Qui est Spirou ? Who is Spirou ? 


FR : A l'occasion du Festival de la Francophonie 2024, le dessinateur Emile Bravo viendra présenter une exposition consacrée à son personnage et son oeuvre majeure, adaptée librement du personnage Spirou.
Ce personnage est confronté à la réalité de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, bien loin de la légéreté de l'univers enfantin d'un récit d'aventures. 


Mais revenons sur l'histoire de ce personnage. 

EN  : On the occasion of the 2024 Francophonie Festival, the cartoonist Emile Bravo will present an exhibition dedicated to his character and his major work, loosely adapted from the character Spirou.
But let's return to the history of this character.


Spirou (écureuil en wallon) est un personnage emblématique de la bande dessinée belge et française. Créé en 1938 par le dessinateur belge Rob-Vel à la demande de l'éditeur Jean Dupuis, Spirou a depuis lors fasciné les lecteurs avec ses aventures palpitantes et son esprit espiègle.

L'origine de Spirou remonte à l'entre-deux-guerres. À cette époque, la bande dessinée était en plein essor en Belgique, et le journal Le Vingtième Siècle cherchait à lancer un nouveau personnage pour sa rubrique jeunesse. C'est ainsi que Rob-Vel, de son vrai nom Robert Velter, a créé Spirou, un jeune garçon au costume rouge vif et à la casquette assortie. Le personnage de Spirou a immédiatement connu un grand succès en Belgique.

Spirou is an emblematic character of Belgian and French comic books. Created in 1938 by the Belgian artist Rob-Vel, Spirou has fascinated readers ever since with his thrilling adventures and mischievous spirit. The origin of Spirou dates back to the interwar period. At that time, comic books were booming in Belgium, and the newspaper Le Vingtième Siècle was looking to launch a new character for its youth section. That's when Rob-Vel, whose real name was Robert Velter, created Spirou, a young boy with a bright red costume and a matching cap. The character of Spirou immediately achieved great success in Belgium.


En 1938, le premier album de Spirou, intitulé "Spirou et l'Héritage", est publié. Rob-Vel a ensuite laissé la place à d'autres artistes pour développer le personnage, notamment Jijé, qui a apporté une nouvelle dimension à Spirou en lui ajoutant son acolyte Fantasio, un personnage excentrique et aventurier.

In 1938, Spirou's first album, titled "Spirou and the Legacy," was published. Rob-Vel then handed over the reins to other artists to develop the character, most notably Jijé, who added a new dimension to Spirou by introducing his sidekick Fantasio, an eccentric and adventurous character.

En 1943, le journal de bande dessinée français Le Journal de Spirou est lancé, et le personnage de Spirou commence à conquérir le marché français. C'est à cette époque que plusieurs autres artistes talentueux ont contribué à l'évolution du personnage, tels que Franquin, qui a donné à Spirou son apparence reconnaissable avec sa veste à boutons dorés, et a introduit des personnages emblématiques comme le Marsupilami et le Comte de Champignac.

In 1943, the French comic book magazine Le Journal de Spirou was launched, and the character of Spirou began to conquer the French market. It was during this time that several other talented artists contributed to the evolution of the character, such as Franquin, who gave Spirou his recognizable appearance with his gold-buttoned jacket and introduced iconic characters like Marsupilami and Count Champignac.

En 1938, le premier album de Spirou, intitulé "Spirou et l'Héritage", est publié. Rob-Vel a ensuite laissé la place à d'autres artistes pour développer le personnage, notamment Jijé, qui a apporté une nouvelle dimension à Spirou en lui ajoutant son acolyte Fantasio, un personnage excentrique et aventurier.

In 1938, Spirou's first album, titled "Spirou and the Legacy," was published. Rob-Vel then handed over the reins to other artists to develop the character, most notably Jijé, who added a new dimension to Spirou by introducing his sidekick Fantasio, an eccentric and adventurous character.

En 1943, le journal de bande dessinée français Le Journal de Spirou est lancé, et le personnage de Spirou commence à conquérir le marché français. C'est à cette époque que plusieurs autres artistes talentueux ont contribué à l'évolution du personnage, tels que Franquin, qui a donné à Spirou son apparence reconnaissable avec sa veste à boutons dorés, et a introduit des personnages emblématiques comme le Marsupilami et le Comte de Champignac.


In 1943, the French comic book magazine Le Journal de Spirou was launched, and the character of Spirou began to conquer the French market. It was during this time that several other talented artists contributed to the evolution of the character, such as Franquin, who gave Spirou his recognizable appearance with his gold-buttoned jacket and introduced iconic characters like Marsupilami and Count Champignac.





Au fil des décennies, Spirou est devenu l'un des héros de bande dessinée les plus populaires en Belgique et en France. Les aventures de Spirou ont été publiées dans de nombreux albums, et le personnage a également été adapté dans des dessins animés, des films et des jeux vidéo. L'attrait de Spirou réside dans son côté aventurier, son humour et sa personnalité attachante. Il incarne les valeurs de l'amitié, du courage et de la justice. Spirou est un personnage intemporel qui continue de captiver les lecteurs de tous âges, et son influence sur la bande dessinée franco-belge reste indéniable. En conclusion, l'origine et le développement du personnage de Spirou en Belgique et en France sont étroitement liés à l'histoire de la bande dessinée. Depuis sa création  jusqu'à ses multiples adaptations, Spirou est devenu un personnage emblématique qui a marqué l'imaginaire collectif des lecteurs et des fans de bande dessinée francophones.

Over the decades, Spirou has become one of the most popular comic book heroes in Belgium and France. Spirou's adventures have been published in numerous albums, and the character has also been adapted into animated series, films, and video games.
The appeal of Spirou lies in his adventurous nature, humor, and endearing personality. He embodies the values of friendship, courage, and justice. Spirou is a timeless character who continues to captivate readers of all ages, and his influence on Franco-Belgian comic books remains undeniable. In conclusion, the origin and development of the character of Spirou in Belgium and France are closely intertwined with the history of comic books. From its creation by Rob-Vel to its various adaptations, Spirou has become an iconic character that has left a lasting impact on the collective imagination of comic book readers and fans.



Une version télévisuelle de Spirou sur les pages Youtube de la maison d'édtions DUPUIS 


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