Thursday 4 May 2017

1960, Belgian Comics: “De avonturen van Nero en Co”

In 1960 a new "De avonturen van Nero en Co" (Eng.: "The adventures of Nero and Co") album "De draak van Halfzeven" (Eng: "The dragon of half past six") is published by “Het Volk”. The comic was pre-published in the newspaper "Het Volk" between 16 May 1959 and 13 September 1959. The story was drawn and written by the Belgian cartoonist Marc Sleen (Marcel Neels, 1922-2016). The main characters are Nero, Petoetje, Petatje (Pethalia), Tjeef met de Kleppe, Madam Pheip, detective Van Zwam, Jean Pierre Lowie, Madam Nero and Meneer Pheip.
"De draak van Halfzeven" (Eng: "The dragon of half past six")
The series "De avonturen van Nero en Co" ran between 1947 and 2002. Marc Sleen drew and wrote all stories until 1992, that year he hired Dirk Stallaert as a drawing assistant. Sleen holds the world record of issues of a comic book series title drawn by the same author. In 2002 Stallaert was hired by “Studio Vandersteen” and Marc Sleen decided to terminate the series for good.
Madame Pheip and Nero
Meneer Pheip
The comic was first published in the newspaper “De Nieuwe Gids” in 1947 as “De avonturen van detective Van Zwam” (Eng.: “The adventures of detective Van Zwam”). After eight stories Nero real name “Schoonpaard” (in reprints “Heiremans”) became the central character. In 1950 Marc Sleen left "De Nieuwe Gids" and joined the newspaper "Het Volk". At first the comics (3 issues) appeared as "De avonturen van Nero en zijn hoed" ("The Adventures of Nero and his Hat"), from 1951 they were titled as "De avonturen van Nero en Co" (Eng.: "The adventures of Nero and Co").
Nero and Jean Pierre Lowie
Nero and Madam Nero
Synopsis
Nero displays his acting talent to Petoetje en Petatje when suddenly acting coach Jean Pierre Lowie appears...
Nero and Tjeef met de Kleppe
Petatje, Madam Pheip and Petoetje
Trivia
  • Original Flemish catchphrase from this album: “Moet er geen zand zijn?” (Eng.: “Must there be no sand?”) by Tjeef de Kleppe.
  • Reference to Flemish artists Paula Seemer (Belgian presenter (BRT) and actress) and Dora van der Groen (Belgian actress and theatre director) by Jean Pierre Lowie.
  • Reference to Juan Manuel Fangio, an Argentine racing car driver.
Petoetje
Detective Van Zwam
Cars
  • Unidentified sports car driven by van Zwam
  • Unidentified coach with English tourists at Waterloo
  • Peugeot 203 Commercial
  • Unidentified old-timer
Unidentified coach with English tourists at Waterloo
Unidentified old-timer
Unidentified sports car driven by van Zwam and Peugeot 203 Commercial

No comments:

Post a Comment