Henri Vernes
Encyclopedia
Charles-Henri-Jean Dewisme (born 16 October 1918 in Ath
, Belgium
), better known by his pen name Henri Vernes, is a well-known author of action and science-fiction novels, of which has he published over 200 titles. He is most famous for the creation of the character Bob Morane
, a hero whose adventures spanned fifty years and went from straight adventure and science-fiction to fantasy. Vernes also authored the text of many comics albums and animated movies.
Dewisme used a number of other pseudonyms, including Jacques Colombo, Robert Davids, Duchess Holiday, C. Reynes, Jacques Seyr, Lew Shannon, Ray Stevens, as well as his real name.
. In 1937 he fell in love with a Chinese
woman, "Madame Lou", and went with her on a two-month trip to Canton
, using a fake passport.
Back at Tournai, in 1938 he married Gilberte, daughter of a diamond cutter; but the marriage dissolved in 1941. During World War II
he served in the army's intelligence services. In 1944 he published his first book, La Porte Ouverte (The Open Door).
In 1946 he moved to Paris
and wrote for a while for an American
news agency and French newspapers. Still, he continued writing novels. In 1949 he published La Belle Nuit pour un Homme Mort (Good Night for a Dead Man), and moved back to Belgium.
Between 1949 and 1953 Henri wrote several tales for weekly magazines like Heroïc Albums and Mickey Magazine, under various pen names. In 1953 he was invited to write an adventure novel for the series Marabout-Junior (Éditions Gérard). His Conquérants de l'Everest (Conquerors of the Everest) was an instant success, and he became a leading writer of that collection.
Those books saw the debut of Vernes's most popular hero, Bob Morane
, and of his main companions Bill Ballantine
, Frank Reeves, Aristide Clairembart; as well as of his first villain
, Roman Orgonetz. The first comics album, L'oiseau de feu (The Fire Bird) came out in 1959, drawn by Dino Attanasio, and was another resounding success. Between 1959 and 1967 Bob Morane was the star of many more books, albums, a short film, L'espion aux cent visages (The Spy with a Hundred Faces (1960), and a TV series that ran through 26 episodes. Through that period Vernes started several other adventure cycles and introduced several other characters, such as the villain Monsieur Ming (also known as "L'Ombre jaune" or the Yellow Shadow), Dr Xathan, and Miss Ylang-Ylang.
After 1967 the Marabout-Junior collection was reformatted and renamed Pocket Marabout. Vernes continued writing for the series, with old and new characters. His popularity continued strong, and by 1970 the series had sold over 15 million books. In 1974 he started the cycle of Ananké, considered by many to be his masterpiece.
However, this success did not save Marabout from the general publishing crisis of the 1970s, and in 1977 the series came to an end with issue 142, Bob Morane dans le Triangle des Bermudes (Bob Morane in the Bermuda Triangle).
Still, Vernes kept on writing. Over the next 28 years, he authored scores of new new titles, including the adult Don cycle (whose books he signed "Jacques Colombo") and supervised many re-issues of his older works. His 200th novel, the Bob Morane adventure La guerre du Pacifique n'aura pas lieu (The Pacific War Will Not Happen) was issued in 1996.
Vernes was the subject of a documentary, Henri Vernes, un aventurier de l'imaginaire (1997), and in 1999, at age 81, he was decorated as Officier in the Belgian Order of Arts and Letters. A fan club, Club Bob Morane, was created in 1986, the hero's 33rd anniversary.
Ath
Ath is a Belgian municipality located in the Walloon province of Hainaut. The Ath municipality includes the old communes of Lanquesaint, Irchonwelz, Ormeignies, Bouvignies, Ostiches, Rebaix, Maffle, Arbre, Houtaing, Ligne, Mainvault, Moulbaix, Villers-Notre-Dame, Villers-Saint-Amand, Ghislenghien...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
), better known by his pen name Henri Vernes, is a well-known author of action and science-fiction novels, of which has he published over 200 titles. He is most famous for the creation of the character Bob Morane
Bob Morane
Bob Morane, a creation of French-speaking Belgian novelist Henri Vernes, the pseudonym of Charles-Henri Dewisme, is a series of adventure books in French, featuring an eponymous protagonist...
, a hero whose adventures spanned fifty years and went from straight adventure and science-fiction to fantasy. Vernes also authored the text of many comics albums and animated movies.
Dewisme used a number of other pseudonyms, including Jacques Colombo, Robert Davids, Duchess Holiday, C. Reynes, Jacques Seyr, Lew Shannon, Ray Stevens, as well as his real name.
Biography
Henri Vernes was the child of Valérie Dupuis and Alphonse Léon Dewisme, but after the separation of his parents he was raised by his maternal grandparents. At age sixteen he dropped out of high school and worked for a time as helper in his father's butcher shop, but eventually went back to school at EnghienEnghien
Enghien is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Enghien had a total population of 11,980. The total area is 40.59 km² which gives a population density of 295 inhabitants per km²....
. In 1937 he fell in love with a Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
woman, "Madame Lou", and went with her on a two-month trip to Canton
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, using a fake passport.
Back at Tournai, in 1938 he married Gilberte, daughter of a diamond cutter; but the marriage dissolved in 1941. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served in the army's intelligence services. In 1944 he published his first book, La Porte Ouverte (The Open Door).
In 1946 he moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and wrote for a while for an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
news agency and French newspapers. Still, he continued writing novels. In 1949 he published La Belle Nuit pour un Homme Mort (Good Night for a Dead Man), and moved back to Belgium.
Between 1949 and 1953 Henri wrote several tales for weekly magazines like Heroïc Albums and Mickey Magazine, under various pen names. In 1953 he was invited to write an adventure novel for the series Marabout-Junior (Éditions Gérard). His Conquérants de l'Everest (Conquerors of the Everest) was an instant success, and he became a leading writer of that collection.
Those books saw the debut of Vernes's most popular hero, Bob Morane
Bob Morane
Bob Morane, a creation of French-speaking Belgian novelist Henri Vernes, the pseudonym of Charles-Henri Dewisme, is a series of adventure books in French, featuring an eponymous protagonist...
, and of his main companions Bill Ballantine
Bill Ballantine
Bill Ballantine, a well-respected illustrator of circus subjects, was also a professional clown and a prolific writer who contributed circus and travel essays to major magazines...
, Frank Reeves, Aristide Clairembart; as well as of his first villain
Villain
A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
, Roman Orgonetz. The first comics album, L'oiseau de feu (The Fire Bird) came out in 1959, drawn by Dino Attanasio, and was another resounding success. Between 1959 and 1967 Bob Morane was the star of many more books, albums, a short film, L'espion aux cent visages (The Spy with a Hundred Faces (1960), and a TV series that ran through 26 episodes. Through that period Vernes started several other adventure cycles and introduced several other characters, such as the villain Monsieur Ming (also known as "L'Ombre jaune" or the Yellow Shadow), Dr Xathan, and Miss Ylang-Ylang.
After 1967 the Marabout-Junior collection was reformatted and renamed Pocket Marabout. Vernes continued writing for the series, with old and new characters. His popularity continued strong, and by 1970 the series had sold over 15 million books. In 1974 he started the cycle of Ananké, considered by many to be his masterpiece.
However, this success did not save Marabout from the general publishing crisis of the 1970s, and in 1977 the series came to an end with issue 142, Bob Morane dans le Triangle des Bermudes (Bob Morane in the Bermuda Triangle).
Still, Vernes kept on writing. Over the next 28 years, he authored scores of new new titles, including the adult Don cycle (whose books he signed "Jacques Colombo") and supervised many re-issues of his older works. His 200th novel, the Bob Morane adventure La guerre du Pacifique n'aura pas lieu (The Pacific War Will Not Happen) was issued in 1996.
Vernes was the subject of a documentary, Henri Vernes, un aventurier de l'imaginaire (1997), and in 1999, at age 81, he was decorated as Officier in the Belgian Order of Arts and Letters. A fan club, Club Bob Morane, was created in 1986, the hero's 33rd anniversary.
Albums
- 1962 : Les tours de cristalLes tours de cristalLes tours de cristal is a part of a collection of Bob Morane comic books written by Henri Vernes and illustrated by Dino Attanasio...
(Marabout, vol. 3) - 1973 : Les géants de MuLes géants de MuLes géants de Mu is a comics album featuring Bob Morane, drawn by William Vance on a story by Henri Vernes.-Publication history:The album was published in serial form in the magazine Femmes d'Aujourd'hui in 1973, then published as a free-standing album by Dargaud and Lombard in 1975, and re-issued...
(Dargaud) - 2000 : Le lagon aux requins (éd. Nautilus) the sharks lagoon illustrations by René FolletRené FolletRené Follet , sometimes known by the pen name Ref, is a Belgian illustrator, comics writer and artist.-Biography:René Follet was born in Brussels in 1931. His first publication appeared when he was 14, illustrating a promotional issue of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island for Aiglon, a...