History Main / BelgianComics

The history of Belgium's comic books industry started way back in 1929, when Hergé (1907-1983) drew the first {{Tintin}} comic strip. During the 1930s he also created other series like QuickEtFlupke (1930) and JoZetteAndJocko (1936). Back then there was no real European comic book culture, despite a few local succesful series. Tintin's popularity not only spawned Belgium's longtime affiliation with comics, but also became the first internationally popular European comic strip, being translated in countless languages across the globe.

* ''{{Tintin}}''

* AndreFranquin

During the 1920s, 1930s and Second World War Hergé published his stories in newspapers. In 1946, after the war, he and Raymond Leblanc founded the comic book magazine "Tintin". It started a direct rivalry with the oldest (and still running) Belgian comic book magazine "Spirou" that started publication in 1938. "Spirou"'s main mascot was Spirou from the comic book series SpirouAndFantasio. Both magazines were very popular and mostly published Belgian and French series that have been nicknamed FrancoBelgianComics. Most of the stories were drawn by French or Walloon (the Frenchspeaking part of Belgium) authors and thus most of the French language Belgian comics were published in either Tintin or Spirou. Tintin had a more serious tone and therefore mostly attracted authors who drew in a realistic style and heavily studied background information before even putting a pencil line on paper. The magazine's main stars were Tintin, BlakeAndMortimer, ComicBook/{{Alix}}, SuskeEnWiske, ChickBill, ComicBook/{{Thorgal}}, {{Cubitus}}, {{LeonardLeGenie}}, Chlorophyl,... Spirou had a more comedic tone and thus attracted authors who drew in a less realistic style and whose stories relied more on humour than well documented plot. Their stars were SpirouAndFantasio, TheSmurfs, TifEtTondu, LuckyLuke, BuckDanny, GastonLagaffe, ComicBook/{{Marsupilami}}, BouleEtBill, BenoitBrisefer, JohanAndPeewit, LesFemmesEnBlanc, ComicBook/{{Natacha}}, YokoTsuno, PierreTombal,... In the 1970s the Tintin magazine gradually became less popular and after Hergés death in 1983 it quickly went bankrupt in 1991. "Spirou" still remains popular, but the Dutch version "Robbedoes" ceased all publication in 2005.

* ''ComicBook/{{Marsupilami}}''

* ''TheGreatPowerofChninkel'' (''Le Grand Pouvoir du Chninkel'')

* ''KidPaddle''

In Flanders (the Dutch speaking part of Belgium) some comics were published in the 1930s, but most of them were more traditional stories without text balloons, but with small texts in captions below each drawing. The real father of the Flemish comic strip was Willy Vandersteen (1913-1990) who started publishing his first comics and cartoons around 1938. During the 1940s he started producing many series, until finally strucking gold with SuskeEnWiske. The popularity of this humorous family comic strip soon spread to the rest of Belgium and even the Netherlands. Over the years Vandersteen produced many new series, including DeRodeRidder and Bessy, to name just a few. He founded a studio where many co-workers helped him running new episodes of all these series for decades. Vandersteen's success was the trigger for other succesful Flemish comic series, such as {{Nero}} (1947-2002), PietPienterEnBertBibber (1950-1995) and {{Jommeke}} (1955- ...). Since the 1970s only two new comic book series remain succesful to this date, one being ComicStrip/DeKiekeboes (1977...) the other {{Urbanus}} (1982-...), based on the popular Flemish comedian Urbanus. Compared to their Walloon counterparts Flemish comics were mostly mainly published in newspapers instead of magazines. Therefore Flemish comic authors had to whip out two new comic strip panels every day, while the Walloon comic authors published one entire page each week.

During the 1920s, 1930s and Second World War Hergé published his stories in newspapers. In 1946, after the war, he and Raymond Leblanc founded the comic book magazine "Tintin". It started a direct rivalry with the oldest (and still running) Belgian comic book magazine "Spirou" that started publication in 1938. "Spirou"'s main mascot was Spirou from the comic book series SpirouAndFantasio. Both magazines were very popular and mostly published Belgian and French series that have been nicknamed FrancoBelgianComics. Most of the stories were drawn by French or Walloon (the Frenchspeaking part of Belgium) authors and thus most of the French language Belgian comics were published in either Tintin or Spirou. Tintin had a more serious tone and thus mostly attracted authors who drew in a realistic style and heavily studied background information before even putting a pencil line on paper. The magazine's main stars were Tintin, BlakeAndMortimer, ComicBook/{{Alix}}, SuskeEnWiske, ChickBill, ComicBook/{{Thorgal}}, {{Cubitus}}, {{LeonardLeGenie}}, Chlorophyl,... Spirou had a more comedic tone and thus attracted authors who drew in a less realistic style and whose stories relied more on humour than well documented plot. Their stars were SpirouAndFantasio, TheSmurfs, TifEtTondu, LuckyLuke, BuckDanny, GastonLagaffe, ComicBook/{{Marsupilami}}, BouleEtBill, BenoitBrisefer, JohanAndPeewit, LesFemmesEnBlanc, ComicBook/{{Natacha}}, YokoTsuno, PierreTombal,... In the 1970s the Tintin magazine gradually became less popular and after Hergés death in 1983 it quickly went bankrupt in 1991. "Spirou" still remains popular, but the Dutch version "Robbedoes" ceased all publication in 2005.

During the 1920s, 1930s and Second World War Hergé published his stories in newspapers. In 1946, after the war, he and Raymond Leblanc founded the comic book magazine "Tintin". It started a direct rivalry with the oldest (and still running) Belgian comic book magazine "Spirou" that started publication in 1938. "Spirou"'s main mascot was Spirou from the comic book series SpirouAndFantasio. Both magazines were very popular and mostly published Belgian and French series that have been nicknamed FrancoBelgianComics. Most of the stories were drawn by French or Walloon (the Frenchspeaking part of Belgium) authors and thus most of the French language Belgian comics were published in either Tintin or Spirou. Tintin had a more serious tone and thus mostly attracted authors who drew in a realistic style and heavily studied background information before even putting a pencil line on paper. The magazine's main stars were Tintin, BlakeAndMortimer, ComicBook/{{Alix}}, SuskeEnWiske, ChickBill, ComicBook/{{Thorgal}}, {{Cubitus}}, {{LeonardLeGenie}}, Chlorophyl,... Spirou had a more comedic tone and thus attracted authors who drew in a less realistic style and whose stories relied more on humour than well documented plot. Their stars were SpirouAndFantasio, TheSmurfs, TifEtTondu, LuckyLuke, BuckDanny, GastonLagaffe, ComicBook/{{Marsupilami}}, BouleEtBill, BenoitBrisefer, JohanAndPeewit, LesFemmesEnBlanc, ComicBook/{{Natacha}}, YokoTsuno, PierreTombal,... In the 1970s the Tintin magazine gradually became less popular and after Hergés death in 1983 it quickly went bankrupt in 1991. "Spirou" still remains popular, but the Dutch publication "Robbedoes" ceased all publication in 2005.

* ''{{XIII}}''

* ''{{Titeuf}}''

* ''BarbeRouge''

During the 1920s, 1930s and Second World War Hergé published his stories in newspapers. In 1946, after the war, he and Raymond Leblanc founded the comic book magazine "Tintin". It started a direct rivalry with the oldest (and still running) Belgian comic book magazine "Spirou" that started publication in 1938. "Spirou"'s main mascot was Spirou from the comic book series SpirouAndFantasio. Both magazines were very popular and mostly published Belgian and French series that have been nicknamed FrancoBelgianComics. Most of the stories were drawn by French or Walloon (the Frenchspeaking part of Belgium) authors and thus most of the French language Belgian comics were published in either Tintin or Spirou. Tintin had a more serious tone and thus mostly attracted authors who drew in a realistic style and heavily studied background information before even putting a pencil line on paper. The magazine's main stars were Tintin, BlakeAndMortimer, {{Alix}}, SuskeEnWiske, ChickBill, ComicBook/{{Thorgal}}, {{Cubitus}}, {{LeonardLeGenie}}, Chlorophyl,... Spirou had a more comedic tone and thus attracted authors who drew in a less realistic style and whose stories relied more on humour than well documented plot. Their stars were SpirouAndFantasio, TheSmurfs, TifEtTondu, LuckyLuke, BuckDanny, GastonLagaffe, ComicBook/{{Marsupilami}}, BouleEtBill, BenoitBrisefer, JohanAndPeewit, LesFemmesEnBlanc, ComicBook/{{Natacha}}, YokoTsuno, PierreTombal,... In the 1970s the Tintin magazine gradually became less popular and after Hergés death in 1983 it quickly went bankrupt in 1991. "Spirou" still remains popular, but the Dutch publication "Robbedoes" ceased all publication in 2005.

* ''{{Alix}}''

* ''AchilleTalon''

During the 1920s, 1930s and Second World War Hergé published his stories in newspapers. In 1946, after the war, he and Raymond Leblanc founded the comic book magazine "Tintin". It started a direct rivalry with the oldest (and still running) Belgian comic book magazine "Spirou" that started publication in 1938. "Spirou"'s main mascot was Spirou from the comic book series SpirouAndFantasio. Both magazines were very popular and mostly published Belgian and French series that have been nicknamed FrancoBelgianComics. Most of the stories were drawn by French or Walloon (the Frenchspeaking part of Belgium) authors and thus most of the French language Belgian comics were published in either Tintin or Spirou. Tintin had a more serious tone and thus mostly attracted authors who drew in a realistic style and heavily studied background information before even putting a pencil line on paper. The magazine's main stars were Tintin, BlakeAndMortimer, {{Alix}}, SuskeEnWiske, ChickBill, {{Thorgal}}, {{Cubitus}}, {{LeonardLeGenie}}, Chlorophyl,... Spirou had a more comedic tone and thus attracted authors who drew in a less realistic style and whose stories relied more on humour than well documented plot. Their stars were SpirouAndFantasio, TheSmurfs, TifEtTondu, LuckyLuke, BuckDanny, GastonLagaffe, ComicBook/{{Marsupilami}}, BouleEtBill, BenoitBrisefer, JohanAndPeewit, LesFemmesEnBlanc, ComicBook/{{Natacha}}, YokoTsuno, PierreTombal,... In the 1970s the Tintin magazine gradually became less popular and after Hergés death in 1983 it quickly went bankrupt in 1991. "Spirou" still remains popular, but the Dutch publication "Robbedoes" ceased all publication in 2005.

* ''{{Thorgal}}''

In Flanders (the Dutch speaking part of Belgium) some comics were published in the 1930s, but most of them were more traditional stories without text balloons, but with small texts in captions below each drawing. The real father of the Flemish comic strip was Willy Vandersteen (1913-1990) who started publishing his first comics and cartoons around 1938. During the 1940s he started producing many series, until finally strucking gold with SuskeEnWiske. The popularity of this humorous family comic strip soon spread to the rest of Belgium and even the Netherlands. Over the years Vandersteen produced many new series, including DeRodeRidder and Bessy, to name just a few. He founded a studio where many co-workers helped him running new episodes of all these series for decades. Vandersteen's success was the trigger for other succesful Flemish comic series, such as {{Nero}} (1947-2002), PietPienterEnBertBibber (1950-1995) and {{Jommeke}} (1955- ...). Since the 1970s only two new comic book series remain succesful to this date, one being DeKiekeboes (1977...) the other {{Urbanus}} (1982-...), based on the popular Flemish comedian Urbanus. Compared to their Walloon counterparts Flemish comics were mostly mainly published in newspapers instead of magazines. Therefore Flemish comic authors had to whip out two new comic strip panels every day, while the Walloon comic authors published one entire page each week.

* ''DeKiekeboes''

During the 1920s, 1930s and Second World War Hergé published his stories in newspapers. In 1946, after the war, he and Raymond Leblanc founded the comic book magazine "Tintin". It started a direct rivalry with the oldest (and still running) Belgian comic book magazine "Spirou" that started publication in 1938. "Spirou"'s main mascot was Spirou from the comic book series SpirouAndFantasio. Both magazines were very popular and mostly published Belgian and French series that have been nicknamed FrancoBelgianComics. Most of the stories were drawn by French or Walloon (the Frenchspeaking part of Belgium) authors and thus most of the French language Belgian comics were published in either Tintin or Spirou. Tintin had a more serious tone and thus mostly attracted authors who drew in a realistic style and heavily studied background information before even putting a pencil line on paper. The magazine's main stars were Tintin, BlakeAndMortimer, {{Alix}}, SuskeEnWiske, ChickBill, {{Thorgal}}, {{Cubitus}}, {{LeonardLeGenie}}, Chlorophyl,... Spirou had a more comedic tone and thus attracted authors who drew in a less realistic style and whose stories relied more on humour than well documented plot. Their stars were SpirouAndFantasio, TheSmurfs, TifEtTondu, LuckyLuke, BuckDanny, GastonLagaffe, {{Marsupilami}}, BouleEtBill, BenoitBrisefer, JohanAndPeewit, LesFemmesEnBlanc, ComicBook/{{Natacha}}, YokoTsuno, PierreTombal,... In the 1970s the Tintin magazine gradually became less popular and after Hergés death in 1983 it quickly went bankrupt in 1991. "Spirou" still remains popular, but the Dutch publication "Robbedoes" ceased all publication in 2005.

* ''{{Marsupilami}}''

!!French-Belgian comic book series:

During the 1920s, 1930s and Second World War Hergé published his stories in newspapers. In 1946, after the war, he and Raymond Leblanc founded the comic book magazine "Tintin". It started a direct rivalry with the oldest (and still running) Belgian comic book magazine "Spirou" that started publication in 1938. "Spirou"'s main mascot was Spirou from the comic book series SpirouAndFantasio. Both magazines were very popular and mostly published Belgian and French series that have been nicknamed FrancoBelgianComics. Most of the stories were drawn by French or Walloon (the Frenchspeaking part of Belgium) authors and thus most of the French language Belgian comics were published in either Tintin or Spirou. Tintin had a more serious tone and thus mostly attracted authors who drew in a realistic style and heavily studied background information before even putting a pencil line on paper. The magazine's main stars were Tintin, BlakeAndMortimer, {{Alix}}, SuskeEnWiske, ChickBill, {{Thorgal}}, {{Cubitus}}, {{LeonardLeGenie}}, Chlorophyl,... Spirou had a more comedic tone and thus attracted authors who drew in a less realistic style and whose stories relied more on humour than well documented plot. Their stars were SpirouAndFantasio, TheSmurfs, TifEtTondu, LuckyLuke, BuckDanny, GastonLagaffe, {{Marsupilami}}, BouleEtBill, BenoitBrisefer, JohanAndPeewit, LesFemmesEnBlanc, {{Natacha}}, YokoTsuno, PierreTombal,... In the 1970s the Tintin magazine gradually became less popular and after Hergés death in 1983 it quickly went bankrupt in 1991. "Spirou" still remains popular, but the Dutch publication "Robbedoes" ceased all publication in 2005.

In Flanders (the Dutch speaking part of Belgium) some comics were published in the 1930s, but most of them were more traditional stories without text balloons, but with small texts in captions below each drawing. The real father of the Flemish comic strip was Willy Vandersteen (1913-1990) who started publishing his first comics and cartoons around 1938. During the 1940s he started producing many series, until finally strucking gold with SuskeAndWiske. The popularity of this humorous family comic strip soon spread to the rest of Belgium and even the Netherlands. Over the years Vandersteen produced many new series, including DeRodeRidder and Bessy, to name just a few. He founded a studio where many co-workers helped him running new episodes of all these series for decades. Vandersteen's success was the trigger for other succesful Flemish comic series, such as Nero (1947-2002), PietPienterEnBertBibber (1950-1995) and Jommeke (1955- ...). Since the 1970s only two new comic book series remain succesful to this date, one being DeKiekeboes (1977...) the other Urbanus (1982-...), based on the popular Flemish comedian Urbanus. Compared to their Walloon counterparts Flemish comics were mostly mainly published in newspapers instead of magazines. Therefore Flemish comic authors had to whip out two new comic strip panels every day, while the Walloon comic authors published one entire page each week.

During the 1920s, 1930s and Second World War Hergé published his stories in newspapers. In 1946, after the war, he and Raymond Leblanc founded the comic book magazine "Tintin". It started a direct rivalry with the oldest (and still running) Belgian comic book magazine "Spirou" that started publication in 1938. "Spirou"'s main mascot was Spirou from the comic book series SpirouAndFantasio. Both magazines were very popular and mostly published Belgian and French series that have been nicknamed FrancoBelgianComics. Most of the stories were drawn by French or Walloon (the Frenchspeaking part of Belgium) authors and thus most of the French language Belgian comics were published in either Tintin or Spirou. Tintin had a more serious tone and thus mostly attracted authors who drew in a realistic style and heavily studied background information before even putting a pencil line on paper. The magazine's main stars were Tintin, BlakeAndMortimer, {{Alix}}, SuskeEnWiske, ChickBill, {{Thorgal}}, {{Cubitus}}, {{LeonardLeGenie}}, Chlorophyl,... Spirou had a more comedic tone and thus attracted authors who drew in a less realistic style and whose stories relied more on humour than well documented plot. Their stars were SpirouAndFantasio, TheSmurfs, TifEtTondu, LuckyLuke, BuckDanny, GastonLagaffe, {{Marsupilami}}, BouleEtBill, BenoitBrisefer, JohanAndPeewit, LesFemmesEnBlanc, {{Natach}}, YokoTsuno, PierreTombal,... In the 1970s the Tintin magazine gradually became less popular and after Hergés death in 1983 it quickly went bankrupt in 1991. "Spirou" still remains popular, but the Dutch publication "Robbedoes" ceased all publication in 2005.

During the 1920s, 1930s and Second World War Hergé published his stories in newspapers. In 1946, after the war, he and Raymond Leblanc founded the comic book magazine "Tintin". It started a direct rivalry with the oldest (and still running) Belgian comic book magazine "Spirou" that started publication in 1938. "Spirou"'s main mascot was Spirou from the comic book series SpirouAndFantasio. Both magazines were very popular and mostly published Belgian and French series that have been nicknamed FrancoBelgianComics. Most of the stories were drawn by French or Walloon (the Frenchspeaking part of Belgium) authors and thus most of the French language Belgian comics were published in either Tintin or Spirou. Tintin had a more serious tone and thus mostly attracted authors who drew in a realistic style and heavily studied background information before even putting a pencil line on paper. The magazine's main stars were Tintin, BlakeAndMortimer, {{Alix}}, SuskeEnWiske, ChickBill, {{Thorgal}}, {{Cubitus}}, {{LeonardLeGenie}}, Chlorophyl,... Spirou had a more comedic tone and thus attracted authors who drew in a less realistic style and whose stories relied more on humour than well documented plot. Their stars were SpirouAndFantasio, TheSmurfs, TifEtTondu, LuckyLuke, BuckDanny, GastonLagaffe, {{Marsipulami}}, BouleEtBill, BenoitBrisefer, JohanAndPeewit, LesFemmesEnBlanc, {{Natach}}, YokoTsuno, PierreTombal,... In the 1970s the Tintin magazine gradually became less popular and after Hergés death in 1983 it quickly went bankrupt in 1991. "Spirou" still remains popular, but the Dutch publication "Robbedoes" ceased all publication in 2005.

During the 1920s, 1930s and Second World War Hergé published his stories in newspapers. In 1946, after the war, he and Raymond Leblanc founded the comic book magazine "Tintin". It started a direct rivalry with the oldest (and still running) Belgian comic book magazine "Spirou" that started publication in 1938. "Spirou"'s main mascot was Spirou from the comic book series SpirouAndFantasio. Both magazines were very popular and mostly published Belgian and French series that have been nicknamed FrancoBelgianComics. Most of the stories were drawn by French or Walloon (the Frenchspeaking part of Belgium) authors and thus most of the French language Belgian comics were published in either Tintin or Spirou. Tintin had a more serious tone and thus mostly attracted authors who drew in a realistic style and heavily studied background information before even putting a pencil line on paper. The magazine's main stars were Tintin, BlakeAndMortimer, {{Alix}}, SuskeEnWiske, ChickBill, {{Thorgal}}, {{Cubitus}}, {{Léonard}}, Chlorophyl,... Spirou had a more comedic tone and thus attracted authors who drew in a less realistic style and whose stories relied more on humour than well documented plot. Their stars were SpirouAndFantasio, TheSmurfs, TifEtTondu, LuckyLuke, BuckDanny, GastonLagaffe, {{Marsipulami}}, BouleEtBill, BenoitBrisefer, JohanAndPeewit, LesFemmesEnBlanc, {{Natach}}, YokoTsuno, PierreTombal,... In the 1970s the Tintin magazine gradually became less popular and after Hergés death in 1983 it quickly went bankrupt in 1991. "Spirou" still remains popular, but the Dutch publication "Robbedoes" ceased all publication in 2005.

* ''{{Albany and Sturgess}}''

* ''AnselmeLanturlu''

* ''BlackMoonChronicles''

* ''[[LaBrigadeChimerique La Brigade Chimérique]]''

* ''{{De Cape et de Crocs}}''

* ''[[FreaksSqueele Freak's Squeele]]''
* ''{{Garulfo}}''

* ''[[LeGenieDesAlpages Le Génie des alpages]]''

* ''LesInnommables''

* ''JourJ''

* ''{{Lanfeust}}''

* ''[[{{Lou}} Lou!]]''

* ''LesMondesDAldebaran''
* ''MonsieurJean''

* ''ComicBook/LesNaufragesDYthaq''

* ''OuLeRegardNePortePas''
* ''ComicBook/{{Okko}}''

* ''ComicBook/QuaidOrsay''

* ''RequiemChevalierVampire''

* ''LeRoiCyclope''
* ''[[LaQueteDeLOiseauDuTemps Roxanna & The Quest for the Time-Bird]]'' (''La Quête de l'Oiseau du Temps'')

* ''{{Sasmira}}''

* ''{{Sillage}}''
* ''SkyDoll''
* ''{{Soda}}''

* ''[[{{Sillage}} Wake]]'' (Sillage)
* ''UniversalWarOne''

* ''Comicbook/{{Venezia}}''

During the 1920s, 1930s and Second World War Hergé published his stories in newspapers. In 1946, after the war, he and Raymond Leblanc founded the comic book magazine "Tintin". It started a direct rivalry with the oldest (and still running) Belgian comic book magazine "Spirou" that started publication in 1938. "Spirou"'s main mascot was Spirou from the comic book series SpirouEtFantasio. Both magazines were very popular and mostly published Belgian and French series that have been nicknamed FrancoBelgianComics. Most of the stories were drawn by French or Walloon (the Frenchspeaking part of Belgium) authors and thus most of the French language Belgian comics were published in either Tintin or Spirou. Tintin had a more serious tone and thus mostly attracted authors who drew in a realistic style and heavily studied background information before even putting a pencil line on paper. The magazine's main stars were Tintin, BlakeAndMortimer, {{Alix}}, SuskeEnWiske, ChickBill, {{Thorgal}}, {{Cubitus}}, {{Léonard}}, Chlorophyl,... Spirou had a more comedic tone and thus attracted authors who drew in a less realistic style and whose stories relied more on humour than well documented plot. Their stars were SpirouEtFantasio, TheSmurfs, TifEtTondu, LuckyLuke, BuckDanny, GastonLagaffe, {{Marsipulami}}, BouleEtBill, BenoitBrisefer, JohanAndPeewit, LesFemmesEnBlanc, {{Natach}}, YokoTsuno, PierreTombal,... In the 1970s the Tintin magazine gradually became less popular and after Hergés death in 1983 it quickly went bankrupt in 1991. "Spirou" still remains popular, but the Dutch publication "Robbedoes" ceased all publication in 2005.

!!Other things

* While not exactly French nor Belgian, the webcomic ''{{Rogues Of Clwyd-Rhan}}'' is from this area (IIRC, it's Dutch).
* ''MortadeloYFilemon'' is Spanish with Franco-Belgian influences (at least in the earliest years), most notably [[http://lagaffemegate.free.fr/franquin/copiage/comparaison.htm André Franquin]].