Zantafio is a recurring fictional antagonist in the ''

Spirou et Fantasio ''Spirou & Fantasio'' (), commonly shortened to ''Spirou'', is one of the most popular classic Franco-Belgian comics. The series, which has been running since 1938, shares many characteristics with other European comics, European humorous adventu ...

comic book A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...

series. He was created by

André Franquin André Franquin (; 3 January 1924 – 5 January 1997) was an influential Belgian comics artist, whose best-known creations are ''Gaston (comics), Gaston'' and ''Marsupilami''. He also produced the ''Spirou et Fantasio'' comic strip from 1946 to ...

and first appeared in ''

Spirou et les héritiers ''Spirou et les héritiers'', written and drawn by André Franquin, Franquin, is the fourth album of the ''Spirou et Fantasio'' series, and a great leap in the expansion of the Spirou universe. After serial publication in ''Spirou (magazine), Spir ...

'' (1952). Zantafio bears a strong resemblance to Fantasio, because they are cousins. In '' Le dictateur et le champignon'' (1953), he is a South-American

dictator A dictator is a political leader who possesses absolute Power (social and political), power. A dictatorship is a state ruled by one dictator or by a polity. The word originated as the title of a Roman dictator elected by the Roman Senate to r ...

of the fictional country Palombia.

Character evolution

Zantafio first appears at an inheritance contest, arrogant and in debt. He and Fantasio are the only heirs, and he who wins three challenges wins the inheritance. After continually employing dirty tactics and still losing, Zantafio admits defeat, claiming to see the errors of his cheating ways, and feels guilty about it. The cousins part on good terms while searching for the

Marsupilami ''Marsupilami'' is a comic book character and fictional animal species created by André Franquin. Its first appearance was in the 31 January 1952 issue of the Franco-Belgian comics magazine '' Spirou''. Since then it appeared regularly in th ...

in the Palombian rainforest. Yet, Zantafio, under the alias of ''General Zantas'', returns as the dictator of the country, much to the surprise of Spirou and Fantasio. He offers Spirou and Fantasio a place within his army, but they are repulsed by Zantafio's change in personality. No longer friendly, Zantafio becomes merciless, brutal, and drunk on power. Spirou and Fantasio, with the inventions of the Count of Champignac, initiate a revolt in Palombia. During the revolution, Zantafio is ousted from power and disappears into the jungle. Zantafio later strikes back at his cousin by framing him for thievery. He employs special henchmen to impersonate him and therefore disgrace him, but Spirou manages to foil his plans. Zantafio continues to return several times as the nemesis antagonist, exploring many variants of crime. He even becomes Zorglub's second-in-command and then tries to replace him to gain power in ''L'ombre du Z'' (1956). When Fournier took over the series, the criminal organisation known as the Triangle became the main recurring antagonist focus of the series. In ''Tora Torapa'' (1973), Zantafio returns as leader of the Triangle. After Fournier left the series, Zantafio disappeared for a long time as well: the new creative team of Broca & Cauvin created new villains for their short run and their successors Tome & Janry started out their run creating own villains well. Their ''La jeunesse de Spirou'' included a story from the spin-off series '' Le Petit Spirou'', which showed Zantafio as a child (but still wearing a moustache), but this story was done for comedic purposes. In ''Spirou à Moscou'' (1990), Zantafio returns, as the "White Prince of the Russian Mafia", attempting to become the new

Tsar Tsar (; also spelled ''czar'', ''tzar'', or ''csar''; ; ; sr-Cyrl-Latn, цар, car) is a title historically used by Slavic monarchs. The term is derived from the Latin word '' caesar'', which was intended to mean ''emperor'' in the Euro ...

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

. He uses the alias, as well as the anagram, "Tanaziof". When Morvan and Munuera took over as Spirou creative team, Zantafio returned in their second issue, ''L'homme qui ne voulait pas mourir'' (2005).

Appearances

*4. ''

'' (Franquin) *7. '' Le dictateur et le champignon'' (Franquin) *8. ''

La mauvaise tête ''La mauvaise tête'', written and drawn by Franquin, is the eighth album in the ''Spirou et Fantasio'' series. After serial publication in '' Spirou'' magazine the complete story was published, along with the Marsupilami short story ''Touchez pas ...

'' (Franquin) *16. '' L'ombre du Z'' (Franquin) *20. '' Le faiseur d'or'' (Fournier) *23. ''

Tora Torapa ''Tora Torapa'', written and drawn by Fournier, is the twenty-third album of the ''Spirou et Fantasio'' series, and the author's fourth, following the ''Spirou'' retirement of André Franquin. The story was initially serialised in '' Spirou'' maga ...

'' (Fournier) *42. '' Spirou à Moscou'' (Tome & Janry) *48. ''L'homme qui ne voulait pas mourir'' (Morvan & Munuera) *55. ''La colère du Marsupilami'' (Yoann & Vehlman)

References

{{Spirou & Fantasio Spirou et Fantasio Fictional dictators Comic strip villains Male characters in comics Comics characters introduced in 1952 Characters created by André Franquin