De Kiekeboes

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De Kiekeboes
Main characters with the logo of the series
Created byMerho
Publication information
PublisherStandaard Uitgeverij
Schedulequarterly
FormatsOriginal material for the series has been published as a set of ongoing series and graphic novels.
Original languageDutch
Genre
Publication date1977
Main character(s)Marcel Kiekeboe
Charlotte Kiekeboe
Fanny Kiekeboe
Konstantinopel Kiekeboe
Creative team
Writer(s)Merho
Artist(s)Merho
Penciller(s)Thomas Du Caju
Kristof Fagard
Inker(s)Peter Koeken
Kristof Fagard
Colourist(s)Ria Smit
Ine Merhottein
Kristof Fagard
Reprints
The series has been reprinted, at least in part, in French and English.

De Kiekeboes is a comic strip series created by Belgian artist Merho in 1977. The series appears in Dutch. It is first published in the newspapers Gazet van Antwerpen and Het Belang van Limburg and then published as comic books by Standaard Uitgeverij. The series is the best-selling comic in Flanders, but is unsuccessful abroad, with only a few publications in French and English.[1]

History[edit]

De Kiekeboes debuted in 1977. Merho had previously worked with Willy Vandersteen but wanted to create his own series. The first story, De Wollebollen, started in Het Laatste Nieuws. on 15 February 1977.[2]

New albums in the series appear every three months, and sell over 100,000 copies each.[3] Like most Flemish comic strips, De Kiekeboes comics are steady sellers, with most of the series available for sale at any one time. New titles are the best selling comics in Flanders, with some 80,000 copies sold in the first year of publication. In 2007, only the Dutch translation of the final Harry Potter book sold more copies.[4]

After being assisted for a while by Dirk Stallaert, Merho announced that from 1 January 2006 on, the comics would be drawn by Steve Van Bael and Thomas Du Caju, who would each produce two comics a year. Merho continues to write the stories and to make early sketches.[5][1] In October 2007 Kristof Fagard had to take over from Steve Van Bael and continued in tandem with Thomas Du Caju as pencilers.

To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the comic strip in 2007, an exposition was held in the Belgian Centre for Comic Strip Art and a wall painting was unveiled in Antwerp.[3] Statues of Kiekeboe and of his daughter Fanny are placed in Middelkerke.[6] Another statue of Kiekeboe can be found in Halle-Zoersel.[7]

In 2023, after 46 years, illustrator Merho decided to stop working on De Kiebeboes.[8]

Style[edit]

'Kiekeboes', a mural in Hasselt, 1996

The creator Merho having started his career in Willy Vandersteen's studio, it was only natural for his own Kiekeboe series to follow up on those traditions, especially the best-known Suske en Wiske. Soon however, the horizon widened: contrary to his peer, Merho never applied a time machine, setting all stories in very recognisable contemporary places and atmospheres. On the contrary, themes would include actuality, up to and including social controversies like sex in general and non-conformist sexuality in particular, but also the consumption of and trade in drugs, laundering of crime money (#70), corruption of politicians (#77), and more. The Kiekeboe series can thus be said to, on the one hand, continue the tradition of Flemish family comic strips like Nero, Jommeke, Piet Pienter en Bert Bibber and Suske en Wiske within the larger picture of the Belgian Comic tradition, yet on the other hand open up to a wider view on contemporary society and politics, adapting the genre to the 21st century. On top of that, the author Merho indulges in experiments with the technicalities and limitations of the comic strip genre and medium, especially in #26. Neither does he neglect referring to the French-language counterparts in multi-lingual Belgium, Tintin and the publishers getting particular attention.

Characters[edit]

Ordered by approximate number of appearances.

  • Marcel Kiekeboe: protagonist of the comic book series, sort of an 'average Joe' with a non-descript average office job, attracts adventure and goes along with it. Thinks quite good of himself, but repeatedly turns out to be the least smart of the family.
  • Charlotte Kiekeboe: Marcel's wife, housewife, often (mostly unwillingly) joining the adventures. She's smarter and more composed than Marcel and this usually helps the family getting out of trouble. She's ever distrustful of Firmin Van De Kasseien, who always uses Kiekeboe to settle his difficult situations, either relational or business-related.
  • Fanny Kiekeboe: their daughter, around 20 years old. Socially engaged (feminism, animal rights,...), self-conscious, sexy and adventurous, she often gets in trouble. Before the 100th album, she had a new boyfriend in almost every story. After that, she was in some more or less steady relationships.
  • Konstantinopel Kiekeboe: their son, extremely smart (certainly in the first stories), in primary school. Sometimes a troublemaker, sometimes cautious, always clever.
  • The fat lady: recurring extra, appears in at least one image of every album, but never has any role of significance (though she does sometimes have an influence).
  • Jens: a professional stuntman and boyfriend of Fanny in a solid relationship around the 100th albums. Until Fanny breaks up with him. He continues to appear now and then, in recent albums, and tries to help Fanny when she's in trouble. However, Fanny also ends up saving Jens quite often.
  • Leon Van Der Neffe: neighbour of the Kiekeboe family, professional soldier but not at all a war veteran, ill-tempered and paranoid. Big enemy of Marcel - but never the 'bad guy'. On occasion, Kiekeboe and Van Der Neffe even collaborate (#12, #15). His name means (in the Antwerp patois) "next door guy".
  • Carmella Van Der Neffe: Leon Van Der Neffe's (ex-)wife.
  • Joeksel and Froefroe: Leon and Carmella Van Der Neffe's children, friends with Konstantinopel, much to the dislike of their fathers. Like many early characters, they have their names derived from the Antwerp dialect: Joeksel standing for itching, whereas Froefroe refers to the bangs haircut style - which she prominently displays.
  • Fernand Goegebuer: another neighbour of the Kiekeboe family, all-around good guy, meddlesome fool, spits as he speaks. His name stands for "good neighbour" in shrill contrast to Van Der Neffe.
  • Jozefien "Moemoe" Kiekeboe: Marcel's mother, always complaining about/to him and talking about the 'adventures' of her (never shown) best friend Mrs. Stokvis. Worse than the archetypal "mother in law" by the author's own word.
  • Inspecteur Sapperdeboere: Inspector of local police, is more interested in food than in his cases, which is why the main family has to solve them themselves.
  • Firmin Van De Kasseien: Marcel's boss, constantly has extramarital affairs with young beautiful women, often his "secretary"; and often needs Marcel to keep them hidden.
  • Balthazar: 'self-employed' thief, 'the only burglar in the golden pages', tries to do small crimes but constantly fails.
  • Mevrouw Stokvis: unseen best friend of Moemoe, even when the story revolves around her (#56), it's because she 'disappears' and she is not seen.
  • Dédé La Canaille: French criminal, is caught because of Marcel and subsequently wants to kill him whenever he regains his freedom (similar to Sideshow Bob).
  • Mona: old love of Marcel, until she gets bitten by a vampire and becomes a sexy vampirewoman, tries to seduce Marcel every time she shows up.
  • Timothea Triangl: short, transgender 'master'-criminal.
  • Nonkel Vital: Marcel's uncle, brother of Marcel's father, lives in the countryside; arch-enemy of Moemoe.
  • Leo Van Der Neffe: Leon Van Der Neffe's twin brother, works as a prison guard.

Titles[edit]

Cover to Kunst en Vliegwerk (1998), the 79th album of the then Kiekeboe series
  1. De Wollebollen
  2. De duivelse driehoek
  3. De dorpstiran van Boeloe Boeloe
  4. De onthoofde sfinx
  5. Tegen de sterren op
  6. Kiekeboe in Carré
  7. De schat van Mata Hari
  8. De Haar-Tisten
  9. De zwarte Zonnekoning
  10. De doedelzak van Mac Reel
  11. Spoken in huis
  12. De Trawanten van Spih
  13. Kies Kiekeboe
  14. Een zakje chips
  15. Mysterie op Spell-Deprik
  16. Meesterwerken bij de vleet
  17. Fanny Girl
  18. Bing Bong
  19. Geeeeef acht!
  20. De Ka-Fhaar
  21. De pili-pili pillen
  22. De omgekeerde piramide
  23. De snor van Kiekeboe
  24. De anonieme smulpapen
  25. Het plan SStoeffer
  26. Album 26
  27. De getatoeëerde mossel
  28. Over koetjes en kalfjes
  29. De zoete regen
  30. Het lot van Charlotte
  31. Klavertje vier
  32. Het edelweissmotief
  33. De een zijn dood
  34. De zaak Luc Raak
  35. Kiekeboeket
  36. Het witte bloed
  37. Jeanne Darm
  38. Prettige feestdagen
  39. De fez van Fes
  40. Villa Delfia
  41. De bende van Moemoe
  42. De spray-historie
  43. De spookfirma
  44. Hotel O
  45. Een koud kunstje
  46. Konstantinopel in Istanboel
  47. De taart
  48. Black-out
  49. De Medusa-stichting
  50. Afgelast wegens ziekte
  51. Met de Franse slag
  52. De wraak van Dédé
  53. De roze Rolls
  54. Gedonder om de bliksem
  55. Schiet niet op de pianist
  56. Het Stokvis-incident
  57. Zeg het met bloemen
  58. Haaiman
  59. De kus van Mona
  60. Het gat in de kaas
  61. De zes sterren
  62. Doorgestoken kaart
  63. Moet er nog sneeuw zijn
  64. De onweerstaanbare man
  65. De comeback van Dédé
  66. De hoofdzaak
  67. Het geslacht Kinkel
  68. Thantomthant
  69. Zand erover
  70. Witter dan wit
  71. King Sacha
  72. Het Zipan-project
  73. Hoe meer kijkers
  74. De wereld volgens Kiekeboe
  75. Het idee van Dédé
  76. Kiekebanus (this album also belongs to the series of Urbanus)
  77. Drempelvrees
  78. Havana Gilla
  79. Kunst en vliegwerk
  80. De babyvampier
  81. Blond en blauw
  82. De aqua-rel
  83. Lang zullen ze leven
  84. Het lijk had gelijk
  85. In het spoor van Dédé
  86. Misstoestanden
  87. De Simstones
  88. De hoed van Robin
  89. De S van Pion
  90. Black e-mail
  91. De affaire Chichi
  92. De Heeren van Scheurbuyck
  93. In tweevoud
  94. Taxi Comitée
  95. Alles kitsch
  96. De Incabouter
  97. Kielekiele Boe
  98. Verkeerd verbonden
  99. Mona, de musical
  100. 99 Plus
  101. In vuur en vlam
  102. De potloodmummie
  103. Heil Bod
  104. De Himbagodin
  105. Het Boerka Complot
  106. Vrolijke vrolijke vrienden
  107. Tiznoland
  108. De DT fout
  109. Een echte Vitalko
  110. Baas boven baas
  111. Dédé bij nacht
  112. En in kwade dagen
  113. De wokchinees
  114. Bij verdiensten
  115. Het boemerangeffect
  116. Boek.Bv
  117. Drie bollen met slagroom
  118. Kort en bondig
  119. Geld terug
  120. Joyo De Eerste
  121. De Kangoeroeclub
  122. Doodeenvoudig / Eenvoudig dood
  123. Vluchtmisdrijf
  124. Stinkend rijk
  125. Vrouwen komen van Mars (originally: En seks natuurlijk)
  126. Tienduizend dagen
  127. De Pepermunten
  128. Nood in Macadamia
  129. Grof Wild
  130. Het SS-Syndroom
  131. Omtrent Oscar
  132. Alle Eendjes
  133. Een dagje Dédé
  134. Schatjes op zolder
  135. Code E
  136. Schijnheilig bloed
  137. Bistro Dodo
  138. Geen rook
  139. Zonder vuur
  140. Bubbelspel
  141. De dode brievenbus
  142. Tot op de bodem
  143. De truken van Defhoor
  144. Losse flodders
  145. Wie A zegt
  146. Alibaberg
  147. Gebroken zwart
  148. Nepwerk
  149. Zo zie je maar
  150. K4
  151. Dédé en partner
  152. Niet van gisteren
  153. Achteraf bekeken
  154. Iemand moet het doen
  155. In troebel water
  156. Blauwblauw
  157. De butler heeft het gedaan
  158. Salami
  159. Onvervalst vals
  160. Patiënt zero
  161. Dood wakker worden
  162. Kind van de rekening
  163. Loft met zwembad
  164. Seizoensfinale

Special release[edit]

  1. Kiekeboe Down Under

Rides[edit]

De Kiekeboes has a simulator ride with set pieces drawn and coloured by Kristof Fagard that is located at Comics Station in Antwerp.The animation from the droptower ride was animated by Kristof Fagard and Tom Metdepenningen.

See also[edit]

• Ligne claire

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Merho". lambiek.net.
  2. ^ Kempeneers, Michel (2006-11-30). "Merho over 30 jaar Kiekeboe". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Belgium. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  3. ^ a b jns (Belga) (2006-11-29). "Kiekeboe viert dertigste verjaardag". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Belgium. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  4. ^ "Boekenverkoop Vlaanderen stijgt met 8%" (in Dutch). Boek.be. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-05-03. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  5. ^ Geeraerts, Glenn (2005-10-05). "Kiekeboe krijgt twee nieuwe vaders". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Belgium. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  6. ^ "Stripfestival focust op 30 jaar Kiekeboe". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Belgium. 2007-07-14. Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  7. ^ Simons, Marc (2007-08-27). "Merho komt handen te kort om te signeren". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Belgium. Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  8. ^ "Striptekenaar Merho stopt na 46 jaar met "De Kiekeboes": "Ik zou nu graag eens een thriller schrijven"" [Comic artist Merho stops with "De Kiekeboes" after 46 years: "I would now like to write a thriller"]. vrt.be (in Dutch). 19 August 2023.

External links[edit]

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