François Robert Velter (9 February 1909 – 27 April 1991), known by his pen name Rob-Vel, was a French cartoonist best known for creating the iconic comic character Spirou in 1938.
Biography
Rob-Vel was born on 9 February 1909 and began his career in the world of comics and illustration at a young age. At the age of 16, he worked as a lift attendant at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in London, a job that paralleled his creation of the Spiroucharacter, who also began his adventures as a bellboy.
Velter’s early exposure to the world of comics came when he worked as an assistant to American cartoonist Martin Branner on the Winnie Winkle strip from 1934 to 1936. This experience helped Velter hone his craft as an illustrator and cartoonist, ultimately leading to his most famous creation.
Creation of Spirou
In 1938, Rob-Vel was tasked with creating a new character for a Belgian comic magazine, Le Journal de Spirou, published by Éditions Dupuis. This led to the creation of Spirou, a young bellboy at the Moustic Hotel (later named the Hotel Mosquito), which was introduced in the first story, Groom au Moustic-hôtel (Bellboy at the Hotel Mosquito). Spirou’s distinctive red outfit and energetic personality made him an instant favorite among readers.
Later in the same year, Velter introduced Spirou’s loyal companion, Spip, a squirrel that would become a central character in the series. Spip was first featured in the story L’héritage (The Inheritance), further establishing the beloved duo that would go on to become central to Spirou’s identity.
Military Service and Aftermath
In 1940, Velter was drafted into the military, and during his service, he was wounded. His wife, Davine (Blanche Dumoulin), temporarily took over the Spirou strip during his absence. Despite his challenges during the war, Rob-Vel’s creation of Spirou continued to flourish, and the character maintained popularity throughout the years.
Later Career
After the war, Velter worked on a number of other strips, including Le Père Pictou, Les Tribulations du Chien Petto, Bibor et Tribar, and the newspaper comic M. Subito. However, none of these works achieved the same widespread success as Spirou. Although he continued to work in comics, Velter never regained the level of popularity he had with Spirou, which had become one of the most successful and enduring comic characters in French and Belgian comic history.
Legacy
Rob-Vel’s creation of Spirou remains his most significant contribution to the world of comics. The character’s enduring popularity and the influence of the Spirou magazine continue to shape European comics to this day. While Velter’s later works did not reach the same level of success, Spirou and his companion Spip continue to be remembered as two of the most beloved characters in the history of French-language comics.
Rob-Vel passed away on 27 April 1991, leaving behind a legacy as one of the pioneers of French and Belgian comic strips.