Will (comics)
Encyclopedia
Willy Maltaite known by the pseudonym
Will, was a comics creator and comics artist
in the Franco-Belgian
tradition. In the genre known in francophone
countries as bande dessinée, Will is considered one of the Gang of 4 (which also included André Franquin
, Morris
, and Jijé
), and a founding member of the Marcinelle school
.
Over a long association with the comics magazine
Le Journal de Spirou starting in 1947, Will created, illustrated and wrote several series, including Tif et Tondu
(as main artist, taking over from creator Fernand Dineur), and Isabelle
. He wrote scripts for, among others, Spirou et Fantasio
and Benoît Brisefer. During the period of 1958-60, Will also acted as artistic director of Spirous rival publication Tintin
.
Footnotes
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Will, was a comics creator and comics artist
Comics artist
A comics artist is an artist working within the comics medium on comic strips, comic books or graphic novels. The term may refer to any number of artists who contribute to produce a work in the comics form, from those who oversee all aspects of the work to those who contribute only a part.-Comic...
in the Franco-Belgian
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...
tradition. In the genre known in francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
countries as bande dessinée, Will is considered one of the Gang of 4 (which also included 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...
, Morris
Morris (comics)
Maurice De Bevere , better known as Morris, was a Belgian cartoonist and the creator of Lucky Luke. His pen name is an alternate spelling of his first name.-Biography:...
, and 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...
), and a founding member of the Marcinelle school
Marcinelle school
The term "Marcinelle school" refers to a group of Belgian cartoonists formed by Joseph Gillain following World War II...
.
Over a long association with the comics magazine
Franco-Belgian comics magazines
Belgium and France have a long tradition in comics. They have a common history for comics and magazines.In the early years of its history, magazines had a large place on the comics market and were often the only place where comics were published. Most of them were kids-targeted.In the 1970s,...
Le Journal de Spirou starting in 1947, Will created, illustrated and wrote several series, including 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...
(as main artist, taking over from creator Fernand Dineur), and Isabelle
Isabelle (comics)
Isabelle is a Belgian comic series drawn by Will and written by Franquin, Delporte and Macherot.The comic first appeared in Spirou in 1970. Created by a top team of already-famous contributors to the magazine, the series gained a small but fanatical following...
. He wrote scripts for, among others, 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...
and Benoît Brisefer. During the period of 1958-60, Will also acted as artistic director of Spirous rival publication Tintin
Tintin (magazine)
Le journal de Tintin or Kuifje , was a weekly Belgian comics magazine of the second half of the 20th century...
.
Partial bibliography
- Tif et TonduTif et TonduTif 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...
, 39 albums with various collaborators, Dupuis. - IsabelleIsabelle (comics)Isabelle is a Belgian comic series drawn by Will and written by Franquin, Delporte and Macherot.The comic first appeared in Spirou in 1970. Created by a top team of already-famous contributors to the magazine, the series gained a small but fanatical following...
, 12 albums with Yvan DelporteYvan DelporteYvan Delporte was a Belgian comics writer, and was editor-in-chief of Spirou magazine between 1955 and 1968 during a period considered by many the golden age of Franco-Belgian comics...
, André FranquinAndré FranquinAndré 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...
and Raymond MacherotRaymond MacherotRaymond Macherot was a Belgian cartoonist. Although not nearly as famous as fellow Belgian cartoonists such as Hergé or André Franquin, Macherot's work, both as artist and writer, remains highly regarded among critics and collectors.-The Tintin years:Raymond Macherot was born in Verviers, Belgium...
(story), DupuisDupuisÉditions Dupuis S.A. is a Belgian publisher of comic books and magazines.Based in Marcinelle near Charleroi, Dupuis was founded in 1922 by Jean Dupuis, and is mostly famous for its comic albums and magazines. It is originally a French language publisher, but publishes many editions both in French...
, 1972-1995. - L'Île d'outre-monde, NatachaNatacha (comics)Natacha is a Franco-Belgian comics series, created by François Walthéry and Gos. Drawn by Walthéry, its stories have been written by several authors including Gos, Peyo, Maurice Tillieux, Raoul Cauvin and Marc Wasterlain. It was first published in the comics magazine Spirou on February 26, 1970...
n°10 (art), with François WalthéryFrançois WalthéryFrançois Walthéry is a Belgian comics artist, best known for his series featuring an adventurous flight attendant, Natacha.-Biography:...
(art) and Marc Wasterlain (story), Dupuis, 1980. - Contribution to collective Il était une fois les belges (Once Upon a Time There Were the Belgians), Le LombardLe LombardLe Lombard or Lombard Editions is a Belgian comic book publisher established in 1946 when the Tintin magazine was launched. In 1986 the company was acquired by Média-Participations.-Titles:Lombard's more famous series include:*Clifton...
, 1980. - L'ogresse des carpartes, with Yann (story), in Les Histoires merveilleuses des oncles Paul, Vents d'Ouest, 1986.
- Le jardin des désirs (The Garden of Desires), with Stephen DesbergStephen DesbergStephen Desberg is a Belgian writer of comics. In 2010, he was the 10th bestselling author of comics in France, with 412,000 copies of all his comics together sold that year.-Biography:...
(story), Dupuis, coll. « Aire Libre », 1988. - La 27e lettre (The 27th Letter), with Stephen Desberg (story), Dupuis, coll. « Aire Libre », 1990.
- L'appel de l'enfer (Appeal in Hell), with Stephen Desberg, P&T Productions, 1993.
- Isabelle in the collective Brel n°2, Vents d'Ouests, 1997.
- L'arbre des deux printemps (The Tree of the Two Springs), with Rudi Miel (story), Le Lombard, collective «Signé», 2000. Will could not finish the last 4 pages prior to his death.
Sources
- Will publications in Le journal de Spirou, French Tintin and Belgian Tintin BDoubliées
- Will albums Bedetheque
Footnotes
External links
- Will biography on Lambiek Comiclopedia
- Will site on euroBD
- Biography of Will on Éditions Dupuis
- Malaite family official site