Henri Gillain
Encyclopedia
Henri Gillain was a Belgian
teacher and comics enthusiast who on several occasions wrote scripts for Franco-Belgian comics
publications in the segment known as Bande Dessinée. He was also the brother of Joseph Gillain, famous by the pseudonym Jijé
.
.
In the late 40s he turned contributor when he submitted a script to André Franquin
, his brother's protegé, in the shape of a thick notebook which contained the ideas that would result in the Spirou
serialised story, Il y a un sorcier à Champignac
, and serve as a platform for the entire series Spirou et Fantasio
. Upon publication in 1950, Henri Gillain took the pseudonym Jean Darc, a play on the name Jean d'Arc (Joan of Arc
).
In 1952, Henri Gillain submitted another script to Will
, another young artist nurtured by his brother, a scenario for Tif et Tondu
, Le Trésor d'Alaric, and would on this occasion use the pseudonym Luc Bermar. During this time he was also an anonymous contributor to his brother's story Nègre Blanc.
Footnotes
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
teacher and comics enthusiast who on several occasions wrote scripts for Franco-Belgian comics
Franco-Belgian comics
Franco-Belgian comics are comics that are created in Belgium and France. These countries have a long tradition in comics and comic books, where they are known as BDs, an abbreviation of bande dessinée in French and stripverhalen in Dutch...
publications in the segment known as Bande Dessinée. He was also the brother of Joseph Gillain, famous by the pseudonym Jijé
Jijé
Jijé was a Belgian comics artist, best known for being a seminal artist on the Spirou et Fantasio strip and the creator of one of the first major European western strips, Jerry Spring.-Biography:Born Joseph Gillain in Gedinne, Namur, he completed various art studies Jijé (13 January 1914 – 20...
.
Contributions
Although committed to his career as a math teacher, Henri Gillain followed with interest the early developments of comic strips in Belgium, and the artistic evolution of his brother, eventually considered by many the second pioneer of Belgian comicsBelgian comics
Belgian comics are a distinct subgroup in the comics history, and played a major role in the development of European comics, alongside France with whom they share a long common history...
.
In the late 40s he turned contributor when he submitted a script to André Franquin
André Franquin
André Franquin was an influential Belgian comics artist, whose best known comic strip creations are Gaston and Marsupilami, created while he worked on the Spirou et Fantasio comic strip from 1947 to 1969, during a period seen by many as the series' golden age.-Franquin's beginnings:Franquin was...
, his brother's protegé, in the shape of a thick notebook which contained the ideas that would result in the Spirou
Spirou (magazine)
Spirou magazine is a weekly Belgian comics magazine published by the Dupuis company...
serialised story, Il y a un sorcier à Champignac
Il y a un sorcier à Champignac
Il y a un sorcier à Champignac by Franquin, is the second album of the Spirou et Fantasio series, and the first to tell a long intricate story in what would become the Spirou tradition, in contrast to the previous short format stories...
, and serve as a platform for the entire series Spirou et Fantasio
Spirou et Fantasio
Spirou et Fantasio is one of the most popular classic Franco-Belgian comic strips. The series, which has been running since 1938, shares many characteristics with other European humorous adventure comics like Tintin and Asterix...
. Upon publication in 1950, Henri Gillain took the pseudonym Jean Darc, a play on the name Jean d'Arc (Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc
Saint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
).
In 1952, Henri Gillain submitted another script to Will
Will (comics)
Willy Maltaite known by the pseudonym Will, was a comics creator and comics artist in the Franco-Belgian tradition...
, another young artist nurtured by his brother, a scenario for Tif et Tondu
Tif et Tondu
Tif et Tondu is a Belgian comic strip originally created, written and drawn by Fernand Dineur. Several artists and writers have worked on the series but the most popular version is that drawn by Will, with writers Maurice Rosy, Maurice Tillieux and Stephen Desberg...
, Le Trésor d'Alaric, and would on this occasion use the pseudonym Luc Bermar. During this time he was also an anonymous contributor to his brother's story Nègre Blanc.
Sources
Footnotes
External links
- Henri Gillain biography on Éditions Dupuis