The Art of Storyboarding in CHARLEROI : the most famous comics
Exploring the comic book
Charleroi and its authors
Charleroi has produced several renowned comic book authors. Here are some of them:
-- COMICS --
Gaston Lagaffe: The series "Gaston Lagaffe" primarily takes place in a fictional office setting and does not feature a specific city as its backdrop. However, André Franquin himself was a Belgian artist, and he worked on the "Spirou et Fantasio" series in the studios of the Spirou newspaper in CHARLEROI.
The "Gaston Lagaffe" series showcases the adventures of a lazy and clumsy office employee, Gaston Lagaffe, known for his wacky inventions and mishaps. The series was published in the Spirou newspaper from the 1950s and became extremely popular in Belgium and France.
The Marsupilami: is a comic book character created by André Franquin, one of Belgium's most famous comic book artists. Although the "Marsupilami" series is not specifically set in CHARLEROI, the city of CHARLEROI played a significant role in André Franquin's career.
André Franquin worked in the studios of the Spirou newspaper in CHARLEROI, where he created many comic book characters, including the Marsupilami. The Marsupilami made its first appearance in the "Spirou et Fantasio" series in 1952, in the story titled "La Queue du Marsupilami."
The Marsupilami is an exotic animal with an oversized tail capable of performing various feats with it. The Marsupilami series became very popular in Belgium and France, and the character eventually got its own solo comic book series, as well as an animated series and other adaptations.
Lucky Luke: is a Franco-Belgian comic book series created by the cartoonist Morris (Maurice de Bevere) and writer René Goscinny. Although this Western series has no specific connection to the city of CHARLEROI, Morris, the creator of Lucky Luke, has an indirect connection to CHARLEROI.
Morris was born in Belgium in 1923 and grew up in Courtrai, Belgium. Later, he moved to Brussels and became a renowned comic book artist. He also worked for the Spirou newspaper, which was based in CHARLEROI, although his most famous series, Lucky Luke, was primarily published in the Lucky Luke magazine.
Lucky Luke tells the adventures of a lone cowboy who draws faster than his shadow. The series became iconic for its humorous stories and beautifully drawn illustrations.
Boule et Bill: is a comic book series created by the Belgian artist Jean Roba. The "Boule et Bill" series is known for its family humor and charming illustrations. It was first published in 1959 in the Spirou newspaper, which was based in CHARLEROI.
Charleroi from its Origins to Today: a comic book that traces the history of the city from the 9th century to the present day. The script was entrusted to Philippe Glogowski from CHARLEROI, and the artwork was done by an Argentine artist who loves CHARLEROI. It is a true journey through the centuries that the authors invite us to explore.
-- FESTIVALS --
Poster of the city of Charleroi: represented by the Belgian artist Dany. This poster reflects the cultural heritage and love for comics that have always endured in the CHARLEROI region. Indeed, Jean Dupuis, originally from Marcinelle, founded the famous Spirou magazine in his hometown in 1938. Within the pages of this youth-oriented magazine, true comic book classics were born, such as Spirou et Fantasio, Tif et Tondu, Boule et Bill, Gaston, The Smurfs, Lucky Luke, and many more.
Festival Bulles en Tête of Charleroi: celebrates comic books by bringing together numerous international and local authors for signing sessions and presentations of their works. Visitors have the opportunity to meet artists such as Brie Yannick, De Vuyst Ingrid, Espinosa Michel, and many others throughout the day. In addition to signings, the festival features comic book sales stands, various animations, and discussions on the art of graphic storytelling, thus enriching Charleroi's vibrant cultural scene.