1974, Belgian Comics: "De avonturen van Nero en Co", "De Sluikslapers"

In 1974 the new "De avonturen van Nero en Co" ("The adventures of Nero and Co") album, "De Sluikslapers" ("The Stealthy Sleepers") is published by "De Standaard". The comic was pre-published in the Belgian newspapers "De Standaard" and "Het Nieuwsblad" between 5 June 1974 and 13 August 1974. The story was drawn and written by the Belgian cartoonist Marc Sleen (Marcel Neels, 1922-2016). The main characters are Nero, Petoetje, Petatje, Madam Pheip, Madam Nero, Meneer Pheip, Adhemar, Jan Spier, Sultan Sir Hassanal Limbang Sukang Melilas Van den Bollenwinkel aka Spinola, Johannes De Duiker, Zwarte Fons, Danny Van de Pothoek, Scheve Juul aka Juul de Sluiper and Silvio.

"De avonturen van Nero en Co" "De Sluikslapers"

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 end the series.

Nero and Jan Spier

Nero and Adhemar

Madam Nero and Nero

The comic was first published in the newspaper "De Nieuwe Gids" in 1947 as "De avonturen van detective Van Zwam" ("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" ("The adventures of Nero and Co"). In 1965 the series was transfered to the newspaper group "De Standaard/Het Nieuwsblad".

Nero and Scheve Juul aka Juul de Sluiper

Nero and Sultan Sir Hassanal Limbang Sukang Melilas Van den Bollenwinkel aka Spinola

Johannes De Duiker, Adhemar and Nero

Synopsis
On a bench in the park, Nero receives the key and title deed to the castle of Kobbeghem. When he arrives at the castle it seems to be inhabited by several weird characters…

Petoetje, Petatje and Meneer Pheip

Nero and Zwarte Fons

Petoetje and Petatje

Johannes De Duiker, Nero and Sivio

Nero and Madam Pheip

Trivia

• Sultan Sir Hassanal Limbang Sukang Melilas Van den Bollenwinkel aka Spinola is a reference to António de Spínola.
• Danny Van de Pothoek is caricature of Comic critic Danny De Laet.
• Reference to the explosion in a Londonderry supermarket on July 24, 1974.

Reference to António de Spínola and Danny De Laet

Reference to the explosion in a Londonderry supermarket on July 24, 1974

Cars
Unidentified Car probably based on the Peugeot 504.

Probably Peugeot 504