Avengers in Time: 1966, Belgian Comics: “Suske en Wiske”

Sunday 10 January 2016

1966, Belgian Comics: “Suske en Wiske”

In 1966 a new "Suske en Wiske" (UK: "Bob & Bobette" or "Spike and Suzy", US: "Willy and Wanda") album is published: "Jeromba de Griek" (translation: "Jeromba the Greek"). The series "Suske en Wiske" was created by Willy Vandersteen in 1945.

No 63: "Jeromba de Griek"

- two-coloured

- never published in English

- story and drawings by Willy Vandersteen

- published in French ("Bob et Bobette") as "Jéromba le Grec"

- published in Taiwan ("Dada & Beibei") as "Xilaren ReiHongBa"

- published in German ("Suske und Wiske") as "Jeromba, der Grieche"

- published in Greek in 1985

No 63: "Jeromba de Griek"

The story was pre-published in the newspapers "De Standaard" and "Het Nieuwsblad" from 11 October 1965 until 21 February 1966. The main characters are Suske (Spike), Wiske (Suzy), aunt Sidonia, Lambik (Ambrose), Jerom (Jethro), Kemal, Borus, Stantijn and Lasido. The locations for this story are Istanbul (Basilica Cisterne), Aya Sophia, castle Anadoluhisari. The album was reedited in 1967 as No 72 in the coloured series.

Jerom (Jethro), Wiske (Suzy), Lambik (Ambrose), Suske (Spike) and Professor Barabas

Aunt Sidonia and Lambik (Ambrose)

Jerom (Jethro) and Kemal

Synopsis

Wiske (Suzy) receives from professor Barabas as a birthday present some electronic toys resembling her friends. After some bumbling by Lambik (Ambrose), one of the toys runs outside. Jerom (Jethro) goes out to find the doll. After finding it he meets the Turk Kemal. On the way home he rescues Kemal from a gang of men. In his ship's cabin Kemal asks Jerom to hide a gold scimitar...

Borus

Lasido and aunt Sidonia

Stantijn

Trivia

title based on the film "Zorba the Greek" (1964) with Anthony Quinn.
some of the locations and situations are the same as in "From Russia with Love" (1963) with Sean Connery.
Vietnam War reference (1965 - 1975): Jerom (Jethro), "Tegen crisis van Vietnamblaas.. Kunt gal laten wegnemen!" (translation: "Against the Vietnam bladder crisis.. Let them remove your gal!")
Zwartberg cole mine closure reference (Limburg, Belgium) (1966): "Dat viel nog mee, want wat is er moeilijker dan een Turk met een Griek verzoenen? Thans? Een mijnwerker met een vakbondsleider samen Sirtaki laten dansen!" (translation: "That wasn't too bad, because what is more difficult than reconciling a Turk with a Greek? Now? Let a coalminer dance the Sirtaki with a union leader!")
"De Rode Ridder" (translation: "The Red Knight") reference, another comic series by Vandersteen.