In 1973 Belgian
comics artist Willy Vandersteen creates a new comic "Robert En
Bertrand". Two albums were published in 1973 by the "Standaard
Uitgeverij": "Mysterie op Rozendael" (translation:
"Mystery Rozendael") and "Het opgejaagde weeskind"
(translation: "The hunted orphan").
"Robert En
Bertrand" is set during the 19th century, in Belgium, The
Netherlands and France. Vandersteen was inspired by the main
characters in a 19th-century play written by Benjamin Antier and
Fréderick Lemaitre and the novel by Koen Ravestein (Raf Verhulst)
from 1890.
The main
characters, Robert and Bertrand, are two tramps chased by a
policeman/detective "Number 17" (probably based on Marty
Feldman). Other characters are Moldavian Prince Joeki and protégé
of Robert and Bertrand, and Magistrate Mangin.
No 1 "Mysterie op
Rozendael"
- full-colour
- never published
in English
- story and
drawings by Willy Vandersteen
|
No 1 "Mysterie op Rozendael" ("Mystery Rozendael") |
The story was
pre-published in the newspapers "De Standaard" and "Het
Nieuwsblad". The main characters are Robert, Bertrand, Number
17, Magistrate Mangin, Mrs. Magnin, Liza, Baroness Cammo Milje,
Joekof and Prince Joeki.
|
Bertrand and Robert |
|
Bertrand, Robert and Liza |
|
Baroness Cammo Milje |
Synopsis
Head of the Office
Mangin ask Robert and Bertrand to protect Baroness Cammo Milje at the
Castle Rozendael. In secret the Baroness hides Prince Joeki after he
was driven out of his country by rebels...
|
Magistrate Mangin |
|
Robert and Mrs. Magnin |
|
Number
17 |
|
Prince Joeki |
Cars
- Berliet no 2 (1897)
- 2 unidentified cars
|
Berliet no 2 (1897) |
|
Robert, Bertrand and Joeki in an unidentified car |
|
Joekov in an unidentified car |
No 2 "Het
opgejaagde weeskind"
- full-colour
- never published
in English
- story and
drawings by Willy Vandersteen
|
No 2 "Het opgejaagde weeskind" ("The hunted orphan") |
The story was
pre-published in the newspapers "De Standaard" and "Het
Nieuwsblad". The main characters are Robert, Bertrand, Number
17, Prince Joeki. Baron Van den Keske de Jevoe, Clara Frikrijk, Miss
Lepelaer, Notary Frikrijk and Pieter the painter.
|
Baron Van den Keske de Jevoe and Bertrand |
|
Clara Frikrijk, Joeki and Miss
Lepelaer |
|
Number
17 |
Synopsis
Robert and Bertrand
send Joeki to a boarding school. The school is run by Ms. Lepelaer, a
cousin of the original principal. Joeki is mistreated by Miss
Lepelaer and tries to escape…
|
Clara and her father Notary Frikrijk |
|
Pieter the painter and Clara Frikrijk |
|
Prince Joeki, Robert and Bertrand |
|
Prince Joeki and Clara Frikrijk |
Cars
- 1 unidentified car
|
Bertrand, Prince Joeki and Robert in an unidentified car |