Herge, creator of Tintin, saw them and suggested a comic strip, which appeared in Tintin magazine beginning in 1946.
The comic story begins with Corentin at age 14, a Breton boy in the 18th century who runs away from his abusive uncle, stows away aboard a ship, and is shipwrecked on a desert island. Soon he teams up with an Indian boy named Kim. They also add a gorilla named Belzebuth and a tiger named Moloch to their entourage.
Corentin was aimed at somewhat younger children than Alix, so his adventures were less complex, but the backgrounds were just as spectacular, and there was nearly as much nudity (especially as the two boys aged into muscular late adolescence).
Seven comic albums appeared between 1950 and 1974, rather a paltry number compared to Alix, sending Corentin and Kim to India, China, Italy, Egypt, and back to Brittany (Corentin's grandson also appeared in the 1800's Wild West). There were also novels, an animated cartoon series (1987), and an original comic strip, translated into German, Spanish, and Dutch.
Seven comic albums appeared between 1950 and 1974, rather a paltry number compared to Alix, sending Corentin and Kim to India, China, Italy, Egypt, and back to Brittany (Corentin's grandson also appeared in the 1800's Wild West). There were also novels, an animated cartoon series (1987), and an original comic strip, translated into German, Spanish, and Dutch.
Nevertheless, Corentin was never as successful as Alix, and Paul Cuvelier less concerned with homoromance; eventually Corentin gets a girlfriend, and many of Cuvelier's other works featured female nudity.
Naming animals after demons? A bit strange.
ReplyDeleteThat Wild West one is strange: It is unusual for someone so young to have already been bestowed a feather. Not unheardof, but unusual. And judging by his friend's clothing, well, a woman's dress would usually be longer, but that's nothing a man would wear, and teenage boys often preferred just a loincloth in the warmer months.
Obviously a European cartoonist, since the characters are shown having nipples.
ReplyDeleteCorentin looks very androgynous
ReplyDelete