Spirou (, ; ;
Walloon for "squirrel", "mischievous"; nl, Robbedoes, link=no) is a Belgian comic strip character and protagonist in the comic strip series ''
Spirou & Fantasio'' and ''
Le Petit Spirou'', and the
eponymous character of the Belgian comic strip magazine ''
Spirou''.
History
The character was originally created by
Robert Velter
François Robert Velter (; 9 February 1909 – 27 April 1991), known by his pen-name Rob-Vel (), was a French cartoonist. He is best known for creating the character '' Spirou'' in 1938.
Biography
Like ''Spirou'', Velter began his career as ...
(Rob-Vel) for the launch of ' (''
Spirou'' magazine) in 1938.
''Spirou'' was originally an
elevator operator and
bell-boy at the fictional Moustique Hotel. At some point he became a reporter for the eponymous magazine, though he remained dressed in his trademark red uniform.
Spirou's design was changed through the years by the various writers and artists who created
his adventures but he has kept his spiky red-hair and clothes of the same colour even after ditching his hotel uniform.
Character

In contrast to
Tintin, Spirou is more frequently shown doing some reporting in several of his adventures. While he and reporter colleague
Fantasio occasionally pursue stories, in most cases they simply find themselves in the centre of adventures. An honest and brave young man of
indeterminate age, he tries to fight injustice around him and help people. He is usually more level-headed than Fantasio, who always accompanies him, along with the pet squirrel
Spip, and during the period of
Franquin authorship, the
Marsupilami.
Spin-off
A six-year-old version of Spirou is the star of the spin-off series ''
Le Petit Spirou'', which is concerned with his tribulations at school and the anatomy of girls. This later series and its star are generally acknowledged to have little in common with the old one.
In 2018 a theme park in
Monteux
Monteux (; oc, Monteus) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
Geography
Monteux is near Carpentras, in middle of Comtat Venaissin, and around 20 km from Avignon, in the ...
, , inspired by this character, was opened.
In popular culture
Spirou is part of the
Comic Book Route and can be found at Place Sainctelette in Brussels.
Spirou at Place Sainctelette
References
Belgian comics characters
Spirou et Fantasio
Fictional characters from Wallonia
Fictional servants
Comics characters introduced in 1938
Magazine mascots
Male characters in comics
Mascots introduced in 1938
{{FrancoBelgian-comics-stub
de:Spirou und Fantasio#Spirou