A math teacher once predicted this legendary cartoonist would never succeed in life.
In short: Maurice De Bevere, known as Morris, spent his school days doodling in the margins of his math books. That habit led to the creation of Lucky Luke, a global phenomenon that became the best-selling European comic series in history, with over 300 million copies sold across more than thirty languages.
Born in 1923 in Kortrijk, Belgium, Morris began his professional journey at the Compagnie Belge d'Actualités animation studios. After World War II, he transitioned to illustration, creating hundreds of caricatures for magazines like Le Moustique. In 1946, he debuted Lucky Luke in the magazine Spirou. The character, a solitary cowboy accompanied by his horse Jolly Jumper, was inspired by the history of the American Wild West and the infamous Dalton Gang.
A pivotal moment occurred in 1948 when Morris traveled to the United States for a six-year stay. This period was transformative, exposing him to American cinema and the work of Walt Disney, which influenced his rounded drawing style and the introduction of cinematic techniques like freeze-frames. During this time, he met René Goscinny, beginning a legendary collaboration that lasted until Goscinny's death in 1977. Together, they refined the series, with Morris even basing many of his characters on famous actors such as Gary Cooper and Jack Palance.
Morris was a central figure in the Franco-Belgian comics scene, belonging to the influential La bande des quatre alongside artists like André Franquin. His impact extended beyond the page through numerous animated adaptations by Hanna-Barbera and various video games. Even after decades of success, he continued to innovate, eventually creating Rantanplan, a spin-off featuring a famously dim-witted dog. Morris passed away in 2001, leaving behind a legacy that solidified his status as a titan of the medium, recognized in 2005 as one of the greatest figures in his home country's history.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Morris (cartoonist)
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