Original publications in French Blueberry (comics)

1 original publications in french

1.1 royalties conflict (1974–1979)
1.2 blueberry s publishing wanderings (1979–1990)
1.3 death of creator (1989)
1.4 continued publishing wanderings (1990–1993)
1.5 return parent publisher (1993–present)

original publications in french


—giraud, 1975, on claim of inventing name blueberry.


—charlier, 1978, on conceiving initial countenance of blueberry.

note: english titles in parentheses exist , when first mentioned, original titles none available

blueberry first published in october 31, 1963 issue of pilote magazine – hence charlier s corresponding october 30 birth-date fictional character, when magazine printed , ready dissemination. titled fort navajo , story grew 46 pages on following issues. in series blueberry – physical appearance inspired french actor jean-paul belmondo – 1 of many protagonists; series intended assemble narrative, gravitated towards blueberry central , primary character, though series (sub-)title fort navajo, une aventure du lieutenant blueberry maintained decade original publisher dargaud numerous reprint, , international, runs, before fort navajo (sub-)moniker dropped in 1973 book publication of l homme qui valait 500 000 $ ( half-a-million dollar man ). charlier came name during american trip: when traveling throughout west, accompanied fellow journalist in love blueberry jam, in love, in fact, had nicknamed him blueberry . when began create new series, , started fall place, decided reuse friend s nickname, because liked , thought funny. [...] had no idea prove popular take on entire series, , later stuck silly name! in anecdote, charlier related how caught off guard had been, memory sieve. in first album, blueberry called steve. forgot first name , named him mike. so, in order things straight, coined him mike steve blueberry eventually; kind of forgetfulness happens me often.

due fact blueberry became popular character on in fort navajo story-arc, charlier forced about-face , started write out other main characters had in place in order make room blueberry. however, in 1 instance had unexpected side effect; when charlier killed off native-american lieutenant crowe in fifth , last installment of story-arc, la piste des navajos ( trail of navajo ), editorial offices of pilote received many angry letters readers accusing charlier of murdering sympathetic protagonist. taken aback, charlier later stated, late it, done. strange experience, giraud in particular took hard. still, while characters slated prominence written out, blueberry excepted, 1 major, recurrent secondary character written in on course of story arc in le cavalier perdu ( mission mexico ), blueberry s trusted friend , sidekick jimmy mcclure. actually, , own admission, charlier had written mcclure temporary, minor background character, giraud taken character asked charlier expand role in series, , stands out earliest known instance of giraud exercising influence on scripts of senior colleague.

in post-war europe, has been tradition release comics in pre-publication serialized magazine episodes, before publication comic book, or rather comic album (in north-american understanding though, graphic novel more applicable terminology in case, distinction being non-issue in native france), typically 1 2 year lag. in french, blueberry has firstly seen pre-publication in pilote (issue 210, 31 october 1963 – issue 720, 23 august 1973) , fr:super pocket pilote (issue 1, 1 july 1963 – issue 9, 19 october 1970) publisher dargaud, parent , main publisher of blueberry, giraud creating original blueberry art magazine covers , illustrations editorials, aside creating on occasion summarizing, introduction plates, none of reprinted in original book editions. nonetheless, of material did find way in later reprint variations, particularly in editorials of 2012 (trade) main series anthology collection – invariably called integrals in respective languages in mainland europe – of parent publisher dargaud, , in of licensees such egmont earlier german/danish/norwegian 2006-2011 all-series integral edition collection

the first (french) blueberry comic album, fort navajo , released in september 1965 , appeared 17th (and last) volume of la collection pilote series. actually, collection had been initiative of charlier himself in function publishing co-editor, , 17 titles in collection in effect dargaud s first comic album releases, , influential release @ that. in order give these releases more mature image, books start executed hard cover editions. favorably received , though not being first, hard cover format became norm in france definitively, henceforth comic albums executed in format – becoming indeed accepted mature part of french culture – , whereas vast majority of other european countries continued employ soft cover format decades come, reflecting status comic books had in societies @ time. these included time being french-belgium well, charlier s native country, same collection concurrently licensed to, , released le lombard, albeit soft cover only. charlier s initiative not entirely devoid of healthy dose of self-interest, on half releases in collection, were, aside blueberry, titles other comic series had co-created. after fort navajo , collection suspended , each comic hero hitherto featured therein, spun off in book series of own, including blueberry or rather fort navajo, une aventure du lieutenant blueberry still coined.

after dargaud had lost publishing rights on decade new blueberry titles firstly german publisher de:koralle-verlag , subsequently belgian publisher novedi, result conflict creators on blueberry royalties, series has seen, predominantly one-time only, french pre-publication in such comic magazines métal hurlant, l Écho des savanes , super as. other european countries followed same template local magazines. however, format, decades staple in europe , shaping entire generations of comic readers, went out of vogue in late 1980s/early 1990s , vast majority of european comic magazines have since become defunct mid 1990s, including belgium, country phenomenon born in late 1930s. ironically, while le bout de la piste ( end of trail ) , arizona love became main series titles see serialized pre-publication elsewhere, neither serialized such in france itself, la tribu fantôme ( ghost tribe ) had become last blueberry title pre-published such in l Écho des savanes. henceforth, new blueberry titles directly released in album format, starting 1990 la jeunesse de blueberry (young blueberry) title, le raid infernal . subsequent french magazine, or newspaper serialized publication occurred after initial book release while blueberry housed @ novedi , successor, swiss publisher fr:alpen publishers, , had included angel face in nouveau tintin, , la dernière carte ( last card ) in spirou previously, both having been serialized after respective book releases.

after charlier had died on 10 july 1989, giraud, aside completing arizona love on own, wrote , drew 5 albums, mister blueberry dust (constituting ok corral story arc), until own death in 2012. additionally, giraud scripted intermezzo series marshal blueberry (1991-2000), had no creative input la jeunesse de blueberry prequel series, after first three, original volumes.

by time giraud embarked on ok corral cycle, publishing rights had returned dargaud, , publisher decided revitalize magazine serialized pre-publication format part of marketing effort on behalf of blueberry s return (see below), albeit twist; dargaud no longer had comic magazine of own (pilote had become defunct in 1989), decided farm out pre-publication parties showed interest, resulting in blueberry titles in cycle became serialized in different publications, not comic-related origin. summer of 1997 saw serialization of ombres sur tombstone in french daily newspaper le monde, followed pre-publication of géronimo l’apache in monthly fr:bodoï comic magzine, directly before album release in october 1999 part of dargaud s substantial marketing campaign album. next title, ok corral , published in similar manner in summer of 2003 in l expressmag appendix of non-comic weekly news magazine l express.

the mere fact serious newspapers , magazines vying opportunity run blueberry in publications first (aside above-mentioned publications, newspaper france-soir had run first 2 outings of revitalized la jeunesse de blueberry series in 1985 , 1987 – see below), testament status blueberry , creator(s) had attained in french society.

royalties conflict (1974–1979)


—giraud, 1988, when asked if format change of pilote weekly monthly magazine had creators leaving.

with growing popularity of blueberry came increasing disenchantment on financial remunerations of series. in 1974, charlier made displeasure known in regard, when had angel face pre-published in nouveau tintin of industry competitor le lombard, first time blueberry adventure not serialized in pilote – nor ever again in hindsight. magazine forced drop announcement page had prepared story. unfazed, dargaud founder , owner georges dargaud, unwilling give in, countered having book released before nouveau tintin had had chance run story. giraud left on own accord. while charlier had no influence on whatsoever, did serve purpose far concerned. giraud had left blueberry on cliff-hanger angel face , resulting in insatiable demand more, putting pressure on dargaud. whenever georges dargaud asked charlier next blueberry adventure, repeatedly, charlier able respond devoid of inspiration .

as matter of fact, giraud dying leave pilote , blueberry, partly because tired of stifling publication pressure under in order produce series, partly because of royalties conflict, because wanted further explore , develop mœbius alter ego. giraud conflict godsend, @ moment charlier , had financial conflict dargaud came @ exact right time, because provided me alibi [to leave] . latter reason him leave, took on urgency after alejandro jodorowsky, impressed blueberry art, had invited giraud come on los angeles work concept designer , storyboard artist on dune movie project earlier year, constituting first jodorowsky/mœbius collaboration. eager return los angeles jodorowksy requested presence again, giraud – had returned france other work during 1 of lulls in dune production – accelerated work on angel face , underway, breaking absolute record speed-drawing , had coined it, , sheared off weeks intended completion date. giraud in overdrive fast overtook charlier s script pages (charlier habitually fed artists piecemeal script pages, couple @ time), forcing him write ten pages of story on own, charlier @ time on documentary assignment in united states french television. upon return, charlier took 1 @ pages completed in absence, , continued giraud had left off without further ado. charlier himself had left dargaud in 1972, because additionally felt ill @ ease editorial modernization of pilote, resulted 1968 revolt @ editorial offices staged key artists, chief among them giraud (see also: giraud on part in uprising @ pilote ). though charlier continued provide younger colleague scripts (but not other artists), started working documentary maker french television. while working on 2 documentaries on mexican revolution gained inspiration below-mentioned les gringos western comic series, started run in 1979 @ koralle.

it first time giraud wrote blueberry himself, , was, considering charlier s easy acceptance of giraud s writing, testament close, , trusting working relationship both men had cultivated time. incidentally, giraud intimated deteriorating circumstances @ pilote had left mark on him before left, story started in 1972/73 remained shelved until 1975 [sic.]. yet, think 1 can not discern difficult birth; there scenes, pages poured heart , soul into. true [the art for] le hors-la-loi ( outlaw ) had been quite weak, angel face made .

five years later, giraud ready return blueberry, @ long last feeling urge again so, not employ of pilote/dargaud, had formally terminated position in 1974 no intention whatsoever return, instead plying blueberry trade freelancer, publishers waving fat checks, started again. no longer same. won t taken in blueberry anymore! , referring first half of 1970s when felt smothered co-creation. yet, whole business surrounding blueberry residuals remained unresolved, , in order drive home point pe-publication of eagerly awaited nez cassé ( broken nose ) story farmed out métal hurlant magazine (published les humanoïdes associés, co-founded giraud in 1974, , in released heavy metal in mid-1970s, though story not run in american version), instead of pilote. charlier able repeat ploy after angel face stemmed proviso had built in when signed on publication, , copyrights of syndication agency edifrance/edipresse – co-established in 1955 victor hubinon, albert uderzo, , rené goscinny express purpose syndicate own , other artist s comic creations – dargaud in 1960. on occasion charlier, owning law degree, stipulated exemption clause magazine (pre-)publications of own (co-)creations. though never intended such, hitherto dormant exemption clause served him in conflict dargaud, without having fear legal ramifications on dargaud s part. yet, georges dargaud refused take bait , creators subsequently put forward jim cutlass western comic last ditch effort spell out dargaud creators had other options. dargaud still not budge. became clear charlier, left no other option leave, , did taking other co-creations him, wit redbeard , tanguy et laverdure, which, while not popular blueberry, steady money making properties dargaud nonetheless.

blueberry s publishing wanderings (1979–1990)

though still contractually obligated leave recent blueberry title, nez cassé , @ dargaud book publication, charlier , giraud threw in lot german publisher koralle-verlag – incidentally first german language blueberry book publisher in 1970s – , subsidiary @ time of german media giant axel springer se, next publication, la longue marche ( long march ). choice german publisher made ambitious international expansion strategy had in place @ time. subscribing publisher s strategy, charlier not revitalized redbeard , tanguy et laverdure comic series – having been equally devoid of inspiration these in 1974-1979 pilote-era because of royalties issue – , created new western comic, les gringos (art victor de la fuente), well. yet, charlier s business acumen, had failed recognize koralle s exuberant expansion drive had been do-or-die effort on part. in 1978 koralle on verge of bankruptcy, , scheme devised stave off fate; international expansion. in european comics world rather novel idea @ time , koralle did expand beyond german border large parts of europe variants of main publication zack magazine, revived blueberry flagship, accompanied comic book releases. did not pay off however, holding company pulled plug in 1980, leaving blueberry , others quite unexpectedly without publishing home.

it not blueberry creators left in pickle, koralle had managed convince other known franco-belgian comic artists switch sides. aside giraud s old mentor jijé (who, having abandoned own jerry spring western comic, penciling charlier s revitalized redbeard , tanguy et laverdure), these predominantly concerned artists publishing house le lombard. prominent of latter hermann huppen new post-apocalyptic western jeremiah had abandoned other famed 1970s franco-belgian western, comanche (written greg), second in renown after blueberry @ time. tapping substantial social franco-belgian comic network, charlier found jacques de kezel – highly influential behind-the-scenes figure of belgian comic world @ times, , had gathered stable of artists koralle – willing axel springer pass torch to. token of goodwill, relieved springer, turn on current contractual obligations without further ado, allowed french-language version of zack, super as, run few issues longer in order allow many series possible complete magazine run, included la longue marche . de kezel s new publishing house les nouvelles editions internationales s.a. (novedi) established in november 1980 seat in brussels, belgium. part of strategy forego on magazine of own , instead release titles directly in album format, noticed serialized comic magazine format had started wane in europe format, resulting in advantage of not having incur expenses of maintaining magazine editorial offices. still existing comic magazine elsewhere, willing publish serialized comic series after initial book releases, merely considered added bonus.

still, took time new publisher , running, , sort of stop-gap resolution had found intervening 1979-1980 period in order secure income stable of comic artists. on recommendation of charlier, has had previous dealings publisher, catalog legally, temporarily, housed @ french publishing house fr:Édi-monde of hachette group, occasion established equally temporary edi-3-bd imprint, though making use of koralle s infrastructure – allowed continue exist time being axel springer – in regard printing , distribution. impromptu publisher, edi-3-bd published around 2 dozen album titles, including la longue marche , before turning copyrights of these on novedi, started publishing in 1981. edi-3-bd published books belgium , netherlands themselves, farmed out licenses other countries, including france surprisingly, giraud s former alma mater , hachette competitor fleurus firstly became album publisher la longue marche . after novedi had become operational, business model adopted them , decided continue giraud s other alma mater hachette france subsequent titles in blueberry (and other) series in recognition of Édi-monde had provided. hachette incidentally, later acquired special, one-time license dargaud reissue entirety of blueberry series in 2013-2014 52 volume la collection blueberry anthology, each volume augmented six-page illustrated editorial.

for decade blueberry resided in calm waters @ novedi. 1980s saw 3 additions main series (completing rehabilitation story arc) 4 new titles in newly created la jeunesse de blueberry series. nevertheless, despite 2 blueberry incarnations , jeremiah being top selling series publisher, appeared financial base narrow publisher modest size of novedi, publisher went out of business in 1990, after having published approximately 120 album titles, , despite having taken on book publications france in latter half of decade. again left blueberry , others without publishing home.

death of creator (1989)


—giraud, august 1989, on script status of arizona love @ time of charlier s death.

on 10 july 1989, jean-michel charlier passed away heart condition after short sickbed. accounts charlier had been workaholic throughout career, working simultaneously on as dozen projects @ given time, steadily increasing workload grew older. heart condition had troubled him in later years , death, while sudden, not entirely surprise. charlier s penchant hard work increasingly became concern giraud when visited longtime co-worker 6 months before death, work bulimic! there 7 8 scenarios underway. life true path of self-destruction. should have seen him working @ desk! 6 months before passing, advised him calm down. artistically, replied: no, have chosen this!

charlier, having been of previous generation, conservative in nature , wary of science fiction in general, had never understood younger colleague tried achieve mœbius . nonetheless, never tried hinder giraud in least, understood artist of giraud s caliber needed mental shower time time. furthermore, charlier appreciative of graphic innovations giraud ported on work mœbius mainstream blueberry series, nez cassé , making him 1 of all-time greatest artists in comic medium , charlier himself worded in 1982. artist fr:michel rouge, taken on giraud in 1980 inks of la longue marche ( long march ) painted different picture though. recognizing 2 men living in different worlds, noted charlier not pleased giraud taking on assistant, afraid might have been prelude him leaving series in order pursue experimentations mœbius further. giraud in later life led believe charlier apparently detested other work, looking upon akin treason , though personal experiences author had kept open mind in regard, @ least in case. while charlier willing overlook giraud s wanderings in case only, otherwise of firm conviction artists, own, should totally , wholeheartedly devote craft – charlier had considered comic medium – , incongruous on part himself habitually engaged in several divergent projects @ given time. has caused many of artists problems on frequent basis, consistently , notoriously late piecemeal provided script pages, including giraud @ start of blueberry career. however, recognized quit on blueberry occupied special place in body of work, later made sure (only) blueberry artists provided scripts in timely fashion. charlier s method of working came @ cost however, scripts contained continuity errors on detail level, , included of blueberry, such in above cited instance of hero s first name. charlier has cited blueberry titles la mine de l allemand perdu ( lost dutchman s mine ) through l homme qui valait 500 000 $ ( half-a-million dollar man ) favorites potency , both story , artwise, latter making him co-winner of 1973 american comic award.

the script being one-thirds ready @ time of charlier s passing, completion of arizona love postponed giraud needed time come terms fact. due intimate twenty-five year familiarity both series , writer, foregone conclusion giraud on take on scripting of main series well, since agreed upon in contracts signed jean-michel survivor take on series . circumstance has led philippe charlier, son of deceased author , heir , steward of father s bande dessinée legacy, make unsubstantiated claim novedi surreptitiously negotiating giraud existing , future blueberry series, intent on cutting charlier family out, incongruous novedi heading toward receivership, aside fact giraud has never hinted @ such alleged dealings , no rumors have ever surfaced in otherwise tight-knit franco-belgian comic community, save claim charlier jr. himself made on single occasion in comic journal bodoï (issue 24, 1999). furthermore, per french law, charlier s widow christine remained entitled 10 percent of revenues existing , subsequent post-charlier blueberry titles, provided decent living standard, according son philippe, in effect extent contradicting own claim on same occasion. giraud, having work without safety net first time, came bouts of self-doubt , second-guessing, colin wilson (by new la jeunesse de blueberry artist) testified to, after visit giraud in period, janet , visited jean when working on arizona love – around may 1989 [sic.] think. of first pages showed radically different ones published in album later on. did not had time read scripts pages had shown us, know jean redid several pages entirely anew, before album released . giraud rejected pages published bonus in 1995 deluxe limited edition of mister blueberry , joint publication of dargaud , giraud s publishing house stardom.

stunned sudden death of longtime co-worker, took giraud 5 years before bring himself embark on blueberry again artist, after completing arizona love . giraud stated series had lost father , , mother needed time mourn .

continued publishing wanderings (1990–1993)

charlier s death coincided chance growing problems @ novedi, , giraud suggested philippe charlier, heir , steward of father s legacy, move fathers co-creations les humanoïdes associés (with whom giraud maintained close personal , creative ties after métal hurlant days – had included nez cassé – , among others having them publish acclaimed l incal series), step plate vacated novedi. yet, giraud undertook no further action himself, partly because still residing in united states, preoccupied own projects , wrapping of affairs on there before return france (and busy engaged in secret negotiations novedi), , partly because marriage first wife claudine in stages of falling apart @ time. charlier jr. approached fabrice giger, had bought giraud co-founded publisher in 1989, did not choose publishing house eventually, rather go giger s original, founding publishing house, alpen publishers, latter had set in 1988 in switzerland – though comic artists themselves, due close entanglement of alpen , humanoïdes, referred alpen humanos (see quote boxes below). turned out philippe picking father had left off. shortly after had established alpen , unbeknownst giraud, giger approached charlier sr. in 1988. veteran charlier had sensed writings on wall @ novedi , discussed plans giger have comic creations moved on new publisher, , end had arranged old friend fr:guy vidal pilote days hired editor-in-chief @ new publisher, incidentally in process doing son had accused novedi of. giger disclosed in 2008 on occasion of subsequent dealings philippe jmc aventures foundation established, intended safeguard commercial , artistic legacy of charlier s body of work. after death of jean-michel, project born between son, philippe, mother, , us, create structure dedicated continuation of series co-created charlier, jmc aventures. shareholders charlier family, stated giger, confirming preliminary dealings author in final year.

the relatively short tenure @ alpen saw release of arizona love , started under aegis of novedi, charlier had not yet contracted publisher because of hunch, leaving title legally free jmc aventures signed alpen, according giger, adding had full , immediate blessing of giraud. artist himself though, has later expressed different opinion evidenced in quotebox featured below, implied not happy behind-the-scenes machinations giger made out be, since late script partner had kept him out of loop in 1988. ironically, philippe charlier, among others, indirectly conceded point when accused giraud of wanting settle scores charlier sr. later ok corral-cycle, philippe had issues (see below). additional alpen releases included la jeunesse de blueberry title trois hommes pour atlanta , inception of spin-off series marshal blueberry 2 titles, aside additions les gringos , redbeard series, taken on other artists after both jijé , charlier sr. had passed away. while initial intention have entire body of work of charlier published @ alpen, corporation publisher did not pan out undisclosed reasons – though giger had mentioned increasingly difficult copyright negotiations other copyright holders, predominantly heirs of other artists had worked charlier, widow of jijé in particular, had taken giger , charlier jr. court. relationship ended in 1992, shortly thereafter followed demise of alpen in 1994 guy vidal moving on dargaud (having taken on writing les gringos after friend s death, until own death in 2002), though giger himself became successful humanoïdes, expanding united states humanoids publishing ltd. in 1999, in process reissuing of giraud s mœbius science fiction work.

as belgian publisher dupuis had shown interest, when serialized la dernière carte in spirou magazine in 1983, charlier jr. decided try luck @ publishing house in 1992, hermann had done jeremiah matter. however, while jeremiah has remained dupuis ever since, again unknown reasons cooperation blueberry did not seem pan out either. though dupuis did reissue (young) blueberry titles of edi-3-bd/novedi era (but none alpen publishers, or indeed of other charlier creations) under own imprint in repérages collection, no new titles released during equally short 1992-1993 tenure of blueberry @ publisher.

return parent publisher (1993–present)


—giraud, 2010, on return dargaud, , on being sole artist on blueberry.

tiring of giraud s inaction, philippe charlier took matters own hand, , had father s co-creations return parent publisher dargaud @ end of 1993 without apparent objections giraud (though had stipulated exemption non-comic blueberry art, produced either on personal title and/or own publishing houses gentiane/aedena, starwatcher graphics, , stardom – see below), , there blueberry has remained ever since. dargaud joyous occasion of having acquired copyrights of blueberry comic incarnations, reason enough ask giraud – serving sole main series artist – embark on new story-arc, resulted in ok corral cycle, last 1 of main series turned out be. how thrilled dargaud have reacquired blueberry amply demonstrated – aside decision revitalize serialized pre-publication format blueberry mentioned – in 2000 documentary mister gir & mike s. blueberry made on occasion of release of geronimo l apache , in instances shown of considerable marketing efforts publisher undertook in order promote new album – documentary therefore 1 such instance – , among others having many parisian metro stations plastered huge blueberry posters. aside this, dargaud made use of opportunity clean muddied release chronology, formalizing establishment of 3 series , restarting album numbering each in reprint runs. concurrently, international licenses renegotiated.

apart foreign language publishers , constituting break in tradition, dargaud started farm out special, one-time only, series licenses other francophone publishers, besides aforementioned 2013-2014 all-series la collection blueberry hachette, included french book club fr:france loisirs 2003 main series releases. francophone publisher granted special license main series french-belgian newspaper le soir released blueberry intégrale in 2 editions, fifteen-volume edition of 2009, , sixteen-volume edition of 2015. france loisirs release, each volume, save 3 in end, collected 2 of original albums , offered newspaper readers , subscribers. 3 single album volumes (no s 8, 15 , 16) augmented new blueberry art, featured in separate section , separately negotiated giraud s own publisher, mœbius production.

jean-michel charlier has never witnessed return of creations parent publisher, nor has ever mended fences george dargaud – publishing house charlier had made signature contributions after – , , followed charlier in death day 1 year later on july 18, 1990. large extent publication wanderings of blueberry has been mirrored in other european countries well, particularly in germany (where era referred der heimatlose blueberry – homeless blueberry ) , scandinavian countries (the danes referring era blueberrys lange march – blueberry s long march ), every publisher change followed suit similar changes among local publishers in territories well. how confusing era had been, exemplified aforementioned la longue marche title, has been released in french no less 6 publishers in time period 1980-2003, or seven, if 1 include super serialized magazine publication well.

though 2007 apaches title became last in main blueberry series, creating comics became increasingly difficult giraud because eyesight started fail him in last years, did continue create single-piece blueberry art on larger canvases on either commission basis (such aforementioned le soir editions) or under aegis of mœbius production until own death in 2012, of sold considerable prices 2005 onward, alongside older original blueberry art giraud still had in possession, in specialized comic auctions @ such auction houses artcurial, hôtel drouot , millon & associés.