A Belgian cartoonist from the Golden Age of comics, Andre Franquin was as important and influential throughout his career as Herge, moulding and training dozens of artists through his long years at Spirou magazine. In his 20 years at the helm of Spirou and Fantasio, creator of their fantastical friend the Marsupilami, he was also the father of one of the most beloved anti-heroes of European comics, Gaston Lagaffe, as well as the delightfully dark and sarcastic Idees Noires. As a sign of his popularity, he received the very first Grand Prix de la ville d'Angouleme in 1974.

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