René Follet (10 April 1931 – 13 March 2020), sometimes known by the pen name Ref, was a Belgian illustrator, comics writer and artist.
Biography René Follet was born in Brussels in 1931.De Weyer, Geert (2005). "René Follet". In België gestript, pp. 110-111. Tielt: Lannoo. His first publication appeared when he was 14, illustrating a promotional issue of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island for Aiglon, a chocolate factory. In 1949, he started working for the two main Franco-Belgian comics magazines of that time, Tintin and Spirou. For both, he collaborated on the series of 4-page historical stories which functioned as a starting point for many young artists like Jean Graton and Hermann Huppen. He also provided numerous illustrations for both magazines, as well as books for Casterman publishing.
In his long cartooning career, spanning over 50 years, Follet never had a long-running or particularly successful series, but his many shorter series and one-shots earned him the acclaim of many of his peers.Interview with ZozoLala magazine He worked for the Dutch magazine Eppo, and for the major publishing houses in Belgium and France, including Dupuis, Le Lombard, and Glénat. He also worked as the main penciller for artists Mitacq and William Vance, and made a long promotional comic for Citroën. At the beginning of his career, he was asked by Edgar Pierre Jacobs to help him draw Blake and Mortimer, but Follet refused because Jacobs did not want Follet's name to be included in the credits.
As an illustrator he worked in pencil, acrylic, and other materials, and as a cartoonist was considered a master of the realistic and picturesque drawing style, or as he was dubbed, "the 'most famous unknown' great master of the 9th art".or as the website Evene puts it: "le plus 'célèbre méconnu' des grands maîtres du 9e art."
His major influences were Jijé, whose series Valhardi he continued for two albums, and the Dutch comics artist Hans G. Kresse (known for his American Indian series 'Les Peaux-Rouges' published by Casterman).
Follet died at the age of 88 on 13 March 2020.Décès d’un grand artiste : René Follet !
Bibliography
Comics SeriesYearsVolumesWriterEditorRemarksBruno Brazil1973–19775GregMagic-StripWilliam Vance drew the comics, Follet provided the page lay-outIvan Zourine19792Jacques StoquartMagic-StripSteve Severin1981–20039Jacques Stoquart and Yvan DelporteGlénat3 in French - 6 additional in DutchL'Iliade19821Jacques StoquartGlénatAdapted from the Ilias by HomerJacques Le Gall1984–19852Jean-Michel CharlierDupuisA collaboration with MiTacqValhardi1984–19862Jacques Stoquart and André-Paul DuchâteauDupuisContinuation of the series after Jijé and Eddy PaapeAlain Brisant19851Maurice TillieuxDupuisEdmund Bell1987–19904Jacques Stoquart and Martin LodewijkCl. LefrancqBased on the stories by John Flanders (Jean Ray)Daddy1991-922Loup DurandCl. LefrancqBob Morane1991–20003Henri VernesNautilus and Claude LefrancqFollet drew one story in 2000, and made the cover art for two others (drawn by Gerald Forton)Harricana19921Jean-Claude de la RoyèreClaude LefrancqDrawn by Denis Mérezette, Follet did the page lay-outMarshall Blueberry19941Jean GiraudAlpenDrawn by William Vance, Follet did the page lay-outIkar1995–19972Pierre MakyoGlénatLes autos de l'aventure1996–19982De la RoyèreCitroënPromotional comicsTerreur2002–20042André-Paul DuchâteauLe LombardFictional biography of Madame Tussaud2004–20052Yvan DelporteHibouShelena20051Jéromine PasteurCastermanL'étoile du soldat20071Christophe De PonfillyCastermanAnnounced (28 August 2007)Casterman siteL'affaire Dominici20101Pascal BressonGlénat
Book illustrations According to Follet, illustrations are too short in comics; so he also illustrated novels or history books : 1949 : Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson 1962 : The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper (Golden Pleasure Books) 1962 : The Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge 1965 : The Wonderful Life of the Uganda Martyrs by P.Laridan (G. Chapman Editor) 1967–1969 : Les Grecs, La chevallerie, Cordées Souterraines (Dupuis editor) 1980 : Tom Sawyer Abroad by Mark Twain 1983–1986 : Petite histoire de France, Guerres de Vendées, Colonnies françaises with Henri Servien (ed. de Chiré) 1988 : Searching for Tutankhamun by Francis Youssef (Blake and Mortimer Editor for Edgar P. Jacobs) several covers for Henri Vernes's novels (Lefrancq editor)
He also worked: in Scouts de France with Pierre Joubert (illustrator of boys' adventure novels, particularly the Signe de Piste (Trail Sign) line) in Plein Jeu for Belgian scouting publications in White Fathers publications : Caravane, John Bosco, Charles de Foucauld, Charles Lavigerie... in Spirou magazine and its supplement Le trombone illustré with Mitacq and Franquin in Tintin magazine: Rocky Bill with Yves Duval, Texas Slim from Paul Cuvelier, Samourai of black sun and Hurricane at West with Jean-Michel Charlier in Bonnes Soirées with Jijé (The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, père...) in Pep and Eppo (two Dutch magazines): (The Call of the Wild by Jack London...) with William Vance for Bob Morane and Bruno Brazil
Awards 1975: Revelation of the year at the Prix Saint-Michel, Brussels 1998: Tournesol Award, for Ikar 2 at the Angoulême International Comics Festival, France 2003: Grand Prix for drawing of the Chambre belge des Experts en Bande Dessinée (Belgian Chamber of Comics Experts)Biography at Bédétheque 2006: Nominated for the best artwork at the Prix Saint-Michel
Sources
Béra, Michel; Denni, Michel; and Mellot, Philippe (2002): "Trésors de la Bande Dessinée 2003-2004". Paris, Les éditions de l'amateur. Peeters Jozef (2006) : René Follet, un rêveur sédentaire (éd.l'Age d'Or) René Follet publications in Belgian Tintin, French Tintin and Spirou BDoubliées René Follet albums Bedetheque
Footnotes
External links René Follet biography on Lambiek Comiclopedia René Follet overview Retrieved 06-11-2008 Yvan Zourine web site Retrieved 06-11-2008