Zep
Encyclopedia
Zep is the pseudonym
of Philippe Chappuis, a comics creator
from Switzerland
, known for his series Titeuf
, a popular character in French-speaking countries, and Tchô!, the associated comics magazine
.
(a fan of Bob Dylan
, references to his musical tastes are often found in his comics). His career began with gags published in the magazine Spirou
in 1987, and the character Victor which started appearing in 1988.
At first struggling to find publication, the series Titeuf was initially published in the fanzine
Sauve qui peut ("Escape those who can") before it was noticed by Glénat
executive Jean-Claude Camano. Zep joined Glénat in 1992, and first Titeuf book Dieu, le sexe et les bretelles (God, Sex And Suspenders) appeared in 1993 and sold only a few thousand copies, but the following books have gradually won over a huge readership, outselling traditional French favorites such as Astérix
and Lucky Luke
. Today 11 million copies of the series have been sold, and the series is considered the greatest moneymaker in the French comics market. Titeuf books have been translated into 15 languages, including Chinese, Italian and German. In the UK, Titeuf appeared under the name Tootuff in The Dandy
.
The name "Titeuf" ostensibly derives from French tête d'oeuf (egg-head), but it could also be the familiar, contracted and inverted (verlan
) form of petite fête (little party).
While adolescent fans of Titeuf are enamoured with the adventures, some parents have raised concerns about his unexpurgated curiosity with all things related to bodily functions.
Footnotes
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Philippe Chappuis, a comics creator
Comic book creator
A comic book creator is someone who creates a comic book or graphic novel.The production of a comic book by one of the major comic book companies in the U.S...
from Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, known for his series Titeuf
Titeuf
Titeuf is a magazine series created by Zep which was adapted into an animated TV series, and appears in the dedicated comics magazine Tchô!.-Publication history:...
, a popular character in French-speaking countries, and Tchô!, the associated 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,...
.
Biography
Chappuis' pseudonym derives from the first BD magazine he created at age twelve, named "Zep" in honour of Led ZeppelinLed Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
(a fan of Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, references to his musical tastes are often found in his comics). His career began with gags published in the magazine Spirou
Spirou (magazine)
Spirou magazine is a weekly Belgian comics magazine published by the Dupuis company...
in 1987, and the character Victor which started appearing in 1988.
At first struggling to find publication, the series Titeuf was initially published in the fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
Sauve qui peut ("Escape those who can") before it was noticed by Glénat
Glénat (publisher)
Glénat Editions SA is a French publisher with its head office in Grenoble. The company publishes many things, including comic books and manga in France, Benelux, and Spain; it was founded by Jacques Glénat. The Spanish subsidiary has its head office in Barcelona. The Benelux subsidiary, Glénat...
executive Jean-Claude Camano. Zep joined Glénat in 1992, and first Titeuf book Dieu, le sexe et les bretelles (God, Sex And Suspenders) appeared in 1993 and sold only a few thousand copies, but the following books have gradually won over a huge readership, outselling traditional French favorites such as Astérix
Asterix
Asterix or The Adventures of Asterix is a series of French comic books written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo . The series first appeared in French in the magazine Pilote on October 29, 1959...
and Lucky Luke
Lucky Luke
Lucky Luke is a Belgian comics series created by Belgian cartoonist, Maurice De Bevere better known as Morris, the original artist, and was for one period written by René Goscinny...
. Today 11 million copies of the series have been sold, and the series is considered the greatest moneymaker in the French comics market. Titeuf books have been translated into 15 languages, including Chinese, Italian and German. In the UK, Titeuf appeared under the name Tootuff in The Dandy
The Dandy
The Dandy is a long running children's comic published in the United Kingdom by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd. The first issue was printed in 1937 and it is the world's third longest running comic, after Detective Comics and Il Giornalino...
.
The name "Titeuf" ostensibly derives from French tête d'oeuf (egg-head), but it could also be the familiar, contracted and inverted (verlan
Verlan
Verlan is an argot in the French language, featuring inversion of syllables in a word, and is common in slang and youth language. It rests on a long French tradition of transposing syllables of individual words to create slang words...
) form of petite fête (little party).
While adolescent fans of Titeuf are enamoured with the adventures, some parents have raised concerns about his unexpurgated curiosity with all things related to bodily functions.
Awards
- 1993: Sierre Comics Festival Prix de l'humour
- 1995: Livres Hebdo Prix Jeunesse
- 1996: Angoulême FestivalAngoulême International Comics FestivalThe Angoulême International Comics Festival is the largest comics festival in Europe. It has occurred every year since 1974 in Angoulême, France, in the month of January.The four-day festival is notable for awarding several prestigious prizes in cartooning...
, Alph Art jeunesse, for C'est pô juste! - 1996: Sierre Comics Festival Prix du public
- 2003: Angoulême Festival Audience AwardAngoulême International Comics Festival Prize Awarded by the AudienceThis Prize Awarded by the Audience is awarded to comics authors at the Angoulême International Comics Festival since 1989.The prize was known as Alph-Art du public from 1989-2003, the Prix du public from 2004-2006, and since 2007 the Essentiel FNAC-SNCF, since it is sponsored by the retailer Fnac...
- 2004: Grand Prix de la ville d'AngoulêmeGrand Prix de la ville d'AngoulêmeEvery year, the Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême is awarded during the Angoulême International Comics Festival to an author for his body of work and/or for his achievement in the evolution of comics....
and Angoulême Festival Best promotional comicAngoulême International Comics Festival Best promotional comicThis Prize for best promotional comic is awarded to comics at the Angoulême International Comics Festival from 1986 to 1992, and again since 2003... - 2007: Prix Canal J for best youth comic for TiteufTiteufTiteuf is a magazine series created by Zep which was adapted into an animated TV series, and appears in the dedicated comics magazine Tchô!.-Publication history:...
- 2009: Prix Canal J for Titeuf
Sources
- Zep publications in Spirou BDoubliées
- Zep albums Bedetheque
Footnotes
External links
- Zep biography on Lambiek Comiclopedia
- Zep official site
- Zep site on Glénat
- Tchô official site