Il y a un sorcier à Champignac
Encyclopedia
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. After serial publication in Spirou
, it was released as a complete hardcover album in 1951.
This work introduces several key characters in the series, and the village of Champignac-en-Cambrousse (a name derived from the French word for mushrooms, and 'cambrousse' meaning rural backwater).
and Fantasio
go on a bicycle camping trip to the country and end up near the village of Champignac-en-Cambrousse. They meet its pompous mayor and rustic inhabitants, and an aloof local landowner, the Count of Champignac. Strange phenomena are affecting farm and wild animals, and the frightened villagers blame a gypsy who is passing through. Spirou and Fantasio, however, discover that the real culprit is the Count, deeply involved in creating strange concoctions from mushrooms, and they rescue the vagabond from a lynch mob. Later, the Count creates a drug that within a limited time will endow superhuman strength, which a gangster steals to create mayhem.
's Spirou as precisely as possible. As it is Franquin's first long format story (created gradually in 2 page installments over 32 Spirou issues) its dramaturgic construction may considered as one shorter story with a separate bonus story added to the end, with the initial one being the seminal work.
Jijé is credited as co-author of the script, following a scenario by Jean Darc, alias Henri Gillain
, Jijé's brother, who is attributed with the conception of the Count of Champignac and his eccentric mushroom creations.
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...
, is the second album of the 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...
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. After serial publication in Spirou
Spirou (magazine)
Spirou magazine is a weekly Belgian comics magazine published by the Dupuis company...
, it was released as a complete hardcover album in 1951.
This work introduces several key characters in the series, and the village of Champignac-en-Cambrousse (a name derived from the French word for mushrooms, and 'cambrousse' meaning rural backwater).
Story
In There is a Sorcerer in Champignac, SpirouSpirou (character)
Spirou is the main character of the Spirou et Fantasio and Le Petit Spirou comic strips. The character was originally created by Robert Velter for the launch of Le Journal de Spirou in 1938....
and Fantasio
Fantasio
Fantasio is a fictional character from the Spirou et Fantasio comic strip. He was introduced in 1944 by Jijé, who was then drawing Spirou's adventures. Fantasio is Spirou's best friend and co-adventurer, a graphic reporter with an uncontrolled imagination and a mop of blond hair...
go on a bicycle camping trip to the country and end up near the village of Champignac-en-Cambrousse. They meet its pompous mayor and rustic inhabitants, and an aloof local landowner, the Count of Champignac. Strange phenomena are affecting farm and wild animals, and the frightened villagers blame a gypsy who is passing through. Spirou and Fantasio, however, discover that the real culprit is the Count, deeply involved in creating strange concoctions from mushrooms, and they rescue the vagabond from a lynch mob. Later, the Count creates a drug that within a limited time will endow superhuman strength, which a gangster steals to create mayhem.
Background
This album demonstrates an evolution in Franquin's style from his previous drawing work, to a new treatment of characters and movement. Franquin's new Spirou is now distinct, and no longer an effort to mimic JijéJijé
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...
's Spirou as precisely as possible. As it is Franquin's first long format story (created gradually in 2 page installments over 32 Spirou issues) its dramaturgic construction may considered as one shorter story with a separate bonus story added to the end, with the initial one being the seminal work.
Jijé is credited as co-author of the script, following a scenario by Jean Darc, alias Henri Gillain
Henri Gillain
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...
, Jijé's brother, who is attributed with the conception of the Count of Champignac and his eccentric mushroom creations.