Belgian · 1924–1997
Belgian cartoonist who brought kinetic energy to Franco-Belgian comics. Born in Brussels, he joined the Spirou studio young and took over the character in 1946. He created Gaston Lagaffe—an office slacker who destroys everything he touches—and the Marsupilami. His drawing is virtuosic: motion lines, rubbery physics, expressive chaos. Depression limited his output in later years, but each album influenced subsequent cartoonists. Gaston ran from 1957 to his death, capturing the absurdity of office life through slapstick. Franquin's line remains inimitable.