Stephen Desberg
Encyclopedia
Stephen 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.
after the Liberation of Paris
. They settled in Brussels when Stephen's father became responsible for the distribution of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
films in Belgium, Luxemburg and the Netherlands. After finishing college two years late, he studied law at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
, but didn't finish his studies.
His youth was mainly dominated by American movies, but he also enjoyed the weekly comics magazine Spirou
with series like Buck Danny
or the works of Raymond Macherot
. He only discovered the authors who published in the main competitor Tintin
much later. He became a regular at the comics shop of Michel Deligne, who also republished classic comics and a fanzine. After Desberg published his first work here, Deligne introduced him to Maurice Tillieux
, one of the major authors of Spirou at the time. At first, he offered some ideas and synopses
to Tillieux for series like Jess Long and Tif et Tondu
, but he eventually moved to full scenario
s for Tif et Tondu, drawn by Will
. He started working for a number fo other Spirou authors, including Benn, Pierre Seron
, Raymond Macherot and Eric Maltaite (the son of Will).
His first success came in 1980 with Billy the Cat
, drawn by Stéphane Colman. He also created 421 with Eric Maltaite, in 1983 Arkel with Marc Hardy, and in 1988 Jimmy Tousseul with Daniel Desorgher. Despite all this, he was simultanoeously but unsuccessfully trying to become a professional musician.
By the mate 1980s, he moved from the young adolescent comics more towards the adult comics and graphic novel
market, with 2 comics with Will and a series with Johan De Moor, the son of Bob De Moor
, for Casterman
, his first move away from publisher Dupuis
. After some more short-lived series and collaborations, he started IR$ with Bernard Vrancken. In 2000 starts Le Scorpion
with Enrico Marini
. Both series became a considerable success. In the following decade, Desberg started a considerable number of new series with multiple artists and publishers, making him by 2010 one of the major writers of contemporary Franco-Belgian comics
.
Biography
Stephen Desberg was born in Brussels in 1954 as the third child of an American lawyer from Cleveland and a French mother who taught him French at the SorbonneSorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
after the Liberation of Paris
Liberation of Paris
The Liberation of Paris took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the surrender of the occupying German garrison on August 25th. It could be regarded by some as the last battle in the Battle for Normandy, though that really ended with the crushing of the Wehrmacht forces between the...
. They settled in Brussels when Stephen's father became responsible for the distribution of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
films in Belgium, Luxemburg and the Netherlands. After finishing college two years late, he studied law at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has 21,000 students, 29% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.-Name:...
, but didn't finish his studies.
His youth was mainly dominated by American movies, but he also enjoyed the weekly comics magazine Spirou
Spirou (magazine)
Spirou magazine is a weekly Belgian comics magazine published by the Dupuis company...
with series like Buck Danny
Buck Danny
Buck Danny is a Franco-Belgian comics series about a military flying ace and his two sidekicks serving in the United States Navy or the United States Air Force. The series is noted for its realism both in the drawings and the descriptions of air force procedures as part of the storyline. In...
or the works of Raymond Macherot
Raymond Macherot
Raymond 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...
. He only discovered the authors who published in the main competitor Tintin
Tintin (magazine)
Le journal de Tintin or Kuifje , was a weekly Belgian comics magazine of the second half of the 20th century...
much later. He became a regular at the comics shop of Michel Deligne, who also republished classic comics and a fanzine. After Desberg published his first work here, Deligne introduced him to Maurice Tillieux
Maurice Tillieux
Maurice Tillieux was a Belgian writer and comic artist. He is regarded by many as a major figure of post-war Belgian comics.-Early life:...
, one of the major authors of Spirou at the time. At first, he offered some ideas and synopses
Synopsis
A synopsis is a brief summary of the major points of a written work, either as prose or as a table; an abridgment or condensation of a work.-See also:*Synopsys, an electronic design automation company based in Mountain View, California...
to Tillieux for series like Jess Long and 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...
, but he eventually moved to full scenario
Scenario
A scenario is a synoptical collage of an event or series of actions and events. In the Commedia dell'arte it was an outline of entrances, exits, and action describing the plot of a play that was literally pinned to the back of the scenery...
s for Tif et Tondu, drawn by Will
Will
Will may refer to:* Shall and will, the word will as a modal verb* Will , instructions for the disposition of one's property after death...
. He started working for a number fo other Spirou authors, including Benn, Pierre Seron
Pierre Seron
Pierre Seron is a Belgian comic book artist born in Chênée on 9 February 1942.-Biography:He spent the first few years of his life in Liège then followed the work transfers of his father, an engineer, to Montreal, Canada, Libourne, France, the Bordeaux region, Givet in the Ardennes region and then...
, Raymond Macherot and Eric Maltaite (the son of Will).
His first success came in 1980 with Billy the Cat
Billy the Cat
Billy the Cat is the title of a Franco-Belgian comic strip by the Belgian Stéphane Colman and Stephen Desberg, as well as an animated cartoon adaptation, amongst others...
, drawn by Stéphane Colman. He also created 421 with Eric Maltaite, in 1983 Arkel with Marc Hardy, and in 1988 Jimmy Tousseul with Daniel Desorgher. Despite all this, he was simultanoeously but unsuccessfully trying to become a professional musician.
By the mate 1980s, he moved from the young adolescent comics more towards the adult comics and graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
market, with 2 comics with Will and a series with Johan De Moor, the son of 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...
, for Casterman
Casterman
Casterman is a publisher of Franco-Belgian comics, specializing in comic books and children's literature. The company is based in Tournai, Belgium.Founded in 1780, Casterman was originally a printing company and publishing house...
, his first move away from publisher Dupuis
Dupuis
Éditions 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...
. After some more short-lived series and collaborations, he started IR$ with Bernard Vrancken. In 2000 starts Le Scorpion
Le Scorpion
The Scorpion is a Franco-Belgian comics series written by Stephen Desberg, illustrated by Enrico Marini and published by Dargaud in French and Cinebook in English.- Summary :...
with Enrico Marini
Enrico Marini
Enrico Marini is an Italian comics artist.Famous works include Gipsy with writer Thierry Smolderen and Le Scorpion with writer Stephen Desberg.-Biography:...
. Both series became a considerable success. In the following decade, Desberg started a considerable number of new series with multiple artists and publishers, making him by 2010 one of the major writers of contemporary Franco-Belgian comics
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...
.
Awards
- 1991: Youth AwardAngoulême International Comics Festival Prix Jeunesse 9-12 ansThe Prix Jeunesse 9-12 ans is awarded to comics authors at the Angoulême International Comics Festival. It rewards the best album for a 9 to 12 years old targeted public.The award started in 1981 as the "Alfred enfant", without the distinction in age groups....
at the Angoulême International Comics 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...
for Billy The Cat - 1995: Humour AwardAngoulême International Comics Festival Humour awardThe Humour award was presented to a comic at the Angoulême International Comics Festival from 1989 until 2001.-1990s:* 1990: Raoul Fulgurex: Le secret du mystère by Tronchet and Gelli* 1991: Le pauvre chevalier by F'Murr...
at the Angoulême International Comics Festival for La vache - 2003: nominated for the 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...
at the Angoulême International Comics Festival for Le Scorpion - 2005: nominated for the Youth Award at the Angoulême International Comics Festival for Le Scorpion
External links
- Biography at LambiekLambiekLambiek is a comic book store and art gallery in Amsterdam, founded in 1968 by Kees Kousemaker .It has held exhibitions of art by comic creators, including Robert Crumb, Daniel Clowes, Erik Kriek, André Franquin, Tanino Liberatore and Chris Ware...
's Comiclopedia - Official site of Le Scorpion, with biography of the authors