Victor Hubinon developed a deeply realistic style, combining graphic precision with dynamic composition, which—along with Buck Danny—established him as one of the pioneers of realistic illustration at Le Journal de Spirou. A passionate pilot, he brought a rare technical accuracy to his aerial and naval scenes, enhanced by a highly cinematic sense of movement and framing. He brings these characteristics to Barbe-Rouge, a fantastic pirate epic, where his mastery of line work and precise framing hits the mark, supported by traditional brush-ink work of exceptional quality.
Victor Hubinon enjoys a strong reputation in the market for original comic book art, driven by the popularity of his flagship series Buck Danny and Barbe-Rouge. Presented for the very first time at a sale exhibition in 2026, the original art pages from Barbe-Rouge captivated a large number of collectors for whom the adventures of the bloodthirsty pirate serve as a Proustian madeleine. The event was a resounding success, with nearly half of the works finding new owners. Regularly featured at auctions, the most highly valued pieces remain the album covers and opening panels. The Buck Danny comic strips featuring aviation scenes are particularly sought after by collectors, such as strip No. 13 from La Revanche des fils du ciel (Vol. 3), which was sold by Daniel Maghen Enchère for €30,544 in 2020.
To ensure that your pages are kept in good condition, we recommend that you never expose them to direct light, as UV rays can damage the media used to produce them. Although Indian ink is a perennial material, the paper support may change when exposed to UV light. Note that watercolor plates require special attention, as this medium is particularly sensitive to light. Pieces containing pastel or charcoal require special care to avoid rubbing.
We advise you to display them away from windows, and to use frames made of pH-neutral conservation materials and “Museum” glass with anti-UV and anti-reflective treatment. If you prefer to keep your works unframed, we recommend storing them flat, in drawing cartons, with sheets of pH-neutral permanent paper in between. Keep them away from light and humidity
Born in Belgium in 1924, Victor Hubinon studied at the Academy of Fine Arts before working as an editorial illustrator. In 1946, his meeting with Georges Troisfontaines and Jean-Michel Charlier marked the beginning of his comic art career. He became the artist for the famous Buck Danny series, for which Charlier later wrote the scripts. After a few forays into humor, he established himself as one of the masters of realistic drawing thanks to his precise and dynamic style. Together with Charlier, he also created several notable series, including Barbe-Rouge, which debuted in Pilote magazine in 1959. A prolific painter and author, he published La Mouette in 1978, his final work, before his death on January 9, 1979. Complete biography