Avengers in Time: 1963, Belgian Comics: “Rik Ringers”

Thursday 6 August 2015

1963, Belgian Comics: “Rik Ringers”

In 1963 the first "Rik Ringers" (French: "Ric Hochet") album, "De ontvoering" (Original title: "Traquenard au Havre") is published by Le Lombard. This first album includes the short story “Wie is Kameleon” (“Signé Caméléon”). The series was created by Frenchman Tibet (Gilbert Gascard) (drawings) and Belgian André-Paul Duchâteau (scripts). The first short stories were published in 1955 in the Belgian comics magazine Tintin / Kuifje.

The series features the adventures of Rik Ringers (Ric Hochet), a reporter for the newspaper La Rafale in Paris. He is assisted by Commissioner Baardemakers (Commissaire Bourdon) and his assistant, inspector Kempers (Inspecteur Ledru). Several albums feature Nadine, the niece of Baardemakers and Rik's girlfriend. The series was also published in Germany (Rick Master), Finland (Riku Oksa), Sweden (Alan Falk / Rick Hart) and South India in Tamil (Reporter Johnny).

Cover No 1 "De ontvoering"

No 1 "De ontvoering"

full-colour
never published in English
story by André-Paul Duchâteau and drawings by Tibet (Gilbert Gascard)
Original French title: "Traquenard au Havre"

Synopsis "Wie is Kameleon" ("Signé Caméléon")

Commissioner Baardemakers is the victim of a hit and run accident by a car. When Baardemakers returns home with Rik Ringers they discover that someone broke in and the burglar took a top-secret file from the safe...

Main characters in this story are Rik Ringers (Ric Hochet), Commissioner Baardemakers (Commissaire Bourdon), Inspector Kempers (Inspecteur Ledru) and Inspector Muller (Inspecteur Manière).

Rik Ringers (Ric Hochet) and Commissioner Baardemakers (Commissaire Bourdon)

Commissioner Baardemakers (Commissaire Bourdon) and
Inspector Kempers (Inspecteur Ledru)

Inspector Muller (Inspecteur Manière) and Rik Ringers (Ric Hochet)

Cars

MGA
Citroën ID19
Renault Goélette
Peugeot 203

MGA

Citroën ID 19

MGA and Renault Goélette

Peugeot 203

Synopsis “De ontvoering” ("Traquenard au Havre")

In Le Havre Riks MG is hit by the Corvette of shipowner Paul Deruyter (Paul Chevallier). Deruyters son has been kidnapped. Deruyter doesn't want to alert his depressed wife so he refuses to contact the police...

Main characters in this story are Rik Ringers (Ric Hochet), Commissioner Baardemakers (Commissaire Bourdon), Inspector Kempers (Inspecteur Ledru), Paul Deruyter (Paul Chevallier), his three year old son Frank Deruyter (Marc Chevalier), Trenkman (Doyen) Deruyters partner and brother in law.