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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