvolution: The early albums look a bit different compared to later albums.
* ArtShift:
** In ''Album 26'' Fanny wants her boyfriend to be drawn as {{Tarzan}}. Creator Merho refuses to do so, because it would be an art shift! In the same story ComicBook/LuckyLuke accidentally passes by after a cloudy fog darkens the sky.
** Near the end of ''De Snor van Kiekeboe'' in which Kiekeboe was elected to be "Moustache of the Year" by the Antwerp Moustache Club- which really had happened in 1984- several moustached characters from other comic strips gather to protest because they weren't elected at all. In the color version of the album we recognize [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Thompson and Thomson]], [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]], [[ComicBook/SpirouAndFantasio the Count of Champignac]] and [[ComicBook/LuckyLuke the Daltons]]
** In ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'' Kiekeboe's funeral is held. Comic strip characters from other series appear to show their condolences, including [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Tintin, Captain Haddock]], [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]], ComicBook/LuckyLuke and ComicBook/BouleEtBill. Fanny even notices some American comic strip characters have arrived, among who we can recognize Franchise/{{Batman}}, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck, ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}, [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Charlie Brown and Snoopy.]]
** A special comic strip in which Fanny interviews characters from other comic strips, ''Bij Fanny Op Schoot'' has her talking to [[ComicStrip/{{Nero}} Nero]], Cordelia, [[ComicBook/{{Natacha}} Natacha]], ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske, Cowboy Henk, [[ComicBook/{{Agent 327}} IJzerbroot and Olga Lawina]], ComicBook/DeRodeRidder, Series/FCDeKampioenen and ComicBook/{{Urbanus}}, among others.
* AssholeVictim: The pedophile bisshop [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed Hoegeiligman]] in ''Schijnheilig Bloed''. He's already in hiding from the public, is going mad, gets turned into a vampire and finally [[spoiler: walks into broad daylight and bursts into flames]].
* {{Atlantis}}: In ''De Bermuda Driehoek'' the cast visits TheBermudaTriangle, where they discover an underwater city complex, ruled by a villain named Timotheus Triangl. The location is called ''Attalantis'', in an obvious pun on Atlantis.
* BadassMustache: Marcel Kiekeboe's moustache. The real life Moustache Club of Antwerp even called him the ''Moustache Of The Year'' in 1984! Merho then drew a story about it: ''De Snor van Kiekeboe''.
* BadBoss: Firmin Van De Kasseien is Kiekeboe's boss and a vain, promiscuous, adulterous, corrupt one at that.
* BankruptcyBarrel: Shown in ''De Fez van Fes''.
* TheBermudaTriangle: In ''De Bermuda Driehoek'' the cast visits TheBermudaTriangle.
* BerserkButton: In the album ''Jeanne Darm'' Nick Nack, head of the fresh drink company ''Kameel'' goes berserk whenever someone mentions the name of the rival company "Dromedaris".
* BewareTheNiceOnes: In ''De Wraak van Dédé'' Fanny's boyfriend Kris Kras turns out to be a henchman for Dédé La Canaille, Kiekeboe's sworn enemy.
* BigBad: Timotheus Triangl, who is a ''Film/JamesBond'' type villain. Kiekeboe's sworn enemy is however Dédé La Canaille, a French convict.
* BigEater: Inspecteur Sapperdeboere.
* BilingualBonus: In a lot of stories foreign characters will speak mixing Dutch words with typical expressions of their own language.
** Subverted in ''Met De Franse Slag'' where Kiekeboe translates Dutch expressions and sayings literally in French, as a joke only people who speak French will get.
* BondVillain: Timotheus Triangl, before his sex change, was a parody of Ernst Blofeld.
* BootCampEpisode: In ''Geeeeeef Acht'' Kiekeboe is sent to the army due to an bureaucratic mistake.
* BoundAndGagged: Happens to Fanny very frequently.
* BreakOutCharacter: Fanny, who eventually put Marcel Kiekeboe, the actual protagonist, in the shadow. In the foreign translations she is also the protagonist instead of him.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: The characters are well aware they are comic strip characters and frequently address the audience. Merho even took this to more experimental levels in the albums ''Album 26'', ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'', ''De Simstones'', ''Het Geslacht Kinkel''...
* TheBermudaTriangle: Plot element in ''De Bermuda Driehoek''.
* {{Bulungi}}: The country Boeloe Boeloe in many albums.
* ButtMonkey: Balthazar. But Van De Kasseien also treats Merho as his butt monkey as well.
* CharacterDevelopment and CharacterizationMarchesOn:
** Charlotte, Kiekeboe's wife, was originally a very bland and passive housewife. In the album ''Het Lot van Charlotte'' she got so fed up with slaving for her husband and children that she and Kiekeboe briefly separated. They eventually came back together, but since then Charlotte become more assertive and free-thinking. She also regularly goes out part time working.
** Leon Van Der Neffe, Kiekeboe's neighbour, was originally nothing more than a unsympathetic, vain, snobbish and racist man. Later in the series he and his wife divorced, changing his character to a more pitiful loser trying to find a new wife.
* CharlieChaplinShoutOut:
** In ''Kies Kiekeboe'' a clip from ''Film/ADogsLife'' is shown on TV. Konstantinopel seats himself next to his dog and says: "I like a Chaplin movie more [than watching a political advertisement]."
** In ''Een Dagje Dédé'' while Balthazar talks to the prison warden a photo of Chaplin in prison outfit can be seen on the wall. This is a reference to the Chaplin short ''Film/TheAdventurer'' (1917).
* ChildrenAreInnocent: Averted. Konstantinopel, Joeksel and Froefroe are at most early teens, but know a suspiciously lot about sexual topics. Yet, apart from that, they are very nice and clever children.
* ClingyJealousGirl: Fanny, usually.
* CluelessChickMagnet: All women fall in love with Kiekeboe when he accidentally gets some aphrodisiac potion spilled over his body in ''De Onweerstaanbare Man''.
* ComicBookAdaptation: The album ''Grof Wild'' is a comic book adaptation of the eponymous literary story by Belgian crime author PieterAspe. Merho got permission of the author to adapt the plot into a Kiekeboes story.
* ComicBookTime: The characters don't age (... much. Fanny was stated to be 16 years old in ''Album 26'' but drives a car in later issues, which in Belgium is only possible at 18+), except for one short story in the album ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'', where all his characters age 20 years into the future.
* CoolOldLady: Moemoe, who is very energetic and inventive for someone her age.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Firmin Van De Kasseien.
* CrapsackWorld: "De Kiekeboes" shows a more grimful, yet recognizable version of our modern day society compared to other more traditional comic strips.
* CreatorCameo: Merho did this in ''Album 26''.
* CrossOver: De Kiekeboes had a crossover with the comic strip Urbanus in the album "Kiekebanus", where the creators of each comic drew the story together.
* CulturalTranslation: Despite best efforts the comic never caught on in other countries, except the Netherlands where it is a cult success.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Tomboy the prostitute only shares her secrets with Fanny.
* DarkerAndEdgier: The later, more definitive ''De Kiekeboes'' albums are far more adult and risqué than the first twentysomething albums.
* DefectorFromCommieLand: In ''De één zijn dood'' a recognizable spoof of a Cold War Eastern European country is shown.
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything?: Used regularly.
* DontExplainTheJoke:
** Some of the early albums did this regularly.
** Merho jokes with this aspect in ''De Wereld Volgens Kiekeboe'' where a character is named ''Verstockt''. Konstantinopel then asks: "Zou het kunnen dat die Verstockt vrijgezel is?" ("Could it be that that Verstockt is single?") He then explains that it is a reference to the phrase "een verstokte vrijgezel" ("a lifelong single"), but sheepishly adds: "Of course, when you have to explain a joke it's not very funny anymore."
* DoubleEntendre: Used a lot
* DreamingOfThingsToCome: In ''Met De Franse Slag'' Fanny hears a chilling animal roar in a dream. Later in the story she hears the same scream in real life.
* DreamSequence: Used in ''Met De Franse Slag'', among other albums.
* DrillSergeantNasty: Leon Van Der Neffe, who is a corporal.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The early albums are more traditional comic book stories with cute fantasy creatures (''De Wollebollen'') and less inspired stories and puns. The characters don't have much depth to them, everything is aimed at children and there's none of the more daring subject matter that can be found in later stories. To make matters worse many plot elements and jokes are told by MrExposition narrative devices. Even Merho sees many of these old stories as an OldShame.
* EscapedAnimalRampage: In ''Het Stokvis Incident'' (''The Case Stokvis'') Fanny saves a chimpanzee from a medical laboratory and keeps at her house. The animal then escapes from her room and goes to the neighbours where he climbs inside the bathroom and helps the unknowing woman of the house with scrubbing her back.
* EscapeFromTheCrazyPlace: The real UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte is sent to a mental institution in ''Een koud kunstje'' for thinking he is Napoleon. He eventually escapes.
* ExecutiveMeddling: Spoofed in ''Album 26'' and ''The Simstones'' where Merho is told to update his comic strip.[[invoked]]
* Expy: Timotheus Triangl is basically [[Film/JamesBond Ernst Stavro Blofeld]], but crazier.
* EyesAlwaysShut: Firmin Van De Kasseien's eyes are usually closed, to show his arrogance.
* TheFaceless: The face of a villain character in ''De Doedelzak van Mac Reel'' remains obscured or hidden from the audience until the very last page.
* FakingTheDead: Pop artist Romeo Alfa fakes his own death in ''Black Out''.
* {{Fanservice}}: Fanny's erotic poses
* FemmeFatale: Fanny, to most men.
* FeudingFamilies: Between the Kiekeboes and the Van Der Neffes.
* FictionalCountry: Boeloe Boeloe, Burlandia, Eunuchië, Paranoia, Papagaya, Itsi Pitsi, El Tondzon...
* FountainOfYouth: In ''Kiele Kiele Boe'' Kiekeboe is changed into a baby overnight.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Just keep your eyes open when reading an album.
* FunWithAcronyms: And Merho has a lot of fun with that!
* FutureImperfect: In the album ''De Wereld Volgens Kiekeboe (translation: "The World According To Kiekeboe")'' Kiekeboe travels to the far future, when mankind has destroyed most of its civilization during a world war. They rebuilt everything afterwards and discovered the entire collection of Kiekeboes albums (except for the one they are currently appearing in). They enjoyed the books so much that they built their entire civilization according to the universe in Kiekeboe's stories. Naturally they do get a lot of things about our century wrong, because the albums are the only artefacts they can base their knowledge on.
* GagNose: Marcel Kiekeboe's nose is big and bulbous. Balthazar also has a huge nose.
* GameShowAppearance: Plot element in ''Hoe Meer Kijkers''.
* GangOfCritters: De Wollebollen in ''De Wollebollen''.
* GenderBender: Happens to Inspecteur Sapperdeboere in ''Over Koetjes En Kalfjes'' due to a huge ammount of female hormones in his food.
* TheGeneralissimo: South American dictators regularly fulfill an important part of the plot (''Het Plan Sstoeffer'', ''Zeg Het Met Bloemen'', ''De Roze Rolls''...)
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: In the early years Merho still had to keep everything clean and decent, but occasionally he snuck in some erotic scenes and jokes. Throughout the years the series' popularity grew and thus the stories became more suggestive, risqué and sometimes even controversial.
* TheGhost: The ghosts of two medieval robbers are shown in ''Spoken In Huis''.
* GoodGriefAnotherPeanutsShoutOut:
** The plastic surgeon in ''Album 26'' is such a comic strip fanatic that he molds the heads of his patients into those of comic book characters, one of them being Snoopy.
** Charlie Brown and Snoopy are among the characters from rival series to appear at Kiekeboe's funeral in ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte''.
* GratuitousIambicPentameter: Merho enjoys puns and word play.
* HammerAndSickleRemovedForYourProtection: The communist country in ''De Eén Zijn Dood''.
* HappyEnd: Sometimes subverted.
* HarmlessFreezing: In ''Een Koud Kunstje'' it turns out that Napoleon Bonaparte was originally frozen to unthaw him several years later.
* HomeBase: The Kiekeboes' home in the Merholaan 1.
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Tomboy
* HotBlooded: Leon and Carmella Van Der Neffe
* HurricaneOfAphorisms: Usually by characters who mix two different sayings and proverbs up with each other.
* HurricaneOfEuphemisms
* HurricaneOfPuns: It's a trademark of the series.
* HypnoticEyes:
** Konstaninopel is temporarily hypnotized in ''De Onthoofde Sfinx''.
** Kiekeboe too in ''Black-Out''.
* HypocriticalHumour: Many characters strongly defend a certain opinion, only to do the exact opposite later.
* IAteWhat? In ''Een zakje chips'' Kiekeboe accidentally eats a bag of crisps full with computer chips. (In Dutch the word "chips" is used both for crisps and computer chips.)
* IdeaBulb: In ''Album 26'' the characters walk around in a darkened room, until Fanny gets the idea to use the idea bulb to lighten the room.
* JawsAttackParody: In the story "Haaiman" a shark attacks a couple on a private boat. One of them even says: "It resembles a movie."
* KarmaHoudini: A few villains managed to get away with their deeds, and were never seen again.
* KilledOffForReal: Occasionely characters die in this comic strip.
* KingKongClimb In the album ''Bing Bong'' a little gorilla mutates to enormous size and kidnaps teenage daughter Fanny, climbing on top of a church.
* KnifeThrowingAct: Depicted in ''Doorgestoken Kaart''.
* LanternJawOfJustice: Subverted with Firmin Van De Kasseien, Nero's corrupt boss, who has a brawny chin, expressing his arrogance.
* LastNameBasis: Marcel Kiekeboe (the father) is usually called "Kiekeboe" by the others, despite his first name "Marcel" be used some times as well.
* LimitedWardrobe: For years the characters mostly wore the same outfits, but recent albums show them wearing different types of clothing to go along with the times.
* LongNeck: In ''De Pili-Pili Pillen'' Balthasar's neck grows to enormous lengths.
* LostForever:
** In ''De Zaak Luc Raak'' the only existing copy of a Creator/LaurelAndHardy film in color goes up in flames.
** In ''Het Stokvis-incident'' a virus that causes people to age is lost in a plane crash.
* MacGuffin: In ''Het Stokvis-Incident'' it turns out that the entire case has nothing to do with Mevrouw Stokvis at all. The villain just named his project after her, without any particular reason.
* TheMafia: Characters in ''De Hoofdzaak'' and ''Witter dan wit''.
* MagicRealism: Despite a mostly believable realistic setting: ghosts exist (''Spoken in Huis''), vampires (''Het Witte Bloed'', ''De Kus van Mona'', ''De Babyvampier''...), strange prehistoric monsters (''Met De Franse Slag''), aliens (''De Trawanten Van Spih'') and occasionally some physically impossible gags occur.
* MarilynManeuver: Fanny does this classic MarilynMonroe pose in ''De Medusa-Stichting''.
* MassHypnosis: In ''De Dorpstiran van Boeloe Boeloe'' the people Boeloe Boeloe are brainwashed into loving the president by being forced to eat a certain type of mind bending soup used as a MindControlDevice
* MasterOfUnlocking: Balthazar shows he's able to open an "easily locked door" in ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'' just by pointing at it.
* MeaningfulName: Since almost every character has a PunnyName there are also many hidden meanings in their names.
* MeaningfulRename:
** Timotheus Triangl was renamed Timothea Triangl in ''Zeg Het Met Bloemen'', because he had undergone a sex change.
** The series itself was named ''Kiekeboe'' until 2010, when it was renamed into ''De Kiekeboes'', because creator Merho felt that the series was more about the family Kiekeboe than Marcel Kiekeboe alone.
* MonaLisaSmile: One of the ancestors of Jeanne Darm in the story "Jeanne Darm" is painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the Mona Lisa pose.
* TheMovie: Adapted to the big screen twice, but in both cases it wasn't a big success.
* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous:
** Bibi Pralin Gaga is named after Ugandan dictator UsefulNotes/IdiAmin Dada.
** Alanis is named after Music/AlanisMorissette.
** Elody Melody is named after Flemish former teen pop star Sylvie Melody.
* TheNapoleon: Timothea Triangl is a dwarf who plots for world domination. He underwent a sex change at one point because he would be able to walk on high heels ''and look taller'' and be able to use the ladies' toilets, instead of being unable to reach for the urinoirs in the men's room.
* NapoleonDelusion: Subverted in the album "Een koud kunstje", where the real UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte is brought to a mental institution for believing he is Napoleon.
* NeverMessWithGranny: Moemoe always gets what she wants.
* NewJobAsThePlotDemands: Fanny, who doesn't go to school anymore, but does work various plot relevant jobs from now to then.
* NighthawksShot: Fanny and Inspecteur Sapperdeboere sat in this restaurant in the album ''Blond en BlauW''.
* NobodyPoops: Subverted in ''Album 26'', where Kiekeboe goes to the toilet in the middle of the story: "Just because other comic book heroes never do this doesn't mean I have to do the same."
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Subverted.
** Bibi Pralin Gaga, a thinly disguised caricature of UsefulNotes/IdiAmin is portrayed as a dumb tyrant who is deposed and thwarted time and time again.
** The pedophile bishop Hoegeiligman in ''Schijnheilig Bloed'' is a caricature of real life Flemish bisshop Roger Vangheluwe who admitted having abused several young children in the past, yet could not be arrested because the facts were dated. He gets turned into a vampire and finally [[spoiler: walks into broad daylight and bursts into flames]].
* NoNameGiven: One character, ''De Dikke Dame" ("The Fat Lady")'' makes a HitchcockCameo in every album, but nothing is known about her, not even her name.
* NosyNeighbor: Fernand Goegebuer, who often walks in during an inappropriate moment or whose talkativeness causes a lot of trouble.
* NotAllowedToGrowUp: Konstantinopel
* ObstructiveBureaucrat: Spoofed in ''Geeeeef Acht'' when Fanny and Konstantinopel visit a government agency and desperately try to get a stamp on a document to get their father out of the military again.
* OverlyLongName: Mr. Osnoprodavonoblikavitch in the album ''Hotel O'' who's never been able to remember his own surname. He shortens it to the letter "o", despite other people miraculously remembering it without any mistakes.
* {{Pastiche}}: In the album ''Vrouwen Komen Van Mars'', typical Flemish comic strip series of the 1940s and 1950s are stylistically parodied.
* PaintedTunnelRealTrain: Just the painted tunnel part. In ''Het Witte Bloed'' Kiekeboe escapes from prison by drawing a large circle on the wall and simply walk through it, something he saw in a movie by MackSennett. In ''Prettige Feestdagen'' he tries the trick again, but fails.
* ParentalBonus: This is a comic strip that adults can enjoy on different levels.
* PeopleJars: Comic book characters are put in jars in the album ''Kiekebanus''.
* PieInTheFace: A national tradition in the country Itsi Pitsi in the album ''De Zoete Regen''.
* PintSizedKid: Konstantinopel, Joeksel & Froefroe. Their age isn't exactly stated, but it's clear from their general knowledge (reading, writing, computer use, etc ) that they go to the later years of primary school (9 - 12 years old). They still only come up to their parents' waist.
* PlotRelevantAgeUp: In ''Het Stokvis-Incident'' a serum is discovered that can make people grow to old age.
* PoirotSpeak: All foreign characters mix Dutch with loan words from their own language.
* PoliceAreUseless: Inspector Sapperdeboere, who usually spents more time eating than actually solving crimes.
* PrintLongRunners: Since 1977.
* ProductPlacement: Merho drew one album ''Avontuur in Sun Parks'' where the Kiekeboes have an adventure in the amusement park "Sun Parks".
* PsychoShowerMurderParody: In ''Het Plan Sstoeffer'' Fanny takes a shower and thinks: "If I'm quick, I'll be able to catch "Psycho" by Hitchcock on TV". While she is showering she is attacked by a spy, but she notices him just in time and knocks him out.
* PulpMagazine: The magazine ''Top Roddel''.
* PunnyName: It's a trademark of the series! Almost every characters has some kind of pun hidden in his or her name.
* PuppetPermutation: Subverted. De Kiekeboes and villain Balthazar were originally based on puppets in Merho's brother Walter's puppet show. Merho decided to use them as his main cast.
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Merho is frequently inspired by real life newspaper articles or events, RippedFromTheHeadlines.
** Dictator Bibi Pralin Gaga was inspired by UsefulNotes/IdiAmin.
** President Bod in ''Heil Bod'' is a spoof of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
** The thief El Bousidi in ''De Fez van Fes'' was inspired by a real thief with that name who stole Merho and his wife's luggage during a trip to Morocco.
** Merho sometimes added inside jokes in his stories, usually about his friends and colleagues.
* ReallyGetsAround: Fanny has had a lot of boyfriends over the years.
** Van De Kasseien commits adultery with many of his secretaries, though he sometimes gets his comeuppance.
** Tomboy would also count, since she is a prostitute.
* RealPersonCameo: National and international celebrities also regularly have small cameos in the stories, including UsefulNotes/IdiAmin, Creator/LouisDeFunes, Creator/{{Fernandel}}, Creator/LaurelAndHardy, Creator/WoodyAllen, Creator/JohnCleese, Creator/{{Herge}}, Creator/ReneGoscinny, Creator/JeanGabin, Creator/{{Bourvil}}, VictorBorge, UsefulNotes/{{Khomeini}}, the cast of Series/LittleBritain, Creator/JacquesTati, Music/MichaelJackson, Music/GraceJones and many Belgian and Dutch celebrities.
* RecurringExtra: A fat nameless woman in a red shirt is seen in every album.
* ReligionOfEvil: Found in ''De Haar-Tisten'', ''Het Boerka-Complot'' and ''De getatoeëerde mossel''.
* RunningGag:
** Fernand Goegebuer spits whenever he talks.
** Mevrouw Stokvis is always mentioned, but never seen.
** A fat anonymous lady called ''De Dikke Dame'' always makes a cameo in each album.
** Inspecteur Sapperdeboere will always start eating instead of solving a case
** Van De Kasseien frequently cheats on his wife.
* SelfDeprecation: unlikely coincidences within a plot will often be lampshaded by someone remarking that even the crappiest writer wouldn't dare write something like that.
* SexyDiscretionShot: Used often in the early albums, until it gradually became more explicit.
* SexySecretary: Mr. Van De Kasseien has a lot of them... for obvious reasons.
* ShamelessFanserviceGirl: Fanny is often put in erotic and (semi) nude situations.
* SheWhoMustNotBeSeen: Mevrouw Stokvis, the best friend of Moemoe is always mentioned, but never seen by the audience.
* ShouldnTWeBeInSchoolRightNow?: Konstantinopel is seldom seen at school, though it is often mentioned. Compared to other comic book heroes we DO occasionally see him at school, for instance ''Kiekeboeket'' and ''De Hoed van Robin''.
* ShoutOut: Little winks to popular films, books, other comics or TV series are occasionally provided.
** ComicBook/LuckyLuke accidentally passes by in ''Album 26''.
** Moustached characters from rivaling series protest against Kiekeboe winning the ''Moustache Of The Year Award'', among them [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Thompson and Thomson]], [[ComicBook/LuckyLuke The Daltons]], [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]] and [[ComicBook/SpirouAndFantasio The Count]].
** A plastic surgeon in ''Album 26'' gives his patients the head of his favorite comic book characters: [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Snoopy]], WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse and ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}.
** In ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'' Kiekeboe's funeral is attended by ''characters from rivaling series'', such as Franchise/{{Batman}}, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck, [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Tintin and Captain Haddock]], ComicBook/BouleEtBill, ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}, [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]] and ComicBook/LuckyLuke.
** In ''De Hoofdzaak'' there's a scene where a maffiosi uses ''night vision'' goggles in the Catacombs of Parlermo to shoot the protagonists, in reference to ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs''. An extra hint is the corpse of Hannibal Lecter hanging nearby.
** In ''Album 26'' Kiekeboe goes to the ''Creator/{{Herge}} Institute'' to find a stuntman for his comic strip.
** Kiekeboe and Konstantinopel try to buy backgrounds from other comic strips in ''"Afgelast Wegens Ziekte"''. One man buys the set of [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Moulinsart (Marlinspike Hall)]] and says: "A bargain. This one isn't used anymore anyway."
** A man named ''Herr Gé'' and who looks a lot like Creator/{{Herge}} too appears in ''De Aqua-Rel''.
** The album cover of ''Geen Rook'' has Alanis smiling and telling the viewer to remain silent, in reference to the album cover of ''The Castafiore Emerald''.
** In album ''Villa Delfia'' a master plagiarist thinks up a new idea for comic strip series with '' a boy, a girl, an aunt, an arrogant baldhead and a strong man (...) [[ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske we could be on to something!]]''
** Konstantinopel reads a ''Suske en Wiske'' story in ''De anonieme smulpapen'', to which Fanny replies: ''It would be better if you read one of our own stories.''
** A special comic strip in which Fanny interviews characters from other comic strips, ''Bij Fanny Op Schoot'' has her talking to ''ComicStrip/{{Nero}}'', Cordelia, ''ComicBook/{{Natacha}}'', ''Suske en Wiske'', Cowboy Henk, [[ComicBook/{{Agent 327}} IJzerbroot and Olga Lawina]], ''ComicBook/DeRodeRidder'', ''Series/FCDeKampioenen'' and ''ComicBook/{{Urbanus}}'', among others.
* ShowWithinAShow: In ''Vrouwen Komen Van Mars'' de Kiekeboes go inside a comic book that Kiekeboe enjoyed reading as a kid. The style is DeliberatelyMonochrome and a parody of the 1940s and 1950s Flemish comic strips.
* SinisterSchnoz: Balthazar and Timothea Triangl.
* {{Sizeshifter}}: Balthazar's head and neck change size in ''De Pili-Pili Pillen'' due to the side effects of various pills.
* {{Slapstick}}: Merho is a huge fan of Creator/LaurelAndHardy, so slapstick elements are often included.
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Certain albums have a feel good atmosphere, others are more dark and cynical.
* SmugSnake: Leon and Carmella Van Der Neffe.
* SpecialGuest: For his album "Doorgestoken Kaart" Merho sought advice about magician's tricks from Belgian magician Gil Ricardo. As a way to thank him he gave him a cameo role in the album.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Mr. Osnoprodavonoblikavitch in the album Hotel O who's never been able to remember his own surname. He shortens it to the letter "o", despite other people miraculously remembering it without any mistakes.
* SuicideAsComedy: Kiekeboe jumps off a bridge in ''Afgelast wegens ziekte'' because he thinks he'll die in three days and wants to end it all quicker. His attempt fails when a van carrying sand passes by.
* SymbolSwearing
* {{Tarzan}}: Van Der Neffe briefly dresses like him and swings on the lamp post in ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte''.
* ThatDidntHappen: The story of ''Haaiman'' turns out to be an idea for a script that Kiekeboe ultimately refuses to act out.
* TimeTravel: Kiekeboe travels to the future in ''De Wereld Volgens Kiekeboe''.
* TooDumbToLive: Balthazar, probably the most useless villain ever.
* TreasureHunt: In the album ''De Schat van Mata Hari''.
* UnderwaterBase: Plot element in ''De duivelse driehoek'' en ''De Medusastichting''.
* UnexpectedInheritance: ''Het Mysterie van Spell-De-Prik''.
* VagueAge: Most characters don't have a specific age. Fanny was once said to be 16 years old, but since she drives a car she most be at least 18 years old according to Belgian law.
* VampireFiction: Vampires are frequently reappearing characters in the series.
* VaporWear: It has been stated in some instances, and implied in others (with ShirtlessScene and SexySoakedShirt) that Fanny doesn't often wear a bra.
* VictoriasSecretCompartment: In ''Het edelweissmotief'' Fanny [[spoiler:hides Hitler's valuable handkerchief in her bra, so nobody can find it.]]
* VillainousCrossDresser: Timotheus Triangl underwent a sex change in ''Zeg Het Met Bloemen'' and since then he is a woman.
* WorldOfPun: In almost all the issues, at least one of the one-time characters, the companies or even the title itself is a pun.
* TheYellowMShoutOut: In the album "Afgelast Wegens Ziekte" Kiekeboe and his son visit a store where they can buy backgrounds from famous comic strips. At a certain point they stand in front of the wall of "The Yellow "M"" and even take the same pose as ''ComicBook/BlakeAndMortimer'' on the album cover. Kiekeboe even says: "If you ask me many people stood here before us."
** The album cover of "Het Boerka Complot" spoofs the cover again, this time with Kiekeboe and Van De Kasseien standing tied against a wall.
* YouJustRuinedTheShot: Fanny interrupts a bank robbery in ''Fanny Girl'' only to discover that it was actually the shooting of a film scene.
----
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 54 (click to see context) from:
** A special comic strip in which Fanny interviews characters from other comic strips, ''Bij Fanny Op Schoot'' has her talking to [[ComicStrip/{{Nero}} Nero]], Cordelia, [[ComicBook/{{Natacha}} Natacha]], ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske, Cowboy Henk, [[ComicBook/{{Agent 327}} IJzerbroot and Olga Lawina]], ComicBook/DeRodeRidder, Series/FCDeKampioenen and ComicStrip/{{Urbanus}}, among others.
to:
** A special comic strip in which Fanny interviews characters from other comic strips, ''Bij Fanny Op Schoot'' has her talking to [[ComicStrip/{{Nero}} Nero]], Cordelia, [[ComicBook/{{Natacha}} Natacha]], ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske, Cowboy Henk, [[ComicBook/{{Agent 327}} IJzerbroot and Olga Lawina]], ComicBook/DeRodeRidder, Series/FCDeKampioenen and ComicStrip/{{Urbanus}}, ComicBook/{{Urbanus}}, among others.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Moved to the Trivia tab.
Deleted line(s) 255 (click to see context) :
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: When you read all the albums chronologically you get a real sense of different decades passing by: TheSeventies, TheEighties, TheNineties, TheNoughties...
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 6,7 (click to see context) from:
At first sight ''De Kiekeboes'' is your typical Flemish family strip in the tradition of ''Suske en Wiske, ComicStrip/{{Jommeke}}'' and ''ComicStrip/{{Nero}}''. All stories center around the family Kiekeboe: father Marcel, mother Charlotte, teenage daughter Fanny and school boy Konstantinopel. However, the series have a more realistic every day life setting avoiding many of the typical comic book strip clichés: no WorldsStrongestMan, no AbsentMindedProfessor, no TalkingAnimal and fantasy elements are kept to a minimum. We do know that ghosts exist (''Spoken in Huis''), vampires (''Het Witte Bloed'', ''De Kus van Mona'', ''De Babyvampier''...), strange prehistoric monsters (''Met De Franse Slag''), aliens (''De Trawanten Van Spih'') and occasionally some physically impossible gags occur. But most of the time everything is set in a realistic atmosphere. Fanny and Konstantinopel are not ConvenientlyAnOrphan or adopted, but Marcel and Charlotte's real children. The early albums are still a bit naïve and childish like a traditional comic strip, but gradually the series started GrowingTheBeard and became DarkerAndEdgier. Many of the early one-dimensional characters became more complex. Story lines touched more adult and often risqué subject matter like prostitution, drugs, transsexuality, religious cults, racism, homosexuality, ... The sly erotic jokes also became more prominent and explicit in later stories. Today ''De Kiekeboes'' is mostly an adult strip, though it still manages to keep its stories amusing and interesting for children as well.
to:
At first sight ''De Kiekeboes'' is your typical Flemish family strip in the tradition of ''Suske en Wiske, ComicStrip/{{Jommeke}}'' ComicBook/{{Jommeke}}'' and ''ComicStrip/{{Nero}}''. All stories center around the family Kiekeboe: father Marcel, mother Charlotte, teenage daughter Fanny and school boy Konstantinopel. However, the series have a more realistic every day life setting avoiding many of the typical comic book strip clichés: no WorldsStrongestMan, no AbsentMindedProfessor, no TalkingAnimal and fantasy elements are kept to a minimum. We do know that ghosts exist (''Spoken in Huis''), vampires (''Het Witte Bloed'', ''De Kus van Mona'', ''De Babyvampier''...), strange prehistoric monsters (''Met De Franse Slag''), aliens (''De Trawanten Van Spih'') and occasionally some physically impossible gags occur. But most of the time everything is set in a realistic atmosphere. Fanny and Konstantinopel are not ConvenientlyAnOrphan or adopted, but Marcel and Charlotte's real children. The early albums are still a bit naïve and childish like a traditional comic strip, but gradually the series started GrowingTheBeard and became DarkerAndEdgier. Many of the early one-dimensional characters became more complex. Story lines touched more adult and often risqué subject matter like prostitution, drugs, transsexuality, religious cults, racism, homosexuality, ... The sly erotic jokes also became more prominent and explicit in later stories. Today ''De Kiekeboes'' is mostly an adult strip, though it still manages to keep its stories amusing and interesting for children as well.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* NewJobAsThePlotDemands: Fanny, who doesn't go to school anymore, but does work various plot relevant jobs from now to then.
Deleted line(s) 260 (click to see context) :
* WhyDoYouKeepChangingJobs? Fanny, who doesn't go to school anymore, but does work various plot relevant jobs from now to then.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 11 (click to see context) from:
* '''Charlotte Kiekeboe''': The mother of the family. Originally a very bland flat character her personality became more assertive and self-assured over the years.
to:
* '''Charlotte Kiekeboe''': The mother of the family. Originally a very bland flat character character, her personality became more assertive and self-assured over the years.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Removing extra paragraph space
Deleted line(s) 105 (click to see context) :
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 104 (click to see context) from:
* EscapeFromTheCrazyPlace: The real NapoleonBonaparte is sent to a mental institution in ''Een koud kunstje'' for thinking he is Napoleon. He eventually escapes.
to:
* EscapedAnimalRampage: In ''Het Stokvis Incident'' (''The Case Stokvis'') Fanny saves a chimpanzee from a medical laboratory and keeps at her house. The animal then escapes from her room and goes to the neighbours where he climbs inside the bathroom and helps the unknowing woman of the house with scrubbing her back.
* EscapeFromTheCrazyPlace: The realNapoleonBonaparte UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte is sent to a mental institution in ''Een koud kunstje'' for thinking he is Napoleon. He eventually escapes.
* EscapeFromTheCrazyPlace: The real
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** In album ''Villa Delfia'' a master plagiarist thinks up a new idea for comic strip series with '' a boy, a girl, an aunt, an arrogant baldhead and a strong man (...) [[ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske we could be on to something!]]''
** Konstantinopel reads a ''Suske en Wiske'' story in ''De anonieme smulpapen'', to which Fanny replies: ''It would be better if you read one of our own stories.''
** A special comic strip in which Fanny interviews characters from other comic strips, ''Bij Fanny Op Schoot'' has her talking to ''ComicStrip/{{Nero}}'', Cordelia, ''ComicBook/{{Natacha}}'', ''Suske en Wiske'', Cowboy Henk, [[ComicBook/{{Agent 327}} IJzerbroot and Olga Lawina]], ''ComicBook/DeRodeRidder'', ''Series/FCDeKampioenen'' and ''ComicBook/{{Urbanus}}'', among others.
** Konstantinopel reads a ''Suske en Wiske'' story in ''De anonieme smulpapen'', to which Fanny replies: ''It would be better if you read one of our own stories.''
** A special comic strip in which Fanny interviews characters from other comic strips, ''Bij Fanny Op Schoot'' has her talking to ''ComicStrip/{{Nero}}'', Cordelia, ''ComicBook/{{Natacha}}'', ''Suske en Wiske'', Cowboy Henk, [[ComicBook/{{Agent 327}} IJzerbroot and Olga Lawina]], ''ComicBook/DeRodeRidder'', ''Series/FCDeKampioenen'' and ''ComicBook/{{Urbanus}}'', among others.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 224,225 (click to see context) from:
** ComicStrip/LuckyLuke accidentally passes by in ''Album 26''.
** Moustached characters from rivaling series protest against Kiekeboe winning the ''Moustache Of The Year Award'', among them [[ComicStrip/{{Tintin}} Thompson and Thomson]], [[ComicStrip/{{Lucky Luke}} The Daltons]], [[Comicstrip/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]] and [[ComicBook/SpirouAndFantasio The Count]].
** Moustached characters from rivaling series protest against Kiekeboe winning the ''Moustache Of The Year Award'', among them [[ComicStrip/{{Tintin}} Thompson and Thomson]], [[ComicStrip/{{Lucky Luke}} The Daltons]], [[Comicstrip/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]] and [[ComicBook/SpirouAndFantasio The Count]].
to:
** ComicStrip/LuckyLuke ComicBook/LuckyLuke accidentally passes by in ''Album 26''.
** Moustached characters from rivaling series protest against Kiekeboe winning the ''Moustache Of The Year Award'', among them[[ComicStrip/{{Tintin}} [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Thompson and Thomson]], [[ComicStrip/{{Lucky Luke}} [[ComicBook/LuckyLuke The Daltons]], [[Comicstrip/{{Asterix}} [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]] and [[ComicBook/SpirouAndFantasio The Count]].
** Moustached characters from rivaling series protest against Kiekeboe winning the ''Moustache Of The Year Award'', among them
Changed line(s) 227 (click to see context) from:
** In ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'' Kiekeboe's funeral is attended by ''characters from rivaling series'', such as ComicStrip/{{Batman}}, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck, [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Tintin and Captain Haddock]],ComicStrip/BouleEtBill, ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}, [[Comicstrip/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]] and ComicBook/LuckyLuke.
to:
** In ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'' Kiekeboe's funeral is attended by ''characters from rivaling series'', such as ComicStrip/{{Batman}}, Franchise/{{Batman}}, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck, [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Tintin and Captain Haddock]],ComicStrip/BouleEtBill, Haddock]], ComicBook/BouleEtBill, ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}, [[Comicstrip/{{Asterix}} [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]] and ComicBook/LuckyLuke.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 51,54 (click to see context) from:
** In ''Album 26'' Fanny wants her boyfriend to be drawn as {{Tarzan}}. Creator Merho refuses to do so, because it would be an art shift! In the same story ComicStrip/LuckyLuke accidentally passes by after a cloudy fog darkens the sky.
** Near the end of ''De Snor van Kiekeboe'' in which Kiekeboe was elected to be "Moustache of the Year" by the Antwerp Moustache Club- which really had happened in 1984- several moustached characters from other comic strips gather to protest because they weren't elected at all. In the color version of the album we recognize [[ComicStrip/{{Tintin}} Thompson and Thomson]], [[ComicStrip/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]], [[ComicStrip/SpirouAndFantasio the Count of Champignac]] and [[ComicStrip/LuckyLuke the Daltons]]
** In ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'' Kiekeboe's funeral is held. Comic strip characters from other series appear to show their condolences, including [[ComicStrip/{{Tintin}} Tintin, Captain Haddock]], [[ComicStrip/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]], ComicStrip/LuckyLuke and ComicStrip/BouleEtBill. Fanny even notices some American comic strip characters have arrived, among who we can recognize ComicStrip/{{Batman}}, ComicStrip/DonaldDuck, ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}, [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Charlie Brown and Snoopy.]]
** A special comic strip in which Fanny interviews characters from other comic strips, ''Bij Fanny Op Schoot'' has her talking to [[ComicStrip/{{Nero}} Nero]], Cordelia, [[ComicBook/{{Natacha}} Natacha]], ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske, Cowboy Henk, [[ComicBook/{{Agent 327}} IJzerbroot and Olga Lawina]], ComicStrip/DeRodeRidder, Series/FCDeKampioenen and ComicStrip/{{Urbanus}}, among others.
** Near the end of ''De Snor van Kiekeboe'' in which Kiekeboe was elected to be "Moustache of the Year" by the Antwerp Moustache Club- which really had happened in 1984- several moustached characters from other comic strips gather to protest because they weren't elected at all. In the color version of the album we recognize [[ComicStrip/{{Tintin}} Thompson and Thomson]], [[ComicStrip/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]], [[ComicStrip/SpirouAndFantasio the Count of Champignac]] and [[ComicStrip/LuckyLuke the Daltons]]
** In ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'' Kiekeboe's funeral is held. Comic strip characters from other series appear to show their condolences, including [[ComicStrip/{{Tintin}} Tintin, Captain Haddock]], [[ComicStrip/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]], ComicStrip/LuckyLuke and ComicStrip/BouleEtBill. Fanny even notices some American comic strip characters have arrived, among who we can recognize ComicStrip/{{Batman}}, ComicStrip/DonaldDuck, ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}, [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Charlie Brown and Snoopy.]]
** A special comic strip in which Fanny interviews characters from other comic strips, ''Bij Fanny Op Schoot'' has her talking to [[ComicStrip/{{Nero}} Nero]], Cordelia, [[ComicBook/{{Natacha}} Natacha]], ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske, Cowboy Henk, [[ComicBook/{{Agent 327}} IJzerbroot and Olga Lawina]], ComicStrip/DeRodeRidder, Series/FCDeKampioenen and ComicStrip/{{Urbanus}}, among others.
to:
** In ''Album 26'' Fanny wants her boyfriend to be drawn as {{Tarzan}}. Creator Merho refuses to do so, because it would be an art shift! In the same story ComicStrip/LuckyLuke ComicBook/LuckyLuke accidentally passes by after a cloudy fog darkens the sky.
** Near the end of ''De Snor van Kiekeboe'' in which Kiekeboe was elected to be "Moustache of the Year" by the Antwerp Moustache Club- which really had happened in 1984- several moustached characters from other comic strips gather to protest because they weren't elected at all. In the color version of the album we recognize[[ComicStrip/{{Tintin}} [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Thompson and Thomson]], [[ComicStrip/{{Asterix}} [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]], [[ComicStrip/SpirouAndFantasio [[ComicBook/SpirouAndFantasio the Count of Champignac]] and [[ComicStrip/LuckyLuke [[ComicBook/LuckyLuke the Daltons]]
** In ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'' Kiekeboe's funeral is held. Comic strip characters from other series appear to show their condolences, including[[ComicStrip/{{Tintin}} [[Franchise/{{Tintin}} Tintin, Captain Haddock]], [[ComicStrip/{{Asterix}} [[ComicBook/{{Asterix}} Asterix and Obelix]], ComicStrip/LuckyLuke ComicBook/LuckyLuke and ComicStrip/BouleEtBill. ComicBook/BouleEtBill. Fanny even notices some American comic strip characters have arrived, among who we can recognize ComicStrip/{{Batman}}, ComicStrip/DonaldDuck, Franchise/{{Batman}}, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck, ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}, [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Charlie Brown and Snoopy.]]
** A special comic strip in which Fanny interviews characters from other comic strips, ''Bij Fanny Op Schoot'' has her talking to [[ComicStrip/{{Nero}} Nero]], Cordelia, [[ComicBook/{{Natacha}} Natacha]], ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske, Cowboy Henk, [[ComicBook/{{Agent 327}} IJzerbroot and Olga Lawina]],ComicStrip/DeRodeRidder, ComicBook/DeRodeRidder, Series/FCDeKampioenen and ComicStrip/{{Urbanus}}, among others.
** Near the end of ''De Snor van Kiekeboe'' in which Kiekeboe was elected to be "Moustache of the Year" by the Antwerp Moustache Club- which really had happened in 1984- several moustached characters from other comic strips gather to protest because they weren't elected at all. In the color version of the album we recognize
** In ''Afgelast Wegens Ziekte'' Kiekeboe's funeral is held. Comic strip characters from other series appear to show their condolences, including
** A special comic strip in which Fanny interviews characters from other comic strips, ''Bij Fanny Op Schoot'' has her talking to [[ComicStrip/{{Nero}} Nero]], Cordelia, [[ComicBook/{{Natacha}} Natacha]], ComicBook/SuskeEnWiske, Cowboy Henk, [[ComicBook/{{Agent 327}} IJzerbroot and Olga Lawina]],
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* {{Atlantis}}: In ''De Bermuda Driehoek'' the cast visits TheBermudaTriangle, where they discover an underwater city complex, ruled by a villain named Timotheus Triangl. The location is called ''Attalantis'', in an obvious pun on Atlantis.
* TheBermudaTriangle: In ''De Bermuda Driehoek'' the cast visits TheBermudaTriangle.
Changed line(s) 62 (click to see context) from:
* BigEater: Inspecteur Sapperdeboere
to:
* BigEater: Inspecteur SapperdeboereSapperdeboere.
Changed line(s) 120 (click to see context) from:
* TheGeneralissimo: South American dictators regularly play an important part of the plot (''Het Plan Sstoeffer'', ''Zeg Het Met Bloemen'', ''De Roze Rolls''...)
to:
* TheGeneralissimo: South American dictators regularly play fulfill an important part of the plot (''Het Plan Sstoeffer'', ''Zeg Het Met Bloemen'', ''De Roze Rolls''...)
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Mr. Osnoprodavonoblikavitch in the album Hotel O who's never been able to remember his own surname. He shortens it to the letter "o", despite other people miraculously remembering it without any mistakes.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* HomeBase: The Kiekeboes' home in the Merholaan 1.
Changed line(s) 166 (click to see context) from:
** Bibi Pralin Gaga is named after Ugandan dictator Idi Amin Dada.
to:
** Bibi Pralin Gaga is named after Ugandan dictator Idi Amin UsefulNotes/IdiAmin Dada.
Changed line(s) 168 (click to see context) from:
** Elody Melody is named after Flemish teen pop star Sylvie Melody.
to:
** Elody Melody is named after Flemish former teen pop star Sylvie Melody.
