Marcel Uderzo Explained

Marcel Uderzo
Birth Date:20 December 1933
Birth Place:Clichy-sous-Bois, France
Death Place:Évreux, France
Nationality:French
Occupation:Comic book artist

Marcel Uderzo (20 December 1933 – 24 January 2021) was a French comic book artist.[1] He was the younger brother of fellow comic book artist Albert Uderzo.

Biography

Uderzo was born in Clichy-sous-Bois on 20 December 1933, to a family of Italian immigrants. In 1938, his family moved to the 11th arrondissement of Paris in an area of artisans. When he left school, Uderzo's father taught him the luthier trade. In 1964, his relationship with his father deteriorated and he took up comics.

From 1964 to 1965, Uderzo taught himself how to create comics. He continued to make guitars in his father's workshop while learning to draw and make ink boards for Tanguy et Laverdure. He continued his apprenticeship making ink boards for Asterix. In a 2014 interview, he stated that his resemblance to the character Cacofonix was "striking".[2]

In 1966, Uderzo was hired part-time by Dargaud to create visual products for Asterix. He was then employed full-time by his brother in Neuilly-sur-Seine to work on Tanguy et Laverdure until 1968, when the series was being drawn by Jijé. He then took over inking and coloring for Asterix until the end of his collaboration with his brother in February 1972. After a short break, he resumed work at Dargaud in September 1974 and devoted himself to Asterix. His final volume was Asterix in Belgium. The volume included a parody of a painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, which he produced in one day.[3] In 1979, Albert did not invite him to join his new publishing company, Éditions Albert René. As a result, Marcel completely severed ties with his brother, and the two would remain at odds.[4]

In January 1980, Uderzo began working on a personal project, titled Les Mémoires de Mathias. His career of independent activity lasted 33 years and mainly consisted of one-shots, of which he produced about 40. His primary professional partner was . He spent his retirement in Upper Normandy with Monique-Hélène Ott, his illustrator on 20 volumes.

Marcel Uderzo died in the Hospital of Évreux on 24 January 2021, at the age of 87,[5] of COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in France.[6]

Publications

Series

One-shots

Collective albums

Books illustrated

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Disparition. Marcel Uderzo décédé du Covid-19 à l'hôpital d'Évreux. 25 January 2021. Paris-Normandie. French.
  2. Web site: Rencontre avec Marcel Uderzo – frère d'Albert Uderzo et assistant dessinateur d'Astérix. 29 March 2020. Phylacteres. French.
  3. Web site: Savez vous que Marcel Uderzo a participé à l'élaboration des premiers Asterix. BdParadisio. French.
  4. Web site: Marcel, l'autre Uderzo. 17 February 2015. Le Parisien. French.
  5. Web site: Décès de Marcel Uderzo, le frère du créateur d'Astérix. 24 January 2021. ActuaBD. French.
  6. https://www.paris-normandie.fr/id159234/article/2021-01-25/disparition-marcel-uderzo-decede-du-covid-19-lhopital-devreux Disparition. Marcel Uderzo décédé du Covid-19 à l'hôpital d'Évreux