Born in Wilrijk, near Antwerp, Werner Goelen, otherwise known as Griffo, studied for seven years at the Academy of Fine Arts. He then lived for three years within a community of artists, where he discovered comic books through an underground magazine the community published, called "Spruit." Meanwhile, he was also doing illustrations and caricatures for the magazines Mimo, Extra and Humo.
In 1975, Griffo took on Franquin's series "Modeste et Pompon" for Tintin magazine.
But he just wasn't all that convinced by his dabbling in comedy, and so he got into advertising, with a little foray into erotic illustration for Biofot Publishing.
He traveled widely, and then returned to realism with the publisher Michel Deligne, for whom he created "L'ordre du Dragon Noir" (1982), a Bob Wilson adventure which was a precursor to the series "Munro, " which Griffo published with Dupuis, in collaboration with author François Di Giorgio.
Philippe Vandooren, then editor-in-chief of Spirou magazine, offered him the opportunity of illustrating "S.
O. S. Bonheur, " a story conceived by Jean Van Hamme for a TV series that never came to fruition. This trilogy, converted into comic book format, inaugurated in 1988 the Aire Libre collection, which would again feature Griffo in 1994 with "Monsieur Noir" (Europe Comics 2017), a two-part fantasy series with author Jean Dufaux.
As he became increasingly inspired by adult comics, Griffo focused his output on storylines by Jean Dufaux, and the pair went on to produce the series "Béatifica Blues" (Dargaud 1986), "Giacomo C." (Glénat 1988), and "Samba Bugatti" (Dargaud 1992).
He also collaborated with Patrick Cothias on the historical epic "Cinjis Qan" (Glénat 1996), and "Le Pension du docteur Eon" for the Signé collection at Le Lombard (1998).
He stayed with Le Lombard for "Vlad, " created in collaboration with Swolfs, to be followed by "Sherman" and "Golden Dogs" with scriptwriter Stephen Desberg (Europe Comics in English).
Jef Nys (30 January 1927 - 20 October 2009)
As a little boy, Jef Nys is completely captivated by the first full-colour animated feature film ever. After seeing Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, he grabs a pencil and starts drawing the characters...
The film left such an impression on him that, years later, when he is studying at the art academy, he is still dreaming of a career in animation.
In 1945, Nys wins a drawing contest of the Flemish satirical magazine 't Pallieterke with an original design drawing of a bank note and is offered the position of illustrator and (political) cartoonist.
He is still a member of the 't Pallieterke editorial staff when he starts working on his own projects.
In 1952, he creates 'De lotgevallen van Jef Neus' (The adventures of Jeff Nose) for Gazet van Antwerpen and two years later, 'De lotgevallen van Amadeus en Seppeke' (The adventures of Amadeus and Joseph) for Het Handelsblad van Antwerpen. This comic book series is the predecessor to 'De belevenissen van Jommeke' (The adventures of Jeremy). Many of the characters and titles would later be rewritten or changed so they would fit in in the Jeremy universe.
When 't Pallieterke starts to sail a radical Flemish course, Nys leaves the ship to become an independent co-worker of Kerkelijk Leven.
In order to address more and younger readers, the paper asks Nys to supply a weekly children's page. From 30 October 1955 onwards, his chubby five-year-old character named Jommeke (Jeremy) appears in Kerkelijk Leven in a weekly gag strip. The children's page is a huge success and Jeremy rapidly gains popularity. The next three years, the fair-haired comic book hero will liven up the pages of the paper.
By the end of the 1950's, Jef Nys is working for the newspaper Het Volk.
In De jacht op een voetbal (The hunt for a football), Nys introduces Jeremy to the readers of the paper. His comic book hero is a couple of years older, which allows him to go on real adventures. Suspense, action and a surprising plot: Jeremy's first adventure is a hit. In no time, his comic book hero wins the hearts of the Flemish readers.
During his years with Het Volk, Jef Nys also draws a series of true-life stories for the paper's supplement 't Kapoentje.
Around the same time, Nys - who is still very fond of the Walt Disney films - introduces Jeremy to a party of dwarfs, amongst whom the bizarre duo Langteen and Schommelbuik (Longtoe and Rockabelly).
The new characters are well received by the readers and Nys decides to create a new comic book series about the two dwarfs.
By the end of the 1960's, Nys hires a team to help him write new scenarios and draw the comic books. He sets the bar high: the drawings have to be perfect, each and every single one of them. Since 1998, Philippe Delzenne and Gerd Van Loock write and draw Jeremy's adventures.
Nys' daughter Agnes does the colouring of the pages.
Jef Nys followed the adventures of his brainchild until he passed away in 2009. His last request was that the comic book series would be continued after his death. Nys drew up a charter outlining the conditions the drawings and scenarios must meet. The tone of the stories has to remain positive and neutral. For the next 70 years after his death, the adventures of Jeremy may never be linked to alcohol consumption, sex, violence or political parties.
In short, Nys wanted to preserve the tradition and spirit of the adventures of Jeremy.
Born in Wilrijk, near Antwerp, Werner Goelen, otherwise known as Griffo, studied for seven years at the Academy of Fine Arts. He then lived for three years within a community of artists, where he discovered comic books through an underground magazine the community published, called "Spruit." Meanwhile, he was also doing illustrations and caricatures for the magazines Mimo, Extra and Humo.
In 1975, Griffo took on Franquin's series "Modeste et Pompon" for Tintin magazine. But he just wasn't all that convinced by his dabbling in comedy, and so he got into advertising, with a little foray into erotic illustration for Biofot Publishing.
He traveled widely, and then returned to realism with the publisher Michel Deligne, for whom he created "L'ordre du Dragon Noir" (1982), a Bob Wilson adventure which was a precursor to the series "Munro, " which Griffo published with Dupuis, in collaboration with author François Di Giorgio.
Philippe Vandooren, then editor-in-chief of Spirou magazine, offered him the opportunity of illustrating "S.
O. S. Bonheur, " a story conceived by Jean Van Hamme for a TV series that never came to fruition. This trilogy, converted into comic book format, inaugurated in 1988 the Aire Libre collection, which would again feature Griffo in 1994 with "Monsieur Noir" (Europe Comics 2017), a two-part fantasy series with author Jean Dufaux.
As he became increasingly inspired by adult comics, Griffo focused his output on storylines by Jean Dufaux, and the pair went on to produce the series "Béatifica Blues" (Dargaud 1986), "Giacomo C." (Glénat 1988), and "Samba Bugatti" (Dargaud 1992).
He also collaborated with Patrick Cothias on the historical epic "Cinjis Qan" (Glénat 1996), and "Le Pension du docteur Eon" for the Signé collection at Le Lombard (1998).
He stayed with Le Lombard for "Vlad, " created in collaboration with Swolfs, to be followed by "Sherman" and "Golden Dogs" with scriptwriter Stephen Desberg (Europe Comics in English).
