Batem

As the first artist to take over the Marsupilami series—created by André Franquin in 1952 in Le Journal Spirou—Batem is a leading Belgian artist and writer in the 9th Art. Since 1987, Batem has brought to life the adventures of one of the most famous comic book characters in the true style of Franquin. The virtuosity of this master of popular comics, admired by his peers, is evident in the genius of his gags, the elegance of his line work, and the creativity of his settings in panels and illustrations characterized by dynamic compositions and a sense of humor.

In 2022, the very first auction dedicated to Batem, organized by Maison Daniel Maghen Enchères, was a resounding success. The “white-glove” auction achieved excellent results and set a new world record with the original illustration for the cover of the album Batem - Le Marsupilami - Une vie en dessins (2021), estimated at €7,000 and sold for €18,720 (including tax).

To preserve your works on paper, we recommend that you never expose them to direct light, as UV rays can damage the mediums used. Paintings made with pastel or charcoal require special care to avoid rubbing.
We advise you to display them away from windows, and to use frames made from 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.

Belgian comic artist and scriptwriter Luc Collin, known as Batem, born on April 6, 1960, in Kamina (Belgian Congo), is best known as the creator of the Marsupilami, the legendary character created by André Franquin in 1952 in Le Journal de Spirou . In 1987, Batem met Greg, Franquin and Moyersoen, and just four months later, the album La Queue du Marsupilami (The Marsupilami's Tail) was released. Quite quickly, and under the watchful eye of his mentor, Batem developed the Marsupilami universe. After Franquin’s death in 1997, he fully succeeded him on the series. He authored 35 Marsupilami albums, collaborating with renowned writers such as Yann, Dugomier and Colman, and writing the scripts for some albums himself (Trafic à Jollywood, Le Défilé du Jaguar – the Jaguar Parade).