Papyrus (comics)

Last updated
Papyrus
Papyrus cover.jpg
The seventeenth book in the series, Tutankhamun
from left to right: Papyrus, Théti-Chéri and Pouin
Publication information
Publisher Dupuis (French)
Cinebook (English)
Format Ongoing series
Genre Alternate history fiction
No. of issues36 (in French)
7 (in English)
Creative team
Created by Lucien De Gieter

Papyrus is a Belgian comic book series, written and illustrated by Lucien De Gieter. The story takes place in Ancient Egypt. It was first published in 1974 in Spirou magazine in the form of episodes.

Contents

An animated series was created in 1998 that was two seasons long (52 episodes) and shown on TFOU TV in France and in Quebec on Radio-Canada. It is airing in 2016 on Unis. [1]

In 2000 a video game was made for Game Boy developed by Dupuis and published by Ubisoft.

Plot

In the beginning, Horus the falcon god of light and Set the god of evil fought to control Egypt. The council of the Gods decided, Set was sent to exile and Horus became the first pharaoh of Egypt. For two thousand years, pharaoh succeeded pharaoh. But Set had plotted his revenge, and deep inside his sinister black Pyramid of Ombos, Set imprisoned Horus in a magic sarcophagus. From then on, and no longer protected by the god Horus, Egypt was at the mercy of Set and his servant Aker. So the gods chose Papyrus, a young fisherman who must find the secret entrance to Ombos, free the god Horus and restore peace to Egypt.

Characters

Main characters

Regular side characters

Albums

Thirty-three albums have been published so far:

  1. La Momie engloutie ( ISBN   2-8001-2721-X, ISBN   2-8001-0598-4 et ISBN   2-8001-2714-7). Papyrus is appointed by Sobek's daughter to rescue Théti-Chéri and her father from a power-hungry traitor at the Pharaoh's side.
  2. Le Maître des trois portes. While trying to discover why the Nile's waters have suddenly gone low, Papyrus and Théti-Chéri discover and become prisoners in a golden underground city ruled by the living mummy of Menes, who wishes to seize power over Egypt again. In order to escape, Papyrus must discover the secret of the three gates which separate the city from the upper world.
  3. Le Colosse sans visage. Papyrus aids the inhabitants of a city cursed by the gods for the unholy atrocities their past ruler (the titular colossus) has committed. For this well-meant deed, he is cursed by the gods and transformed into a hideous creature, and it is up to Théti-Chéri to appease the gods - even if it means paying the ultimate price.
  4. Le Tombeau de Pharaon
  5. L'Égyptien blanc
  6. Les Quatre Doigts du Dieu Lune
  7. La Vengeance des Ramsès ( ISBN   2-8001-2727-9); English translation: The Rameses Revenge ( ISBN   978-1905460359). The four colossi of the Temple of Rameses rise against a band of plunderers.
  8. La Métamorphose d'Imhotep ( ISBN   2-8001-2728-7); English translation: Imhotep's Transformation ( ISBN   978-1905460502): Papyrus must find an antidote for the poisoned Pharaoh while a friend plays the role of the ruler.
  9. Les Larmes du géant ( ISBN   2-8001-2729-5): A Hittite princess arrives at court as a second wife for the Pharaoh, bringing with her the secret of iron. In the temple of Amonhotep III, plotters want to seize power for themselves and build invincible weapons, so they capture the Hittite princess as well as Théti.
  10. La Pyramide noire ( ISBN   2-8001-2730-9): Papyrus takes an enchanted Théti to a mage who may be able to heal her.
  11. Le Pharaon maudit( ISBN   2-8001-2731-7): Théti and Papyrus fight against plunderers, six girls who call themselves Daughters of Akhenaton.
  12. L'Obélisque: Amenope, the royal architect, and his assistant Imhotep, despite obstacles but with the help of Papyrus and Théti cut, transport, and erect an obelisk at Thebes.
  13. Le Labyrinthe: Papyrus is named ambassador of Egypt by the King of Minos.
  14. L'Île Cyclope ( ISBN   2-8001-2734-1): Théti goes to rejoin Papyrus in Crete with the mummy of the son of Minos. Papyrus sets off again, finally finding and rescuing the princess on a fantastic island.
  15. L'Enfant hiéroglyphe: Imhotep, the successor of Amenope, is saved from a fire by Papyrus. The parchment that established the plans of Amenope for the new temple were saved. But the workers strike, and Imhotep is accused of sacrilege. Théti and Papyrus discover those responsible for the strike.
  16. Le Seigneur des crocodiles ( ISBN   2-8001-2736-8): Captured by Libyan nomads, Papyrus and Théti escape into the desert where they meet a blind mage who asks Papyrus to give him his eyes.
  17. Toutânkhamon, le Pharaon assassiné ( ISBN   2-8001-2737-6); English translation Tutankhamun( ISBN   978-1-905460-84-7): While beset and framed by graverobbers plundering the Valley of the Kings, Papyrus meets the spirit of Ankhesenpaaton, the wife of Tutankhamen, who seeks his help in reuniting her with her beloved husband, just as Papyrus' ancestor has done so many years ago.
  18. L'Œil de Rê ( ISBN   2-8001-2194-7): During the feast of Opet, Amenmes, one of the sons of Rameses II disputes the throne of the Pharaoh Merenptah.
  19. Les Momies maléfiques ( ISBN   2-8001-2739-2); English translation The Evil Mummies ( ISBN   978-1-84918-027-6): In the chambers of the temple of Montouhotep, ten bodies of archers of Seqenenre Taa II, dead in combat, are mummified in haste. Meanwhile, Théti's expedition enters the desert but forgets to render homage to Seth.
  20. La Colère du grand sphinx ( ISBN   2-8001-2445-8 et ISBN   2-8001-2740-6); English translation ( ISBN   978-1-84918-115-0): While searching for Théti, Papyrus angers the Great Sphinx.
  21. Le Talisman de la grande pyramide ( ISBN   2-8001-2591-8): Wanting to discover the origin of the screams heard at the foot of the Great Pyramid each night, Papyrus angers the god Anubis.
  22. La Prisonnière de Sekhmet ( ISBN   2-8001-2765-1); English translation Sekhmet's Captive ( ISBN   978-1800440395}: The goddess Sekhmet is upset: the ancient Great Priest of her temple has conceived a diabolical plan in which Princess Théti, the only one capable of calming this divinity, plays a central role.
  23. Le Cheval de Troie ( ISBN   2-8001-2940-9): Papyrus and Théti arrive in Troy, ruined and occupied by thieves searching in vain for the treasure of King Priam.
  24. La main pourpre ( ISBN   2-8001-3095-4): Papyrus and Théti find the "purple hand" in Tyre, along with victims of the leaders of the city.
  25. Le Pharaon fou ( ISBN   2-8001-3229-9): After having escaped from the soldiers of Tyre, Papyrus and Théti find that Pouin has become the king of Dor. After having convinced him to return to Egypt, Papyrus meets a curious character named Moses who is leaving Egypt with his tribe.
  26. Le Masque d'Horus ( ISBN   2-8001-3354-6): The queen sends Papyrus on a secret mission: to find Théti's younger brother, who was taken by the priests of the temple of Kom Ombo.
  27. La Fureur des Dieux ( ISBN   2-8001-2721-X): Rameses II the younger hunts a bull in the company of his father, Sethi I.
  28. Les Enfants d'Isis: For his services to Egypt, Papyrus is granted land and an estate, but the Pharao has a darker, ulterior motive for his generosity. He means to separate Papyrus and Théti, who have come to love each other, so that he can arrange a more prestigious marriage of his daughter with a prince of Mitanni.
  29. L'Île de la reine morte
  30. L'Oracle
  31. L'Or de Pharaon
  32. Le taureau de Montou
  33. Papyrus Pharaon

Translations

English

Since November 2007, Cinebook Ltd has been publishing Papyrus in English. [2] Seven albums have so far been released:

  1. The Rameses Revenge, November 2007, ISBN   978-1-905460-35-9. (translation of the 7th volume)
  2. Imhotep's Transformation, April 2008, ISBN   978-1-905460-50-2 (translation of the 8th volume)
  3. Tutankhamun, April 2009, ISBN   978-1-905460-84-7 (translation of the 17th volume)
  4. The Evil Mummies, April 2010, ISBN   978-1-84918-027-6 (translation of the 19th volume)
  5. The Anger of the Great Sphinx, June 2012, ISBN   978-1-84918-115-0 (translation of the 20th volume)
  6. The Amulet of the Great Pyramid, June 2015, ISBN   978-1849182409 (translation of the 21st volume)
  7. Sekhmet's Captive, March 2022, ISBN   978-1800440395 (translation of the 22nd volume)

Spanish

In 2020 Dolmen Editorial started publishing integrals of the series in Spanish. As for 2024 it has published 8 volumes containing 24 albums of the series Papyrus. The volumes published by Dolmen Editorial are:

  1. "Papyrus 1974-1977." (November 2020) ISBN   978-84-18510-13-7
  2. "Papyrus 1978-1982." (March 2021) ISBN   978-84-18510-43-4
  3. "Papyrus 1984-1986." (July 2021) ISBN   978-8418898020
  4. "Papyrus 1987-1989." (January 2022) ISBN   978-84-18898-43-3
  5. "Papyrus 1990-1992." (April 2022) ISBN   978-84-18898-83-9
  6. "Papyrus 1993-1995." (October 2022) ISBN   978-84-19380-48-7
  7. "Papyrus 1996-1998." (March 2023) ISBN   978-84-19740-07-6
  8. "Papyrus 1998-2001." (January 2024)

Animated series

Season 1

  1. The Black Mummy
  2. Anger of the Moon God
  3. Lord of the Crocodiles
  4. Revenge of Ramses
  5. The Faceless Giant
  6. The Cursed Pharaoh
  7. The Black Sun of Seth
  8. The Metamorphosis of Imhotep
  9. The Maze
  10. The Triumph of Bastet
  11. City of Scribes
  12. The Demon of the Red Mountains
  13. The Golden Feather of the Great Falcon
  14. The Return of the Red Sphinx
  15. The White Egyptian
  16. The Harp of Hathor
  17. The Forgotten Sarcophagus
  18. The House of Life
  19. The Revenge of Amon
  20. The Rebirth of the Child Pharaoh
  21. Tears of Giants
  22. The Hieroglyph Child
  23. The Master of the Three Doors
  24. The Black Pyramid
  25. The Mirror of Nebou
  26. The Second Flood of the Sacred River

Season 2

  1. The Sacrilege of Papyrus
  2. Mika the Sorceress
  3. The Thirtieth Case of Senet Cursed
  4. Justice Thoueris
  5. The Awakening of Osiris
  6. White Baboon
  7. Stolen Country
  8. Four Chapels of Tutankhamun
  9. The Divine Potter
  10. Return Senkhet
  11. The Talisman of the Great Pyramid
  12. Yam
  13. Time of Discord
  14. Seven Knots of Horus
  15. Renunciation of Papyrus
  16. Nile Red
  17. The Sacred Crown of Wadjet
  18. Neferure


  1. Emissaries
  2. Princess Tiya
  3. Princess Star
  4. The Sacred Child of Ebla
  5. The Ished Tree
  6. The Djed Pillar
  7. The Trial of Papyrus
  8. The Nightmare

Canadian animator and cartoonist Guy Delisle documented his experiences while working on this animated series in 1997 in Shenzhen: A Travelogue from China . [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imhotep</span> Egyptian polymath, later deified

Imhotep was an Egyptian chancellor to the Pharaoh Djoser, possible architect of Djoser's step pyramid, and high priest of the sun god Ra at Heliopolis. Very little is known of Imhotep as a historical figure, but in the 3,000 years following his death, he was gradually glorified and deified.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horus</span> Egyptian war and sky deity

Horus, also known as Heru, Har, Her, or Hor in Ancient Egyptian, is one of the most significant ancient Egyptian deities who served many functions, most notably as the god of kingship, healing, protection, the sun, and the sky. He was worshipped from at least the late prehistoric Egypt until the Ptolemaic Kingdom and Roman Egypt. Different forms of Horus are recorded in history, and these are treated as distinct gods by Egyptologists. These various forms may be different manifestations of the same multi-layered deity in which certain attributes or syncretic relationships are emphasized, not necessarily in opposition but complementary to one another, consistent with how the Ancient Egyptians viewed the multiple facets of reality. He was most often depicted as a falcon, most likely a lanner falcon or peregrine falcon, or as a man with a falcon head.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memphis, Egypt</span> Ancient capital of Inebu-hedj, Egypt

Memphis, or Men-nefer, was the ancient capital of Inebu-hedj, the first nome of Lower Egypt that was known as mḥw ("North"). Its ruins are located in the vicinity of the present-day village of Mit Rahina, in markaz (county) Badrashin, Giza, Egypt. This modern name is probably derived from the late Ancient Egyptian name for Memphis mjt-rhnt meaning "Road of the Ram-Headed Sphinxes".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nephthys</span> Ancient Egyptian goddess

Nephthys or Nebet-Het in ancient Egyptian was a goddess in ancient Egyptian religion. A member of the Great Ennead of Heliopolis in Egyptian mythology, she was a daughter of Nut and Geb. Nephthys was typically paired with her sister Isis in funerary rites because of their role as protectors of the mummy and the god Osiris and as the sister-wife of Set.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khonsu</span> Ancient Egyptian god of the moon

Khonsu is the ancient Egyptian god of the Moon. His name means 'traveller', and this may relate to the perceived nightly travel of the Moon across the sky. Along with Thoth, he marked the passage of time. Khonsu was instrumental in the creation of new life in all living creatures. At Thebes, he formed part of a family triad with Mut as his mother and Amun his father.

Sobek was an ancient Egyptian deity with a complex and elastic history and nature. He is associated with the Nile crocodile or the West African crocodile and is represented either in its form or as a human with a crocodile head. Sobek was also associated with pharaonic power, fertility, and military prowess, but served additionally as a protective deity with apotropaic qualities, invoked especially for protection against the dangers presented by the Nile. Sobek has been famed for having been revered by the first female Pharaoh by the Nebty name Sat-Sekhem-Nebet-Tawy Sobekneferu, present both in the female Pharaoh's nomen, Sobekneferu, and her praenomen Kasobekre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temple of Kom Ombo</span> Building in Egypt

The Temple of Kom Ombo is an unusual double temple in the town of Kom Ombo in Aswan Governorate, Upper Egypt. It was constructed during the Ptolemaic dynasty, 180–47 BC. Some additions to it were later made during the Roman period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Djoser</span> Ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 3rd dynasty

Djoser was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 3rd Dynasty during the Old Kingdom, and was the founder of that epoch. He is also known by his Hellenized names Tosorthros and Sesorthos. He was the son of King Khasekhemwy and Queen Nimaathap, but whether he was also the direct successor to their throne is unclear. Most Ramesside king lists identify a king named Nebka as preceding him, but there are difficulties in connecting that name with contemporary Horus names, so some Egyptologists question the received throne sequence. Djoser is known for his step pyramid, which is the earliest colossal stone building in ancient Egypt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Index of Egypt-related articles</span>

Articles related to Egypt include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramesses VII</span> Ancient Egyptian sixth pharaoh of the 20th dynasty

Usermaatre Setepenre Meryamun Ramesses VII was the sixth pharaoh of the 20th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. He reigned from about 1136 to 1129 BC and was the son of Ramesses VI. Other dates for his reign are 1138–1131 BC. The Turin Accounting Papyrus 1907+1908 is dated to Year 7 III Shemu day 26 of his reign and has been reconstructed to show that 11 full years passed from Year 5 of Ramesses VI to Year 7 of his reign.

Articles related to Modern Egypt include:

<i>Yakari</i> Belgian comic series

Yakari is a Franco-Belgian comic book series, aimed at a younger audience, originally written by Job, and illustrated by Derib, both from Switzerland. The series is now written by Frenchman Joris Chamblain.

A mammisi (mamisi) is an ancient Egyptian small chapel attached to a larger temple, built from the Late Period, and associated with the nativity of a god. The word is derived from Coptic – the last phase of the ancient Egyptian language – meaning "birth place". Its usage is attributed to the French egyptologist Jean-François Champollion (1790–1832).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ra</span> Ancient Egyptian solar deity

Ra or Re was the ancient Egyptian deity of the Sun. By the Fifth Dynasty, in the 25th and 24th centuries BC, he had become one of the most important gods in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the noon-day sun. Ra ruled in all parts of the created world: the sky, the Earth, and the underworld. He was believed to have ruled as the first pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. He was the god of the sun, order, kings and the sky.

<i>IR$</i> Franco-Belgian comics series

IR$ is a Franco-Belgian comics series written by Stephen Desberg, illustrated by Bernard Vrancken and published by Le Lombard in French and Cinebook in English.

<i>Lady S</i>

Lady S is a Franco-Belgian comics series written by Jean Van Hamme, illustrated by Philippe Aymond and published by Dupuis in French and Cinebook in English.

This page list topics related to ancient Egypt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Egyptian Antiquities of the Louvre</span>

The Department of Egyptian Antiquities of the Louvre is a department of the Louvre that is responsible for artifacts from the Nile civilizations which date from 4,000 BC to the 4th century. The collection, comprising over 50,000 pieces, is among the world's largest, overviews Egyptian life spanning Ancient Egypt, the Middle Kingdom, the New Kingdom, Coptic art, and the Roman, Ptolemaic, and Byzantine periods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Functions of the Pharaoh</span> Pharaohs duties in the Ancient Egypt

The functions of the Pharaoh are the various religious and governmental activities performed by the king of Egypt during Antiquity. As a central figure of the state, the pharaoh is the obligatory intermediary between the gods and humans. To the former, they ensured the proper performance of rituals in the temples; to the latter, they guaranteed agricultural prosperity, the defense of the territory and impartial justice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conspiracies in ancient Egypt</span> Plots during Ancient Egypt to put the reigning monarch to death

In ancient Egypt, there is evidence of conspiracies within the royal palace to put the reigning monarch to death. Texts are generally silent on the subject of struggles for influence, but a few historical sources, either indirect or very eloquent, depict a royal family disunited and agitated by petty grudges. Highly polygamous, Pharaoh had numerous concubines living in the harem buildings. At certain points in history, women driven by ambition and jealousy formed cabals ready to sacrifice the general interest for the particular needs of princes and courtiers in need of recognition. In the most serious cases, these factions manifested themselves by fomenting conspiracies that threatened or even shortened the life of the sovereign – all to the hoped-for benefit of a secondary wife and her eldest son in competition with the more legitimate Great Royal Wife.

References

  1. "Papyrus". Unis.ca.
  2. Papyrus Cinebook website
  3. Newham, Frasier. "Book Review: An animator's novel experience Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea and Shenzhen: A Travelogue from China by Guy Delisle". Asia Times Online. Archived from the original on 4 March 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)