On January the 4th, 1997, André Franquin has passed away at the age of 73… he was the best French-speaking author of humorous comics. So many people are orphans now, lovers, fanatics, enthusiasts of the style and the personality of the man who created what people improperly called "the school of Marcinelle". Either an example, or an easy source for plagiarists… I'll tell you who they are.
Maybe, you didn't know Franquin. You may know one of his most famous creations, though:
the marsupilami (created in 1952)…
…or Gaston Lagaffe, appeared in 1957(Gaston is a funny, old-fashioned French first name, and « la gaffe » means « the blunder »).
He created a lot of other characters, such as Modeste et Pompon, petit Noël, Bring M. Backalive, and all the important characters of the series Spirou and Fantasio, such as Zorglub, Zantafio, Champignac's world… He didn't create the main characters Spirou and Fantasio though, in opposition to a common opinion among Franquin's readers; but he gave them their fame.
My goal, by creating these pages, is to present to you the works, the career and the personality of this fascinating man, in an illustrated and chronological way. Franquin's death put a lead weigth on the world of European comics. But we won't lament: Franquin's force was a unique humor, a sense of gag which didn't stop improving during 50 years. What a paradox for this incurable pessimist, this joyful desperate person who didn't see anything but laughing to ease a little bit the stupidity and the nastiness of our world.
Summary:
If you have questions on this topic, don't hesitate to mail me.
