First page of student Darnis’ “Marsupilami and the Black Leopard” tribute comics. Based on the Marsupilami character created by André Franquin (©Marsu/Dupuis).

First page of student Seung Yeon’s “Marsupilami and the Black Leopard” tribute comics. Based on the Marsupilami character created by André Franquin (©Marsu/Dupuis).

First page of student Zam’s “Marsupilami and the Black Leopard” tribute comics. Based on the Marsupilami character created by André Franquin (©Marsu/Dupuis).

First page of student Beam’s “Marsupilami and the Black Leopard” tribute comics. Based on the Marsupilami character created by André Franquin (©Marsu/Dupuis).

First page of student Pear’s “Marsupilami and the Black Leopard” tribute comics. Based on the Marsupilami character created by André Franquin (©Marsu/Dupuis).

First page of student Jao’s “Marsupilami and the Black Leopard” tribute comics by Thai student Jao (page 2/2). With appropriation of art by Batem. Based on the Marsupilami character created by André Franquin (©Marsu/Dupuis).

First page of student Proud’ “Marsupilami and the Black Leopard” tribute comics. Based on the Marsupilami character created by André Franquin (©Marsu/Dupuis).

First page of student Entryh’s “Marsupilami and the Black Leopard” tribute comics. Based on the Marsupilami character created by André Franquin (©Marsu/Dupuis).

On the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of Friendship between Belgium and Thailand, and to explore the ability of comics to tackle social and political issues with much effectiveness and immediacy, 8 students at the International Program in Communication Design (CommDe, Department of Industrial Design, Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand) were asked to create 2-page comics starring the Marsupilami -an imaginary animal created by Belgian cartoonist André Franquin (for Belgian publishing house Dupuis in 1952)- and addressing the recent story of a construction company mogul charged with six poaching-related crimes (including the killing of a black Indochinese leopard/panther) in a Thai Wildlife Sanctuary. High-resolution pages are displayed at the end of this post, after an introduction to the historical context and the guest-lecture on André Franquin.

1. Historical context

The Secret Chronicles of Thungyai [Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary] (in Thai: บันทึกลับจากทุ่งใหญ่) is a journal published in 1973 by a group of students against elephant hunting (and other animal poaching) in Thailand in the aftermath of the crash of a military helicopter in the Thung Yai forest revealing an illegal hunting party of senior military officers, businessmen, family members, and a filmstar. The ‘zine’ documented “the ecological value of the area as well as the incident” (The Nation, 2018), and was accompanied by satirical illustrations from various influential cartoonists (with an introduction, and two illustrations, by the “King of Thai Cartoon” Prayoon Chanyawongse; see figure above). 200,000 copies of the student journal were sold in 2 weeks (Eawsakul, 2015), fuelling nationwide public outrage. “In a time of great political unrest the incident became a focus for the prevailing discontent with the military rule” and “a rallying cry for the pro-democracy movement” (Seub/Stewart-Cox 1990:34), triggering public protest and demonstrations. “The protests were suppressed on October 14, with scores of killed, followed by a great number of students fleeing to the forest to join communist groups” (The Nation, 2018). The bloody crackdown ultimately led to the fall of the Thanom-Prapas regime. “The area finally was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1974 under a new democratic government” (Buergin, 2001).

“Premchai Karnasuta, far left, sits in the campsite where he was found with the remains of a leopard, panther and other wildlife Monday in the Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi province” (Photo: khaosodenglish.com).

“Authorities found two rifles, a double-barrelled shotgun, various bullets, the body of a Kalij pheasant, a muntiacini deer carcass, a skinned and salted black leopard and a black panther skull in the camp” (Photo: khaosodenglish.com)

44 years later (on February 5, 2018) in the same Wildlife Sanctuary, construction company mogul Premchai Karnasuta -the 63-year-old president of Italian-Thai Development- and three other men were charged with six poaching-related crimes after they were caught with “two rifles, a double-barrelled shotgun, various bullets, the body of a Kalij pheasant, a muntiacini deer carcass, a skinned and salted black leopard and a black panther skull”. (Thaitrakulpanich, Khaosod English, 2018a). “Investigators examining Premchai’s camp site found cooking equipment they believe the rotund CEO used to consume the animal. The black leopard, commonly called a black panther in Asia and considered a vulnerable species, was killed by gunfire” (Thaitrakulpanich, Khaosod English, 2018b). Mr Premchai and other suspects still deny the charges against them, which include illegal hunting and possessing firearms in a sanctuary.” A ranger and his coworkers have told police that the powerful construction magnate they arrested on suspicion of poaching a rare black panther tried to bribe them” (Thaitrakulpanich, Khaosod English, 2018c). “The case has sparked a fierce outcry from environmental groups, celebrities and the public in general” (Bangkok Post, 2018). “As people following the case have shown dissatisfaction with the slow pace of the investigation, many have expressed their feelings regarding the case, and the hunting of endangered big cats in general, in many ways.” A campaign calling for the prosecution of a construction tycoon over “his alleged killing of a black leopard and other protected animals has expanded, with people expressing their grief and anger in essays, poems, paintings and, in the latest development, street art” (Chimprabha, The Nation, 2018). It was just about time to address the issue in #ArtOfThePanther comics form…

(Note: sources at the end of this post).

#Artofthepanther by Thai cartoonist Puck

#Artofthepanther by Thai cartoonist Tumz Horriziny.

Art by Thai cartoonist Puck

#Artofthepanther by Thai cartoonist Puck

Alex Face’s “artwork depicted the artist’s famous graffiti character Mardi wearing a black-leopard costume and a mask with a Pinocchio nose” (Marisa Chimprabha, The Nation).

#Artofthepanther by Thai artist Zing.

2. “From Harvey Kurtzman to André Franquin” guest lecture

On Wedneday February 7, I had the pleasure to be invited to hold a guest lecture for ajarn Oat Montien’s Visual Narrative course at the International Program in Communication Design (CommDe, Department of Industrial Design, Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University). My topic was the evolution of Comics Art from American cartoonist Harvey Kurtzman (1924-1993), with complete analyses of his classic short comics BIG ‘IF’! (Frontline Combat #5, March 1952) and 3-DIMENSIONS! (art by Wally Wood, MAD #12, June 1954), to Belgian cartoonist André Franquin‘s (1924-1997) creations such as Gaston Lagaffe and the Marsupilami, and Les Idées Noires (Die Laughing, soon in English by Fantagraphics).

Contextualizing Harvey Kurtzman and Bernie Krigstein’s stories, and MAD magazine.

Analysis of Harvey Kurtzman’s classic Korean War story “The Big ‘IF’!”.

Contextualizing Jijé, André Franquin and René Goscinny’s milestones, and “Spirou” and “Pilote” magazines.

E.C. Segar’s character Eugene the Jeep (that Marsupilami creator André Franquin liked as a child).

The lecture also included an analysis of the comics masterpiece Master Race by (Al Feldstein &) Bernie Krigstein (Impact #1, EC Comics, April 1955), and a presentation of the seminal role of French comics writer René Goscinny (The Adventures of Asterix) and Belgian cartoonist Jijé (figurehead of the Marcinelle School, author of seminal semi-realistic comics series Jerry Spring and mentor of André Franquin, Smurfs‘creator Peyo, or Jean Giraud/Moebius) in the development of humour, realism, and more adult content in Franco-Belgian comics (influenced partly by American cartoonists such as Harvey Kurtzman and Milton Caniff).

Original artwork (detail) and panel from “Spirou: Les Petits Formats” by André Franquin (and Roba), Dupuis, 1960.

Influence of the Atom Style on the Marsupilami’s tail (and other designs in comics from the “Marcinelles School”).

Belgian cartoonist Hergé, creator of the Adventures of Tintin, stated: “Franquin is a great artist. Next to him, I’m only a mediocre pen-pusher”. Fantagraphics’ Kim Thompson agreed with Tintin’s creator, writing that “in terms of ultra-classic greatness, Hergé has that abstract line but Franquin has something else. He created the most complete, the most alive, the most absolute cartooniness in comics history” (source: The Comics Journal).

Page from “Le nid des Marsupilamis” (The Marsupilamis Nest, 1956, ©Dupuis) where young Marsu parents learn to untie the knots in their offspring’s tails.

Cover of the upcoming English translation of André Franquin’s classic “Les Idées Noires” (under the title “Die Laughing”, from Fantagraphics).

On 31 January 1952, the first appearance of the Marsupilami in the adventure of Spirou et les Héritiers (Spirou and the Heirs) in the weekly Spirou magazine marked a generation of readers. The myth did not need decades to settle permanently (MarsuPro). The original Marsupilami was found from the jungle of Palombia, a fictitious South American country, by adventurous journalists Spirou and Fantasio and their squirrel Spip. The marsupial was taken to Belgium, where he was shortly kept in a zoo (Comic Vine). The Marsupilami will later accompany Spirou and Fantasio in many adventures, before returning to Palombia and have adventures of its own. The Spirou et Fantasio album Le nid des Marsupilamis (1956) is mostly concerned with female reporter Seccotine‘s documentary-within-the-comic about the life of a family of Marsupilamis still living in the wild in Palombia. Marsupilamis have a long, strong, flexible, prehensile tail, used for almost any task. They are able to use their tail as a weapon, by tightening the end into a fist and the remainder of the tail into a spring-like spiral for maximal force (see figure above). Marsupilamis must regularly defend themselves against poacher Bring M. Backalive and his associates…

Tribute to André Franquin by Belgian cartoonist René Follet. With Spirou, Fantasio, and the Marsupilami.

Pages from “Spirou et les héritiers” (“Spirou and the Heirs”) by André Franquin, serialized in “Le Journal de Spirou” (Dupuis) in 1952. Set in Palombia, a fictional South American country, and introducing the Marsupilami character for the first time.

Original artwork (half-page) for a “Gaston Lagaffe” strip by André Franquin.

Original artwork for “Les Idées Noires” (“Die Laughing”) by André Franquin.

Marsupilami tribute by René Hausmann, and screenshot from the Marsupilami live action movie.

For those interested, comic books of Spirou and Fantasio (with the Marsupilami) and Marsupilami adventures are available in English from Cinebook.

Cover of “Spirou and Fantasion: The Marsupilami Thieves” available in English from Cinebook.

Cover of “The Marsupilami #01: The Marsupilami’s Tail” available in English from Cinebook.

 3. Presenting 1940s-1970s issues of Spirou magazine

After the lecture, CommDe students had the opportunity to flip through a collection of 1940s-1970s classic and rare issues of the Franco-Belgian Spirou magazine (with Spirou/Marsupilami pages by André Franquin, Jerry Spring pages by Jijé, Johan and Peewit pages by Smurfs creator Peyo, etc.), and issues of the Spirou magazine mythic supplement Le Trombone Illustré. I would like to thank warmly Philippe Capart, owner of the bookstore La Crypte Tonique in Brussels, who helped me to select and acquire the issues of this invaluable collection used for my comics courses in Thailand.

CommDe students flipping through 1940s-1970s issues of the “Spirou” magazine (with some Spirou/Marsupilami stories, Jijé’s Jerry Pring pages, and “Le Trombone Illustré” supplement).

CommDe students flipping through 1940s-1970s issues of the “Spirou” magazine (with some Spirou/Marsupilami stories, Jijé’s Jerry Pring pages, and “Le Trombone Illustré” supplement).

Yours truly showing anti-Japanese propaganda in a Superman page published in an issue of the British “Overseas Comics” (issued during WWII, only to members of the Allied Armed Forces by arrangement with the War Office). And “DNA-tracking” the influence of American cartoonist Milton Caniff’s chiaroscuro and realistic style on Hugo Pratt’s Corto Maltese (then Frank Miller’ Sin City), Belgian cartoonist Jijé (1914-1980; then Jean Giraud/Moebius), and American cartoonists Harvey Kurtzman and Wally Wood…

Students were given one week to develop the layouts of their Marsupilami and the Black Panther two-page comics. During the following lesson, ajarn Oat Montien -with the assistance of yours truly- gave comment and advice on the comics layouts (see figures below).

Marsupilami sketch by CommDe student Arty.

Marsupilami comics layouts by CommDe student Darnis.

Marsupilami comics layouts by CommDe student Zam (and commented by ajarn Oat Montien).

Marsupilami comics layouts by CommDe student Proud.

Ajarn Oat Montien supervising the layout composition of the Marsupilami comics developed by CommDe students.

4. “Marsupilami and the Black Panther” tribute comics

One week after presenting their layouts, the 8 students of the Visual Narrative courses submitted the final version of their comics! Enjoy!

Sources

Bangkok Post (2018, March 7). Black leopard soup confirmed in poaching case. Bangkok Post.

Buergin, R. (2001). Contested Heritages: Disputes on People, Forests, and a World Heritage Site in Globalizing Thailand, SEFUT Working Paper No. 9, University of Freiburg, p.5.

Chimprabha, M. (2018, March 8). Art breathes life into black leopard campaign – despite repeated attempts at suppression. The Nation.

Eawsakul, T. (2015), Cartoon Thai Tai Laew (catalogue expo, “การ์ตูนไทยตายแล้ว”, “Is Thai Cartoon Dead?”). Bangkok: PUBAT, The Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand, n.p.

Seub N., Stewart-Cox, B. (1990). Nomination of the Thung Yai – Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary to be a U.N.E.S.C.O. World Heritage Site. Bangkok: Royal Forest Department.

Thaitrakulpanich, A. (2018a, Feb 6). Italian-Thai President Charged with Poaching Wild Animals. Khaosod English.

Thaitrakulpanich, A. (2018b, Feb 8). Rangers: Premchai ate the Leopard in a Soup. Khaosod English.

Thaitrakulpanich, A. (2018c, Feb 8). Forest Ranger: Poacher Premchai Offered Bribe. Khaosod English.

The Nation (2018, Feb 7). Hunting arrests recall events leading to 1973 uprising crisis. The Nation.