Raymond Leblanc

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Raymond Leblanc (b. May 22, 1915, in Neufchâteau, Belgium; d. March 21, 2008) was a Belgian comic book producer and publisher, best known for publishing The Adventures of Tintin, by Hergé and the magazine Tintin (magazine). He also worked a variety of other occupations, including a resistance fighter during World War II.^[1]

While Tintin first appeared in 1929, Leblanc launched it as a magazine (Tintin (magazine) in 1946 after he convinced Tintin's artistic creator Hergé to launch a periodical for the young.^[2]^[1] Also around this time, Leblanc started the Lombard publishing house, aimed at audiences "from seven to 77", which he sold to French buyers in 1986.^[2]

The year 1954 saw Leblanc launching two other creative ventures: the advertising agency Publiart, using cartoon characters in its projects; and Belvision studios, with hand-drawn animation produced for television.^[2] Belvision rose to become a major animation studio which produced short and full-length animated films, such as Pinocchio dans l'Espace, Astérix le Gaulois, Tintin et le Temple du Soleil, Tintin et le Lac aux Requins, and Les Voyages de Gulliver.^[2]

He received the first Alph-Art d'Honneur prize in 2003 at the 30th annual comic book festival at Angouleme, France.^[2] Leblanc died aged 92 on March 21, 2008.^[2]