Celebrity comics


Celebrity comics are comics based on the fame and popularity of a celebrity. They are a byproduct of merchandising around a certain media star or franchise and have existed since the mass media and comics came into existence in the 19th century. Celebrity comics are usually not held in high esteem by critics, because of their purely commercial nature. They are solely created to capitalize on media trends and therefore published so quickly and cheaply that drawings and narratives tend to be of very low quality.

Definition

Celebrity comics are usually written and drawn for commercial purposes. Publishers try to cash in on the fame of a well known radio, TV, film star or series by launching a comic book or an entire comic book series about these media stars. Comics about sports champions or theatrical actors fall in the same category. The line of thought behind these works is that the audience will be more likely to buy something they already recognize from theatre, film, radio or TV than a brand new series about an original creation.
Despite the commercial potential few of these celebrity comics last long. Their sales are usually based on the amount of attention a certain celebrity receives during a certain period. If the media craze or fad dies down the comic version usually fizzles out as well. Another reason why many of these comics fail in the long run has to do with the fact that companies usually pass both the writing and drawing to less skilled artists, many of which don't have much experience in their profession. Apart from that the artists in question are put under pressure of a TV channel, company or the media star himself to follow their own demands and expectations as much as possible.
Celebrity comics should not be confused with satirical comics or political comics, which lampoon celebrities. While these can sometimes be made to play-off the fame of a celebrity, they usually tend to be less respectful towards the media stars in question and are seldom made with their own participation.
Despite the fact that celebrity comics are considered pure pulp some people have interest in these titles as a mere nostalgic or historical curiosity, of which they enjoy the campiness.

History

Celebrity comics have existed since the late 19th century. The earliest example was the magazine Dan Leno's Comic Journal, based on the popularity of British music hall comedian Dan Leno. The paper was primarily aimed at young adults and featured a fictional version of Leno. He personally wrote most of the gags and stories, while Tom Browne contributed many of the illustrations. The comedian retained editorial control of the paper, deciding which items to omit. After a run of nearly two years the novelty wore off, and Leno lost interest. The paper shut down on December 2, 1899. Another early example was a comic strip drawn between 1909 and 1913 about the local village eccentric Robert W. Patten by John Hager, which was published in the Seattle Daily Times. When Hollywood started making slapstick films many comics series were made about popular film comedians. E.C. Segar's Charlie Chaplin's Comic Capers is perhaps the most famous example and ran for a solid two years, between 1916 and 1918. Between the 1920s and early 1960s the British magazines Radio Fun and Film Fun were even completely based around comics about radio and film celebrities. In the mid-1930s American artists like Alfred Buescher, Clifton H. Crittenden, Roland Jack Scott, and Arthur J. Palmer also made text comics based on the lives of celebrities who made headlines at the time. When television became popular in the 1950s and 1960s it opened the door for a whole stream of comics based on popular TV shows and stars. In every country with a comics industry examples of celebrity comics can be found.
The longest-running celebrity comic in the world made by the same two creators is the Belgian series Urbanus by Urbanus and Willy Linthout. It was in constant production from 1982 up until 2022.

Celebrity animated cartoons

A subgenre is celebrity animated cartoon series, based on the popularity of a well known musical artist, band, film stars, TV star and/or sports champion.

List of celebrity comics by country

Argentina

  • Chifladuras de Carlitos Balá, based on TV host Carlitos Balá, drawn by Felix Saborido.
  • El Oso Arturo, based on a character from the TV show VideoMatch, drawn by Walter Carzon.
  • Juan Manuel Fangio, based on auto racing champion Juan Manuel Fangio, drawn by Carlos Freixas.
  • Pipito, based on singer Pipo Pescador, drawn by Walter Carzon.
  • La Sole, based on the Argentine singer Soledad Pastorutti, drawn by Walter Carzon.
  • La Voz del Rioba con los reportajes de Minguito, based on the TV series La Voz del Rioba and character played by Juan Carlos Altavista. It was drawn by Felix Saborido.
  • El Gordo Porcel, based on TV and movie star Jorge Porcel. It was drawn by Francisco Mazza.
  • El Capitán Piluso, based on the character played by Alberto Olmedo. It was drawn by Francisco Mazza.

    Belgium

  • Albert en Co, based on the Belgian royal family, written and drawn by Charel Cambré. The series has a mild satirical tone.
  • Baba Yega, a children's comic based on the Belgian dance group Baba Yega, written by Leon and drawn by Steve Van Bael.
  • Les Diables Rouges, a humoristic sports comic about the Belgian national association football team by André Lebrun and Philippe Bercovici.
  • En Daarmee Basta!, a humor comic, based on the children's TV series En Daarmee Basta!, written by Tom Bouden and drawn by Wim Swerts and Luc Van Asten. and Vanas.
  • Les Fabuleux Exploits d'Eddy Merckx, a sports comic about cyclist Eddy Merckx, written by Yves Duval and Christian Lippens.
  • Familie Backeljau, a humor comic based on the popular TV sitcom De Familie Backeljau, drawn by Luc Morjaeu.
  • F.C. De Kampioenen, a humor comic based on the popular TV sitcom FC De Kampioenen, written and drawn by Hector Leemans. It's currently one of the most successful Flemish comics series, still selling strong even though the TV series itself came to an end in 2011.
  • Flikken, an action comic based on the TV police series Flikken, written by Zaki Dewaele and drawn by Michaël Vincent.
  • Gaston en Leo, a humor comic based on the comedy duo Gaston en Leo, written and drawn by Jeff Broeckx.
  • Geschipper Naast Mathilde, a humor comic based on the TV sitcom Schipper naast Mathilde, written and drawn by Willy Vandersteen.
  • De Geverniste Vernepelingskes, a satirical gag-a-day comic in which the main characters are comedian Urbanus and comics artist Jan Bosschaert, who consequently also write and draw the gags. The series also features numerous cameos of Flemish celebrities.
  • Get Ready!, a humor adventure comic based on the popular boys band Get Ready!, written by Danny Roelens, drawn by Patriek Roelens.
  • Le Grand Jojo, a humor comic based on the Walloon singer and comedian Le Grand Jojo by André Lebrun and Philippe Bercovici.
  • Jacques Vermeire, a humor adventure comic based on the popular comedian Jacques Vermeire, written and drawn by Geert Kinnaert.
  • Jean-Marie Pfaff, a humorous biographical comic about association football player Jean-Marie Pfaff. A first version was drawn by cartoonist Hugo Leyers in 1983, followed by second version from 1984 by K. Luyckx and F. Defossez.
  • John Massis, a humor comic about acrobat John Massis, written and drawn by Pirana, who was a close friend of his.
  • Jommeke in Bobbejaanland, a 1979 one-shot comic book featuring a cross-over between the comics character Jommeke and popular singer and theme park owner Bobbejaan Schoepen.
  • Justine Henin, a 2007 sports comic by Yves Duval and Edouard Aidans about tennis champion Justine Henin.
  • De avonturen van K3, a humor adventure comic based on the popular girls group K3, written by Jan Ruysbergh, drawn by Patriek Roelens and later Charel Cambré.
  • Kabouter Plop, a humor comic based on the popular children's TV show Kabouter Plop, written and drawn by Jean-Pol, Wim Swerts and Luc Van Asten
  • Kamiel in Vuur en Vlam, a one-shot comic book about fire prevention by Marc Daniels and Rik De Wulf, starring Kamiel Spiessens, a comedic character created by Flemish comedian Chris Van den Durpel.
  • Katastroof, a humor comic about the local Antwerp band Katastroof written by Tom Metdepenningen, a member of the group.
  • Kim, a humor adventure comic about tennis player Kim Clijsters, written by Hector Leemans and drawn by Wim Swerts and Vanas.
  • #Like Me, a humorous comic based on the children's TV show of the same name, written by Tom Bouden, Joyce Beullens and drawn by Michaël Vincent.
  • Marc Coucke, a humorous adventure comic based on business man and sports chairman Marc Coucke, written by Leon and drawn by Steve Van Bael.
  • Het Manneke, a gag-a-day comic about the popular TV sketch show Het Manneke, written by the actor himself, Jef Cassiers, and drawn by PIL and later Marc Payot.
  • Margriet Hermans, a humor comic about singer and TV presenter Margriet Hermans, written by Peter Verbelen and drawn by Erik Vancoillie.
  • Mega Mindy, a humor adventure comic based on the popular children's TV show Mega Mindy, drawn by Charel Cambré.
  • Merlina, an adventure comic based on the popular children's TV show, written by Dick Durver and drawn by Danny De Haes.
  • M-Kids, a humor adventure comic based on the girl group M-Kids, written by Jan Ruysbergh, drawn by Luc Morjaeu.
  • Nachtwacht, a fantasy comic by Peter van Gucht and Steve Van Bael, based on the eponymous children's TV series.
  • Papa Chico, a children's comic about TV clown Papa Chico, written by Tony and drawn by Tody.
  • De Pfaffs, a humor adventure comic based on the reality TV series De Pfaffs, written by Ronald Grossey and drawn by Charel Cambré.
  • Piet Piraat, a children's comic, based on the TV series Piet Piraat, written and drawn by Wim Swerts and Luc Van Asten.
  • De Planckaerts, a humor comic based on the reality TV series De Planckaerts about former cyclist Eddy Planckaert and his family.
  • Samson en Gert, a humor adventure comic based on the children's TV show Samson en Gert, drawn and written by Wim Swerts and Jean-Pol. Wim Swerts and Luc Van Asten
  • Slache, a humor adventure comic based on the vaudeville and radio sketch comedy character Slache, developed by comedian Marcel Antoine.
  • Spring!, a humor adventure comic based on the children's TV show Spring, written by Luc Morjaeu and drawn by Charel Cambré.
  • De Strangers, a humor comic about the Flemish comedic band De Strangers, written by Patrick Vermeir, drawn by Dirk Stallaert.
  • De avonturen van Tommeke, a humor comic based on the cyclist Tom Boonen, written by Ivan Claeys and drawn by Patrick Van Oppen.
  • Urbanus, a humor comic based on the popular comedian Urbanus, written by himself and drawn by Willy Linthout. It has been in continuous syndication since 1982, making it the longest-running and best-selling celebrity comic of Flanders and in the world.
  • Van Rossem, a semi-satirical comic based on the politician and economist Jean-Pierre Van Rossem who also wrote the scripts. The drawings were made by Erik Meynen.
  • Vertongen & Co, a humor comic, based on the children's TV show Vertongen & Co, written by Hec Leemans, drawn by Luc Van Asten and Wim Swerts.
  • W817, a humor comic based on the children's TV show W817, written by Hec Leemans and Tom Bouden and drawn by Luc Van Asten and Wim Swerts.
  • Wendy Van Wanten, a humor comic about the pin-up model Wendy Van Wanten, written by Tony Beirens and drawn by Yurg.
  • X!NK, an adventure comic based on the music band X!nk, written and drawn by Mario Boon.
  • Zappy Max, a humor comic, based on the popular radio presenter Zappy Max, written and drawn by Maurice Tillieux.
  • Zornik, a humor comic about the Belgian rock band Zornik, written by Mario Boon and drawn by Freek van Haagen.