Modeste et Pompon

Mausi and Paul ( Modeste et Pompon ) is a Belgian comic book series, which consists mainly of unilateral humorous short stories about a spirited young man (Paul ) and his girlfriend ( Mausi ).

Background

The series was created in 1955 after a dispute of the comic artist André Franquin with his publisher Dupuis, editor of the magazine Spirou. From anger at Dupuis Franquin had hired briefly when rival newspaper Tintin, where he had immediately signed a five-year contract with him.

In collaboration with the then little-known scriptwriter René Goscinny ( the author of Asterix ), Peyo ( creator of the Smurfs ), Greg (later authored among other works by Andy Morgan, Comanche, Bruno Brazil, Luc Orient ) and Tibet ( known by Rick Master) was a cheerful family Gagstrip which has recognizable references to American models like Donald Duck or even Blondie.

The dispute with Dupuis was settled shortly thereafter and returned to Franquin Spirou. Since the five-year contract with Tintin had to be fulfilled however, it came to the unique situation that Franquin for both leading Belgian comic magazines of the time worked at the same time. Overall, Franquin drew 183 episodes of Mausi and Paul. But when his contract expired in 1959, he sold the rights to the characters to the publisher of the Tintin magazine, where you handed over the care of the series Dino Attanasio.

Later signatories of the series, which was continued until 1988, were Mittéï ( 1968-1975 ), Griffo (1975 ), Du Pont ( 1976-1984 ), Thomas Eric ( 1981) and Wally ( 1980-1988 ).

Main characters

• Paul ( Modeste ) is an imaginative, but easily excitable young suburbanites who quickly loses his temper when things do not go as intended. Paul is the sole main character of the series, which is the focus of each episode. In character he recalls the one at ( Franquin ) Fantasio, but also to Donald Duck. He dreams of peace and humble happiness, but something he regularly comes in the way. If it doesn Felix and his inventions, his nephew or the bad neighbor, then he fails - as Donald Duck - reliably to the malice of the object or of his own inadequacy.

• Mausi ( Pom-Pom ) is Paul's girlfriend. Your identification signs are a ponytail that is held by two black (white on special occasions ) pompoms, and her red (sometimes yellow ) dress with white collar, white belt and patch pockets white. Although the series is also her first name, she has only a minor role. It is limited to please Paul and interact reassuring during its regular eruptions on him. While it appears at first in at least one image of each episode, they have to share later increasingly involved with other characters her supporting role:

• A recurring cause of countless outbursts of Paul is his cousin Felix. He is a pesky sales agent / seller who repeatedly attempts to supposedly groundbreaking inventions such as super glue, stain remover, Schnellfärbemittel, remote controls, etc. to the man. Regularly should be his first customer and inevitably lead his sales presentations in the disaster Paul. Felix reminiscent in many ways of Franquin later masters of creation, the ingenious office boy Gaston Lagaffe.

• Another parallel to Donald Duck are the three nephews. Actually Félix is her uncle, but they are regularly seen in Paul, they drift through their stupid jokes and despair. At their first appearance they were still five of us and were considered the smaller cousins ​​of Felix - rather than his nephew - introduced. Then their number was reduced initially to four and finally to three. With one exception ( Dede / Amadeus) they have no name, but they can be at their head hair and the color of their shirts (blue, white and red) apart.

• Amusing topic of many episodes is the relationship of Paul to his neighbors. His left neighbor is the pot-bellied parasites Mr. Meier ( Monsieur Dubruit; You Bruit = French for " noise " ) with his loud family. Meier is a creation of René Goscinny, who penned all come gags with Meier. Meier is, as its name suggests, in the original, a pain and falls Paul by his insolence to the load.

• Charged a very different kind is Paul's relationship with his neighbor on the right, Mr. Mayer ( Monsieur Ducrin ), Mayer was penned by Greg. He is an irascible and ever bad-tempered misanthrope, with the Paul permanent feud. Although the disputes with its neighbors is a constant of the series, to Meier and Mayer series meet not once during the entire term.

The albums

Between 1985 and 1989 a total of 9 albums have been published by Comicplus in Germany:

Documents

• Franco Belgian comic (factory )
• Cartoon character
• Fictional Couples