Lambik is a Flemish comic book character from the Belgian comic strip series Spike and Suzy by Willy Vandersteen. In the English translations he is known as Orville or Ambrose. Lambik is the breakout character of the franchise and one of the most popular and recognizable comic book characters in Belgium and the Netherlands.[1]
Lambik is a middle-aged, fairly fat man who is bald, except for three small hairs behind each of his ears. He often wears a white shirt, a black bow tie and black pants. He is an anti hero. He is a dumb, clumsy, vain, arrogant, absent-minded, aggressive, stubborn and dominant character, but has a heart of gold and provides comic relief in the series.
Lambik's popularity is so huge that he was also a main character in one of Vandersteen's other series, "De Vrolijke Bengels" (1950-1953), and a spin-off series of "Suske en Wiske" called "De Grappen van Lambik" ("The Jokes of Lambik") (1955-1962).
Origins
Willy Vandersteen drew Lambik in the winter of 1944-1945 on some white sheets of paper, before he started Suske en Wiske a year later. The character was initially called "Pukkel" ("Pimple"). Later he was named "Lambik", based on Vandersteen's favorite beer style Lambic. He made his debut in De Sprietatoom ("The Tiny Atom") (1946) where he introduces himself as an amateur detective and part-time plumber. In later stories Lambik sometimes performs these professions again, but usually he is able to do other jobs as well.
Character
Lambik is an anti-hero. In early stories Lambik was extremely stupid, clumsy, absent-minded and untrustworthy. He often gets in the way of the main characters, even betraying them sometimes, and is more an obstacle than an aid. In later stories Lambik lost some of his stupidity, though not much, and became more vain and dominant. He has a tendency to overestimate himself and his big mouth brings the others often in serious troubles. Lambik is also easily fooled and is usually the last or only one not to realize this. He can be very cowardly and put the blame for his mistakes on others. Sometimes he gets aggressive and feels mistreated by society, which causes him to flee to other places.
Lambik is also greedy and in several stories he tries to get rich, powerful, respected or a beautiful female partner. He is prone to seduction and often has to consult his conscience. Over the course of the series he has betrayed his friends regularly, yet he always makes up for the damage he caused.
Vandersteen saw Lambik as his favorite character, almost an alter ego.[1] Much like Wiske, Lambik is very popular among readers because of his recognizable human errors. Despite all that he is still a good person. He helps victims and people who are oppressed and always shows huge concern for his friends.
Blue series
In the "blue series" stories Vandersteen drew for the magazine Tintin, Lambik is drawn in a more anatomically correct and athletic fashion and is more brave, heroic and cunning compared to the "red series". This was done at request of Hergé, who wanted the series to be more in line to the style of the magazine.
Family history
Lambik had a few historical ancestors. Lambiorix (pun on Ambiorix) was chieftain of the Eburones.[2] In the 16th century a certain Evariste lived in Binche.[3] Two centuries later Johan Matheus Lambik was part of the Buckriders.[4] Lambik's grand uncle, Hippoliet, was introduced in "De Formidabele Fantast" (2005).
Lambik's father, Papal-Ambik, was a poet who was incarcerated in a mental institution. Lambik and his brother Arthur freed him and brought him to the African country Rotswana (pun on Botswana), where he and Arthur still live.[5] Papal-Ambik had a singing career at one point.[6] Arthur is able to fly after eating a certain plant.[7]
Lambik was born on the 14th.[8] The month is never mentioned, but since his astrological sign is Virgo[9] he is probably born on 14 September. According to him "the youth was still working in mines when he was young".[10] He had blond, reddish hair as a child.[11] In some stories he claims to be a veteran from the First World War and when danger lurks about he fetches his army uniform and weapons.[12] In later stories the material is described as "souvenirs" from that era.
Spin-off appearances
Due to Lambik's popularity Vandersteen used him, Suske and Wiske as characters in his other series "De Vrolijke Bengels" between 1950 and 1953. In 1955 Lambik got his own spin-off series called "De Grappen van Lambik", which was a gag cartoon series. The series was published in syndication until 1962 and spawned three albums. In 2005 Studio Vandersteen rebooted the series with new gags. Four new albums were made until the series was terminated in 2007.
In popular culture
Lambik inspired the name of the Dutch comic book store Lambiek in Amsterdam. The unusual spelling of the name is due to the fact that the early Dutch publications of "Suske en Wiske" called him "Lambiek". The emblem on the store's sign is an image from the Suske en Wiske story "Prinses Zagemeel" ("Princess Sawdust") (1947-1948) and represents Lambik's metamorphosis into a centaur.[13]
In the puppet series "Suske en Wiske" (1975) Henk Molenberg did Lambik's voice. In the Suske en Wiske musical "De Stralende Sterren" (1994) Ronald Van Rillaer played the part of Lambik.[14] Since the success of this play he became the official performer of Lambik in all stage adaptations of "Suske en Wiske", including "De Spokenjagers" (2002) [15] and "De Circusbaron" (2008).[16] In the live-action movie De duistere diamant[nl] (2004) Dirk Roofthooft played the part. In the 3-D animated movie Luke and Lucy: The Texas RangersLucas Van den Eynde was Lambik's voice.
Lambik has a statue in Middelkerke, among other Belgian comic strip characters. It was sculpted by Monique Mol and placed in 2005. It depicts Lambik as he appears on the cover of the album "De Sprietatoom" (1946), in which he made his debut.[17]
Lambik can also be seen as part of an illustrated wall dedicated to "Suske en Wiske" in the Laekenstraat in Brussels, Belgium. It was unveiled on June 15, 1995.[18][19]
Sources
1 2 Van Hooydonck, Peter, "50 Jaar Suske en Wiske", Standaard Uitgeverij, 1995.
The Adventures of Nero or Nero was a Belgian comic strip drawn by Marc Sleen and the name of its main character. The original title ranged from De Avonturen van Detectief Van Zwam in 1947 to De Avonturen van Nero en zijn Hoed in 1950, and finally De Avonturen van Nero & Co from 1951. It ran in continuous syndication until 2002. From 1947 until 1993 it was all drawn by Sleen himself. From 1992 until 2002 Dirk Stallaert took over the drawing while Sleen kept inventing the stories.
Spike and Suzy, Willy and Wanda or Luke and Lucy is a Belgian comics series created by the comics author Willy Vandersteen.
Suske is one of the main characters in the popular Belgian comic strip Suske en Wiske by Willy Vandersteen. He is the boy of the duo.
Wiske is one of the main characters in the popular Belgian comic strip Suske en Wiske by Willy Vandersteen. She is the girl of the duo. Together with Lambik she is one of the most popular characters in the franchise.
Willebrord Jan Frans Maria "Willy" Vandersteen was a Belgian creator of comic books. In a career spanning 50 years, he created a large studio and published more than 1,000 comic albums in over 25 series, selling more than 200 million copies worldwide.
Paul Geerts is a Flemish comics artist who succeeded Willy Vandersteen as the main artist of the Spike and Suzy series.
The Blue Series is the name of one of the series' of the Suske en Wiske books, written by Willy Vandersteen. The Blue Series is shorter than the other two series - The Red Series and the "specials" - but is possibly the most popular. The Blue series is so called because the covers of the books were blue.
Notable events of 1945 in comics.
Luke and Lucy: The Texas Rangers is a 2009 animated western comedy adventure film released on 21 July 2009 as the first of it kind to be created in Belgium in a projected 13 animated films, at a rate of one per year. The film is based on the Belgian comic book characters Luke and Lucy. The film is directed by Mark Mertens and Wim Bien, and produced by Skyline Entertainment, in partnership with CoToon, LuxAnimation, BosBros, and WAT Productions. The film was first announced in a 1 July 2005 press release. The Flanders Audiovisual Fund announced on 20 April 2006 that it would provide €12,500 for script development, and a further €237,500 was announced in September 2007 for production of the film. The total budget of the film is €9 million, making it the most expensive Flemish-Belgian film to date.
Galerie Lambiek is a Dutch comic book store and art gallery in Amsterdam, founded on November 8, 1968 by Kees Kousemaker. His son Boris Kousemaker has been the owner since 2007. From 1968 to 2015, it was located in the Kerkstraat, but in November 2015, the store moved to Koningsstraat 27. As of 2018, Lambiek is the oldest comics store in Europe, and the oldest worldwide still in existence.
Krimson is a Flemish comic book character and the main antagonist in the Belgian comic strip series Suske en Wiske. He is a doctor, billionaire and supervillain who wants to take over the world.
Professor Barabas is a Flemish comic book character from the Suske en Wiske series by Willy Vandersteen. He is the absent-minded professor/scientist archetype in the franchise.
Jerom is a Flemish comic book character and one of the main cast members in the Belgian comic strip, Suske en Wiske by Willy Vandersteen. He is the series' strongman and well known for his physically impossible powers that often make him the deus ex machina who solves every problem. Jerom's popularity with readers is so huge that he inspired at least two spin-off series: Jerom de Gouden Stuntman (1962–1991) and J. ROM - Force of Gold (2014).
't Kapoentje was a youth supplement published by the Flemish newspaper Het Volk from April 3, 1947 until 1989. It was notable for its comics and, together with Ons Volkske, the most important comic book magazine in Flanders.
De Lustige Kapoentjes was a long-running Flemish comic book series, which existed under different titles and was drawn by different artists, among whom Marc Sleen and Willy Vandersteen are the most well known. The series was published in 't Kapoentje, the youth supplement of Het Volk, and in Ons Volkske, the youth supplement of De Standaard. They were the mascots of 't Kapoentje from 1947 until the magazine's demise in 1985.
Schanulleke is a Flemish comic book character, originally named 'Schalulleke' and then 'Schabolleke', who originated in the Belgian comics series Suske en Wiske. In the series she is Wiske's beloved rag doll. Between 1986 and 1993 Schanulleke received her own spin-off series. The character's name in English is Molly, Sawdust or Muffin.
Suske en Wiske Weekblad was a Belgian comics magazine which debuted in September 15, 1993 and ran in weekly syndication until December 24, 2003. It was based on the popularity of Suske en Wiske and notable for being the last attempt in Flanders to release a new comic book magazine.
Tante Sidonia is a Flemish comics character from the Belgian comics series Suske en Wiske. In the franchise she is the aunt of Wiske and the adoptive aunt of Suske, of whom she both takes care.
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