Willy Linthout was born in Eksaarde near Lokeren, Belgium in 1953. He was a mechanic[1] and a comics collector when he made his first comic book. Linthout had the idea of creating a comic strip whose main character would be based on the comedian Urbanus.[2] Through publisher Jef Meert, a meeting at Urbanus' house was arranged. The comedian liked Linthout's idea, as well as the drawings.[1] Linthout made the first two albums of Urbanus alone.[1] The first album, which appeared in 1983, sold 50,000 copies right away,[1] and Urbanus became one of the most popular Flemish comic strips. So far, 135 albums have appeared. The series is noted for its black comedy and satire. [3]
Linthout also collaborates on the popular Kiekeboe comic strip of Merho, and has created together with Luc Cromheecke the series Roboboy.
In 2007, after the suicide of his son,[4] he wrote and drew the graphic novelJaren van de Olifant (Years of the Elephant), which was nominated for a number of international awards and won the Bronzen Adhemar, the most important Flemish comics award.
2010: nominated for the Award for Best Dutch Language Youth Comic at the Stripschapprizes for Roboboy 6[7]
2010: nominated for the Award for Best Dutch Language Comic at the Prix Saint-Michel for The Year of the Elephant[8]
Notes
^ a b c d"Urbanus: "Plot moet straffer zijn dan wat Chiroleiders rond hun kampvuur kunnen bedenken"". www.guido.be. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
^Morissens, Kurt (11 December 2018). "Les grandes expositions temporaires". Brussels: Belgian Comic Strip Center. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
^"Willy Linthout". Lambiek's Comiclopedia. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
^"Willy Linthout". Lambiek's Comiclopedia. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
^"Album van het jaar 2007" (in Dutch). Het Stripschap. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
