1960, Belgian Comics: Pits En Kaliber - De Rampzalige Bril

In 1960, "De Rampzalige Bril" ("The Disastrous Glasses") was published as the fourth album in the comic strip series "Pits en Kaliber", by the publisher "De Algemene Pers" in Edegem. The series was created by Bob Mau in 1959. Its main characters are the friends Pits and Kaliber, together with Professor Hik and his daughter Loekie.

In the late 1950s, Mau wanted to have "Pits en Kaliber" published in the newspaper "Gazet van Antwerpen", but there was no space for an additional comic strip. By that time, he had grown tired of the series and was already working on a new one, "Kari Lente". In total, five albums were published by "De Algemene Pers" between 1959 and 1961. From 1962 to 1965, six albums were released by "Het Goede Boek", and in 1964 one album was published by "Het Volk".

"De Rampzalige Bril" cover

"De Rampzalige Bril"
- 2 colours, blue / brown
- publisher: De Algemene Pers
- never published in English
- drawings by  Bob Mau
- story by  Bob Mau

The main characters in this album are Pits, Kaliber, Professor Hik, Loekie, Dr. Callipso, Max, Minoe.

Pits

Kaliber

Professor Hik

Synopsis
Professor Hik gives a lecture to the medical society about his latest invention, the hypnosis glasses. Before the lecture, however, the glasses are dropped and end up causing nothing but hiccups. A mysterious Dr Callipso, however, shows a keen interest in the device...

Dr. Callipso

Loekie, Pits and Kaliber

Minoe and Max

Trivia

• A reference to Scoubidou, a material used in knotting and lanyard crafts. It originated in France, where it became a craze in the late 1950s and has remained popular ever since. The name comes from the 1958 song of the same title, sung by the French singer Sacha Distel.
• A reference to the Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida.
• A reference to Ranger Clay Morgan from the American television series "Tales of the Texas Rangers" (1955–1958). The role was played by Harry Lauter.

Reference to Scoubidou

Reference to Gina Lollobrigida

Reference to Ranger Clay Morgan

Cars

• unidentified sports car
• Simca Vedette Chambord
• Citroën 2CV
• Willy’s Jeep

Citroën 2CV

Simca Vedette Chambord

Willy’s Jeep

unidentified sports car