Hi all!

As an aviation AND comics (Bandes Dessinées in French) fan, I have something to ask you!

Do you have any aircraft related comics in your country?

In France, we have some series, Buck Danny, Biggles, Battler Britton etc... Below are some examples:


This is the oldest serie. Starting after the war and still existing nowadays! It was created by Hubinon and Charlier. Today, Francis Bergèse is drawing and writting the scenario. Buck Danny was an US pilot during WW2 and is still flying though he should be 80 years old! That's the magic of comic heroes!


Biggles is a well known hero. It's a caractere created by Captain W.E. Johns (though Jones never was captain!) and was used in a lot of comics! In France we have a serie that was started by Bergèse (again!) and now continues with Loutte. Both are very talented aircraft artists and are know for their work on kit box arts as well as magazine covers.
The Biggles serie sometimes publish vintage albums with copies of old Biggles comics of the 50' and 60' as well as some historical albums (Roland Garros, Bataille de France 1940, Wright brothers etc...)


The Flying Tigers have always been a subject for comics. Here I have the version of Molinari (mini serie of three albums). Pepe Moreno, though not an aviation specialist, made a one shot called Joe's Air Force.


Here you have the oldest and the newest in my collection. Battler Britton is a comic I used to read in my youth. The one on the picture is older than me! The Battler Britton comics were cheap and several artists worked on the serie wich is very inegal in quality.
The Ministry of Space is a modern comic based on the following What If? idea: what would have happened if the British had kidnapped all the German Rocket specialist at the end of WW2...

So what do you have? Some pictures would be great!

Jean-Luc

Jean-Luc,

Many thanks for sharing these BD (comics), I remember that I started first with Buck Danny in the early sixties then with "Les Chevaliers du Ciel":



Created by Jean-Michel Charlier and Albert Udezo then today with Jean-Claude Laidin and Yvan Fernandez. This is a french comic serie started in the 60s and the stories of 2 french pilots: Tanguy and Laverdure. There was also a TV serie:



This remember me with the newest aircraft of that time in France and in Europe: Dassault Mirage IIIC, French-British Concorde, British VTOL Harrier...

... and the Beatles (music only, not aircraft) !


Francois.

Hi guys

I used to have loads of one-shilling (5p nowadays) "war comics" when I was a kid, but I've never seen anything like the serious collectors' comics you show in the UK - but that's not to say they don't exist (I no comics-buff).

I think I've still got an old Aeronauts annual from about 1972 tucked away somewhere - the French TV show dubbed into English.

All the best

Rowan

If I show you some pages of Bergèse's work, maybe I'll make you change your mind!

Bergèse is very talented. He made a lot of covers of Heller kits and aviation magazines... He's one of the few who really is historicaly accurate in his aircraft representations... you're missing something!



So guys... only aircraft related comics in France?

Jean-Luc

Hi Jean-LUC

I also collect comics but only have a few that are aviation related.
These two are about a German WWI ace recalled into action for WWII


This comic is about a Hurricat ( catapult launched Hurricane from merchant ships) pilot on an arctic convoy.


I also have the Luftwaffe 1946 Tech Manual. A companion to the Luftwaffe 1946 series of comics. The technical data comes from Reichdreams.


David

Edit
Had to wait 2-3 years before the final part of Ministry of Space to be published

I think Jackflash made some models based on a series of comics about WW1. I can't remember the name of them, but I expect a search will dredge it up.

All the best

Rowan

Hi David!

I knew I would learn something by launching this topic! Your comics are interesting... I never heard of them! I'll try to buy them on the net if I can. Hope they are still available!

Are they good quality? Stupid question I know! You did buy them!

Thanks for sharing!

Jean-Luc

An old one, no longer in print, was Blackhawk: http://www.toonopedia.com/blakhawk.htm. They began in the 40s and were updated in the late 80s and 90s.

http://www.mozeyoninn.com/Ginter/NAVAL/NF31.htm
http://www.internetmodeler.com/1999/february/first-looks/fl_skyrocket.htm

I believe some company actually issued the comic book decals to be used with the model kit.

Hi again

I found Jackflash's mention of his source. Not actually comics, but Paul Hogan's 1930's pulp series "G-8 and his Battle Aces".

All the best

Rowan

Jean-Luc

The Garth Ennis written stories tend to be very dark and twisted and aimed at adults. Another aircraft related comic in the war story series is J for Jenny. Its about an RAF bomber crew.

There are lots of Luftwaffe 1946 comics. Personally I don't like there style of art work or stories. The Reichdreams plans are however excelant as are the colour aircraft side views.

David

Hi All!

I and Mrs Skipper are great fans of BD!
When we got married, I must say that suddenly we got about a hundred duplicates

Jean-Luc this is a very interesting theme!!
Appart from the Portuguese translations of Buck Danny, Dan Cooper and Tanguy & Laverdure (albums), there also the first publications of Juan Gimenez "Ás de Espadas" (Ace of Pikes) in three black and white volumes with 15 mini stories! It's all about Flying in WWII
It shall be easy for you to get it in France
When I was a kid there were some small comic books of a collection called "Falcao" (reached number 1200! - and it is very similar with Battler Britton - translation??) and some of these had stories of Major Alvega (Portuguese born, mother british, portuguese father) who was a RAF pilot... and a spy and a real adventurer
In one of Michel Vaillant albums there is a switch with the USAF Thunderbirds crew

Model related, there's also a company (Blue Rider Publishing) that makes decals for the planes that participate in "Les Aventures de Tintin" in 1/72 scale and in 1/48...
BF 109, Tiger Moth, Mosquito, Arado Ar-96 and a few more
http://www.insigniamag.com/mod72.html

I can't post any pictures because I am not at home

Skipper

EDIT: Robin, Blue Rider Publishing also makes the decals you used

Hi Rui!

I have a solution for your duplicates! send them to me! I'll pay the shipping... :-)

More seriously, the "Ás de Espadas" (Ace of Pikes) serie seems quite interesting! I'll take a look on the web. But it would be great if you could post some pictures.

I only have the album "Titania" of Giménez and one story is a mix of Sci-Fi and WW2 (see below). If the serie you mentionned is as good, then it should be great!
Giménez also did the "Meta-Barons" I think...

Talking about the plane of Tintin, the ones in the Blake & mortimer series are amazing too! Great what if! projects. An article about the planes of Blake & mortimer is in this month issue of AirMagazine (n°27)



While searching for the Giménez album I found two other aviation related comics. The first is called "Northreed project" by Goffin. It's the story of a Flying Wing inventor. It's obviously inspired by the Northrop projects.
And I almost forgot "The Rocketeer"! The story of an American pilot who finds a flying device! It's a great story with lots of planes of the 30'... and with Betty Page as bonus!!! :-)8
The story even became a movie!



There are many more planes in the books I have and I could fill this thread to death with exemples! But Chuck (CRS) would say I'm a braggard, so I'll stop here... for now! :-)

But you can post your comics guys! I know there must be more around the world I'm not aware of!

Jean-Luc

I used to be right into commando comics which covered all aspects of all wars. The best were always the airforce editions. Pity they're sooo expensive now though.

Hi all!

Just a little update with two more comics I bought a few days ago.
The first one is "Le Dernier Envol" (the last flight) by Romain Hugault. In it you can find Zeros, Corsairs, Thunderbolts, Mustangs, Messerschmitts, Liberators, Yaks, Focke Wulfs etc...
The second one is "La Cité de l'Eternel retour". In it there are Nieuports, Fokker Triplans, a Latécoère and a yellow Hansa-Brandenburg!



The last one is the Spanish "As de Pique" by Gimenez. This comic was sended to me by José Ignacio Villar (JIVS) and he asked nothing for it! So I would take this opportunity to thank him very, very, very much!



José this one's for you!

Jean-Luc