Oumpah-pah
Encyclopedia
Oumpah-pah le Peau-Rouge (Ompa-pa the Redskin) is a comics
series created by comics artist
Albert Uderzo
and comics author
René Goscinny
, best known as the creators of Asterix the Gaul
. The series first appeared in the weekly Journal de Tintin
in 1958 though it remained serialised for a relatively short time. The stories were published in book form by Lombard
and Dargaud
starting in 1961. In 1995, the series was reissued by Albert Uderzo's own publishing house, Les Éditions Albert-René.
) (the name referring to a waltz
), a Native American
of the Flatfeet tribe, and his friend, the French officer Hubert Brussels Sprout (Hubert de la Pâte Feuilletée in French
which translates as Hubert de Flaky Pastry
), whom Ompa-pa calls Two-scalp, a reference to his wig .
The series is set in the eighteenth century during the age of French colonization in America. Ompa-pa is strong and quick, and loves to eat pemmican
. He is an honest and trustworthy brave
whose simple heroism is comparable to that of the more famous Asterix
, whom Uderzo and Goscinny later created. Hubert Brussels Sprout, whom the Flatfeet initially hold as a prisoner, subsequently serves as a mediator between the Europeans and the Native Americans, and is also an ally against the tribe known as the Sockitoomee, the sworn enemies of the Flatfeet.
When Brussels Sprout introduces Ompa-pa as his brother
, his commanding officer remarks: "When madam the Marquise your mother hears about this..."
The character Ompa-pa makes a cameo appearance in the Asterix
film The Twelve Tasks of Asterix
, though this story is set in pre-Columbian America.
may have worked on the English translation.) The idea remained shelved for several years until the concept was adapted for publication in the comics magazine
Tintin. The finished series made its debut on April 2, 1958.
Goscinny and Uderzo ultimately decided to end the series early, in order to focus their energies on the more popular Asterix character.
The series was published in English
under the title Ompa-Pa in the UK in 1977–78, in a translation by Nicholas Fry.
Reissues by Les Éditions Albert René
English translation by Nicholas Fry (Egmont/Methuen, London)
Footnotes
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
series created by 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...
Albert Uderzo
Albert Uderzo
Albert Uderzo is a French comic book artist, and scriptwriter. He is best known for his work on the Astérix series, but also drew other comics such as Oumpah-pah, also in collaboration with René Goscinny.-Early life:...
and comics author
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...
René Goscinny
René Goscinny
René Goscinny was a French comics editor and writer, who is best known for the comic book Astérix, which he created with illustrator Albert Uderzo, and for his work on the comic series Lucky Luke with Morris and Iznogoud with Jean Tabary.-Early life:Goscinny was born in Paris in 1926, to a family...
, best known as the creators of Asterix the Gaul
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...
. The series first appeared in the weekly Journal de Tintin
Tintin (magazine)
Le journal de Tintin or Kuifje , was a weekly Belgian comics magazine of the second half of the 20th century...
in 1958 though it remained serialised for a relatively short time. The stories were published in book form by Lombard
Le Lombard
Le 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...
and Dargaud
Dargaud
Les Éditions Dargaud is a publisher of Franco-Belgian comics series, headquartered in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. It was founded in 1943 by Georges Dargaud.Initially, Dargaud published novels for women...
starting in 1961. In 1995, the series was reissued by Albert Uderzo's own publishing house, Les Éditions Albert-René.
Characters
The series features the adventures of Ompa-pa (Oumpah-pah in FrenchFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
) (the name referring to a waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
), a Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
of the Flatfeet tribe, and his friend, the French officer Hubert Brussels Sprout (Hubert de la Pâte Feuilletée in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
which translates as Hubert de Flaky Pastry
Flaky pastry
In baking, a flaky pastry is a light, flaky, unleavened pastry, similar to a puff pastry. The main difference is that, in a flaky pastry, large lumps of shortening , are mixed into the dough, as opposed to a large rectangle of shortening with a puff pastry...
), whom Ompa-pa calls Two-scalp, a reference to his wig .
The series is set in the eighteenth century during the age of French colonization in America. Ompa-pa is strong and quick, and loves to eat pemmican
Pemmican
Pemmican is a concentrated mixture of fat and protein used as a nutritious food. The word comes from the Cree word pimîhkân, which itself is derived from the word pimî, "fat, grease". It was invented by the native peoples of North America...
. He is an honest and trustworthy brave
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
whose simple heroism is comparable to that of the more famous Asterix
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...
, whom Uderzo and Goscinny later created. Hubert Brussels Sprout, whom the Flatfeet initially hold as a prisoner, subsequently serves as a mediator between the Europeans and the Native Americans, and is also an ally against the tribe known as the Sockitoomee, the sworn enemies of the Flatfeet.
When Brussels Sprout introduces Ompa-pa as his brother
Blood brother
Blood brother can refer to one of two things: two males related by birth, or two or more men not related by birth who have sworn loyalty to each other. This is usually done in a ceremony, known as a blood oath, where the blood of each man is mingled together...
, his commanding officer remarks: "When madam the Marquise your mother hears about this..."
The character Ompa-pa makes a cameo appearance in the Asterix
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...
film The Twelve Tasks of Asterix
The Twelve Tasks of Asterix
The Twelve Tasks of Asterix is an animated feature film based on the Asterix comic book series. René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, the creators of the series, wrote the story and directed the film themselves; with co-direction by Pierre Watrin and the screenplay co-written by Pierre Tchernia, a...
, though this story is set in pre-Columbian America.
Publication history
Goscinny and Uderzo met in 1951 and were seated next to each other at the Paris office of World Press, where they first began their collaboration, inventing the characters Ompa-pa, Jehan Pistolet and Luc Junior. Ompa-pa was the very first character created by Uderzo and Goscinny, but initially failed to raise the interest of any publisher. While he was staying in the United States for professional reasons, Goscinny unsuccessfully tried to have the first version of the comic published in English. (Harvey KurtzmanHarvey Kurtzman
Harvey Kurtzman was an American cartoonist and the editor of several comic books and magazines. Kurtzman often signed his name H. Kurtz, followed by a stick figure Harvey Kurtzman (October 3, 1924, Brooklyn, New York – February 21, 1993) was an American cartoonist and the editor of several comic...
may have worked on the English translation.) The idea remained shelved for several years until the concept was adapted for publication in 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,...
Tintin. The finished series made its debut on April 2, 1958.
Goscinny and Uderzo ultimately decided to end the series early, in order to focus their energies on the more popular Asterix character.
The series was published in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
under the title Ompa-Pa in the UK in 1977–78, in a translation by Nicholas Fry.
Serialised stories
- Oumpah-pah le Peau-Rouge, 1958
- Oumpah–pah sur le sentier de la guerre, 1958
- Oumpah–pah et les pirates, 1959
- Mission secrète, 1960
- Oumpah–pah contre Foie–Malade, 1962
Albums
(Les Éditions du Lombard, Brussels, published simultaneously in France by Dargaud Éditeur, Paris)- 1. Oumpah-pah le Peau-Rouge, including Oumpah-pah sur le sentier de la guerre (1961)
- 2. Oumpah-pah et les pirates, including Mission secrète (1962)
- 3. Oumpah-pah contre Foie-Malade (1967)
Reissues by Les Éditions Albert René
- 1. Oumpah-Pah le Peau-Rouge, including an introduction and a reprint of the 1951 U.S. pilot (1995)
- 2. Vol. 2, including Oumpah-Pah sur le sentier de la guerre and Oumpah-Pah et les pirates (1996)
- 3. Vol. 3, including Mission secrète and Oumpah-pah contre Foie-Malade (1997)
English translation by Nicholas Fry (Egmont/Methuen, London)
- 1. Ompa-Pa and Brother Two Scalp (1977)
- 2. Ompa-Pa Saves the Day (1977)
- 3. Ompa-Pa and the Pirates (1977)
- 4. Ompa-Pa and the Secret Mission (1978)
- 5. Ompa-Pa and the Prussians (1978)
Sources
- Oumpah-pah publications in Belgian Tintin, French Tintin BDoubliées
- Oumpah-pah albums Bedetheque
Footnotes
External links
- Umpah-Pah on Yps Fanpage