Urbanus (comic strip) explained

Graphicnovel:y
Lang:nl
Publisher:
Startmo:November 10,
Startyr:1982
Endmo:October 26,
Endyr:2022
Creators:Willy Linthout[1]
Writers:Willy Linthout
Urbanus
Ann Smets (2019–present)[2]
Artists:Willy Linthout
Nonus:y
Alttop:y

Urbanus was a Flemish celebrity comic strip created by Willy Linthout and loosely based on Flemish comedian and singer Urbanus. The stories were written by Willy Linthout, Urbanus and Ann Smets,[3] and drawn by Linthout. The first story was published in 1982 and was such a success that Urbanus ran for more than 40 years, becoming the longest-running and most successful Flemish comic strip based on a celebrity. It is also the longest-running celebrity comic in the world made by the same writer/artist team.[4] The series sells well in the Netherlands too, due to Urbanus' popularity there.

Background and concept

The strip originated from an idea by Willy Linthout. In 1982, Linthout imagined creating a comic strip about comedian Urbanus. Publisher Jef Meert was able to arrange a meeting at his house, in which he proposed the concept and showed Urbanus the drawings.[5] [6] Urbanus liked Linthout's idea and his drawings.[6] Urbanus started as an experiment, but after the first album was released, Linthout was already working on the sequel.[6] Linthout made the first two albums alone.[6] The first album sold 50,000 copies right away.[6] From December 16, 1982, until April 25, 1996, all albums were published by Uitgeverij Loempia,[4] a publishing company created by Linthout and Jef Meert. Since 1996 Standaard Uitgeverij does the publishing.

Linthout and Urbanus explained how a comic book of Urbanus was made: Linthout came up with an idea, wrote the synopsis, and submitted it to Urbanus. Then, the two started writing together, and eventually Linthout drew the comic book.[6]

In the series Urbanus is portrayed as an eleven to twelve-year old version of himself, despite his full-grown beard. Just like the real Urbanus he lives in Tollembeek, but here end all similarities. Urbanus is portrayed as a bad young boy who frequently tries to trick the local villagers, his parents, his teacher, his fellow students and gets into trouble for it.[7] The style of comedy is absurd, black and often vulgar. All animals in this comic strip are able to talk. Pop culture references to TV shows, comics, cartoons, films and Urbanus' own merchandise are frequently made. The authors deliberately use Flemish dialect instead of standard Dutch and also deliberately keep the drawing style naïve and simple, inspired by the series of Marc Sleen.

The albums are usually long adventure stories, but some are one-page gags as well.

On 26 October 2022, after 201 stories, the series was discontinued.[8]

Characters

The main characters are:

Animated film

In 1992 a partial animated adaptation of the 18th "Urbanus" album "Het Lustige Kapoentje" was made in collaboration with 20th Century Fox. Urbanus voiced himself. It was released on video, but didn't have much success.[9] [10]

Some animated shorts were made in 1999, based on the gag comics. They are made available on Urbanus' official site.[11]

In 2019 an animated feature film Urbanus de Vuilnisheld premiered in Flemish theaters.[12]

Crossover

In 1997 Urbanus and Linthout made a crossover comic strip named "Kiekebanus", in which characters from their series meet characters from Merho's series De Kiekeboes. In another De Kiekeboes album, "Bij Fanny op Schoot" (2005), Urbanus and his family were also guest stars.

In popular culture

On April 8, 2000, Urbanus, Amedee and Nabuko Donosor received their own statue in Tollembeek. It was designed by Koen Tinel.[13]

Urbanus also received a statue in Middelkerke on July 7, 2001.[14] It was sculpted by Luc Cauwenberghs.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Moulron . Etienne . Vizorek . Alex . Histoire passionnée de la frite Histoire originale et décalée . 2018 . Éditions Jourdan . 9782390093091 . 26 November 2021 . fr.
  2. https://www.stripspeciaalzaak.be/te-verschijnen/de-avonturen-van-urbanus-195-neppergem Te verschijnen - De avonturen van Urbanus 195: Neppergem
  3. https://www.stripspeciaalzaak.be/te-verschijnen/de-avonturen-van-urbanus-195-neppergem Te verschijnen - De avonturen van Urbanus 195: Neppergem
  4. Web site: Willy Linthout. lambiek.net.
  5. Web site: Morissens . Kurt . Les grandes expositions temporaires . Belgian Comic Strip Center . 26 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200810180308/https://www.cbbd.be/fr/les-grandes-expositions-temporaires/urbanus . 10 August 2020 . Brussels . 11 December 2018.
  6. Web site: Urbanus: "Plot moet straffer zijn dan wat Chiroleiders rond hun kampvuur kunnen bedenken" . https://web.archive.org/web/20210125071102/https://www.guido.be/JobsStages/ArticleDetail/tabid/175/ArticleId/14187/Default.aspx. 25 January 2021. www.guido.be . 26 November 2021.
  7. Web site: Urbanus (De Stripheld). urbanusfan.be.
  8. Web site: Urbanus stopt met stripverhaal: "We mochten maar 200 verhalen maken van God" . 17 May 2022 .
  9. Web site: Het lustige kapoentje (1992) - IMDb. 22 October 1992. IMDb.
  10. Web site: striplijst . www.urbanus-online.be . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20030729210832/http://www.urbanus-online.be/kalender.html . 2003-07-29.
  11. Web site: Urbanus (De Stripheld) / Filmpjes. urbanusfan.be.
  12. Web site: "Urbanus: De vuilnisheld", de eerste lange Urbanus-tekenfilm in première. 24 February 2019.
  13. Web site: Untitled Document. urbanus-online.be.
  14. Web site: Urbanus heeft standbeeld op Middelkerkse zeedijk. BELGA. Gazet van Antwerpen.
  15. Web site: Middelkerke toerisme - Urbanus. toerismemiddelkerke.be.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Urbanus (comic strip)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.