Dupuis Forced To Destroy 35,000 Copies Of Gringos Locos

[Rich Johnston]

In 1948, Belgian creators, and three of the famed gang of four and creators of the Marcinelle school of comic book art, Morris, Jijé and Franquin,traveledto the USA, to see the country, and what was left of the Wild West. This would inspire Morris' creation Lucky Luke.

Over sixty years later, it would also inspire another comic book, Gringos Locos, about their adventures in America. It was a hotly anticipated graphic album and had been partially serialised in Le Soir.

Which is how the heirs of Morris, Jijé and Franquin heard about it.

Le Vif is reporting that, as a result of legal action brought by the heirs of the featured creators, publisher Dupuis has put the sale of the book on hold before it reached the bookshops, and may be forced to pulp 35,000 of the hardcover volumes.

Which also means that the copies released to the press will be worth a small fortune. Here's a preview of the comic, and a motion comic trailer of Gringos Locos.

[fredmanson]

When you want to produce a book on living/dead existing persons, you might ask the permissions from the persons or their heirs.

It seems that the legal department of Dupuis has not done its job. It will take a time before the release of this book. I do not think that the copies will be reduced to pulp. An agreement will be found. The families do not want to see their names linked to a money case. It is not in their interests.

[Qward-O]

Really? That's why they pulped them?

I would have thought it would have been for the appallingly racist name of the Comic. "Gringos Locos" Crazy White People (or Gringo indicating "male" and Gringa indicating "female" meaning "Crazy White Guys"). Or does racism against white guys not count?? Considering you guys are from Europe you don't really have to answer that question.

[Knut Robert Knutsen]

Morris, Jije and Franquin are sufficiently public persons (and dead) so a portrayal of their lives should not immediately raise privacy concerns. The only legal problems I can think of would be inclusion of images of characters owned by someone other than Dupuis, libelous / untrue claims made about the three or privacy concerns related to other family members portrayed who are not public persons.

It looks like an interesting book, and I would certainly want to pick up a copy myself (although preferrably in a language I read, rather than french). I doubt that the book would be prevented from publication entirely, although they may need to make small changes or put a disclaimer in front that the families do not agree with the portrayal of these gentlemen.

I hope there will be some further reporting on this to clarify what the actual legal problems are.

[Mycroft]

The first issue Gringos Locos has been completely serialised in Spirou Magazine.

[Lars Jensen]

Or does racism against white guys not count?? Considering you guys are from Europe you don't really have to answer that question.

And this means...?

[Hollow]

And this means...?

Nothing. He's a troll. A troll that has no humor.

[Arthur Gordon Scratch]

Really? That's why they pulped them?

I would have thought it would have been for the appallingly racist name of the Comic. "Gringos Locos" Crazy White People (or Gringo indicating "male" and Gringa indicating "female" meaning "Crazy White Guys"). Or does racism against white guys not count?? Considering you guys are from Europe you don't really have to answer that question.

Bwahahahaha!!!! You're such a moron...
Over here in France, Gringos Locos sure means the same, but nobody would ever spawn the thought of that being offensive in any way!

[Oliver]

Would love to read this!! Can't think of a comic I'm more excited about! So it's completely serialized in Spirou?

[saidestroyer]

Really? That's why they pulped them?

I would have thought it would have been for the appallingly racist name of the Comic. "Gringos Locos" Crazy White People (or Gringo indicating "male" and Gringa indicating "female" meaning "Crazy White Guys"). Or does racism against white guys not count?? Considering you guys are from Europe you don't really have to answer that question.

You're wrong. "Gringo" doesn't mean white people. It means American (or more precisely, North American, or United States citizen).