1972, Belgian Comics: "De avonturen van Nero en Co", "Iwan de Verschrikkelijke"

In 1972 the new "De avonturen van Nero en Co" ("The adventures of Nero and Co") album, "Iwan de Verschrikkelijke" ("Ivan the Terrible") was published by "De Standaard". The comic was pre-published in the Belgian newspapers "De Standaard" and "Het Nieuwsblad" between 13 January 1972 and 22 March 1972. The story was drawn and written by the Belgian cartoonist Marc Sleen (Marcel Neels, 1922-2016). The main characters are Nero, Adhemar, Madam Pheip, Madam Nero, Iwan de Verschrikkelijke, Meneer Pheip, Detective Van Zwam, Petoetje, Petatje.

De avonturen van Nero en Co: Iwan de Verschrikkelijke

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.
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, Madam Nero and Madam Pheip

Detective Van Zwam

Synopsis
The world's most powerful elites have decided that Adhemar must be eliminated once and for all. To accomplish this, the Russians unleash their secret weapon: Ivan the Terrible.…

Nero and Meneer Pheip

Adhemar

Petoetje and Petatje

Trivia

• "Iwan de Verschrikkelijke" is a reference to Ivan IV Vasilyevich (1530 – 1584), commonly known as Ivan the Terrible Grand Prince of Moscow and all Russia and the first Tsar and Grand Prince of all Russia.
• Caricatures of the world leaders who want to kill Adhemar: Richard Nixon, Nikita Khrushchev, Mao Zedong and Hirohito.
• The appearance of "Iwan de Verschrikkelijke" is probably based on the American actor Paul Newman.

Caricatures: Richard Nixon, Nikita Khrushchev, Mao Zedong and Hirohito.

Appearance of "Iwan de Verschrikkelijke" probably based on Paul Newman

Cars
Unidentified Car.

Unidentified Car