Blake and Mortimer

Blake and Mortimer is a series of Cartoon created by the Belgian Edgar Pierre Jacobs, in 1946 and taken again by Bob de Moor, Jean Van Hamme, Ted Benoit, Yves Sente, André Juillard and Rene Sterne. Initially published by the editions of the Lombard, it from now on is published by the editions Blake and Mortimer, a subsidiary company of the Groupe Dargaud. It was prépubliée during many years in the newspaper Tintin.

The first steps of the saga are found with very similar characters in " the Ray U " , of the same author (published in Cheer in 1943). But the presence of an young woman will not be included in the world of the newspaper of Tintin which is addressed to a young male assistantship at one time which did not know school co-education yet.

History

The concept

The series puts in scene two heroes, Sir Francis Blake, a military career (origin RAF) placed at the disposal of the British secret services of against military espionage (MI5), and his/her friend the professor Philip Mortimer, specialist in Nuclear physics, who often find himself confronted with their large enemy the colonel Olrik sometimes accompanied by his henchmen such American Sharkey, Razul (of the tribe of Bezendjas) or the shady Jack. In certain albums, the presence of the Blake Captain is only anecdotic. It will be noticed that Nasir, a native sikh Indian continent which had been put at the service of the two friends, will disappear as from the moment from the decolonization.

The charm of the series is due inter alia to an erudite mixture of Réalisme , Fantastique and Science-fiction . So in the Secrecy of the Swordfish the adventure is especially of order military and technological and in the Mystery of the large pyramid rather historical and esoteric, with the albums like the yellow Mark , the Enigma of Atlantis or the diabolic Trap interfere with skill face as well the warlike or police action as the use of the scientific discoveries.

Several albums gave rise to sound versions, either in disc, or in radiophonic diffusion in the Années 1960. The series was adapted for television in the form of animated series in the Années 1990.

E.P. Jacobs is characterized in particular by its will from realism and exactitude in detail. Often working according to photographs or sketch of locations, it created a world in which the fiction becomes thus completely plausible. The precision is found in the reconstitution of the courses as well on the deadlines as the crossed places, " S.O.S Metéores" who is held between Paris and the area of Versailles being exemplary on this subject.

Moreover, by respect of the reader, it was essential to put it in an environment which can enable him to learn all while being distracted. In this respect the guided visit of the museum of Cairo is edifying, like that of the Tour of London or the Parisian basement.

One can also speak in the setting in scene about his labels about catches about sights, and this in a way completely comparable with those of the cinematographic art.

It is also a large Master of lighting, with the use of coloured environments (in particular orange reds, greens and gray blue) which underline the intensity of the situations.

Another of caracteritic of the series is the abundance of didascalie, and some Phylactère S contain very dense texts. This aspect, to bring back to research precision of Jacobs, was worth with the series a reputation of “talkative” cartoon. This characteristic all jacobsienne is explained on the one hand to the fact that historically the cartoon as a narrative figuration was forced to be agreed by the editors of first half of the 21st century to make pass the text before the image, the " ballon" being honni because regarded as involving idleness and loss of the use of the reading; in addition with the will to tell a history which instructive is coupled with the taste for the effects of the theater.

A recurrent theme is the advance of the heroes in a world closed (and often underground), sown enigmas and traps until the final exit in full light. Various psychological interpretations could be given on the reasons of the interest of the author for these initiatory searches.

Finally one notices a rate/rhythm extrèmement constant in the course of the history. This is in particular related to the fact that before the publication in album, the publication was carried out - as for the other authors until the beginning beginning of the year 1980 - in a weekly way with only one board at the same time (Blake and Mortimer was in fourth of cover of the newspaper of Tintin). So the Stripsodie was broken up to bring a bounce each week and to contain an element suitable to create in each end of page strong waiting of the continuation.

Characters

Main characters

Other important characters

By order of appearance in the series:

Gerard Lenne, in his book Blake, Jacobs and Mortimer (editions Threshold/Archimbaud, 1988) noted that all the important characters of the saga Blake and Mortimer divided themselves in fact in three categories: scientists, warriors and the traitors, whose three principal heroes Mortimer, Blake and Olrik, are the first representatives.

Albums

Edgar P. Jacobs

  • the Secrecy of the Swordfish - Publication in the newspaper of Tintin, at a rate of a board per number; starting from September 26th, 1946 in Belgian edition and of October 28th, 1948 in French edition. In albums in 1950 (volume 1: " The fantastique" continuation;) and in 1953 (volume 2: " SX1 against-attaque").
  • the Mystery of the large pyramid - Publication in the newspaper of Tintin, starting from March 23rd, 1950. In albums in 1954 (volume 1: " The papyrus of Manéthon") and in 1955 (volume 2: " The room of Horus").
  • the yellow Mark - Publication in the newspaper of Tintin, starting from August 5th, 1953. In the album in 1956.
  • the Enigma of Atlantis - Publication in the newspaper of Tintin, starting from October 19th, 1955. In album in 1957.
  • S.O.S. Meteors - Publication in the newspaper of Tintin, starting from January 8th, 1958. In album in 1959.
  • the diabolic Trap - Publication in the newspaper of Tintin, starting from September 22nd, 1960. In album in 1962.
  • the business of the collar - Publication in the newspaper of Tintin, for a great part at a rate of two boards per number; starting from August 24th, 1965 in Belgian edition and of October 7th, 1965 in French edition. In album in 1967.
  • 3 Formulas of the professor Satō - Publication of the first part (" Mortimer with Tokyo") in the newspaper of Tintin, starting from October 5th, 1971. In album in 1977.

E.P. Jacobs and Bob de Moor

Before its death, Jacobs has left scenario and cutting very precise, as well as boards crayonnées, that Bob De Moor completed in a graphic style which moves away considerably from the original, 18 years after the first part of the adventure and whereas started to appear pirated versions of the end of the history.
  • 3 Formulas of the professor Satō 2 - Publication (" Mortimer against Mortimer") in Hello data base (successor of the Newspaper of Tintin to Lombard) starting from the n°5 in 1990. In album the same year.

According to the characters of E.P. Jacobs

Several albums were published after the death of E.P. Jacobs, following a leading will to prolong the series. Their authors are located in the line of the school of the clear line respecting so much the spirit which the form of the adventure and adding to the initial characters of complementary lightings (the first meeting of Blake and Mortimer teenagers in India, new use of Nasir which joined Indian against-espionage,…) A first album was published by Jean Van Hamme and Ted Benoit. This last being long in finishing the drawings of the second album the Strange Appointment , one second team - Yves Feels and André Juillard - is charged by the editor with producing his own album, the Machination Voronov . It is the second time, since the case of Bore-red, that two teams of authors work in parallel on the same series of Franco-Belgian cartoon.

To appear

Pastiches/Parodies, and stories derived

  • 1974 : It was less Five , Bob de Moor (of the Studios Hergé), Tintin Hebdoptimiste n°73 - 2 pl.
  • 1978: S.O.S Meteors , Bob de Moor, the Newspaper of Tintin n°49 (cf will infra) - 1 pl.
  • 1978: the Theater of Jacobs - Special issue E.P. Jacobs (and Pastiches!), The Newspaper of Tintin n°49 (April)
  • 1980: the Mark Rose , Roger Brunel, Pastiches t.1, ED. Glénat - 2 pl. (and appearances in the t.5 and 6)
  • 1980: Homage to Jacobs , by Filip Denis, in IEA , n°2 (1st trim.) - 6 pl.
  • 1982: Black and Mordecker , Toni Jacquobs, Bédésup n°21 - 2 pl.
  • 1984: enthralling Adventures of Blake-Mortimer , Al Voss, Parodies , ED. Humanoïdes Associated - 1 pl.
  • 1986/1987: Microprocessing extended its mark on the city… , the Unhappy one tried to computerize itself! , Informatiseurs often is most badly computerized , Mission " Solo" , Ted Benoit, booklets CCM Microphone n° 1 to 4, ED. C.C.C. Microphone and the RIO Agency - 4 X 2 with 3 pl.
  • 1987: Mystery with Montreuil - an investigation of Blake and Mortimer , Ted Benoit still, ED. the Town hall of Montreuil and the Agency Signal Media - 2 pl.
  • 1990: Flake and Oldtimer , Aubert and Arleston, Parodies 3 - Twenty years after , ED. Sun Productions - 2 pl.
  • 1992: the Small Bird will die , Hardy and Yann, Croq the Life n°1 - 1 pl.
  • 1993: the Small Theater of Olrik , Jochen Gerner, ED. International Files (mini-portfolio)
  • 1998: the Motionless Adventure , Andre Juillard and Didier Convard, ED. Dargaud (an epistolary exchange at the end of the lifetime with illustrations showing the out-of-date heroes)
  • 1999: Flake and Morniver - the Mystery of the Whiting , D. and B. Hambucken - 5 pl. (1 publication Internet)
  • 1999: Philip Mortamer, or the Frustration of the Swordfish , Dirick, ED. Pictoris Studio - 8 pl.
  • 2003: Adventures of Swartz and Totenheimer, according to the characters of Adolf Hitler by Emile Cheer, published in Scrap illustrated n°23
  • 2005: Adventures of Philip and Francis - Threats on the Empire , Pierre Veys and Nicolas Barral, ED. Dargaud (complete album)
  • 2006: Adventures of Black and Supreme Mortamère , volume 1, Pixel Avenger, ED. The Cyclist/Parental Advisory (idem)
  • 2007: Black and Mortamère screws the system , volume 2, Pixel Avenger, ED. The Cyclist/Parental Advisory (idem)

One can still quote:

  • a written enigma of A.P Duchâteau ( 3 Formulas of the Professor Jacobs - Hebdoptimiste Tintin n°73, 1974 special the Ray U)
  • Ulna and the Yellow Mark by Deceived (Hebdoptimiste Tintin n°73, 1974)
  • " Adventures of Patrick Maudick" of P. Dumas
  • " The mark bleue" by P. Dubuck (for the Agreement Group)
  • drawings of Floc' H (with the presence of the book The Mega Wave ( the Wave Méga in French: *) at a secondhand bookseller, and that of Septimus to the Club (in " The appointment of Sevenoaks")
  • the transposition of the sequence on the Lathe of London per G. Chaillet (pages 26 and 27 of the album " Vasco - Sortiléges"),

these authors thus sharing a wink with their readers who have the same taste for E.P. Jacobs.

(*: this little book yellow fabric, of D John Wade, initially published with the editions James Thornley in 1940 , dedicated with Mr. Macomber, eminent criticizes scientific " Daily Mail" , was exhumed by the editions Alain Littaye in 1981, at the time of the exit of the Pulling of Head of E.P. Jacobs, 30 Years of Cartoons , with the assistance of François Rivière and Stephan Bielikoff) (not to confuse it with the portfolio the Wave Méga of editions MGA in 1988)

Another Adventures

10th with 13th adventures of B & M , by order of chronological result which are only appeared in cartoons:
  • the Heritage of the Viking - Scenario Russel Craig Richardson, 1997, ED. Ellipse Animation, 45 '
  • the Secrecy of the Easter Island - Scenario Veronique Hairbaut, 1997, ED. Ellipse Animation, 43 '
  • the Door of the druid - Scenario Jean-Christophe Derrien, 1997, ED. Ellipse Animation, 43 '
  • the Will of the alchemist - Scenario Eric Rondos, 1997, ED. Ellipse Animation, 45 '
(with 4 new drawings of covers jackets (NR) , by Citel - televised Cartoons - 9 first adventures also in animated version)

Interactive games

  • ROMANIAN CD the Diabolic Trap , ED. Multi-media index +/France Telecom, 1997 (one of the very first ludic ROMANIAN CD on the French market)

Discography

The first six adventures except the Enigma of Atlantis gave place to radiophonic versions, of 1955 to 1961, taken again in discs (3 first at Festival or Philips, then Musidisc), audio cassettes (5th and 6th adventures, for Pullings of Head), and audio CD (for the 5 settings in waves, with final). (with Yves Brainville, Jean Topart, Henri Guisol, Jean Served, Henri Virlojeux, Bruno Cremer, Jacques Morel, Roger Carel…)

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