M'finally! Justice authorizes the return of Gaston Lagaffe in comics

Finally, after a year of reflection, the Belgian justice has decided: it authorizes Dupuis editions to publish the new album of Gaston Lagaffe made for several years by the Quebec author Delaf.

This is the end of a terrible dispute over the publication of new adventures of Gaston Lagaffe. In Belgium, the arbitrator chosen by Isabelle Franquin and Dupuis editions in March 2022, ended up agreeing with the publisher. Éditions Dupuis have already announced that they are delighted to continue to be able to bring the legendary character of Gaston Lagaffe to life with this new 44-page album drawn and scripted by Delaf, whose circulation is estimated at 1.2 million copies.

Today's arbitration decision definitively puts an end to the legal tug-of-war between Isabelle Franquin and Dupuis. "We regret the misunderstandings and misunderstandings that may have led to this dispute," said Julie Durot, Executive Director of the publishing house. "Dupuis has always had the greatest consideration for Franquin's work and moral rights, as for that of all authors. The arbitration award confirms our compliance with the contract signed by André Franquin. »

With these new adventures of Gaston Lagaffe, Dupuis editions aim to continue to bring to life the masterful work of Franquin, this genius of comics whose characters have entered the common cultural heritage. They are also keen to be able to introduce nostalgic and new generations to Delaf's album, which is the culmination of a remarkable and passionate work of several years.

As a sign of appeasement, the cartoonist Delaf, the first interested party who was very affected by this whole affair also reacted: "I am delighted with this decision and look forward to sharing the fruit of my work with the public. I hope that as they close the album, readers will feel all the love and respect I have for Gaston and his incomparable creator André Franquin. »

As a reminder, "Gaston is a totally atypical character," says comic book historian Patrick Gaumer, author of the Dictionnaire mondial de la BD. Ecologist, pacifist, as lazy as joyfully subversive, he is a patent troublemaker, almost an anarchist before his time, who gently defies the still very corseted society of the 1960s. With his faded espadrilles, his faded green sweater, his inventions worthy of a wacky Lépine contest, his crazy cat, his laughing seagull, not to mention the never signed contracts of Monsieur De Mesmaeker, or the enamoured Mademoiselle Jeanne, Gaston participates in a small eminently personal world developed by Franquin.