Renaat Demoen
Encyclopedia
Renaat Demoen was a Belgian
illustrator and comic book creator
.
, in 1942. Demoen soon becomes one of the main illustrators for the magazines, and lives at the medieval gate house of the Averbode Abbey
until his marriage in 1968, when he moves to the village of Averbode.
Demoen is a self taught illustrator and layouter. When Zonneland reappears after the second World War, he redesigns the magazine, provides most of the illustrations, and creates a comic for the front page. He created 15 comics between 1945 and 1959, but only a few of those were published in book format at the time. His main work are the illustrations for Zonneland and Petits Belges until the early 1970s, and a few hundred covers for the Vlaamse Filmpjes. Furthermore, he illustrated more than 400 books, mainly destined for the youth. Most of these were published by Averbode as well, but also for Opdebeeck and other Flemish publishers. Two of these books were written by Demoen.
As a comics creator, his early works, from 1945 to 1950, are remarkable due to their experiments with page lay-outs and coloring, and their strong stories. Spits de Durver was one of the few Flemish comics about the war, and described the adventures of a boy whose father was deported to Germany. Following stories were mainly based around the figures of Johnny and Annie, but were less realistic and more escapist. A final masterpiece was De Zwarte Veroveraar (The Black Conqueror), with a story by John Flanders, about the life of Pierre-Jean De Smet
. He was one of the main early comics authors in Flanders, together with Marc Sleen
, Willy Vandersteen
and Bob de Moor
, but due to his shorter career and limited audience, he has become largely forgotten.
He also created the images for the Druivelaar, a daily calendar which was very popular in Flanders. As of 2007, his images are still used here.
For his own pleasure, he also painted, both landscapes and brutally coloured scenes with gnomes.
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...
illustrator and comic book 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...
.
Biography
Renaat Demoen worked for a number of publishers, including Lannoo, when he met Nonkel Fons, editor-in-chief of the youth publications of AverbodeAverbode (publisher)
Uitgeverij Averbode is a Belgian publisher of books, comics, and magazines. The company is located in Averbode and is part of the Averbode Abbey. It has changed its name a few times since its foundation in 1877.- Names :...
, in 1942. Demoen soon becomes one of the main illustrators for the magazines, and lives at the medieval gate house of the Averbode Abbey
Averbode Abbey
Averbode Abbey is a Premonstratensian monastery situated near Diest , in the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels in Belgium.-1134-1800:Averbode Abbey was founded about 1134-1135 by Count Arnold II of Loon...
until his marriage in 1968, when he moves to the village of Averbode.
Demoen is a self taught illustrator and layouter. When Zonneland reappears after the second World War, he redesigns the magazine, provides most of the illustrations, and creates a comic for the front page. He created 15 comics between 1945 and 1959, but only a few of those were published in book format at the time. His main work are the illustrations for Zonneland and Petits Belges until the early 1970s, and a few hundred covers for the Vlaamse Filmpjes. Furthermore, he illustrated more than 400 books, mainly destined for the youth. Most of these were published by Averbode as well, but also for Opdebeeck and other Flemish publishers. Two of these books were written by Demoen.
As a comics creator, his early works, from 1945 to 1950, are remarkable due to their experiments with page lay-outs and coloring, and their strong stories. Spits de Durver was one of the few Flemish comics about the war, and described the adventures of a boy whose father was deported to Germany. Following stories were mainly based around the figures of Johnny and Annie, but were less realistic and more escapist. A final masterpiece was De Zwarte Veroveraar (The Black Conqueror), with a story by John Flanders, about the life of Pierre-Jean De Smet
Pierre-Jean De Smet
Pierre-Jean De Smet , also known as Pieter-Jan De Smet, was a Belgian Roman Catholic priest and member of the Society of Jesus , active in missionary work among the Native Americans of the Midwestern United States in the mid-19th century.His extensive travels as a missionary were said to total...
. He was one of the main early comics authors in Flanders, together with Marc Sleen
Marc Sleen
Marcel Honoree Nestor, Knight Neels , known with his pseudonym Marc Sleen, is a Flemish/Belgian comics artist and cartoonist. He is mostly known for his comic The adventures of Nero and co.-Biography:...
, Willy Vandersteen
Willy Vandersteen
Willy Vandersteen was a Belgian creator of comic books. In a career spanning 50 years, he created a large studio and published more than 1,000 comic albums in over 25 series, selling more than 200 million copies worldwide....
and Bob de Moor
Bob de Moor
Bob de Moor is the pen name of Robert Frans Marie De Moor , a Belgian comics creator. Chiefly noted as an artist, he is considered an early master of the Ligne claire style. He wrote and drew several comics series on his own, but also collaborated with Hergé on several volumes of The Adventures of...
, but due to his shorter career and limited audience, he has become largely forgotten.
He also created the images for the Druivelaar, a daily calendar which was very popular in Flanders. As of 2007, his images are still used here.
For his own pleasure, he also painted, both landscapes and brutally coloured scenes with gnomes.
Sources
- Béra, Michel; Denni, Michel; and Mellot, Philippe (2002): "Trésors de la Bande Dessinée 2003-2004". ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Les éditions de l'amateur. ISBN 2-85917-357-9 - Matla, Hans: "Stripkatalogus 9: De negende dimensie". Panda, Den Haag, 1998. ISBN 90-6438-111-9
External links
- Biography at Comiclopedia, with some images