The brochure « Brussels, the comic strip capital » will help you to find all the murals. The City of Brussels pays special attention to the comic book. Since the early 90s, it pays tribute to characters and authors of the Franco-Belgian comics on the walls in the Pentagon (city centre) and Laeken. Brussels loves comic strips so much it has invited its heroes to take possession of its walls and gables. A joyful stroll for enthusiasts and the inquisitive from 7 to 77 years of age.
Luke Luke
The ink on the sign has not even had time to dry before the bank has been raided by the notorious Dalton brothers. Little hothead Joe leads the way as usual. Averell, who has just has stolen a ham, is the biggest, hungriest and most gormless of the 4 brothers. Still with jokes: in the mountains beyond the prairie we see the Atomium, Rantanplan, the stupidest dog in the universe, looks at the pot of red paint as if it were a rare steak and hero Lucky Luke is once again faster than his shadow. Combining quick-paced and exciting adventure with hilarious gags was always the speciality of René Goscinny, the genius who also wrote the storylines for Asterix until his death in 1977. But Lucky Luke is primarily the life's work of Maurice De Bevere or Morris (1923-2001). This Kortrijk native felt drawing was more fun than taking over his father's pipe factory, and he started his career at the Brussels film studio CBA. His first Lucky Luke appeared in 1946 in the Spirou Almanac. Morris worked hard on his drawing talent and researched his work thoroughly. His style is very cinematic and reveals a passion for the western. His Lucky Luke albums had sold around 200 million copies by the time the series was taken over after his death by the French artist Achdé and writer Laurent Gerra. TV series, animated films and feature films have kept alive Lucky Luke's popularity alive as a poor, lonesome cowboy, a long way from home.
Feel like bumping into Belgium's most famous comic strip hero? Then head for rue de l'Etuve, which is home to Manneken Pis. But it's unlikely that Tintin, his dog Snowy and his friend Captain Haddock will have time to chat with you. The ace reporter and the foul-mouthed whisky lover are up to their ears in an adventure again. We even know which adventure. The drawing comes from The Calculus Affair. The eighteenth album in the series sees Professor Calculus abducted, first by Bordurian and then by Syldavian secret agents. He has invented an ultrasonic weapon that both countries would like to misemploy. Tintin and Haddock do their utmost to free their confused friend. Nearly 30 years after Hergé's death, 1 million copies of his albums are still being sold each year. Tintin is published in 77 languages. None other than Steven Spielberg came up with the 2011 all-action animated film "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn". Hergé, the pen name of Brussels cartoonist Georges Prosper Remi (1907-1983), is considered one of the greatest comic strip authors of all time. His debut came in 1929 in "Le Petit Vingtième", the weekly youth supplement of the Catholic magazine "Le Vingtième Siècle". His streamlined drawing style (the famous "ligne claire") is famous and many regard his drawings as art. But his sense of movement, suspense, humour, adventure and great storytelling are equally important reasons why Tintin has never ceased to enthral readers.
Asterix
Asterix, Obelix and their colourful fellow villagers are in the process of attacking a Roman camp with much gusto. Dogmatix leads the way. It's a scene familiar to millions of readers. The diminutive but particularly brave Gaul and his rotund friend who has not had any magic potion since his childhood when he fell into the cauldron of druid Getafix need no introduction. Sales of the album have passed the 350 million mark. Their own theme park and three very popular feature films (the fourth is on the way) have ensured that Asterix and Obelix are also familiar names in households that don't have bookshelves full of comic strips. Of course, they don't know what they're missing. Asterix is the comic strip at its best: playful and exciting, but also many-layered, intelligent and full of references to culture and history. A good Asterix can be read over and over again, with the reader discovering new things each time. They are usually very funny. Asterix came into being on 29 October 1959 in Pilote magazine. Gifted artist Albert Uderzo and brilliant writer René Goscinny met in Brussels. Before Asterix, they worked together on the Indian comic strip Hoempa Pa. After Goscinny's death in 1977, Uderzo continued Asterix on his own. He wants the series to live on after his death too. Asterix and Obelix are not finished yet, much to the chagrin of the Roman centurions
Gaston
He thinks it's another day that is just far too beautiful to give to the boss, and so he is leaning on the window sill, playing with his yo-yo. The fact that the yo-yo is bound to hit a random passer-by on the head was written in the stars. You are either Gaston or you're not. This gentle anarchist, the first anti-hero and the most socially critical clown in Franco-Belgian comic strips, made his debut on 28 February 1957 in Spirou magazine. The first issues, he confined himself to mysterious appearances. Being a pest seemed to be his vocation. Allegedly he was the laconic mail sorter and bone-idle errand boy of the Spirou editorial team. His ability to create uproar with crazy experiments, insane inventions (the phone gaffe!) or ingeniously absurd ideas made him very popular with readers. Brussels artist André Franquin (1924 - 1997) loved Gaston, who was invulnerable to serious adult thinking, capable of putting an end to the cruellest rebukes and manifestations of fury with one and a half words: M'enfin (Oh, come on!). Over the years, Franquin increasingly used his non-comformist alter ego to lend expression to his ecological and humanitarian concerns. Like Hergé, Franquin was a great example for future generations. His free, very dynamic drawing style opened the eyes of many. "He's a great artist, and in comparison I am but a poor artist," admitted Hergé.
Smurfs
A fun stop along the route. Can you spot all the references to Brussels’ heritage on this mural? The Ommegang, chips, the Atomium, the flower carpet, the Meyboom, our favourite little blue heroes pay homage to their roots.
Marsupilami
On 8th May 2013 a new fresco was inaugurated on the Avenue Houba de Strooper. The Marsupilami, famous friend of Spirou since 1952, recently joined the Comic strip walk of Brussels. The chosen location is the Avenue Houba de Strooper. Why? The legend tells that Franquin found his inspiration for the Marsupilami’s “Houba, Houba” scream when he walked on this avenue. The realization was given to Farmprod, a group of Belgian and French artists based in Brussels since 20003.
Spirou
The Spirou mural fits in perfectly with the Marolles district where second-hand dealers reign supreme. Without ever straying from his striking red groom’s uniform, Spirou is very much an adventurer. Always accompanied by his friend, Fantasio, and Spip, his pet squirrel, Spirou fights all sorts of villains all around the world. He takes on the terrible evil scientist Zorglub or the dastardly pirate John Héléna, he faces up to the Italian mafia and Chinese triads in New York or solves the mystery of a mythical animal in Palombia: the Marsupilami. One of the greatest comic book heroes is still incredibly active 75 years on!Since his creation by Rob-Vel in 1938, Jijé, Franquin, Fournier, Cauvin & Nic, Chaland, Tome & Janry, and many other authors have successively lent their talent to breathe life into Spirou in his comic book and albums.
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