Zig et Puce

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Cover of Zig, Puce et Alfred (1929) by Alain Saint-Ogan
Cover of Zig, Puce et Alfred (1929) by Alain Saint-Ogan

Zig et Puce is a Franco-Belgian comics series created by Alain Saint-Ogan in 1925 that became popular and influential over a long period, and after ended production, was revived by Greg for a second successful publication run.

Contents

[edit] Synopsis

Zig and Puce, the thin and the chubby one, respectively, are two teenagers who frequently experience adventure. On an expedition to the North Pole they meet their pet penguin, Alfred. Their adventures are often exotic, and occasionally fantastical of nature, leading to destinations such as Venus or the future.

[edit] Publication history

Zig et Puce first appeared in the weekly supplement Dimanche Illustré to the French newspaper l’Excelsior on May 3, 1925.[1][2] The third major character Alfred made its first appearance on December 25, 1925.[3] The series' style influenced by the Art-Deco trends of the period, and its engaging stories are suggested to be main reasons for its wide appeal among both adults and youth, and the subsequent success of the series.[4] It is also considered the earliest French comic strip to employ speech bubbles, the device presumed to stem from The Yellow Kid.[5] After a long run of serial and album publications, Saint-Ogan ceased to produce the series in 1954. The series was later revived by Greg who, following consent by Saint-Ogan, resumed production in the comics magazine Tintin.[6][5] It was first published on March 26, 1963, and continued serial publication until 1969.[7]

[edit] Influences

As a seminal comic strip in the bande dessinée culture, although appearing several years after Les Pieds Nickelés, Sig et Puce made an influential impact a few years before the debut of Hergé and The Adventures of Tintin.[4][8] The character of Alfred is also considered a pioneering central animal character, in the tradition of Franco-Belgian comics animals such as Milou (Snowy), Spip, Jocko, Jolly Jumper, Marsupilami and Idéfix (Dogmatix).

Alfred the Penguin was chosen as mascot by Charles Lindbergh who brought a plush effigy on board the Spirit of St. Louis for hist first transatlantic flight in May 1927.[1][8]

The character Alfred was chosen as the mascot of the 1974 Angoulême Comics Festival, and the name given to an award.[9] The term Alfred was used until 1989 when it was renamed Alph'art.[10]

Cover of Le voleur fantôme (1965) by Greg
Cover of Le voleur fantôme (1965) by Greg

[edit] Albums

[edit] Alain Saint-Ogan

Lists French album titles, titles translated into English, the first year of publication in album format, and the date of republication by Glénat. At least for the first nine albums, the republished Glénat versions have between 1 and 24 pages not included in the originals.

  • 1. Zig et Puce (Zig and Puce), 1927, Glénat 1995.
  • 2. Zig et Puce millionnaires (Zig and Puce, Millionnaires), 1928, Glénat 1995.
  • 3. Zig, Puce et Alfred (Zig, Puce and Alfred), 1929, Glénat 1995.
  • 4. Zig et Puce à New-York (Zig and Puce in New York), 1930, Glénat 1995.
  • 5. Zig et Puce cherchent Dolly (Zig and Puce look for Dolly), 1931, Glénat 1995.
  • 6. Zig et Puce aux Indes (Zig and Puce in South Asia), 1932, Glénat 1995.
  • 7. Zig, Puce et Furette (Zig, Puce and Furette), 1933, Glénat 1996.
  • 8. Zig, Puce et la petite princesse (Zig, Puce and the Little Princess), 1933, Glénat 1996.
  • 9. Zig et Puce au XXIè siècle (Zig and Puce in the 21st Century), 1935, Glénat 1997.
  • 10. Zig et Puce Ministres (Ministers Zig and Puce), unknown, Glénat 1997.
  • 11. Zig et Puce and le Professeur Médor followed by Revoilà Zig et Puce (Zig and Puce and Professor Médor ) and (Zig and Puce Again), unknown, Glénat 1997, only the first story. The second was republished in a separate album, Glénat 1998.
  • 12. Zig et Puce et l’homme invisible (Zig and Puce and the Invisible Man), 1949, Glénat 1998.
  • 13. Zig et Puce et le complot (Zig and Puce and the Conspiracy), 1950, Glénat 1999.
  • 14. Zig et Puce et le cirque (Zig and Puce and the Circus), 1951, Glénat 1999.
  • 15. Zig et Puce en Éthiopie (Zig and Puce in Ethopia), 1952, Glénat 1999.
  • 16. Zig et Puce sur Venus (Zig and Puce on Venus), unknown, Glénat 2000.
  • 17. Zig, Puce, Nénette et la baronne Truffe (Zig, Puce, Nénette and Baroness Truffe) unknown, Glénat 2001. Multiple stories, printed under slightly different titles.

[edit] Greg

Lists French titles, titles translated into English, and the first year of publication in album format.

  • 1. Le voleur fantôme (The Phantom Robber), 1965.
  • 2. S.O.S. 'Shelia' (S.O.S. 'Sheila' ), 1966.
  • 3. Le prototype Zèro-Zèro (The Zero-Zero Prototype), 1967.
  • 4. La pierre qui vole (The Flying Rock), 1968.
  • 5. Les frais de la princesse (The Princess' Expenses), 1970.
  • 6. Zig et Puce contre le légume boulimique (Zig and Puce versus the Bulimic Vegetable), after 1966.

[edit] Sources

Footnotes
  1. ^ a b Lambiek Comiclopedia. Alain Saint-Ogan.
  2. ^ de Lavarenne, Franck. Nos ancêtres les petits Mickeys (French). NotreTemps.com.
  3. ^ Joconde. Ministère de la culture - base Joconde (French).
  4. ^ a b La bande dessinée policière. Les héros pour les enfants et les adolescents (French).
  5. ^ a b Ricochet-Jeunes.org. Les classiques de la Littérature Jeunesse (French).
  6. ^ Lambiek Comiclopedia. Greg.
  7. ^ BDoubliées. Tintin année 1963 (French).
  8. ^ a b Matthys, Francis. Hergé, il y a 20 ans, jour pour jour (French). LaLibre Belgique.
  9. ^ ToutEnBD. Le palmarès 1974 (French).
  10. ^ ToutEnBD. Le palmarès 1989 (French).

[edit] External links

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