Albert Uderzo

Albert Uderzo was born as the son of Italian immigrants in France. He made his first acquaintance with comics through 'Mickey Mouse', which was published in journal Le Pétit Parisien.In 1940, when he was only thirteen years old, Uderzo was employed by the Paris Publishing Society, where he learned the basics of the trade: designing text and letters, and editing photographs. His first illustration, a parody on Aesop's fables, was published in magazine Junior, around the same time that he met the great comic artist Calvo.

In 1945, Uderzo worked on an animated design titled 'Clic-Clac', together with Renan de Vela. After this he illustrated the book 'Flamberge', by Em-Ré-Vil. A year later he was employed by publisher Chêne. Signing his work Al Uderzo (which sounded more American), he worked for magazine O.K. where he created several comics such as 'Arys Buck', 'Le Prince Rollin' and 'Belloy l'Invulnérable'. In 1949, Uderzo became reporter and illustrator for France Dimanche, and he made a vertical comic called 'Le Crime ne Paie pas' for France-Soir.

In 1950, Uderzo drew several episodes of 'Captain Marvel Jr.' for magazine Bravo!, after which he met a Belgian press agent who introduced him to Brussels and various famous comic artists, such as Victor Hubinon, Eddy Paape and Mitacq, as well as writer Jean-Michel Charlier, with whom he relaunched 'Belloy' in magazine La Wallonie. Around the same time, he met René Goscinny, with whom he would start a world-famous collaboration.

In November 1951, the first joint work of Uderzo and Goscinny, a feature on savoir-vivre, appeared in women's weekly Bonnes Soirée. Their next creations were 'Jehan Pistolet' and 'Luc Junior' for La Libre Junior. They decided to come up with a character for the American market, which became the Indian 'Oumpah-Pah'. The idea did not work out, and ended up in the drawer.

In 1955, Uderzo, Charlier, Goscinny and Jean Hébrard founded their own syndicate, resulting in two agencies: Édifrance and Édipresse. At the same time, Uderzo and Goscinny created 'Bill Blanchart', a realistic series for La Libre Junior, and they took over 'Benjamin et Benjamine' from Christian Godard. In 1957 Uderzo drew 'Clairette', written by Charlier. A year later, he made his debut in magazine Tintin, where 'Oumpah-Pah' was finally published, as well as 'Poussin et Poussif', 'La Famillle Moutonet' and 'La Famille Cokalane'.

In 1959 a new magazine, Pilote, was founded. Uderzo was there at the start, with the series 'Tanguy et Laverdure', written by Charlier, and 'Astérix', written by Goscinny. This last series, about a small Gaule from a well-known little Gaulish village which keeps resisting the Roman occupation, soon developed into the most popular comic in France.

Over the years, Uderzo devoted himself more and more to 'Astérix', of which the first album of a long series appeared in 1967. In 1974, Goscinny and Uderzo found the Idéfix Studios. In 1977, unfortunately, René Goscinny died and Uderzo was to continue 'Astérix by himself, which he does to the present day. In spite of the great artwork, the brilliant storytelling of Goscinny is sorely missed in the latest albums.