ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of Franco-Belgian comics

Franco-Belgian comics go a long way back in history, little buddy! In the early 1900s, newspapers and magazines started printing comic strips, which were short stories with pictures that usually just took up one or two pages. These comic strips were really popular and soon led to the creation of comic books!

Now, in some countries, people made comics just for kids, but in France and Belgium, the comics creators decided that their stories should be for everyone, not just kids. So, their comic books had characters that were funny, adventurous, and even a little bit naughty.

One of the most famous characters in Franco-Belgian comics is Tintin, created by a Belgian artist named Hergé. Tintin is a young reporter who travels all over the world solving mysteries and getting into crazy adventures with his dog Snowy.

Another popular character is Asterix, created by French artist Albert Uderzo and writer René Goscinny. Asterix is a tiny Gaulish warrior who keeps his village safe from the invading Romans with the help of his super-strong friend Obelix and a magic potion made by the village druid.

There are so many other amazing Franco-Belgian comic books and characters, like Lucky Luke, Spirou, and The Smurfs. These comics often feature detailed artwork, interesting storylines, and humor that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

And even now, many years later, Franco-Belgian comics are still very popular and loved by people all over the world. So, grab a comic book and get ready for some adventures!