ASTERIX AND THE EVOLUTION OF BANDE DESSINÉE: Pilote magazine and René Goscinny

[@analogcomics]

Some more European comics infotainment. This was so far the most difficult case to put together. So many threads to combine but I’m happy with the result. I hope comics fans watching this get some value out of it too😊 And if nothing else you can always give thumbs up to Asterix💪🏻

[@simonward-horner7605]

Fascinating. Thanks.

[@ve2vfd]

Great video! As many French Canadians who grew up in the late 60s and early 70s in Montréal, I devoured Tintin, Astérix and many other Franco-Belgian comics. As I became an older teenager, my favourite Pilote comic was Achille Talon by Greg. I always thought Achille working for "Polite" magazine (a parody of Pilote where many of the characters were parodies of actual employees, including Goscinny!) was sheer genius!

[@analogcomics]

Achille Talon is something I've wanted to sample. I just found out that there is at least one story translated into Finnish years ago! Now I have to keep my eyes open for a second hand copy. It's crazy how often European creators of this era had their colleagues and friends appear as cameos in their adventures. It must've been like a teenage boy humor as a new story was published and they waited for their colleagues to find out that they have been included as a character.

[@ftloc]

What a video, sir! Your scripting, editing - everything has gone to another level. The spotlight you shine and love you exude has always been clear, but I love seeing the expansion of the skills and expression. Just fantastic, I say. Hello Green Manor!

[@analogcomics]

I am somewhat taken over by those feeling thingies getting this from you. This is because your production has always had alarming amount of talent you are unable to keep hidden: script, editing, music, sound, color correction etc. I see your work as bench mark - and inspiration - for us casuals. But yes, this video was exceptional in the sense that it in fact had a well planned script. I am slowly starting to prefer that approach as it makes the filming experience easier and faster. Next step is to get a hold of how to live stream. Both Green Manors were enjoyable! I've been hoarding Cinebook lately.

[@ftloc]

@@analogcomics I can tell you that the effort, whether it is in the script or the editing, definitely shows and makes a difference! And how about that Cinebook Livestream then? 😁😁

[@joxer96]

Another great video! I wasn't aware of the Goscinny / Kurtzman connection, very interesting. As always, thank you for putting the time and effort into these videos, they are truly excellent!

[@analogcomics]

Thank you! There's a bit more to unpack in that connection that is linked to European comics but I don't know yet how to accomplish that. I'll wait until my both brain cells activate. But I am already planning another video about René Goscinny. It'll be something quite different than anything I've done so far.

[@s.satishkumarams6575]

Good work sir, the way you connected US's sifi/HM to europian influence and traced it back to Disney influence is artfully done.

[@analogcomics]

I have to admit I get the kicks form the fact that you specifically bring up that bit. I admit putting in - on purpose - a bit more poetic stuff on top of the facts than usual. Nice to hear it was appreciated.

[@johnnzboy]

Subscribed! I was recommended your video on "The Ballad of René Goscinny" and intrigued, I started to watch - dutiful viewer that I am, I followed your instruction to watch this video first - I'm glad I did, you've really whetted my appetite to know more about the history of Franco-Belgian comics - it's a subject that I've always been somewhat interested in (I enjoyed Asterix as a kid, though I preferred Tintin, my high-school French teacher would use various Spirou strips in class and I got into Fluide glacial and a few other BDs when I lived in France a few years ago), but now that I have your informative videos, I'm ready to immerse myself fully. But first I'll complete "Goscinny's strange deaths" (great click-baity title) and then explore your back catalogue :) Looking forward to it!

[@analogcomics]

Thank you for your kind words. I do these history vids to make BD more accessible and comments like this is the energy that drives me. I think you chose the right order for these two vids. In fact most of the history ones are linked in some way. I don't have many vids out yet but if you choose the ones with a blue background in thumbnails you get more of the history stuff. Deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole😊And more coming next year. The rest is me learning to use camera and edit software😅

[@wrestledeep]

I would LOVE to see you one day do a lesson of the evolution of ligne claire and how it evolved into Atomic Style.😅💝🎁

[@analogcomics]

I've received many requests to talk about Atomic Style. Never say never but at the moment I am drawn to other details in BD history. The truth is I try not to plan this too much forward and just "float" to a direction of my personal interest in any given moment. Also Atomic Style is a more vague subject and has less info available - at least in English.

[@eichhornchenwibbleflup7688]

Excellent video as always! Thanks!

[@analogcomics]

Thank you!

[@sanmamiac]

Now you have to do a deep dive into Heavy Metal Magazine

[@analogcomics]

That would be an episode I would watch myself too! Not sure if I have the competence for it though. Heavy Metal is a strange beast. It outlived Metal Hurlant becoming its own thing. As an American publication in a way it stopped being part of the Bande Dessinée history as such. For American readers It was a rare window into European comics culture. And that made the whole USA-Europe comics loop even stranger. I bought Heavy Metal magazines in 90's whenever I had money for it. I still have those issues. All those French comics had to go to USA for translation to be shipped back to Europe so I could read them.😅

[@HobbiesofaMan]

You always make amazing videos man!

[@analogcomics]

That is a big compliment. Thank you!

[@vincentflannigan2727]

Wake up babe new Analog Comics video on Bandes dessinée

[@analogcomics]

😄

[@exmagnolia]

8:35 I never knew that Lucky Luke was published in Tintin at some point (1976-1977). So it went from Spirou to Pilote (and then its own magazine) and then Tintin. BTW, Goscinny was also Lucky Luke's writer in the classic era.

[@analogcomics]

You touch many important points I had to leave out. That cover is from Tintin Nouveau which - technically - isn't quite the magazine I was talking about in the video. I chose those covers to make sure people don't confuse Spirou- and Tintin-magazine with the albums of those characters. Having Lucky Luke in Tintin cover was the universally safest bet. Tintin magazine in its death throes changed names few times and Tintin Nouveau was just one phase before its discontinuation. So it is a Tintin magazine but not from its strong years I was referring to. It's a good thing you brought up Goscinny /Lucky Luke here. I had to leave it out as it created yet another branch that would've complicated the story. I had planned to include a mention of this but actually just forgot to do that😅Goscinnys life and Lucky Luke are both subjects I'll return to later.

[@wrestledeep]

Thank you! Thank you! For this informative and thought-provoking educational feature. This is the first time (in English) here on KZbin that someone actually made a deep-dive into the history of European Comics. As an independent artist from the States, this really introduced me to how much a powerhouse Goscinny was in this medium. Generally here in the States, (with our limited knowledge and information) Herge alone has been touted as the "Walt Disney" of European Comics. Now i see the truth. Hopefully this is not the end!😢💔 What will be the next step in this historical lesson of the Evolution of Bande Dessinee? I remember hearing that there was a lot of swapping and stealing of the creators back and forth from the big two comic companies.

[@analogcomics]

Your comment is heart warming as making this info easily available is one of the main reasons I do this. While Herge is undisputably one of the most important figures in European comics I'd rather give "Walt Disney of European Comics" title to Goscinny. I say this because Goscinny was very involved in cartoons/movies too. And he did that because it was truly one of his passions - not just something you had to do to promote comics. With Uderzo he even set up their own studio(Studios Idefix) to produce these cartoons - which kickstarted also the French cartooning. This is interesting angle to Goscinny but as I'm not that big fan of Tintin/Asterix movies I'm not sure if I'll go any deeper into this subject. I have seen them but even as a kid I preferred the comics. Having said that The Twelve Tasks of Asterix is something I remember fondly. I got even scared in movie theater as it had ghosts in it and I was then very much afraid of ghosts😊 I have plenty more ideas that dwell in the Franco-Belgian scene. As this video pretty much concludes the main time line of BD's beginnings I will focus more on certain creators or series. Tintin and Spirou had non-written agreement not to hire competitors creators if they still had on going contract. I'm sure there was some luring done between the contracts. It's both fascinating and frustrating that information from those times is mostly based on anecdotes.

[@wrestledeep]

@@analogcomics thanks. From what i understand, André Franquin himself was an example of an artist being lured from one magazine to another. (am i correct with this statement?) In my personal opinion, i strongly believe that Franquin WAS THE BEST technically gifted European Cartoonist. PERIOD! I wish I could make a video backing up my hypothesis with evidence to prove this. it would be fun 😆🤣🤣 But as far as pure cartooning, no one could match him. I believe Herge himself said the very same thing.

[@analogcomics]

@@wrestledeep It was Franquins own decision to leave Spirou(actually Dupuis as it was the publisher) as they were wrestling about contractual issues - meaning money. He signed a five year deal with Tintin. However dispute with Dupuis was soon solved and he returned to work in Spirou too. This strange detail means he was the only creator to work simultaneously for both Spriou and Tintin. After his five year contract with Tintin ended he left and continued with Spirou. I share your enthusiasm for Franquin. His black&white panels in Angouléme BD museum made the biggest impression on me. For me Uderzo was the only artist to match Franquin in black&white. This is of course matter of preference but many regard Franquin as factually the best so there is definitely universal appeal in his style. I have plans for Franquin themed videos but honestly it's a big task and will take time. And, yes Herge mentioned that compared to Franquin he is only a mediocre artist.

[@wrestledeep]

@@analogcomics Wow!! This is the kind of topics that i would LOVE to see in-depth videos about. I am sure many would love these tidbits of information that many of use are not privy to. I would LOVE to get your TOP TEN LIST (video) of your favorite Spirou/Tintin artists of all time and the reasons why. That would be fun. from around the 50's to the early 80's seems to be the greatest creative period of these European cartoon magazines as far as artistic content in my opinion.

[@s.satishkumarams6575]

Waiting for your next video....

[@analogcomics]

Such a heart warming message. I am in the process of updating my gear - and also enjoying the last remains of Finnish summer☺Sorry to keep waiting but there're still some technical details I need to solve.

[@comicsfan1973]

Nice sequal

[@captainlengthwidth6692]

Love how you have the marvellous Green Manor on your shelves there but I was surprised you didn't even mention many of the other successful, and long running, French weekly and monthly comics like Fluide Glacial (running since 1975 founded by ex-Pilote contributors Gotlib & Alexis a year after Métal Hurlant and still running) or L'Écho des Savannes, Pif Gadget (which ran weekly for over 20 years and was the home of Hugo Pratt's Corto Maltese). or BoDoï , Lanfeust Mag, or (A Suivre), even the short running Pavillon Rouge! I know there is only so much you can cover in a short time but I hope you don't accidentally leave people with the idea that Pilote, Spirou, and Tintin were the only comics in the kiosks.

[@analogcomics]

Green Manor is a great series! I even forced my friend to read it - and he liked it too😄 I left a lot of history and details out of this video intentionally. I'm sure there is also a lot stuff that I left out for the simple reason I didn't know about it. When I decided to take the task of unwrapping the history of BD I knew a lot of trimming was needed. There is so much data that the problem will always be what to leave out rather than is there enough. I need to set strict lines when planning these videos. Also I approach this from a marketing point of view. It requires cutting the massive and complex histoty into small and simple pieces. Because of this I feel sometimes that I am butchering the subject. But I always try to remind myself that I am doing these bits if information mainly for those who don't know rather than the aficionados. As for the other comics magazines I mentioned how creators were setting up their own magazines left and right but I avoided going deeper into that territory. I am not sure yet if I'll do deep dive into them later or if I think they are the kind of info readers will find themselves if and when they get more into European comics. Having said that your comment alone brought a lot of good extra info for anyone interested in French comics magazine scene.

[@adrihans1870]

have you ever visited the Comic Book Museum in Brussels? I have a feeling you would enjoy it a lot

[@analogcomics]

Haven't visited but will do so if I ever travel there. I visited BD Museum in Agoulême during the comic book festival. Amazing place! BTW I saw your comment about Big Nose-style(on another video) but it seems to have disappeared before I got to answer😐It's good to know it's still in every day use somewhere as I don't recall anyone using that here in Finland.

[@adrihans1870]

@@analogcomics I deleted the comment as I saw later that you told the same already in the video. so you were already aware of it :)

[@analogcomics]

@@adrihans1870 Aah, OK. I got worried that YT started auto removing comments. All comments are welcome and no need to remove them😊This way I’ll learn about comics scenes in other countries.