Jean-Claude Fournier

Influenced by Hergé and Peyo, and trained by Franquin, Fournier stands in the tradition of the great masters of comic art. He himself trained generations of artists, including Emmanuel Lepage and Michel Plessix. Fournier will be remembered as Franquin’s worthy successor on the legendary Spirouand Fantasio series, for which he created nine albums. The artist infused the series with his own touch, introducing new characters and greatly expanding the universe. His remarkably effective graphic style, his sense of humor, and his genius for storytelling shine through in every panel. At age 80, he reinvented himself with direct color in Ma vie de rêves (published by Daniel Maghen. There he shared his fondest memories as an artist alongside Franquin, Morris, Tillieux and Will. He is a key figure in the world of comic art, admired by his peers.

The success of the special auction dedicated to Jean-Claude Fournier and organized by Maison Daniel Maghen Enchères in December 2022 confirms the artist’s market value, setting a new world record with the original cover of Spirou magazine No. 2000 (1976), estimated at €15,000 and sold for €26,000 including tax.

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 1943 in Paris, Jean-Claude Fournier initially dreamed of teaching art or becoming a stage actor, but his greatest dream came true when he met Franquin, who trained him and entrusted him with the character of Spirou. From 1968 to 1980, he created nine comic strips. After some disagreements, he left Spirou to devote himself to Bizu, created in 1967 for Spirou magazine and published until 1994. He followed that with Les Crannibales, published from 1998 to 2005 in the pages of the famous weekly. At the same time, he helped create the Quai des Bulles festival in Saint-Malo and trained young artists, including Lepage and Plessix, in his studio in Brittany. In 2008, with Lax as writer, he reinvented himself with the series Les Chevaux du vent, aimed at a more adult audience. Considered a living legend in the world of comic art, Éditions Dupuis dedicated a biopic to him, Dans l'atelier de Fournier, illustrated by Joub and Nicoby in 2013. In 2024, he published his own memoirs as a comic artist in Ma Vie de Rêves, published by Daniel Maghen, an “autobiographical graphic novel” in which he recounts his years working on Spirou with Franquin, Morris, Tillieux and Will.